Alyssa and Josiah first met at the Rock of Roseville church and remained acquaintances for a long time before starting to date. After about two years of dating, the couple began talking engagement. “We ordered a custom ring a few months earlier, but Josiah had picked it up without my knowing,” says Alyssa. “He proposed very spur-of-the-moment when he was asking me how he should go about proposing. He’s a funny guy...I was very surprised.”

Hoping to keep the wedding informal and untraditional, Alyssa was determined to create something unique on a tight budget. Most everything ended up being handmade and the wedding took place at Josiah’s parents’ house, neither a bad thing according to Alyssa.

“Let’s just say there was a lot of Josiah-comforting-Alyssa-time,” shares the bride on the planning process. “We only had four months so I pretty much cut off my social life and spent my time at antique fairs, the local flea market and thrift stores. We saved a lot of money by buying things instead of renting them and not doing a sit-down meal (we did finger foods). We also have wonderful friends who made and served all the food.”

Even parts of the ceremony were designed to be out of the norm. “Josiah is part Jewish, so we added a few elements of a Jewish ceremony,” Alyssa says. “The main thing that surprised people was that I walked in first with my girls. Once I was at the front with my dad, the music changed and Josiah came in walking in front of his guys. For the record, this isn’t a Jewish tradition, it was our idea.”

Alyssa notes it was Josiah’s idea to set up picnic blankets for the guests to sit on for the reception, saving some cost on chairs and tables and creating a cool, casual atmosphere. “Josiah and I both love vintage with a modern edge, so our colors were poppy yellow, slate gray and black,” she says. Alyssa’s mother-in-law made a cake topper for tiers of 1950s-style bon bon cookies, since neither newlywed likes cake. They also rented a photo booth that provided not only entertainment, but plenty of memorable party favors for the guests.

For Alyssa and Josiah, their wedding was everything they wished for. “It was informal, it was fun, it went off beautifully, and we couldn’t have wished it any better!”

Ceremony Site: Private Home
Officiant: Friend
Photographer: Sarah Dawson Photography   Phone: 916-289-4226
Hair: Friend
Make-up: Friend
Bridal Attire: House of Fashion
Bridesmaid Attire: Each chose their own dress
Groom's Attire: JCPenney, Forever 21 and 7 for All Mankind
Groomsmen Attire: JCPenney
Invitations: The Bride: Graphic Designer Alyssa Kohler
Placecards: The Bride: Graphic Designer Alyssa Kohler
Thank You Cards: The Bride: Graphic Designer Alyssa Kohler
Flowers: Laurie's Flowers
Cake: Friend
Photo Booth Rental: Wildrose Photo Booth
Table Rental: Classic Party Rentals
Table Linens: Classic Party Rentals
Honeymoon Location: Windsor, CA

Any tips you'd give to brides and grooms planning their wedding:
Be nice, but don't compromise what you want on anything that you might regret later. You're the only one who will remember those things after the wedding is over.

Details about this couples flowers:
Pin cushion protea, yarrow, oncidium orchids, crespedia, black-eyed susan, button chrysanthemums, and golden rod.

Anything else about your wedding?
As far as vendors, Maurice at Master Jewelers is amazing. He has a small shop, but he made me a gorgeous custom ring and worked his best to stay within our price range.