Pops of colour in a sunny back garden – Melody and Jason’s is the relaxed outdoor wedding idyll

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California dreamin is more than just a song today, as we head way out West for Jason and Melody's real wedding, the ultimate summer garden party, the perfect means of escape from a dreary February evening. This might be far away, but Melody's gorgeous short vintage style wedding dress (have you seen my earlier post about where to find yours?), the bright pops of colour and laid-back outdoor party is a real inspiration for anyone thinking of a Summer soiree... So enjoy Stewart Uy's super photographs today and the fun of this pretty pretty wedding...

Like many love stories, Melody and Jason's began at a party... We first met at a party in San Diego where I went to college. Jason knew my room-mate from high school so he ended up tagging along. He didn't ask me out until he invited me to a party at his house almost exactly a year later and we have been together ever since." Jason proposed on the annual love fest that is V-Day, by waking Melody up at midnight on Valentine's Day to pop the question.

Melody got her gorgeous short wedding dress from Dolly Couture. A boutique based in LA and New York that specialise in vintage inspired wedding dresses. The good news for us is they deliver worldwide! Well worth a look if your like vintage piece and short dress (I've spotted a few beauts already!) Melody accessorised with a vintage blue diamond necklace (something blue) from her grandmother and a pair of pearl earrings from my mom.

On a sunny summer's day what could be better than some colourful bridesmaids! The short patterned dresses bring a pop of colour and fun to the bridal party, don't you think?

Jason and Melody decided on a 'first look' before the ceremony a new(ish) tradition that we just love at One Fab Day. Some of the nicest photographs are captured during a first look and we just love featuring them. Did you catch Naoise's brother, Caomhan and his wife Christine's 'first look' - One word, amazing!

Love this snap of Jason and Melody, carefree and relaxed, the perfect way to start your wedding day!

For Jason and Melody it quite simply was, 'love at first sight' when they laid their eyes on Long Meadow Ranch, Farmstead... It took us exactly 10 minutes to say yes and book the venue! The food was amazing and the vibe of the venue fit the vision we had for the wedding perfectly. If your still deciding on your perfect venue check out our 100 Best Wedding Venues 2014 - There's a venue in there for every loved up pair of brides and grooms, I'm sure of it!

I'm loving this venue already, how cool is the space for the ceremony? Minimal and understated with a floor to ceiling window looking out into the valley - gorgeous!

Our family played such a big role at the wedding - my uncle and Jason's aunt officiated the ceremony, while my sister's fiancé played "Can't Help Falling In Love" on the guitar as I walked down the aisle and to top it off my cousins were our ring bearer and flower girl, making the ceremony extra special for us.

The newlyweds headed off for some intimate photographs before the reception...

From the start, Jason and Melody wanted to keep their day intimate and personal... Aswell as being intimate, we also wanted a relaxed vibe for both ourselves and our guests to feel relaxed making sure we had time to savor each moment without feeling rushed. So as when we were planning the wedding we tried hard to allow ample time for each event and not pack in too many activities throughout the night.

Bride Melody was hands on when it came to planning the look and feel of the day sticking to the things that representing herself and Jason as a couple...I was really involved throughout the process and made or picked out all of the stationery, decorations, and music for the wedding, so it felt very "us" by the end of it!

The wedding reception was held outdoors in the beautiful garden of their venue. There is a real summer garden party vibe to the day with festoon lighting, mix matched table shapes, pastel blooms and laid back stationery. A gorgeous example of how to achieve a beautiful reception without being overwhelmed by fussy details - Thumbs up from us, Melody!

Colourful streamers and craft paper letters are a simple DIY that add a bit of fun to your 'bride and groom' chairs!

The reception was a small and intimate gathering of family and friends, with a rustic, backyard feel to it with lots of homemade touches. We wanted our wedding to be like a dinner party on a summer night with great food, conversation, and dancing. And it was exactly that!

What advice would you give to couples planning their day? Prioritize what is important to you as a couple and don't be afraid to make it your own. Hire a coordinator for the day, we used The Event Plan. It takes the pressure off and really allows you to enjoy the big day. Also, choose your vendors wisely and carefully. Think beyond price, artistic style, or popularity, and really consider if you want to spend time with these people as individuals (because you will be spending a lot of time interacting with them). We got really lucky and loved all of the people we worked with. The day was perfect and it couldn't have happened without their help. Great advice Melody, it's true the planning process is influenced hugely by the people that surround you so make sure they're the right people.

I really enjoyed Jason and Melody's summer party soiree! Congrats from us guys! A big Thank You goes to Stewart Uy for sharing the fantastic photographs from the day, to see more of Stewart's work pop over to www.stewartuy.com.

The Wedding Details