Wedding Wednesday: Real Wedding: Tana Marie and Bear’s Pirate Themed Fete: Reception and Wrap Up

Welcome to the final post of Tana Marie and Bear’s pirate themed wedding. Here is where the party starts: the reception!

Mr. and Mrs. Gosnell and their first dance as husband and wife.

Reception decor: We decided to split the tables up and have ships (donated by a family member) on some, and treasure boxes on the other. Each table had a distressed sugar skull. In addition to what you see here, we had wrought iron candle stands as well as bits of silver and brass trays, sand covered table “number” with flags of historical pirates, and of course, votives. The quilt makes a second appearance as decor over by the buffet. The trunk with the escort cards comes from Bear’s family and was first carried by his Great great uncle in WWI. The table “numbers” were named for real historical pirates and their flags served as symbols to find your table by. The sweetheart table is one of my favorite ones I’ve ever done. The gorgeous cake was from Das Meyer Pastry Chalet. You gotta love a baker who makes his own butter!

Mother/Daughter dance and toasts.

Garter and bouquet toss.

Signing the marriage license and Tana getting at Bear’s leaky eyes.

In case you ever wonder if a photo booth is worth the extra money…check this out. Thanks Iconic Photo Booth!

Neal and Judy of Iconic Photo Booth

Me: You guys chose to have a photo booth, which is a huge wedding trend right now. What was your guests reactions and do you think it was worth the $?
Bear: “As soon as the evening got moving, that photo booth was the hot spot all damn night long. Worth the money? Worth every last penny, for sure.”
Tana Marie: “The guests absolutely loved it! It was visited over 120 times, and it was the best money we spent! I was in there many times myself, since I have a love for photos. I wanted to treat the guests to something that they may have never seen at a wedding. I know I have never seen it. I look forward to when I may be able to book Iconic Photo booths again for an event. They did such a great job and made us a beautiful scrapbook with photos and loving words shared by guests. It was totally worth the money and I couldn’t imagine the event without it!”

This is my family that I have told you so much about. People call us “The Bear Clan.” We are full of love, laughter, and as you can see by the pic below…WE ROCK!

This is what happens when the DJ plays Pantera as we are taking a family pic. As Bear and Tana would say, “this is how we roll.”

Thanks for indulging me in sharing a great many pictures of a couple near and dear to my heart. It was my honor to have my last event before my retirement be for two of the people I love most in the world. Making them happy and their wedding dreams come true is all I could ask for. 🙂

Credit: All photos (except for photo booth) by Eric Murphy of Piscean Dreams Photography.

Wedding Wednesday: Real Wedding: Tana Marie and Bear’s Pirate Themed Fete: Formal Pics

Here we are at the formal and as you will see at the end, not so formal pictures. Speaking from personal experience, Tana Marie and Bear’s friends and family are full of love, light, and laughter and these pics speak to that. We had a great time!

Me: What was your favorite moment of the day?
Bear: “A couple of things really touched me. 1. That first look between Tana and I. 2. Hanging out with my guys prior to coming up to the venue. 3. Seeing my little boy all dressed up.”

Here’s an awesome pic of our kiddo all dressed up for Daddy’s wedding:

Tana Marie: I have a few, getting in my dress and then having my great uncle, Paul, come down to give me my great grandma’s ring to borrow for the day, seeing the whole bridal party all dressed up, having my mom put my grandma’s pearls on me and the emotions with my family, seeing Bear for the first time and the utter look of love in his eyes, having my Grandma and Grandpa Sjoquist there and that my grandpa had an eye patch on then to have them both walking me half way down the aisle, then having my mom and uncle walk me the rest of the way down on a path of petals barefooted and seeing all the smiling faces of family and friends looking back, saying my vows to Bear and oath to Domi, hearing everyone in the boathouse hail Bear and I during the passing of the horn with the bridal party and the energy and love I felt, the electricity from our first kiss and the passion behind it, the anticipation of being pronounced husband and wife then when it finally came, our first dance, and the hotel at the end of the evening, just to name a few. It’s so hard to have just one when the whole day was wonderful.”

I just have to point out how cute my son and his best buddy, Ronan are in their wee tuxes. This was definitely the largest wedding party I’ve ever worked with.

I love this pic of Tana Marie and her mom, not to mention the great pic of Tana Marie and Bear with Tana Marie’s family. Definitely a loving family oriented vibe to the day.

Gorgeous bridal party and Tana Marie with her Maids/Matron of Honor.

Every wedding album needs a bit of levity.

Thanks for hanging in there and stay tuned for the final post of Tana Marie and Bear’s pirate themed celebration.

Credit: All photos by Eric Murphy of Piscean Dreams Photography.

Wedding Wednesday: Real Wedding: Tana Marie and Bear’s Pirate Themed Fete: Ceremony

Hello again! Tana Marie and Bear’s ceremony was beautiful and full of traditions based on their spiritual practice. To learn more about them and what you see in the pictures, here is a really good link.

This first set is their altar. In addition to seaworthy bits and bobs, you will see some very important parts to an Asatru wedding: a bottle of mead (honey wine) and horn for toasting, a large Thor’s hammer with which to bless the couple, as well as jewelry (a Thor’s hammer and a Valknut (a symbol of Odin).

Tana Marie and Bear also incorporated family heirlooms and a memorial for Bear’s mother and Tana Marie’s Grandmother by placing a yellow rose for each of them on empty chairs. If you look closely at Tana Marie’s bouquet, you will see a little charm bottle, which contained her grandmother’s ashes. The onyx ring is also a family heirloom of Tana Marie’s. Bear and Dominic each wore a piece of Bear’s mother’s jewelry (chains) to honor her. The quilt was made by Tana Marie’s mom and family just for this occasion.

Me: Tana, you got a big surprise from your uncle, what was it and what was your initial reaction?
Tana Marie: My Grandpa and Grandma Sjoquist were there. I haven’t seen them in over five years and I have no words to describe how happy I was that they were to be there for me on my big day, especially after the horribly thing my father and his children from his current wife did to me a little over a month before. It was amazing to see how much fun they had and the help they offered, and that they loved me, Bear, and Domi. I have to say that it was the best gift to have them there and to hug them both.

Tana Marie’s grandparents walked her part way down the aisle and then her mom, Barbara, and her uncle, Brent walked her the rest of the way.

Bear and Tana Marie’s officiants were their gothi (priest), Magni Thorsson and their gythia (priestess), Bethany McCauslin. You’ll see from the faces of the wedding party that while the ceremony was full of serious traditon, it was also full of love and humor.

Here are Tana Marie, Bear, and our son, Dominic, making oaths to Domi on an oath ring. The oath was witnessed by all present and is taken quite seriously. In addition, you will see a ring of keys and a sword. The keys are given to the bride as a symbol of her responsibility for the home and its finances. The sword is presented to the groom and symbolizes of his responsibility to protect the family and home.

The blessing of the couple and the pouring of mead in to the horn by the gythia.

Rings and the binding of wrists.

Presentation of Mr. and Mrs. and THE kiss.

Stay tuned for part three coming up in the next hour!

Credit: All photos by Eric Murphy of Piscean Dreams Photography.

Wedding Wednesday: Real Wedding: Tana Marie and Bear’s Pirate Themed Fete: Pre-Ceremony

Happy Wednesday! I’m super excited to be bringing you a real wedding today! It’s a wedding near and dear to my heart as it’s not only one I planned, but one I planned for family. The groom is my ex-husband as well as dear friend and most especially the awesome father of our kiddo. The bride has become my “sister from another mister” and all around good friend.

Tana Marie and Bear met three years ago at a theme party. I remember Bear telling me about this beautiful woman he met and whether he should ask her out. However, before he asked Tana Marie out on a date, he asked her mom whether it was okay or not. Bear is just that sort of gentleman. When he got in touch with Tana Marie, she was feeling pretty sick. So, instead of a “let’s do this another time,” Bear headed down to Denver to make soup and take care of her. Quite a sweet first date if you ask me.

A few months later and Bear and Tana Marie were engaged. They decided to go with a theme wedding and as my long-time readers know, I love planning theme weddings. For me, it’s taking a theme and carrying it out in an elevated aesthetic rather than going for expected kitsch. Tana Marie and Bear decided on a pirate theme wedding. Pirates in Colorado? Yep, you betcha.

Me: Why did you go with a pirates and fairies wedding theme?
Bear: “We met at a pirate party. The first Mayhem party actually. The fairies…no damn clue…lol.”
Tana Marie: Bear and I met at a pirate themed party, and I was dressed as a “Dark Tinkerbell.” My mother actually suggested the idea, and it was an excellent one! The guests were encouraged to dress in pirate garb and quite a few did! I wanted my flower fairy girls in wings in remembrance of my costume the night we first met: The pirate quartermaster meeting his soulmate.” (Mayhem was a group of friends who got together for parties, camping, and whatnot.)

We began to carry the pirate theme through in the design of their monogram…

…and their invitations:

The groom and groomsmen’s ties from Rok Gear:

A beautiful mermaid to greet guests and hand out programs:

Lots of bridal bling (with mom’s assistance of course):

…and Bridesmaid jewelry from Cinsational Baubles. I love the pre-ceremony smooch between my kiddo and his new stepmom:

This could very well be one of the cutest first looks ever! Only Tana Marie’s Mom, myself, the videographer, and photographer were present. Oh, and in case you were wondering, I totally teared up with joy. There is no doubt about it, Tana Marie and Bear are truly, madly, and deeply in love!

Me: What was each of your experience with your “first look?”
Bear: “I think it’s the best way to go for any wedding, you relax and calm yourselves. Seeing Tana in that dress was beyond words, Goddess-like does not do it justice. Still thinking about that moment makes me emotional…ok…move on now…lol.”
Tana Marie: “I remember waiting with anticipation to see his reaction as he opened his eyes and saw me for the first time all dressed up. Bear picked out my dress, seeing it in ivory at the store. I love that he was the one who picked it. 🙂 He never saw me in the red dress ’till that moment, and when I saw his face and the love it showed, it made my heart melt. He looked absolutely handsome in his tux! It is a moment I will never forget.”

Me: Would you recommend a “first look” to other brides and grooms?
Bear: “Oh hell yeah!!!!!”
Tana Marie: “Highly! You have that moment where it feels like it is only the two of you there and you feel complete. At last it was for myself.”

Stay tuned for parts 2-4 throughout the day. I couldn’t resist posting a good deal of pics…after all, it’s my family! 🙂

Credit: All photos except for the picture of the Washington Park Boathouse on Smith Lake by Eric Murphy of Piscean Dreams Photography. Photo of Washington Park Boathouse on Smith Lake by Suzy Guese.