We are blessed at One Fab Day to be able to share so many amazing and personal real weddings. Sometimes they are so unique that they can literally take your breath away. Today's wedding, Ben and Sonja's, is one of those amazing weddings that we were blown away by. This couple have a unique and beautiful way of looking at life, and when it came to planning their wedding day, they created something really epic. It was an out of this world celebration, filled with dark and gothic elements, beautiful poetry and unbelievable style. Words cannot really explain, I'll just have to let the stunning pictures by Teale Photography tell the story...
Sonja's has a beautiful way of telling the story of how she met Ben, or rather how he met her, so I'll let Sonja take it away... "The collision of our worlds began like this: I, one of many girls, sat at a table full of bridesmaids one Tuesday evening at a Mexican restaurant in Austin, TX. The bride at the head of the table, the groom, missing his sweet bride sought to snag a kiss from her during her supposed isolation at her bachelorette party. As the groom strutted in, proudly interrupting his bride and her maidens’ sacred solace, behind followed his best man, a mystery to none but one of the bridesmaids sitting at that table. That very same bridesmaid, sitting with her head down, peering at the reflection of her iPhone not once perceived the presence of the young man. But he perceived her, yes. Scanning the line of faces at that table, all but one escaped his scrutiny. And she would never understand why. Why, that she, out all those beautiful radiant creatures, would her dropped little head pull him in – more than he even realized, in the very moment of their encounter. For they did meet, oh did they encounter each other but sometimes language is not needed, for a spirit to meet the other. And clearly, neither is conscious awareness!"
It wasn’t until the very next day that the same feelings happened for Sonja when she saw Ben through a crowded room and their fate was set to be on a journey of never ending love. After eight months of long distance love, Sonja moved to California from Tennessee to be with Ben.
So from Sonja's description of how the two met, you can begin to get an idea of this romantically charged pair. One of the ways they expressed their vision and personalities was through the style of the day and Sonja is one stylish lady. She donned an incredible BHLDN gown and her veil was a family heirloom made of ream vintage lace handpicked by the bride’s grandmother in 1920s in Venice, Italy, for her very own trousseau and now it was Sonja's.
Back to the story, and now to the proposal (which is pretty epic!). After an intense love affair that lasted a year, Ben knew Sonja was the one so an aptly romantic proposal was in order. With Sonja being a keen lover of the arts and William Shakespeare in particular, Ben planned the perfect proposal...Benjamin took me on a secret hike through one of the most famous redwood trails in northern California, near Trinidad. A few hours into the hike, he had me fooled into believing it was a loop – leading us right back to where we started. In fact it was a one way trail, leading the way into an opening from the forest, where the coast of the pacific ocean was backlit in burnt orange (sunset) and framed in wild elk. Ben set up a blanket and lanterns for us. I still had no idea! He wished me happy anniversary as it was our one year anniversary and pulled out what looked like a potentially thick bible wrapped in black leather cloth. I thought 'Did he really get me bible for our first anniversary?!' But as I slowly began to unwind the binding a red hard-covered book peered back at me. I glanced at it for a second, unsure as the title script on the front was to old to be legible anymore, seeing my delay he turned the book on its side to which could I could then read the spine: “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare”. My whole life I had dreamt of a story better than that of Romeo and Juliet. You may laugh as we all know the ending, but that wasn’t the “better” I was hoping for. After turning the book on its side, and seeing my eyes fill with tears at the realization of this antique (over 100 years old) treasure before me, Benjamin whispered, “I put a bookmark in there” I think at that point, I knew. I looked through the book and found nothing. Benjamin then slyly smiled as he cracked the book open, to the page that the book mark was hidden! Cut into the left side of the book, inside the page itself, was the tiny little compartment that had hidden the black diamond. The perfectly set, in all its eerie simplicity that would eventually sit on my finger and then he asked me those precious words and I said yes of course! And that’s when it happened. The words that would forever change my life…
Waking up in her parent's house made the morning very meaningful for Sonja. Being one of five kids meant she was able to have some time alone with them, which was very special. During that time, Sonja, her mother and her grandmother made her bouquet ( yes that out of this world rose bouquet you see before you!) They made it from roses that they had purchased and from whimsical branches, twigs, spruces, and pine, all found on her parent's property that morning!
The bridesmaids all picked their own dress and it resulted in a wonderful array of pastel hues. Just beautiful!
You know we love 'First Looks' here at One Fab Day and just look how sweet these two are...
Those incredible wreaths hanging on the chapel doors were handmade by the bridesmaid and bride’s mother! Can you believe it? They're amazing. I didn't think anything could top the bouquet, but these beauties are a close second. Made out of natural materials gathered from bride’s family’s backyard, the branches, vines, cotton stalks, red berries and gold spray-painted baby’s breath is all pulled together with wiring. A pretty gorgeous way to enter the ceremony, don't you think?
When it came to the priorities for planning their wedding day, the pair wanted to express their personalities as much as possible, while honouring family and guests. Their venue was very important... "Benjamin and I long for things that are otherworldly. Our souls feel old, and yet our spirits are abound with youthful creativity and futuristic vision. We knew that it was for us when we felt like we had stepped into an elf like haven straight out of Lord of the Rings, if you will, when we entered the chapel where we would marry."
Even the music on the day was incredibly epic, with a string quartet playing pieces from James Horner’s Braveheart soundtrack and Hans Zimmer’s Gladiator soundtrack during the ceremony.
Sonja and Ben's personalities shone through in every element of the day, particularly in the reception decor, which looked like an enchanted dark forest, lit with candlelight and candelabras and decorated with antique books, copper and black iron candlesticks, and red roses on each table. It doesn’t get more romantically dark and steeped in history’s mysterious allure than that.
"Perfectly gothic, eerie and enchanted, and quintessentially us. We love the “otherworldly' and our wedding carried on this sublime-like feel in everything from the décor, to the epic music, to the wonderfully theatrical dress I wore and red hooded cape."
The eerie gothic theme can be seen running throughout the whole day from the antique, coffee stained and burned paper wedding stationery that had poems written by the bride on one side and the invitation on the other, to the tea-stained individual guest book labels that people could write messages on and leave in an antique moleskin black top hat which belonged to the bride's great grandfather!
Although I don't know how Sonja parted with her incredible veil, she replaced it with a stunning (on my wish list) gold, DIY replica of the 2012 Rodarte fall “Shooting Star” hairpiece. It was perfect for her first dance with her husband! Like what you see, you can create you're own replica DIY with the simple tutorial from High on DIY.
What advice would you give to couples planning their day? "Be you. Be fully, unadulterated: YOU. It is possible to honor guests and family, while still manifesting the desires of your hearts. Strive to realize who you are as a bride and groom all that you dream, imagine, and intend for your lives together and create that tangible reality all around you, at your wedding."
Congratultaions Ben and Sonja! A huge Thank You goes to Teale Photography for sharing their work with us at One Fab Day. It was swoon worthy material! To see more of Teale Photography's work pop over to www.tealephotography.net.
The Wedding Details
- Ceremony: Wightman Chapel at Scarritt Bennett Center, Nashville, TN
- Reception: Grace Center Church, Franklin, TN
- Wedding Dress: BHLDN
- Bridesmaids dresses: Nordstrom’s, Free People, ASOS
- Shoes: Free People
- Groomsmen’s suits: Calvin Klein
- Groom's Wedding Band: Etsy
- Flowers: Local Market/Family Home
