Moxie Brides

Why I quit forensic science aka A Case of the Darmstadters

 I know y’all can imagine me in a starched lab coat analyzing crime scenes, saying very Law & Order things like “blunt force trauma from behind.” And we all know that is good, important, soul-shaking work. But let me be clear: I never got an afternoon email that made me swivel in my office chair, pour a glass of wine and shout YAS.

Now it happens every day. I’m proud of every single one of my Moxie Brides. Their creativity and willingness to tackle something that others deem “too challenging” makes me want to snap my Spanx waistband in sista solidarity.

When Courtney Darmstadter sent me just ONE image of her wedding, I done threw my hands in the air and stopped working for the day. It was THAT. GOOD.

Courtney (hereafter referred to as Court-dolla-make-you-holla) created this epic bouquet that appears to lounge/arch/lean back into her arms. All nonchalant-like, but I know how chalant this bouquet truly is because I know how nervous Court-dolla-make-you-holla was. And that’s what makes this so, so beautiful. She was terrified and she did it anyway. And isn’t that really what love is all about?

Also, can we take a moment to admire Court-dolla’s timelessness – how she can turn her head effortlessly to the side like an empress or Boticelli babe, yet when I do it, people ask if I need to use the restroom. You impress the heck out of me, Court-dolla. I’m so glad I get to answer your frantic texts instead of filling out lab paperwork.

Major props to Adriana Lombardi of HereNorth Photography for the stunning work.

In Court-dolla’s words:

Most fun part of the weekend was probably getting ready with my girls on the day of and seeing all of my out of town family and friends together!!

I went through a lot of emotions that week, it felt unreal for awhile and then Thursday I was very overwhelmed and stressed about all the last minute details coming together. Friday I woke up feeling so excited to marry my best friend!! Saturday was just so much fun. We wrote each other letters and read them and that definitely got me emotional. 

 The best part of the ceremony was walking down the aisle and seeing the look on Dylan's face! He will deny it but he teared up when he hugged my dad and grabbed my hand, haha 

I was so overwhelmed and worried about the flowers but they came and they were SO beautiful and your videos and responding to texts right away really calmed me down and everything went perfectly!! Thank you thank you thank you. 

 

No donut walls or Chuck Taylors or butterflies swirling around the wedding party. I mean I ADORE these things at weddings*, and will Instagram every second while stuffing pastries in my purse. But my heart is more of a timeless Betty or Bernadette.

This is why I love Nick and Hannah’s wedding.

 Let me defer to the great Bruno Mars for a hot second:

Her hair, her hair, falls perfectly without her trying.

 Everything was perfection without obsessing over details, accessories or over-the-top props. No giant Jenga or Corn-hole necessary! No rosewater cotton candy machine needed! This wedding gives me such a 1940s Grace Kelly vibe and the BEST part about it is the fact that Hannah wasn't 'Grace Kelly Vibe' fussy....she was precious, and it just showed in every smile captured by the talented Sarah Libby Photography.   The entire wedding just felt classic, rich and deeply authentic to who this couple is. *Swoon.

Handsome groom. Breathtaking bride. Giddy guests. Enveloped in a clean palette of creams, greens and golds. Even Chris Brown would respectfully take his seat....however, he would be up once the music got thumpin' (yes, I said this) because as the bride put it "IT. GOT. TURNT".  God, I love her....can we work together every weekend?!?!?!

***The craziest thing I’ve seen to date: Balloons filled with paint that the happy couple “darted” to create abstract art. 

In Hannah's Words:  

I’ve got you all figured out, Kirsten.  You don’t take a bad photo.  You’re the dame who hops on the red-eye to Bangkok, shaking your head of still-curled hair pragmatically when they lose your luggage.  Your clothes don’t crease.  Your T-zone won’t grease.  And we can’t even hate you for it because you’re so dang sweet.

Kirsten sent ME, someone she PAID, a Thank You card on stunning stationery two weeks after her wedding.  So she’s Kate Middleton Classy.  I, on the other hand, found a cheese poof in my bra this afternoon.  

Getting back to the ceremony: Think landscaped golf course.  Soft linen-draped pergola.  Gathers of silver dollar eucalyptus, Juliet cabbage roses, peach stock and Early Grey roses.

Lindsay Nicole Photography did a stunning job capturing it all, and Kirsten’s sweet auntie was an amazing help with the DIY flowers!  I wish she grew on my family tree.  All I have is my Aunt Blanche, who lets me wear her mood ring if I buy her a case of fuzzy navel wine coolers.  

Okay, time to get serious.  We need to talk about the “Best Dog/Dog of Honor” who was kind enough to wear a floral collar and refrain from whizzing on the bride’s train.  And don’t think we didn’t notice you, cherub-like children, who posed like Precious Moments tchotchke in every photo.  Thank you for showing us that it is possible to be a child AND not lift your dress the entire ceremony.

Flowers used: Anemones, Juliet cabbage roses, O’hara garden roses, thistle, veronica, ranunculus, silver queen pitt, silver dollar eucalyptus, nagi, brunia, dusty miller, spray roses, hypericum berries, peach stock, wax flower, Tiffany peach roses, Early grey roses

DIY items made: 1 bridal, 3 maids, 1 toss bouquet, 10 bouts, 5 corsages, 3 floral crowns, 9 centerpieces, cake flowers, 2 Oasis cages for pergola, sign flowers, 9 lanterns

Budget: $1,000-$1,300

In Kirsten’s words: Overall, it was really cool seeing everything come together. Everything I had envisioned and worked so hard on for months and months all paid off in the end. The funnest part of our wedding was our DJ. He was the first vendor we booked because we didn't want a traditional DJ so we got a Dueling Pianos DJ. He was a blast, got all of the guests to participate and dancing. He's such a talented musician and hilarious!

 The ceremony is one of my favorite memories of the wedding. Maybe because I was trying really hard to concentrate and soak it all in. It had rained earlier in the morning and then was cloudy. For the ceremony the sun burst out of the clouds and was shining. Our Pastor actually commented on that. Our Pastor's message was beautiful and relevant and funny. He really tried to put us at ease. My favorite part was looking at Brad and know he was thinking the same things I was. Funny part about our ceremony was our dog, June, was our Best Dog and Dog of Honor and she actually saw a rabbit on the golf course before so during the whole thing she was distracted and my Father-in-Law had to hold her in his lap. We have some pretty cute pictures of that.