Our Reception

We had a photo/video booth set up outside the cultural hall. I love watching this back and seeing how we all looked in 2015 and how many families have grown and changed since then. I treasure these memories!

Twinkle lights hearkened back to the proposal, and spray-painted foam spheres added pops of color.

We did a few things differently for our wedding reception. For one, it was the day before our wedding! That worked out so well for us, breaking up all the rush of one day into two more relaxed days. We loved it.

My dad helped me create this "look out the window" homestyle backdrop for our receiving line. Look closely: in the back, there's popcorn popping on the apricot tree! (Pictured: my two best roomhomies from my days in Orem! And Eric. :) )

I had always pictured popcorn being part of my wedding, and the obvious multi-flavor popcorn bar was an automatic inclusion. I also based my entire color theme on popcorn kernel colors of my favorite blend of Amish ladyfinger popcorn: midnight blue, burgundy, and pale yellow (same color scheme as this blog!).

I don't remember the red and blue flavors now! But I do remember having a grand ol' time when my mom and I made this treat together for this special event. We had regular caramel and store-bought white cheddar (that's hard to make without shnazzy equipment). Maybe coconut and raspberry? They matched the color scheme and were delish!

I have never liked the idea of fresh flowers as decor because they're always so much more fragrant and vibrant growing on their stems and bushes in the wild. I've never asked James to get me flowers; it's just not my thing. (I say if he ever does want to get me flowers to plant me a purple rose bush: my favorite smelling wild rose.) My amazing great aunt made my bouquet out of incredible paper flowers (and we tossed in popcorn too, natch), and all my centerpieces were lovely bare branches (that had been trimmed to make way for the coming spring) with popped corn hot-glued on! Oh, I loved it!

I preserved my bouquet and James's boutonniere in a deep shadowbox keepsake we display on our mantle. It's so lovely.

My mom is Longaberger basket queen. Made for great home-style centerpieces!

For our food spread, we did some nibbles that represented our favorites. James loves green grapes, I love pineapple. We both love bread and cheese. Our dessert bites were mini homemade oreos (famous grandma Cutler recipe) and cheesecake squares.

Our "cake" was two whole cheesecakes from Cheesecake Factory. I mean...you don't have to stress about anything. You choose your favorite flavor (mine: dulce de leche; James: red velvet), it's made perfectly, it displays professionally, you know it will taste great, and every anniversary you can just go grab another slice to reminisce. I wouldn't change a thing.

It was simply the best and happiest evening. My only wish is that more people could've made it! I just love my people. I mean, look at my fierce grandma. Can't beat it.