Catherine & Jeffery's Dia de los Muertos festival wedding
Real Weddings: Western US
By
on September 30, 2009
30 Responses
The Offbeat Bride: Catherine
Her Offbeat Partner: Jeffrey
Location & date of wedding: Georgetown Ballroom, Seattle WA — 11/01/08
What made our wedding offbeat: We chose the Day of the Dead as our date so that we could include our passed relatives and friends. We had a reserved setting area for framed photos of them during the ceremony and a large Offerenda on the stage so they could enjoy the reception after. I also had three living bridesmaids and one deceased one, who was represented in the ceremony by a memorial picture I tied into my hat.
We decorated every table with paper picado and paper flowers, as well as over fifty handmade sugar skulls. The cake was also covered in sugar skulls and the topper was a glittery skeleton couple.
My outfit was based on the José Guadalupe Posada print of "Calavera de la Catrina," the skeleton lady in the fancy hat. The hat itself was covered in Mexican corn husk flowers, lace and four huge red plumes. I had three ribbons in the back of the hat for tying in memorial tokens — a picture of my deceased bridesmaid, my Grandmother's wedding ring and a string of pearls that my Mother gave me.
Our biggest challenge: I think our biggest challenge was finding the location. We wanted something with lots of character and color. Something that would really complement our theme rather than work against it. It took us a long time, but we finally found a wonderful place at a do-able price.
My advice is, don't settle - you will find it!
My favorite moment: We had set up the tables and decorations the previous evening. When we walked in on our wedding day and saw everything put together and perfect, I was blown away. I was really happy.
My advice to other offbeat brides: Create something memorable, but don't over-stress yourself. Crafty folks will certainly want to add a handmade touch to the ceremony, but remember there are a lot of talented people who can help make your wedding unique.
We made a lot of stuff by hand; sugar skulls, favors, accessories. But I outsourced a lot too; my hat, my dress, the cake.
Everything turned out fabulous, and I still got to remain fairly sane. 
Enough talk — show me the wedding porn!:
Read more posts about: black dress, dia de los muertos wedding, hat, memorial, paper flower bouquet, seattle, skulls, washington« Previous post
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Gem Marmalade said
W – O – W. This is amazing. LOVE the dia de los muertos theme – and the bride and groom are breathtakingly awesome. This oozes style – well done on being so f*&king cool and Felicitaciones de boda! xx
Cate Englehart said
Thank you!:)
Icarus Fell said
Thank you! I think we really pulled of a special night.
Sandy said
I love that your bridesmaid was on your hat… Great wedding!
Cate Englehart said
Thank you!
Glenys said
Congratulations! Everything looks great! My fiance and I are planning a Dia de los Muertos wedding, too! Unfortunately, it falls on weekdays for the next few years. I want it for the same reason as you; most of the people I want to be there must be there in spirit. You've given me a lot of hope we can pull this off!
Also, love your Posada look; my fiance is planning to get the female dandy tattooed on his arm to match his other Posada tattoo!
Cate Englehart said
Thank you:)
I think you can fudge the date a little – it's a 2 day festival and I think we can lump Halloween in there too:)
I like to believe the spirits will come if invited, and don't need to wait for a specific day. Especially around that time of year…
You will put it off:)
Cate Englehart said
Oops! I mean Pull it off..
Heather said
Awesome! I LOVE the bride's outfit!
Evita said
Oh, my goodness. This wedding is full of so much WIN. I love it!!!!!
Cate Englehart said
Thank you:)
Kendra said
WHERE did you get your paper picado banners?????? Love your theme! We're doing an outdoor 'festive' texasmex bbq wedding and I would love to have the banners to hang around!
Cate Englehart said
We got them locally, but this is an excellent online source: http://www.mexicansugarskull.com/
They have a huge selection of Picado and even customizable wedding themed ones:)
vanessa said
What a great wedding! So awesome that you pulled it off so perfectly. The hat is spectacular and I love your sugar skull makeup. Where did you find that great cake topper? I've been looking so long for one like that!!!
Cate Englehart said
The topper was actually a present from a friend I had had for several years, I don't know if they still make it.
– It's by "Katherine's Collectibles"
But this place has a good selection of folk art toppers: http://www.mexicansugarskull.com/
vanessa said
thanks! I actually know about that site. They have gorgeous stuff.
Maureen said
ooohhh…this is the wedding for our location in June. We looked at a lot of "wedding-y" places in the Seattle area too before I happened upon GB through Yelp. I was so thrilled when I saw the photos online, but my sweetie wasn't completely sold…until we actually walked in. It just makes me smile every time I think about it and your right, it totally supports visions of something different and creative for a wedding…rather than feeling like you need to completely recreate a space. It helps feed my inspration.
Maureen said
oops…I mean the LOCATION for our WEDDING…I've had a long few days. =0)
Cate Englehart said
It's a fabulous space – you will love it:)
Tracey Motland said
Yeah, we're getting married there next september. Did you have to pay extra to set-up the night before?
Cate Englehart said
We didn't – but we did kinda get a special "deal". They were doing a little construction in the other large room to connect the two spaces so there was a door sized hole in the wall. No big deal, they tided up for us:)
It doesn't hurt to ask, though:)
Miss Jess said
Color! Color! Beautiful, unabashed COLOR! I love it
Icarus Fell said
Thanks! Ya, I have never decorated with so much color before. It was so vivid.
Sandy said
Love the colorss !!
Jen said
this is amazing. This is also my favourite holiday. This is super super exciting to me. Ive told the Dear that one way or another, my dead relatives will be involved in any ceremony….ive got a few….. and he just kind of grins and kisses me. This is a really amazing way to do that.
Teresa said
Beautiful! What a lovely way to involve your passed loved ones AND have a unique, colorful wedding
Elise Holmes said
omg, I love your wedding. I am planning a Halloween wedding and I absolutely love all the ingenous decor and attire! Way to be original.
Vencanice said
Absolutely amazing! Lucky you…
Deestar said
I have just discovered this site – AMAZING and all the wedding are so inspirational and different! They just inspire me to pursue the wedding of my dreams and not fit into what everyone else wants!! I love that your bridesmaid was on your hat (and surely present too) One of my bridesmaids has passed on this year, but this is a great idea of incorporting her memory and spirit into my special offbeat day!!!
vencanice nis said
Awesome outfit!