Melodie + Ben // Private Home // Bend, Oregon // July 2015
Melodie and Ben’s variegated festivities wedding was unique, fun and charming! And oh all of the fun details! Melodie knew the style she wanted and hired ae creative to help execute it. Melodie and Ben’s venue was a friend’s home that lives just on the outskirts of Bend. The home was beautiful and really a great blank slate which was perfect for bringing Melodie’s vision for a southern flair, great Gatsby, glam vibe to life. Their colors were navy and gold, a perfect combination for a rich affair. They wanted full bars, a brass band, southern traditions, food carts and the most minimal waste as possible – so that’s just what they got!
Melodie works in the liquor industry so having TWO fully stocked liquor bars was pretty simple – along with friends, also in the industry, as bar tenders and ice carvers! Yes, ice carvers – carving out drink ice from a 150-lb block. They also had a fully stocked neat bar. Melodie’s mom used to own a catering business and still had quite a bit of inventory including beautiful vintage cut glass pieces which was perfect for all the barware. She also had cut glass snack plates that were used at El Sancho’s food cart, and vases that she used for floral arrangements, all made from flowers she grew in her own yard just for the wedding.
It was a gorgeous Central Oregon day. Shining sun with a light breeze, typical for Bend, but perhaps maybe due in parts to the age old southern tradition of burring a bottle of bourbon 1 month before the wedding. It is said that by doing this you will have great weather on your wedding day, and that they did! The ceremony kicked off by one of the band mates bugling the official Kentucky Derby march before Melodie was escorted down the isle by her mother. Immediately after the ceremony, the band led the guests to the burial site of the bourbon. Melodie and Ben charmingly put on matching homemade aprons (made by Melodie’s talented sister) and proceeded to dig up the bottle. Once unearthed, they promptly took a swig and passed it around. After the group toasted, the band led guests back to green grass where the reception begun. Melodie and Ben wanted a more relaxed casual vibe for dining. They didn’t want a formal sit down dinner, or to have fully set tables and chairs. The alternative we provided was a handful of homemade benches around the yard. They also had a variety of wooden chairs from thrift stores, pub-height cocktail tables, and matching picnic style blankets that guests could sit on in the yard. El Sanchos catered delicious street tacos, salad and pickled sides. Always a hit!
After feasting on casual food cart dining, Melodie and Ben scooped themselves some Addy Mac’s ice cream for a fun alternative to the traditional cake cutting. Then it was onto more imbibing, prancing and frolicking, aka drinking, dancing and more dancing! The brass band was an extremely fun addition to the affair, they kept people dancing and wanting more! There were so many details that went into this day to pull off the charm and flair! We wish them many many years of frolicking through life together, wherever that takes them – to Kentucky, Bourbon Street, or down the road in Bend. Cheers!
Venue: Private Home in Bend Photographer: Andrew Paul Photography
Band: Summit Express Jazz Band Catering: El Sanchos Tacos & Addy Macs Ice Cream
Portable Restrooms: Ranch Country Outhouses Flowers: Bride’s Mom
Dance Floor: O’Brien Events Hair + Makeup: Blush Artistries, formally EOS
Setup, Cleanup, Parking Attendants, Bussing + Recycling: The Broomsmen
Custom Signs, Lighting, Detail Rentals + Full Planning: Abby + Mallory, ae creative
