This week's Fab*Bride was nominated by Heather and Grayson of Jagger Photography, based out of California/Washington. What's great about this fantastic duo is that they find fun ways to capture couples - they photograph real moments, laugh, and love. This is most definitely the case with Jen and Jeff, whose Morris, Illinois wedding was a simple, gorgeous ceremony in the park with a backyard barbecue reception. The couple has a lovely vintage style, which is most definitely reflected in these photographs. So what did Heather have to say about this Fab*Bride? Well...
"...Why I think Jen was unique, well there are a ton of reasons! From the first email she sent me you could just tell she was so laid back and sweet. She told me some of her ideas and I fell in love with their wedding, they are exactly the kind of people and wedding we love shooting! We flew to IL and got there on the wedding day to find her in the backyard setting up. I was shocked! Most brides are getting their hair and nails done, lounging in the room and just enjoying it all, this girl was working! It was so funny to me. Later I saw that she did her own hair and makeup which also blew me away; she was just so easy to deal with! Nothing was a huge deal, no blow ups, no freak outs, she just went with the flow. Everything at her wedding was handmade and so crafty, that is exactly what I love so I was exciting to take every photo. I loved the story of their relationship; we got to talk a lot while she was getting ready and she told me all about how they'd moved around and everything. Her wedding was so quaint and beautiful. She was amazing and you could tell everyone at this small wedding just adored this couple. I wish I could shoot them everyday!"Well we wish we could look at photos this adorable everyday too! Let's ask Jen her questions and take a peek at her wedding day!
What was the inspiration or concept behind your wedding? I grew up trying to make sense of a dual heritage and feeling like I never completely fit in. Whether it be extended stays in Mexico or daily life here in the states I was different, ni modo. All of that blossomed into a need to stick out, to be the first and only. It goes without saying that one of the most important days of my adult life was a celebration of individuality.
The moment I saw your wedding photos, I instantly felt the love between you and Jeff. You two look care-free and most certainly in love. What does Jeff inspire in you? Jeff is the single most brilliant person in my life and one of the most beautiful souls there will ever be. He challenges me to never stop adding to what I know and where I've been. His strength throughout his ongoing battle with cancer inspires me to remain positive amidst all adversity. It's inspired me to be after what is truly important in life, spirituality and justice vs. materials and self-service.
Your wedding dress is simple, elegant, and lovely – tell us about your search for the perfect piece. How did you go about accessorizing to finalize your look? I wanted a dress that was natural...elegant but understated. I was looking for something that wouldn't go out of style and I knew it would end up coming from J Crew. I was torn over several of their wedding gowns. There's something so sweet and romantic about the one I chose. Some gold ribbon around the waist added a perfect little something and was a way to match my groom. I hadn't really been able to picture myself in a traditional veil and when I saw this unique headpiece I was head over heels. It was the perfect amount of 'flashy' to go with my simple dress. It was all very easy to wear and I felt timeless.
If you could label one song as the theme to your wedding, what would it be? I almost love music too much to be able to answer this question, but I guess I'll say 'Whole Wide World' by Wreckless Eric.
How did your wedding invitations tie into your overall wedding concept? They were another money-saving do-it-yourself project. Once we remembered that we knew how to print and cut paper we couldn't think of any reason not to make our own invitations. We came up with a clever, playful design and they turned out fantastic. Making them ourselves only took about a day and it was more rewarding in the end.
You and Jeff created lots of inventive, personal details; how did creativity play a role throughout the planning process and your wedding? Every bit of our wedding was handmade by us or our family. We created all our own paper goods, decor, bouquets, boutonnieres, signs, food, etc. Creativity didn't just play a role...it was the motif, if you will. (eventcetera.org)
Getting married in the midst of a recession can be tricky, but also stimulate creativity that some brides never knew they had. What were splurges for you? What were items that you thought you’d need but in actuality were really not that important? Our photos were our one big splurge. We always knew they would be. They'll still be around long after we're gone and generations of our family that will never meet us will know us by our wedding photos. An example of something we thought we needed but in actuality was really not that important was professionally designed invitations.
What is the most important advice you’ve been given about marriage? What are some key points of advice that you can share with budding brides and brides-to-be? A good sense of humor will be your lifeline some days.
Describe a Fab*Bride (you!) in three words. Classic, vivid, certain
I would love to thank Heather and Grayson of Jagger Photography for these inspiring photographs and for nominating Jen as a Fab*Bride (there another set of photographs that you can peek at here) . I hear stories every week about brides and their weddings, and this one is most touching and lovely. Thank you to Jen for your answers. You truly know what a wedding is all about - thank you for sharing your special day with our readers.
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If you would like to make a nomination, please contact me at antoinette@invitationconsultants.com, or direct message me on Twitter @atelierantoinet. Feel free to leave a comment, as well. The rest of the crew would love to hear from you too! Until the next 
post, stay Fab*ulous!
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i love this. she is so sweet and the pictures really showcase their love well. great job blogger!
Posted by: kayla | Thursday, February 04, 2010 at 06:30 AM
wow. gorgeous.
Posted by: kaity | Thursday, February 04, 2010 at 12:07 PM
i'm dieing over her head piece, love
Posted by: Ashley | Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 08:15 AM