Sacramento Grand Ballroom Wedding | Recycled DIY Wedding | Chelsea and John

I don’t think that John, the conservative research scientist, ever really knew what hit him. Chelsea was probably the last thing he ever expected in his life…a beautiful zoo keeper with a deep love of life and animals. And much and like the creatures she cares for in her job at the Oakland Zoo, more than a little on the wild side!

That being said, how could John NOT fall in love with her. Their story reminds me of a song by the Okee Dokee Brothers they play on the kid’s channel we listen to on the way into school every morning. And every time I hear it, I grin from ear to ear and think about Chelsea and John.

Lucy and TightyLefty Lucy loved to lolly lackadaisically
But Righty Tighty went By the book alphabetically
So when Lefty Lucy loosened up unapologetically
Righty Tighty tightened up rather introvertedly

Though some would say, they didn’t stand a chance
Not even as friends, let alone a romance
Far from compatible, probably problematical
Not enough in common to make it automatical

But radical love and fanatical love
Triumph over mathematical love
Stop talking theoretically, try saying it poetically
The whole wide world is held together magnetically

‘Cause opposites attract, opposites attract
In the end baby, opposites attract

On the dance floor, they were known for
Having moves that expressed themselves aesthetically
Lucy was groovy, dancing to a different drummer energetically
Tighty politely followed the right steps predictably

Solo, they were so-so, but together they’d be better exponentially
So Righty Tighty found his beat
And Lefty Lucy unwound her feet
They danced unexpectedly together attractively
They did the twist all night long so beautifully

It seems unthinkable in this screwy world
For a right-handed boy to love a left-handed girl
But this story, contradictingly, was written ironically
‘Cause in the end they ended up happily ever afterly

So take this love story, two beautiful people, and an AMAZING recycled DIY wedding at the Sacramento Grand Ballroom and you’ve got something pretty dang special. I’ve included all the details at the end of the post for those asking, “how did she do that?!?!” Seriously, it’s that awesome and all green baby!

As promised, here’s the 411 on all those wonderful recycled DIY details:

Venue: Sacramento Grand Ballroom
Catering: Event Architects
Venue Planner: Natalie at Event Architects
Week of Coordination – Shelley at Pizzazz Event Planning
Reception Entertainment: Jammin Jo
Officiant: Rev. Jeri Murphy
Cake: the bride and her step mom made this wonderful cake with layers of Ghiradelli brownie and store bought frosting, cookies, tartlets and fudge made by a family friend
Florist: the bride and her grandfather grew some of the flowers to use in the bouquets and boutonnieres, the table arrangements were from flowers purchased at the farmer’s market and the foliage arrangements were from plants cut at the zoo.
Dress: Chevy Chase Bridal
Dress Alterations: Miosa Bridal
Shoes: Target (or as I like to call it….tar-jaaaay)

Reception Décor:
Recycled sticks and the material for the newspaper flowers were all collected from the zoo. After the wedding they were returned to the zoo (the chimps and squirrel monkeys had a blast with them!).

All of the paper used was banana paper (paper manufactured from the plant waste produced during banana production).

The invitation suite consisted of save the date, rsvp’s and invitations that the bride’s brother carved into wood block then hand stamped. The place cards, seating chart, reserved signs, and table signs were all hand lettered. The board for the seating chart was recovered from the side of a road. Handcut letters by the father of the bride (“mr and mrs” “oh hurryay” “sweet items”) were also used.

Chelsea hand drew animals with markers on sheets from the Goodwill (the borders were painted with sumi ink) for all of the tables.

The Photobooth back drop was a sheet from Goodwill with animal masks for the guests. Photobooth images were taken with the Polaroid 300 and the guest book was a journal found on Etsy into which Chelsea inserted photo corners.

The place cards doubled as the favors (rosemary and mint scented soaps made by the bride’s brother).