A Rustic and Whimsical Wedding at Home in California

Anna and Colby

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Anna Pomerantz, an interior designer, and Colby Buddelmeyer, a consumer products developer, celebrated their love with an eclectic wedding on September 3, 2011 in Santa Monica, California. Their nuptials -- big on personalized details and graphic design elements -- had bohemian and Navajo touches that fit their backyard bash to a T.

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The Stationery

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The letterpressed invitation suite, designed by Thunderwing Press, reflected the wedding's palette of indigo, gold, and rust, and featured floral and Navajo motifs and unique typography. It also boasted a custom logo that incorporated the couple's initials and represented their love of California (their names start with C and A, after all). With a palette of indigo, gold, and rust, the pieces fused floral designs, graphic Navajo elements, and unique typography.

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The Location

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The couple chose to have their ceremony at Hotchkiss Park, just a few blocks away from Anna's parents' historical craftsman home -- and the site of their cocktail hour and reception.

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The Fashions

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Anna accessorized her Carolina Herrera gown with diamond earrings she received for her 18th birthday and her grandfather's Masonic ring (it also happened to be her mother's old engagement ring).

Colby's Marc Jacobs suit and shirt were accented by a blue Dior tie. The non-traditional couple saw each other prior to the ceremony to pose for portraits taken by photographer Charley Star of CharleyStar Photo.

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The Shoes

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The bride's something blue? A pair of Prada pumps.

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The Bouquet

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Anna's stunning clutch was made of heirloom garden roses, wax flower, passion vine, Echinacea, thistle, and amaranthus, all bound by strips of chambray fabric. This bouquet and other floral elements were created by Bash, Please, who designed and planned Anna and Colby's fete.

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A Floral Accent

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Charley Star Photo

The bride kept her hairstyle soft and simple. Wax flowers and a braid completed the look.

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The Bridal Party

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Anna's sister, pregnant with her first child, wore an ABS Collection for A Pea in the Pod gown. Colby's sister donned a BHLDN frock. Both girls carried bouquets of Pampas grass tied with strips of denim.

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The Boutonnieres

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Simple bunches of lavender, kangaroo paw, and Echinacea decorated the guys' lapels.

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Pumped-Up Kicks

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The groomsmen, along with Anna's and Colby's dads, wore customized Vans and J.Crew suits. The groom slipped into Paul Smith socks and Dior shoes for the ceremony, but exchanged them for Vans later in the evening. His suit was Marc Jacobs.

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The Seating

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Aqua-trimmed wooden benches complemented the ceremony's casual park setting.

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The Huppah

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Heirloom garden roses, wax flower, passion vine, Echinacea, thistle, amaranthus, and lavender hung from the wedding canopy, which was made of a printed cloth and bamboo stalks from the backyard of the bride's family home.

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The Entrance

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Anna made her grand debut in a vintage Volvo van. "It was a last-minute decision, but one of the best I made," says the bride. "The time alone gave me a moment to pause and reflect before the festivities began."

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The Entrance

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Anna walked down the aisle with her parents to "Ferris Wheel" performed by the Living Sisters. Coincidentally, the pair's rehearsal dinner was held on Santa Monica's pier, famous for its big wheel, just the night before.

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The Ceremony

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Rabbi Don Signer led the Jewish service. "He used 'cosmic' at least twice to describe the day and our love," says Anna. "It was a magical time."

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The Parade

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During the short walk from the ceremony to the reception area, guests waved flags of fabric remnants, and played tambourines and kazoos or blew bubbles.

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The Drinks

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Befitting their Mexican-inspired menu, the cocktail hour began with margaritas and Spanish wines and beers. A signature libation was called "The Colby": the groom's namesake drink of Maker's Mark and Mexican Coca-Cola.

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The Escort Cards

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The seating assignments were listed on small signs and hung along the entryway leading to the backyard.

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The Cocktail Hour

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"We wanted to create an environment that made people feel like they were hanging out in our living room," says Anna. To achieve this, Bash, Please decorated lounge areas with furniture, throws, and pillows, and even scattered the lawn with blankets.

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The Table Numbers

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Embroidered table numbers incorporated the distinctive font from the stationery suite.

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The Reception

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Long tables and a hodgepodge of chairs from Yeah! Rentals were set up on the manicured lawn and patio covered with rugs from Casa de Perrin.

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The Linens

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Anna and Colby made the patchwork-denim table runners with help from their friends -- and their old jeans.

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The Centerpieces

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The tabletops were decorated with potted plants and vessels holding flowers and grasses, such as heirloom garden roses, wax flower, passion vine, Echinacea, thistle, amaranthus, lavender, kangaroo paw, pampas grass, and bittersweet.

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The Place Settings

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A seed packet and calligraphed place card sat atop each vintage plate.

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The Swags

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The couple's wedding planners, Bash, Please, turned leftover denim into sweet decor for the bride's and groom's chairs.

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The Dinner

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The 125 guests dined under strands of bistro lights and a pattern wash projected on the lawn. Heirloom LA created a menu that started with pumpkin empanadas, cactus angolotti, and mini chile rellenos. For the main meal, guests noshed on a farmers' market salad, stuffed squash blossom, tamales, charred sweet potatoes, and wild rice and beans.

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The Cake

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The cake by Vanilla Bake Shop was embellished with fondant rope at the base of each tier. Inside were layers of coconut cake, yellow cake with chocolate frosting, and chocolate cake with salted caramel frosting.

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The Dessert

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In addition to the wedding cake, tres leches cake and spiced sandwich cookies were also served. For guests looking for a healthier option, Mexican fruit was at their disposal -- a play on the L.A. produce stands where melon, mango, or papaya can be bought with a squeeze of fresh lime, salt, and cayenne pepper.

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The First Dance

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A favorite bootleg version of Bob Dylan's "If Not for You" played as the newlyweds danced.

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Sources

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Photography: CharleyStar Photo

Event Planning, Design, and Flowers: Bash, Please

Catering: Heirloom LA

Stationery: Thunderwing Press

Cake: Vanilla Bake Shop

Musicians: The Living Sisters (ceremony); Jimi Hey and Ian Marshall (DJs)

Rentals: Yeah! Rentals; Casa de Perrin (rugs)

Hair and Makeup: Fiore

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