I think the thing that stunned me most about Jodanna and Ian’s wedding was all of the attention to detail. I’m pretty sure that most, if not all, of the awesome decorations you’ll see at this wedding were either curated or made by Jodanna herself. She had her heart set on making a peacock themed wedding and pulled it off amazingly! Jodanna was an extremely organized bride; both her and Ian put in a lot of work despite being very busy individuals. I always appreciated our meetings when she would show up with a large binder full of wedding planning ideas; this was clearly a bride that knew exactly what she wanted!
Big thank you to Crystal of Sujata Photography for all of her assistance and second shooting during the big day!
I asked Jodanna about her planning process, particularly about her theme.
What inspired your peacock themed wedding?
“Ian and I knew we wanted more than 2 colors in our wedding a spectrum if you will. I decorate the house at Christmas in peacock colored and feathered ornaments, and thought we could use some of them as decor at the wedding. We also loved the bold colors and how most everything would work or could be worked with it. Peacocks also have great meaning and symbolism so it was a win win.”
What was your biggest challenge with putting your peacock themed wedding together?
“Finding balance with using color opposed to feathers everywhere. I had a whole peacock of feathers to use but didn’t want them to overpower everything.”
Are there any local or online resources you could suggest to brides for DIY peacock themed wedding decor?
“I would suggest don’t be afraid to ask. I knew a doctor at work who had peacocks on his farm. I decided to ask him if he would have any feathers from his birds I could use or know of a place to get them. Lucky me, he happened to have a peacock who had passed away and still had all its feathers. Being a true DIY Bride I recovered those feathers! I used my personal Christmas ornaments as decor, and I shopped at dollar stores, liquidation stores, and anywhere with low prices or a sale. Never be afraid to ask. I saw frames at a wedding I liked and asked where the bride had gotten them. Ikea, $1 per frame! Don’t feel like if someone tells you where to get the item or if you use something at another wedding you’re copying someone. Thank them and then make it your own.”
What was your favorite part of the planning, and then of the day itself?
“The favorite part of planning was getting to cross things off the list to do! Also seeing things come together feels great. You find something at one place that works then another at a totally different spot, or a vendor totally gets you and your theme, it all makes you feel like good this is going to work! Best part of the day itself. Walking down the aisle to the love of my life. The day is so busy and full and I have snap shots in my mind and clips of things I remember. Then people’s stories and the photos had to fill in the blanks. I just remember the walk down the aisle to be sorta like the “when you were little” thing. I was never one of those girls that had my wedding planned since I was “a little girl” however a few things I did know my dad would walk me down the aisle of a church, and I would be in a beautiful dress. It felt good walking into the church in the dress of my dreams, by my dad’s side seeing everyone smile with love on their faces, hearing the violin and cello (which I had to have) play and seeing Ian beaming at the end of the aisle.”
Jodanna also shared the story of how her and Ian met. :)
“Ian and I grew up together as family friends he didn’t take notice of me until I came home from college for his parents Hawaiian themed anniversary party in a nice little number I borrowed from a friend. I being oblivious assumed him putting his arm around me in the hot tub was just too much alcohol! Months later he came down to Medicine Hat (where I was in college) for a pub crawl (years later I found out he told his brothers to stay home) When I came home for Christmas we went and toured the Airdrie Festival of Lights (now a yearly tradition) at the end of the night sitting in his 20+ year old truck drinking “warm” hot chocolate he “asked” me out. In quotes because I had to clarify if that’s what he was asking lol its now something we joke about. Seemed to work for him as we are now married. I joke that he had to write the proposal on hay bales so I wouldn’t question if he was asking me to marry him.”
Thank you both so much for letting me share in your special day!
