How to do A Big Top Wedding, Big Time

Just warning you now, I am pretty disappointed with the quality of pictures for this post. When lighting is super dim in a place, my camera and I don't work well together. Needless to say, this was a fun party!

The experience all started with an invication to a couples dinner party, celebrating and showing the couple with fun and friends before their larger wedding. I don't know either the bride or groom well, so the unique party theme made the night exciting to see what was next.

Their fun Ouija cake at the couples shower:

What was next was a Ouija themed wedding invitation.

And then the main event in downtown Portland. When we arrived, none of the typical wedding decorations were to be found. A nautical log used as their guest book:

 Creepy stuffed animals and ceramic boat captain:

Jelly Bellys sat on the bar top holding an old circus poster with Derrick and Alison's faces photoshoped into the image.

 

 All the tables were pushed to the side during the ceremony then spread throughout the ballroom afterwards.

 

On each table was a popcorn holder with white carnations to look like white popcorn. Pipe cleaners came out of the top that each held several pieces of real popcorn.

Rather than each table being numbered, each table had an old animal cartoon mounted onto wood.

Images of each cartoon were shown on a board along with your name, so you knew where you were seated and what image to look for.

Also on each table was a bowl, a ping pong ball, and a goldfish; just like the classic circus game.

Also at each place setting was a card with the name of each guest. Again, vintage circus posters were used.

The cake was incredible. It was the same person who did the Ouija cake for their couples shower. She was also a guest at the wedding and had me send all my pictures to her after the wedding.

The same posters that were on the table seating cards, were around each layer of the cake.

Again the use of some creepy figurines found their way into the decor.

Siamese twins, er, the bride and groom on the top of the cake.

It was then time to start the ceremony, Derrick's mom put on her mask and walked down the aisle followed by all the groomsmen and bridesmaids(man). When the wedding party started walking down I quickly realized my fake eyelashes paled in comparison to theirs. To keep with the circus theme, one of the bridesmaids dressed as the infamous bearded lady.

The flower girl and ring bearer weren't your typical toddler all dressed up, but the bride's niece and nephew dressed up as cotton candy and the strongest man. They are also the kids of the Matron of Honor.

The flower girl also sang the song that Alison walked down to and all of the processional music was definitely not what you hear at other weddings.

Then it was Alison's turn to walk down the aisle with her dad and boy, did she make an entrance. Short wedding dress, veil over her face, a train of balloons, red and white striped stole, mile high shoes, and bouquet like you've never seen before.

Great Matron of Honor outfit!

Did I mention a ringmaster was their officiant?!

Her bouquet/carousel horse was meant to be mounted to the heart backdrop, but it was too high and too heavy for anyone to attach it. So, the Matron of Honor and the Man of Honor took turns holding it.

And the rings were really attached to the barbell!

Instead of a Unity Candle, a custom heart was turned on that flashed their last name in lights!

Once they were pronounced husband and wife, the sound of drums startled us! Alison and Derrick hired Portland's famous drumline the Last Regiment of Syncopated Drummers (which I later learn she helped to make famous). They were very good, very loud, and part of their performance was their serious faces.

Ah finally found something that is at weddings! Bouquets for the the bridesmaids, though these do look a little different than what I am used to seeing.

We had a great time, just too bad it was on  Sunday night, so we couldn't stay longer.