While wedding planning, this couple quickly experienced that things don’t always go as planned, but as long as you stick together, everything will always work out. Being there for each other and reminding ourselves what marriage is really about has made us even stronger. And even though they had to pivot their original wedding plans, their micro wedding set in Temecula wine country turned out to be an intimate event with less than 20 people in attendance. Their adorable puppy, Lloyd even got to be a part of the big day! Take a peek at the gallery captured through the lens of Courtney McManaway Photography and continue reading more about this west coast wedding below.
From Courtney McManaway Photography…This wedding day was originally supposed to be an event at a country club in Canyon Lake, California. As COVID started to impact wedding day plans, Lindsey and Torin really wanted to keep their wedding day, and opted to rent an Airbnb in Temecula, California for an intimate micro wedding! They included so many events I loved as a photographer on their day: Lloyd, their puppy, was a big star, they read their vows to each other before the ceremony, Lindsey’s dress had an awesome gauze back detail that looked amazing in the wind, and their outdoor ceremony overlooked the hills of Temecula Valley.
Our wedding day didn’t go as planned due to the ongoing pandemic from COVID-19. What was supposed to be approximately a 130 person wedding turned out to be less than 20 people, because we only invited immediate family from both sides. As much as we would have loved to experience what it is like to have a big wedding and ceremony, we now talk about how we wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. It was incredibly special to be able to have just our family there to support our love for one another. Since my family is from Minnesota, they have never gotten an opportunity to hang out with my husband Torin’s family altogether at the same time. It brought us so much joy to see our families get along so well, and by the end of the night we felt like one big family.
The only big inspiration behind the new plans was that I’ve seen other brides go through it and they said it was the best decision. And looking back it is hands down the best decision we made. I originally had more of a neutral earthy theme of taupes, sage green, and sand colors. My sister, Brittany, did an amazing job keeping it close to what my envision was. If anyone knows me, I extremely dislike the color pink haha, but when we went to Trader Joe’s to pick out my wedding flowers the pink peonies were speaking to me. My sister made my bouquet and the boutonnieres!! I would have honestly been lost without my sister, she helped me with every little detail, talk about a stellar Matron of Honor! There is nothing real traditional when it comes to the pandemic and weddings these days. We did sleep in separate locations the night before and did not see each other until our first look. I did have something old- my grandmother’s band, something new- the bracelet my dad gifted me the night before, something borrowed-my grandmother’s engagement ring my sister has and something blue- my Kate Spade sparkly Keds. I tried to incorporate the traditional things that I will look back and be happy that I did.
The flowers were all from Trader Joe’s! As a huge Trader Joe’s fan, I had been scoping out the flower selections that were coming out about 2-3 weeks before our wedding. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do exactly and kept talking ideas with my sister, and she gave me the thumbs up to get the flowers from TJ’s and we will make my bouquet! I didn’t even have to think twice about how they were going to turn out, I knew no matter what they would look beautiful and special because my sister made it. Some of this was from personal experience from other weddings, but mostly from just winging it with my sister and I think that was the most unique part of it all, is that I got to bond and put this all together with my sister.
I’ve always wanted to have a sleek modern dress but wanted a little lace to it. When I found my dress at BHLDN I was in love. It had a big open back and it fit me so well. I was so excited to order my dress and say “yes to the dress!” When it finally came in the mail and I tried it on, it was way too big so I needed to size down. I quickly ordered the size down and waited for this new one to come in the mail. Once it arrived it was like Christmas morning. I rushed into the bedroom to try it on and when I opened the box I noticed right away… THIS IS THE WRONG DRESS! I was so sad and defeated because when I went to check the size I needed for my original dress was back ordered until mid March. So I thought, well might as well try on this one and see. Turns out I liked this one even better! It was literally the same exact style just some mesh in the front chest area and an elegant addition of lace in the back. I did some alterations to take the shoulders off so it was more like my original dress. It was quite the whirlwind with this dress but in the end I love it so much and happy with my choice.
When it comes to shoes, I’m not really a high heel kind of gal. I like a short heel at most but I’m more into flats. When I stumbled upon the Kate Spade Keds I knew they were the one. They were cute for the wedding day and really comfortable! Also they had that little bit of blue too which was perfect! I originally broke in some short cheetah heels but since the grass at the airbnb was uneven I didn’t want to risk falling. My earrings I also got from BHLDN and just picked some simple ones. My bracelet was from my dad that he gifted me the night before my wedding.
Location: Private Residence / Photographer: Courtney McManaway Photography / Flowers: Trader Joe’s / Dress Designer: BLDHN
