Updated: Oct 30, 2021
Tell us a little about yourselves!
I am an ER nurse and Sebastian is a family physician. We met the old fashioned way (on Tinder) and discovered we were only living three blocks away from one another! We live in Berkeley, California with our menagerie of 2 dogs, 3 cats, and 5 chickens.
Why did you decide to get married where you did?
We are both a strange mix of low-key and obsessively detail-oriented. Our backyard was the perfect casual setting where we could make decisions outside of the constraints that a typical venue might have. Looking back, we had no idea the amount of work it would take to get it where we wanted it (9 months!)- but it definitely made enjoying the end result so much sweeter. We built a stage/wedding altar over our garden beds, a bar underneath our back deck, a long table going down our driveway, and a dance floor in our garage! Looking out into our yard at all of our guests during the ceremony was incredibly special - the culmination of our first big project together - we wouldn’t have changed a thing!
How many guests did you have?
We had 50 guests.
Tell us about your outfits.
I came across Kamperett on Instagram before we got engaged and knew I wanted to get married in one of their beautiful silk organza dresses one day. Valerie Santillo (designer and co-owner) was so wonderful to work with. I wanted something that was unique, comfortable, and didn’t feel too “bridey”. I also never thought I would want a veil (especially such a long one!) but after I tried it on I couldn’t resist. I opted for white boots instead of heels - they paired so well with the dress, and made it easier to dance!
Sebastian has never cared much about fashion (though he says I am helping to change that!) but he opted for a beautiful suit from Studio Suits that he chose all by himself. He loved the blue color that looked almost like denim - perfect for a backyard wedding.
What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning your wedding?
Two things: crafting a space that reflected us, and prioritizing time spent with our family and friends.
We chose not to hire a wedding planner, which meant more creative freedom (but also a lot more work!) We had our favorite neighborhood restaurant cater, and our officiant, hair stylist, cake baker, and invite designer/photographer were all friends of ours! The ceremony was full of laughter, teasing, and tears - just how we like it.
We planned the day in a way that allowed us to mingle with guests as much as possible - the only wedding tradition we partook in (other than the ceremony) was the cake cutting, and limited post-ceremony photos to 20 minutes.
Were there any elements that were important for you to incorporate?
Design! Although we chose to have the wedding in our dusty “urban rustic” backyard, we wanted our guests to feel like they were arriving into a space that reflected the importance of the day.
Any tips for couples getting married, particularly during the pandemic?
Keep your guests informed! We emailed everyone with a list of safety precautions we were taking, a description of the events, and set up of the day. (We required vaccination and a negative test the morning of, and our event was fully outdoors.) Despite these precautions, we made it abundantly clear we would not be offended if anyone chose not to attend!
Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?
Our photographer Amanda Goldsmith simply blew us away with the photos. I knew she was good - but she exceeded our very high expectations! I love that most of them are candid, because looking through them brings us right back to that magical day. We will treasure them forever! She also designed our wedding invitations, a dreamy pink mountainscape with gold foil lettering. She is a true artist in every sense of the word!
Also, a quick shout out to our caterer, Greg Poulios of Creekwood Restaurant in Berkeley. He not only provided amazing food (including a delicious oyster bar!) but saved the day by procuring 50 plates from his restaurant when we realized 25 minutes before dinner that they hadn’t been delivered!
Photographer : Amanda Goldsmith @amandabrittgoldsmith | Ceremony + Reception Location: Private home in Berkeley, CA | Celebrant : Michael Shahandeh - close friend of Hannah | Entertainment : Playlists on Spotify | Ceremony Space : Hannah + Sebastian designed and built ceremony space | Flora : Hannah sourced flowers from San Francisco Flower Mart and made the table arrangements with the help of her siblings | Bridal + Bridesmaids Bouquets : Wildflower and Fern | Hair : Kelly Bradley @theadventuresofkellyb | Catering + Beverages : Greg Poulios of Creekwood Restaurant in Berkeley, CA | Cake : Alana Conner - Sebastian’s close friend and Groomswoman | Stationery : Amanda Goldsmith @amandabrittgoldsmith | Hannah’s Dress + Slip: Kamperett @kamperett | Sebastian’s suit: Studio Suits | Rings : Hannah’s engagement ring: Rebecca Overmann @rebeccaovermannjewelry| Hannah’s wedding band: Mociun @mociun | Sebastian’s wedding band: Holden @holdenrings | Hannah’s Boots : About Arianne @aboutarianne | Sebastian’s Shoes: Beckett Simonon @becketsimonon | Earrings : NST Studio @nst_studio | Necklace : Rebecca Overmann @rebeccaovermannjewelry | Veil and Bow : Kamperett @kamperett