As a general rule, we don’t tend to feature real weddings (we leave that up to the fabulous bloggers out there who have that as their primary focus), but this was way too good to pass up. It’s all so serendipitous: our good friend Allyson (who has probably participated in more weddings than any two people should) was strolling near her home in Santa Monica and happened upon the most extraordinary ceremony. We’ll let her explain:
All of the wedding party (and most of the guests) arrived by bicycle adorned with big green or orange or pink paper flowers and following the ceremony everyone did a lap of victory around the park. The wedding party (and again most of the guests as well) wore outfits that denoted the perceived time period(s) of the song “Bicycle Built for Two”: ragtime-era, ’20s flapper, Victorians, Edwardians, steampunks, etc. The bride and bridesmaids were preceded by a Dixieland brass band. Ushers passed out green blankets for sitting on the grass. The event was so public and so colorful that lots of bystanders (obviously myself included) stopped to watch the entire ceremony. For the unity ritual, the bride and groom each had a large basket of rose petals – hers were pale, his were dark (orange and yellow, not red) – and they mixed the two. Then they “shared their blessings” by throwing the petals on their guests. As they walked on back down the aisle as a married couple, guests threw breadcrumbs instead of rice. And (from talking to a groomsman) the reception was then held in the Victorian House on Main Street in Santa Monica.
C’mon, how great is that? And to prove she actually saw this amazing spectacle, Allyson was fast enough with her camera to capture the following shots:
The bride, the groom and the bicycle built for two.
A nice mix of styles within the party...
Cyclery...
A pleasingly pleased crowd...
Well done Allyson! And congratulations and best wishes to the happy couple!
I have to admit, the boater hat was one of my personal faves. I also loved the bride’s darling brown boots!