A classic California wedding filled with Danish traditions

Classic California Countryside Wedding With Danish Flair – Randi Michelle Photography 2

What do you do when you’re from Denmark and fear a rainy wedding-day? Bring your Danish traditions to sunny California, of course!

We certainly doubt there was much disappointment when bride Rebekka’s family and friends found out they’d be traveling to her new home in Southern California. Who doesn’t crave a Cali vacay?! When making their list of beloveds who’d join in the fun, they knew they’d need ample space, thus booked the beautiful & classic Californian venue The Newland Barn in Huntington Beach.

The sun-filled wedding-day was filled with Danish traditions & details. The couple included a tunnel of Danish flags for their send-off, Danish cookies (some of my favorites!) and a number of fun wedding customs that you must read below.

Alongside their Danish customs, the couple enjoyed the best of classic California – a dreamy sunset portrait session on the beach with Randi Michelle Photography, swoon!

Our Love Story

Daniel and I met at a BBQ party hosted by his sister. I had just become friends with her and had never met him prior to the event. We started talking and he mentioned that he had gone paddle boarding that day and saw dolphins so he asked if I wanted to go the following weekend and of course I agreed. We ended up meeting the Thursday before for a full-day date and had our first kiss at a run-down movie theatre. The rest is history.

Since the beginning of “us”, going out to the beach to watch the sunset has been one of our favorite things to do. We’d bring blankies and coffee in a big mug to share and dug a nest in the sand for us to sit in for the sunset show. I have no count as to how many times we’ve done this. We probably have had our best conversations during those hours.

That day I thought we were gonna go do that but instead, as we were walking along the water to find a spot, Daniel stopped, spread out the blankie, held me in his arms and prayed that God would watch over our relationship and be at the center. That He would give Daniel the strength and power to lead and love me well. Then he went down on one knee and asked me to marry him. He said my full name. He looked me in my eyes. Straight from my heart, I said yes. Just like the first time I told him I loved him four a half years ago.

The Dress

My dress was everything I could have dreamt of. BHLDN creates really beautiful gowns and the fittings are so sweet and fun. As I tried this one on, both my parents got really emotional so I decided that was it! My veil was handmade by my mom and she also sewed my grandma’s sapphire ring in as my something old and blue!

The Destination & Venue

I have always wanted an outdoor wedding and in Denmark where I’m from, this is a risky business. So since we had decided to get married in Southern California we thought this was the best opportunity to celebrate our love out in the open air. As we made the guest list we realized we would need a big space and the Newland Barn was simply perfect for our requests. We wanted to create a sweet and tender atmosphere as we knew it was going to be an emotional day filled with happy tears.

Classic California Countryside Wedding With Danish Flair – Randi Michelle Photography 1

The Flowers

Daniel’s sister Bri, who basically brought us together, did all our flower arrangements. She started a business called Bee Loved Blooms and we shared lots of inspiration images, did some trial arrangements and went flower shopping together. It was a great bonding experience!

Favorite Moments

Our most happy moment was when we took communion as Daniel’s mom played a song she had written for us. Everything just seemed to stand still.

The Important Details

The most important thing for us was that it would be a day to celebrate God’s love for us and our love for each other. Once we established this everything became secondary.

Photography (by Randi Michelle) and videography were some of our top priorities because it truly is the best way to relive our biggest moments over and over again! We skipped having a photo booth and wedding planner as a way of saving money.

The Cake

We had a family friend be in charge of the wedding cake as a way of saving money! I recommend this because first of all, no one really ate the cake as we had other desserts and treats. And second of all, we just wanted something we could cut for the pictures!

Classic California Countryside Wedding With Danish Flair – Randi Michelle Photography 4

The Danish Traditions

We had lots of fun Danish traditions incorporated in our wedding! First of all, there’s the sneaky-cheek-kiss where every time the groom or bride leaves the table during the reception, the guests of the opposite gender runs to the groom and bride to give them a kiss on the cheek!

Another Danish tradition is at the end of our first dance, we get pulled apart by the guests and the men then lift the groom and cut his socks and the women cut the brides veil to keep a piece. It is done as a symbol for the couple to remember their community and for good luck.

The Signage

All our wedding signs we’re made by Love Brushed, by my friend who started this really incredible up-and-coming brush lettering company.

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Advice to Other Couples

My biggest advice is asking for and accepting help from your family and community. Our wedding would not have been what it was without all the help from our friends and family. Being in control is great but letting go and spreading out tasks and responsibilities will help you to not get overwhelmed, especially if you don’t have a wedding planner.

And most of all, choose a time early on your wedding day where you’ll stop worrying about planning and just be present. On our wedding day, as I was having my hair done, and I decided I was done with planning and from there on I would just enjoy whatever would happen. It helped me enjoy the day and laugh at everything that didn’t go completely as planned.