Kate + Reid – Surprise San Diego Wedding Details

Surprise wedding in San Diego

So you all know by now how small and intimate this wedding of my sister’s was. As you can see they were married in the front yard of our beach rental house on Ocean Boulevard in San Diego. Kate and Reid got everyone together the morning of the wedding, made pancakes and set everyone to work. Everyone had a little task to do to help bring the day together, nothing too hard though :) Reid’s mom made her famous carrot cake, Reid’s dad and sister grilled, my mom made cocktails, my dad and Reid’s sister strung up Kate’s paper cranes for decoration, Reid’s sister-in-law found a florist who specialized in last minute arrangements, it was really pretty wonderful. Kate and I went out to get our nails and hair done, the boys went to get a fresh shave and when we came back to the house, all the little details were coming together and for a change we got to be surprised!

Surprise Wedding in San Diego Details

 Kate folded these secretly for months…

Surprise Wedding in San Diego Details

There they are, hard at work :)

Surprise Wedding in San Diego Details

Mom doing her cocktail magic.

Surprise Wedding in San Diego Details

Yummmmm…

Surprise Wedding in San Diego Details

There were other cocktails involved too… ;)

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Donna and her amazing cake.

Surprise San Diego Wedding

Kate and Reid made these screen printed bags for everyone! That’s Kate’s dog “Pasta.”

Surprise Wedding in San Diego Details

I helped design these announcements and used pinholepress to print them ahead of time, Kate and Reid addressed them weeks before, and we all stuffed them the morning of and they were sent out the next day!

Surprise Wedding in San Diego Details

Now onto the good stuff! Here’s Kate’s amazing green amethyst ring from BHLDN. I try it on every time I see her…

Green amethyst ring on succulent in San Diego

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Reid’s wedding band, he’s an engineer, what can I say…

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Kate has nothing to worry about wearing heels around Reid, he’s 6’7″!

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Kate says that her only requirement for her dress was that she could ride a bike in it, so when she found the gorgeous tea length dresses on French Knot Couture she sent in her measurements ASAP!

Surprise wedding in San Diego

I did her makeup, in between fits of crying. At some point I seriously wasn’t sure if I could get any makeup to stay on her face!

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Allana enjoyed playing in Kate’s petticoat :)

Surprise wedding in San Diego

LOVE this from Allana.

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Kate and I found these earrings online about a week before, aren’t they cool?!

Surprise San Diego Wedding

I made her a little accent flower, she also wore a J.Crew neon sweater.

Surprise Wedding in San Diego Details

Reid had to do a little YouTube research on how to tie his bowtie.

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Love love LOVE this!

Surprise wedding in San Diego

The flowers were so bright and colorful.

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Yup, just 13 people all together!

Surprise wedding in San Diego

This was the view from our house. Killer!

Surprise Wedding in San Diego Details

Reid’s mom brought Kate a garter from Reid’s Aunt to wear as her something borrowed.  She had a little inkling that they might be surprising everyone that week :)

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Surprise wedding in San Diego

So cute!

Surprise wedding in San Diego

My mom set up some post-ceremony Limoncello for everyone.

Surprise Wedding in San Diego Details

Surprise wedding in San Diego

AAAwwwwwwwwww……

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Bride’s Hair: Grand Creation Salon

Bride’s dress and petticoat: French Knot Couture and Petticoat Junction

Bride’s cardigan:  J.Crew

Bride’s earrings: White Owl

“Bridesmaid” attire: Anthropologie and J.Crew

Groom’s fresh shave: Vince’s Barber Shop

Groom’s attire: J.Crew

Bowtie: CCA Design

Flowers: Impulsive Flowers

Bride’s rings: Alex Monroe for BHLDN 

Announcements: Designed by the bride and I, printed at PinholePress

Groom’s ring: Andys House

 Canvas Tote Bags: Sams Banners

Photography: Krista Guenin for Krista Photography

Second Shooter, dream team member: Allana Taranto