I love it when a couple pours their hearts and personalities into their wedding. I also enjoy seeing crafty and talented friends and family come together to help make the wedding possible. Katie and Nate are music fanatics who just so happen to have that crafty and talented support group. From the lovely musical surprises from Katie’s siblings, to the tee quilt Nate’s mom made, to the end-of-the-night family jam – this wedding is filled with love and laughter!

Living in the Bay Area, we spend lots of time outside of the city on the weekends, and Big Sur had become one of our favorite places in the world. Endless landscapes, lush cliff sides, and some of the oldest Redwood trees in the country outline the immaculate beauty this magical place has to offer. Needless to say, the location alone really MADE our wedding what it was. But the location would not have been as touching without the incredible soundtrack behind it. Nate and I absolutely LOVE music (preferably live.) We are serious Beatles fans and had a few subtle hints throughout also. When our friend Brandon raised his hand to help out with the wedding music, we jumped. It was the greatest gift! We are so blessed to have such talented friends in our lives.

Nate’s mother put together the most incredible quilt with all of our old t-shirts that we have been collecting since we started dating. Many have some from music shows, or have been worn to shows and therefore have much sentimental value.

Megan and Brandon (sister/brother) played some mellow songs for the ceremony and kicked off the evening with a father daughter dance and Nate and my first dance with Bert Keely (playing back up with some brass). They even recorded all the songs they played for the wedding and gave us the EP as a gift. We danced to some iPod hits and then went back to some mellow music around the campfire where our very talented guests had the opportunity to jam with the Keely’s.

When putting together a dance play list we argued like crazy. I argued, that “of course, people want to hear GAGA when they are dancing. It’s just how it is!” He argued that he “didn’t want Top 40 at his wedding”. He cooked up a little surprise with Megan and Brandon and out came an incredible cover of Paparazzi. I think we ALL have a new found respect for the Gaga now. Heart be still, check it out! (seriously guys, you gotta click play!)

After rocking out to an iTunes dance playlist, we circled around the fire to finish the night with a little jam session. One uncle sang the blues, another uncle blew us away with the harmonica, a long time friend of the family ripped on the guitar, and another guest sang acoustic.

Here are some of the highlights:

Ceremony – Covered by Brandon and Megan Keely

Intro Song > Nick Drake
Processional > Heartbeats, Jose Gonzales

Reception – Covered by the Keely’s

Georgia on My Mind > Ray Charles (Father Daughter Dance)
Hold You in My Arms > Ray LaMontagne (B&G First Dance)
Paparazzi > Lady Gaga (A Surprise from the Groom to Bride)

Cocktail/Dinner Hour – iTunes

He’s Funny that Way > Billie Holiday
Flume > Bon Iver
In the Sun> Michael Stipe and Chris Martin
The Funeral > Band of Horses
The Sandman, Brakeman and Me > Monsters of Folk
Lake Michigan > Rogue Wave
Can’t Help Falling in Love > Elvis
Since I Fell for you > Willie Nelson
I Hear a Symphony > Diana Ross/ Supremes
The Predatory Wasp Of The Palisades > Sufjan Stevens
Across the Universe > The Beatles
I Love You > Devotchka
Song for You > Alexi Murdoch
White Winter Hymnal > Fleet Foxes
Waiting on an Angel > Ben Harper
Chills > Peter Bjorn and John
Why Don’t you let me Stay Here > She & Him
Takk… > Sigur Ros

Dance Music – iTunes

God Only Knows > Beach Boys
Close to Me > The Cure
I Saw Her Standing There > The Beatles
Friday I’m in Love > The Cure
First Day of My Life > Bright Eyes
Crazy Love > Van Morrison
Don’t Stop > Michael Jackson
Fancy Footwork > Chromeo
Electric Feel > MGMT
All Night > Damien Marley & Stephen Marley
Ms. Jackson > Outkast
Young Forever > Jay-Z
That’s Not My Name > The Ting Tings
Pump up The Volume > Marrs
Take Me On > A-Ha
Ready for the Floor > Hot Chip
The Promise > When in Rome
Iko Iko > The Belle Stars

If I could do it all again, I would in a heartbeat and I wouldn’t change a thing. If I could give any advice, I would recommend stepping out of everything a few times throughout the event and just look at how much fun people are having; just thinking about it will forever give me the “warm and fuzzies”.

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True Love Capture By: Steep Street