Oh wow…if you could have been my husband or any of the kitties laying on the bed when I squealed with delight as soon as this feature pop up in my email! This is combined a lot of my favorites: love, mixtape, Say Anything, and that teal color. Oh boy oh boy am I ever excited to pass this concept shoot along…it’s chalk full of great ideas (wink!)

Kris and Lyssa fell in love at school and I must say they are the cutest high school sweethearts. The wedding design started with a throw back to their schoolyard days with mix tapes and boom boxes. For the venue we selected a local Northern Virginia park, because similar locations can be found in almost any city with black tops and swing sets to entertain the kids while encouraging older guests to remember their youth.

Table details included vintage school chairs paired with a white and chrome table. A custom runner with black cursive numbers on a white background added a graphic element to the dinner table. Vintage turquoise Melmac dishes were used to create a relaxed fun feel and mod orange water glasses added an additional pop of color to the tabletop.

The guest book table included flat note cards with cute school year pictures of Lyssa and Kris displayed in a vintage desk organizer. Guests could use blue or orange crayons to “pass a note” to the couple and hinted to the fact that there were “no teachers in sight.” A boom box with microphone was also set up for guests to record some “boom box love“ for Lyssa and Kris on their big day. We thought this would be a huge hit as guests remember back to the day when they made their own mix tapes.

A custom veil, by Doreen at Unveiled Bridal Designs was the perfect fit for Lyssa’s funky style, including spotted orange, turquoise, black, and white feathers with a white masque to cover Lyssa’s eyes. The dress created by Vintage Mama, was a short flirty dress with pleats down the center for a fun detail.

Lyssa and Kris were meant for each other, just like cassette tapes with boom boxes and the letterpresses coasters, designed by Julia Juliette, were the perfect little detail and acted as additional favors for guests.

A candy caddy allowed guests to indulge in their childhood favorites like pixy sticks and lollypops, sidewalk chalk was displayed for use on the black top, and jump ropes were strung around the playground and placed out for kids and adult to use. Finally there were banners saying “HS SWEET HEARTS” strung on the swing set and the bride and grooms chairs.

Kris’ boutonniere, made by Holly Chapple Flowers, was funky with a small black pocket made for the stems, turquoise spotted guinea feathers, black leucadendron and a single white ranunculus, with a black pin detail added to the center. Similarly, Lyssa’s bouquet made a big statement with funky black leucadendron, black calla lilies, white ranunculus, white carnations, and various feathers.

The ceremony was an intimate event with a mix of school chairs and jump ropes to line the aisle. The program covers, made by Paperzest, started with a hand drawn heart with L + K plus the date in the center. The finishing touch was an orange ribbon tie and a single spotted guinea feather emerging from the heart.

Other unique details included the use of white vinyl decals applied to one of the school chairs, which was painted black. The same decals were applied to black cube vases for the centerpieces creating a cohesive graphic design. The couples custom mix tapes were given as favors and helped guests find their seats. Menu cards the were made to resemble grade school report cards referred to each course as a period, such as “1st period: Crispy potato rounds with fancy tomato dipping sauce” and “fifth period: Gym/Lyssa & Kris’s first dance to ‘In Your Eyes’ by Peter Gabriel”, the quintessential boom box love song. Part of each menu was handwritten in blue crayon to add to the grade school look. To start their first dance, Kris held the boom box over his head, creating the perfect “Say Anything” moment. (omg omg omg so cute!!!!)

And Hats Off to These Talented, Kick-ass, Amazing, Stylish Vendors:
My Simple Details
Holly Chapple Flowers
Kate Triano Photography
Paperzest
Masque Veil: Unveiled Bridal Designs
Wedding Dress: Xoe McAleece Vintage Mama
Letter pressed coasters: Julia Juliette
Vinyl decals (chair + vases): Byrdie Graphics