December 7, 2019
Kate and Brando tied the knot surrounded by joy and warmth. Their special day was complete with plenty of personalized DIY’s that transformed the room into their exact vision.
Here’s Kate and Brando to tell you more about their love story and special day.
THEIR LOVE STORY
Brando and I met through a dating app that we were both one-more-bad-date-away from deleting. After a few weeks of talking we went on our first date; dinner and a movie at the Colonial in Phoenixville. I thought it was a pretty big time commitment for a first date, but he was all-in, so I went along.
It was early December and he chose an off-beat Finnish holiday movie called “Rare Exports.” It was weird in all the best ways. Little did I know he was testing me to see if we had the same appreciation for the unusual. It was a match and were inseparable from that day on!
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THEIR INSPIRATION
Joy and personal touch were the biggest drivers behind our special day. I’m a Graphic Designer and Creative Director and knew that as much as I didn’t want to do DIY, it wouldn’t be exactly how I envisioned it if I didn’t. So Brando, being the incredible partner he is, went along for the DIY roller coaster!
We wanted our guests to be welcomed with warmth and happiness, which was achieved through color and texture. I knew I didn’t want something conventional so I let the right side of my brain do the driving. After a few iterations my mom and I came up with the ribbon ceiling. It took almost a year to complete the panels of ribbons and we enlisted help from anyone who was willing and able. Wow was it worth it.
I’m sure our friends and family would’ve been happy to see us married in any fashion, but surrounded by so much color and bespoke details, the smile on their faces really made it worth all the work.
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THEIR FAVORITE PART
Besides marrying my best friend and spending time with all our loved ones, putting on my dress was one of my favorite moments. So much work had gone into the dress. It was custom made by Janice Martin in the Main Line, where we live.
My mom lives far away so I knew a normal wedding dress shopping experience wasn’t in the cards for us. Instead, she would come out every few months and we’d visit Janice and see the dress’ progress. At first, all I knew I wanted was something vintage-looking. What we ended up with was an incredible mix of point d'esprit lace and pale pink organza.
The best part was my mom’s involvement in the sash. She embroidered my sash with so many special moments from Brando and I’s relationship: the Philadelphia skyline, my home state of Kansas, Robert Indiana’s LOVE sculpture, the Colonial theater logo where we first met and much more. It was finished with my great grandmother’s costume jewelry and, on the back at the center of the bow, my mom sewed on a little blue button from a maternity dress she wore when she was pregnant with me. The sash itself is gorgeous and the memories we made creating it are something I will cherish forever.
THEIR ADVICE
Calm down. Especially if you’re doing DIY. Accept the fact that on the day everything gets set up, it won’t look exactly as it would if you were doing it yourself, but it will be just as gorgeous. Your wedding day isn’t about the extras, it’s about celebrating the love you and your fiance share with the people you care most about.
THE DETAILS
Venue: The Booking House
Planner: Day-of coordination by Brittany Little, Booking House Venue Coordinator
Dress: Custom made by Janice Martin Couture
Tux/Suits: Men’s Wearhouse
Rings: Govberg Jewelers
Hair: Linda & Co Salon
Makeup: Linda & Co Salon
Florist: DYI, Bride and Mother of Bride
Caterer: Hess BBQ
Cake: Whole Foods Berry Chantilly
Photographer: Amanda Kraft
Wedding invites: Bride designed and printed at The Wedding Studio in Doylestown
