Sarah + Travis’ wedding comes to us from Tamarindo, Costa Rica at the gorgeous Villa Paraiso resort. Oh how I very much wish I could have been there for this one! Not only is the location and venue breathtaking but the artful touches throughout the reception are playful, inviting and really well designed (after all, Sarah is an art director and designed the whole scheme herself!). Of course Sarah looks beautiful in her Vera Wang gown called ‘Fawn’, and I love the subtle braid-bun combo as a perfectly whimsical hair style choice. Enjoy!
Sarah + Travis | August 24th, 2012 | Tamarindo, Costa Rica
The Ceremony
I envisioned our ceremony to be completely scenic, like getting married on a cliff over-looking the Pacific in some tropical location. When our wedding planners suggested a gorgeous hill top villa in Tamarindo with a view of the ocean and a negative edge pool I nearly lost it! For our pre-ceremony music we had an amazing local artist named Fabio Avalino. We had tea lights in mason jars line the aisle and custom branded wooden figures that I had fixed to the teak benches. I wanted our alter piece to be as beautiful as our scenery but not detract from it. Above our heads hung a driftwood altarpiece that had local flora woven through each branch and dripping with tea lights. After we kissed one another as husband and wife, the preacher told us to head down the aisle, but my husband took my hand and said, “Baby, soak this in,” as he turned me towards the ocean and we took a few moments to just gaze at the sunset and really bask in the moment.
The Reception
I work in advertising as an art director so I hand crafted all the invitations, menus, signs, koozies, water bottle labels, gift bags, cake toppers and table runners. For my wedding I used blushes and pastels. I spiced things up using gold glitter on my Mr & Mrs signs and incorporated baby blue/ antique grey into my chevron table runners.
Sarah’s Dress Search
I initially wanted a vintage fitting Monique Lhuillier dress or an Elizabeth Filmore, and I nearly settled on the Monique Lhuillier Scarlet until I put on The Fawn dress by Vera Wang. It was probably the 5th dress I had tried on, and I absolutely loved everything about it…especially the way I felt in it! I kept thinking about it for months and knew it just had to be mine.
How Sarah Felt in Her Wedding Dress
Stunning, Flawless, Timeless.
Why Sarah Decided to Sell Her wedding Dress
I can’t imagine keeping something so incredibly beautiful – such a work of art – hidden in a box for the rest of my life on the mere chance that if I have a daughter, she’ll look at it and confirm that it was beautiful. It would be a CRIME. I also just want to jump back in it every chance I get and would ruin the cleaning and boxing job that took 4 months to have done. I took a LOT of pictures and want to remember her just that way. This Vera is meant to be shared, and I hope that some other woman can give my dress as much happiness as it gave me. Whoever wears this dress will look breathtaking. Sigh.
Wedding Dress: Vera Wang ‘Fawn’ | Photography: Comfort Studio | Ceremony + Reception Venue: Villa Paraiso | Wedding Planning: Four Winds Weddings
