As I was explaining to the solid and stoic East Bay wedding photographer Brian Ng, who photographed with me last Saturday, as we were heading to Kelley and Joe’s wedding in Danville – I try to find the mood between romantic and irreverent, between quirky and lyrical – somewhere in the space that mischief and delight live. And Kelley and Joe’s wedding dwelt there. Saturday gave them a gorgeous afternoon that lingered into evening, sunlight beaming through the treetops, love and laughter. Alongside the elegant jazz trio and glasses of port there were It’s It Ice Cream Sandwiches and a precisely perfect wooden cake-topper that Joe painted himself [see comment below]. Another personalization were the miniature chalkboard place settings – perfect since Kelley is a teacher.
The bride wore a custom tea length wedding dress, birdcage veil and hand dyed Kate Spade kitten heels. Joe wore a classic brown pin striped suit, which he told me a ‘fashion guy’ had picked out.
Arranged a ‘dinner theatre’ as the bride called it – the chairs along the two long banquet tables were positioned toward one end of the clearing allowing the guests to be seated at their places during the ceremony. They chose minister Irene Kane to officiate – she was a referral from Liz and Steve’s Presidio wedding last summer. As Kelley and Joe said their vows to each other I saw Kelley’s brothers each reach over and drifted their hand over to clapse the hand of their wives. Joe’s brothers-in-law doing the same thing. Two families full of love!
Some more favorites from their joyful wedding:
The custom ivory wedding dress, and the custom dyed kelly green kitten heels.
Kelley’s future mother-in-law did the ‘do, while her nephew looked on skeptically.
The veil descends.
I love this shot of Joe, mopping his brow and looking at Kelley, before the guests arrive.
Joe gets pinned.
One of two long tables where the guests sat for the ceremony and the dinner reception which immediately followed.
Hand-made miniature chalkboard place cards.
The glee of the recessional.
It’s-It – A SF Tradition since 1928. It says so on the wrapper.
for the uninitiated that would be an ice cream sandwich made with oatmeal cookies that’s entirely dipped in chocolate. Yum.
First dance.
Joe’s handiwork – the custom Kelley and Joe cake toppers he carved and painted.
Iphone games held more interest for some.
Thanks Xenia and Kelley of BashDesign Event Planning for heading the wonderful team of vendors that made this a delightful day!
Catering: Glass Onion
Officiant: Irene Kane
Make-up: Chris Scott
Music: Nova Jazz
Cupcakes: Icing on the Cake
