Beautiful Joanne and her husband Cullen had the best of both worlds. First, they held an intimate, family-only ceremony overlooking the San Francisco Bay. A week later, friends traveled from all over the country to kick up their heels and celebrate in Texas, at a chic and charming lake-house reception. Best of all, Joanne got to wear her stunning Lela Rose gown twice…how lovely!
Joanne + Cullen | April 29, 2011 | San Francisco, California
Reception | May 7, 2011 | Granbury, Texas
The ceremony
I come from a very big family and Cul has lived in the same place his whole life – so needless to say the wedding invite list was getting too big for comfort. So Cullen and I decided to get married a week earlier than planned and take only our immediate family (moms, dads, siblings, and nieces and nephews) out to San Francisco (our favorite city) and do it the way we wanted. It was fun, relaxed and imitate.
We stayed at Rosewood Sand Hill in Palo Alto – an amazing hotel. We were married on Friday in Crissy field in San Francisco. We were stood on the beach with our families and were married with the bridge and water in the background. It was perfect.
The reception
Our reception was back in Texas on our original wedding date. It was just a big, fun party. It had all the elements of a traditional reception – just without the ceremony. The venue was out at my husband’s family lake house located in Granbury, Texas. Cullen is an amazing architect and he designed the lake house himself. Granbury is the cutest little town – untouched by modern advances (haha). There is a town square with the courthouse located in the middle, an ice cream shop, movie theatre, and little coffee shops.
Not saying what we did was for everyone – but it was perfect for us. We got to have a private ceremony with those that we love the most – our family. Then, a week later , we were able to cut loose and celebrate. And you know… it was a great way to wear my wedding dress twice! I really love my gown.
How Joanne felt in her wedding dress
Unique, classic, and unforgettable.
Why Joanne decided to sell her wedding dress
That is a hard one! I think that I want a lucky girl to be able to feel the way I felt on my special day.
Joanne’s wedding dress: Lela Rose, Barn Dress
Ceremony Photography: Ryan Ray Photo
Reception Photography: Ellman Photography
Everyone loves Charleston!
With its rich history, graceful Southern charm and gorgeous architecture, it’s easy to see why people love Charleston. And it’s no wonder Susan Sarandon’s daughter, Eva Amurri, choose the location for her October 29th wedding.
Eva took her love of Charleston one step further when she selected a Lela Rose custom gown based on Rose’s “The Woods” dress.
The seven gowns from Lela Rose’s Fall 2012 collection were inspired by the beautiful places to get married in Charleston. Eva fell in love with a picture of the gown and asked Lela Rose to create a custom version for her. A Charleston wedding and a Charleston inspired dress. It was just meant to be.
If you love the soft, romantic nature of Lela Rose, take a peek at the Lela Rose wedding dresses currently available PreOwned.
Images: LtoR Pop Sugar, US, People , Lela Rose
I think destination weddings are so beautiful. There is just something about wedding vows set against such a natural (and breathtaking) backdrop. Honestly, how lovely is the circle that Allison and Scott stood it for their ceremony. Truly, no other decor was needed.
Allison & Scott | June 18, 2010 | Maui, Hawaii
How he proposed
Scott and I had a very long courtship. After several years together, we were living in NYC (now living in Portland, OR) and he surprised me with a beautiful ring one snowy evening in at home. I was in my pajamas and was a total wreck, but he loved me anyway. 
The ceremony
We were married in Hana, HI at the Hotel Hana Maui. The ceremony took place on the afternoon of June 18, 2010 with about 35 of our closest family and friends in attendance. The ceremony site was on the bluff area overlooking the Pacific ocean and was along side a beautiful horse pasture. We had a fairly traditional wedding ceremony with small pieces of Hawaiian culture mixed in.
The moment Allison will never forget
One of my favorite moments at our reception was when my father gave a very moving speech. He is not much of a public speaker, so it really meant a lot to me that he got up there and spoke from his heart. He had everyone in tears!!
I also very much enjoyed our first dance. It was unexpected because it was not the song or the time we had planned for it, but it turned out beautifully and was truly memorable.
Splurges and Savings
The biggest splurge was definitely my dress and our reception. We saved by cutting down on the amount of flowers at the ceremony and also a few DIY items like our welcome bags, guest gifts, and family history boards. We also didn’t have a DJ which saved us quite a bit. We just hooked up an ipod to a stereo system.
Why she decided to sell her wedding dress?
I decided to sell the wedding dress because I know it can be difficult to keep a dress preserved and I am often moving around the country. I also know how expensive weddings are and no matter how much you save and cut back, you always end up spending more in areas than you expected. If I could go back in time, I would seriously consider buying a pre-owned wedding gown. You save so much money and can often get the same exact dress you would find in the bridal salon for much much less. You have to alter a new dress to fit you anyway, so why not buy used and save that money for your honeymoon or a downpayment on a home?!
Her advice for other brides
My biggest tip is to enjoy your day and if you’re a destination bride (like I was), enjoy the extended time with your family and friends. And try not to sweat the small stuff. I know it’s hard…trust me.
