Are you packed for Christmas yet? Dressing for the holidays…
Wedding Wednesday: Cioppino
The best weddings Rob and I have photographed have always been the simplest. One that really stands out was a few years back in Southern California. It was a day wedding in a private garden. They made the centerpieces out of potted pansies and other flowers. Splurged only on a long flower garland for the altar. Cut a small cake and served from a larger sheet cake.
The most clever part was their lunch. Instead of a big catered affair, they served a variety of deluxe meat, cheese and veggie platters. The featured dish was a huge pot of cioppino made by a relative that morning with a family recipe. I think they omitted the shelled ingredients for convenience and just included fish, shrimp and calamari. It was delicious and felt so festive.
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One of my favorite weddings was like that too. My girlfriend had her wedding in a really old church.. well, old for here 1850. Anyway, in the back of this old rock church there was a small old fashioned garden with lots of lilacs and rose bushes. There were tons of flowers in simple.. not really matching vases and they were all from her mother’s beautiful garden. They just served things like lemonade and simple little finger desserts like lemon bars with powdered sugar and tiny cookies and finger sandwiches and stuff like that. Everything was homemade with love. It was like stepping back in time, but it was such a beautiful setting and such a lovely evening that people stayed and stayed and had the most wonderful time ever. And, when I have forgotten the details of more elaborate and expensive weddings.. this one is one that stands out in my mind.. I remember all the pretty, but simple details.
I live on a beautiful meandering street (huge oaks in the middle of the road) with wonderful neighbors. When my husband and I decided to get married I asked my neighbor for advice on what to do…we wanted it casual, full of all the people we love, both kid and adult friendly, great fun and low on stress. Her response: a block party wedding! Street blocked, with big round tables in the middle. Heaps of gorgeous flowers and foliage largely cut from my neighbors’ gardens on the tables. I’m from Hawaii, my hubbie from Texas. We did a combo luau/Texas barbecue. Homemade pupus. Tiki torches. Next door neighbors serving champagne in hula skirts. Leis flown in from the Big Island. Music: Hawaiian and then reggae. Folks of all ages dancing in the street under a full moon for hours and hours and hours. I’m still told by my guests it was the most enjoyable wedding ever.