Wedding Reception Decorations – Part 1

 

Happy Wednesday everyone! Truthfully, it’s amazing that I actually wrote the right date today. I swear I cannot get my days straight this week. Is it because I was off on Monday or because of the time change? Not sure, but it is certainly messing me up! Geesh!

I am REALLY close to the end of wedding recaps, I promise! Yesterday, Ryan and I were married for 10 months! Woo hoo! It’s hard to believe it’s almost been a year!

The reception hall where the dinner and dancing took place was a very large space! I wanted to focus on making sure that the hall didn’t feel “bare”. But, an obscene amount of decorations can cost a lot of money and I was not about to waste money just to fill up space.

The theme of the wedding was vintage and I wanted to decorate the hall to feel that way. Ryan and I are both lucky enough to have some great family heirlooms. And, what better way to represent our two families coming together then by putting those items on display for all of our guests to see!

This is my great-great grandmother Mae (Faris) Hamilton’s wedding dress that she wore on October 14, 1914. We found it years ago in an old cedar chest. The goat skin gloves was also worn by her and was a wedding present.

In the picture frame with the more faded paper is the wedding certificate on Ryan’s great-great (I think?) grandparents. A beautiful piece of family history to display.

This beautiful quilt was given to me by my Aunt Elaine. This beautiful quilt was made and belonged to my great-great grandmother Mae (Faris) Hamilton. It was used at their home after they got married which is now mine and Ryan’s home! This quilt was lovingly repaired by cousins Shirley-Mae and Kathy.  

This beautiful chest was used by Ryan’s great-great grandparents (?) and was also on display at the wedding! It has now in our possession and we love having it as well as the quilt on display in our home. It’s two family heirlooms coming together in our home. Like Ryan and I…two families becoming one.

We had a lot of pictures around the hall but take note of the family bible of Ryan’s family! You will also see an old record keeping book that has been kept in his family. The record keeping book is not only a great piece of family history but of local Pontiac history as well. There are so many recognizable area last names! Both these items are so unique!

Below is an old high school picture that is on display in a local historian museum in the area. That picture however, is an original and belongs to the family. The reason we have an original copy is because many family members are photographed in that picture! The school picture was taken is 1905.

This old coin purse belonged to my great-great grandma.

As well as a picture of my great-great grandparents, Nobel and Mae (Faris) Hamilton.

To be continued….