Shane and Erik’s Nomadic Wedding was held in three different places all within walking distance of each other in Santa Cruz: a neighborhood art gallery, their favorite Chinese restaurant, and their (soon-to-be-vacated) apartment. This allowed the pair and all their guests to parade around downtown in pure elation while cutting down on both cost and cleanup. Sometimes things don’t go as planned. Such is the case with Shane and Erik’s Santa Cruz Wedding. The original spot where they planned to marry fell through just months before their wedding date. That’s how their unique nomadic theme came to fruition. We loved these two from the first email message and we were heartbroken and worried when we heard about their venue cancellation. But as their brainstorming and creative minds kicked in, we started to hear about even better plans. We grew excited as we learned about the record shop down the street, a wonderful little art-space for the ceremony, a parade to dinner, wontons and Tsingtao beer, their apartment and plans to empty the space before their big move to San Francisco, and then decorate it back up for their wedding reception. We ended their wedding day with big hugs and a promise to be forever friends. I can’t tell you how badly I wish they could be our neighbors. I’ll let Shane tell the rest of the story….
“We were lucky enough to experience a real ah-ha moment about 4 1/2 months before the wedding, we lost our venue, and all the wedding ideas that were tailored to it went with it. The original plans were lovely, but losing them was like a dare to do it better. Instead of a ceremony under a flowering apple tree, we would do it in the art gallery right around the corner; instead of dancing on native meadow grasses and drinking under the stars, we waltzed around the little beach town we fell for each other in and got down in the gutted studio we first called home. The first wedding we had planned was beautiful, but the one we ended up having was really us.”


































































































































































































Words of Advice:
“Time flies, so dig your heels into the dance floor and pay attention. I’d heard/read this everywhere but didn’t really appreciate it till I practically browned out most of my reception. Not due to alcohol intake, mind you; it was simply because I was in shock that it was finally happening and overwhelmed with giddiness. So stay present. Hell, I would even advise getting a little krunk. I think if I’d sauced it up a little more, things might have moved a little slower. Oh and wear a veil (I wish I had) cause you know, when else are you going to get to?”
Wedding Details:
Venue: Felix Kulpa Gallery & Little Shanghai Restaurant // Event Design & Catering: We (family, friends, etc.) did it…every damn bit. // Floral Design: Bonny Doon Garden Co & Blue Heron Farm // Dessert: Allbright’s Donut Shoppe // Bride’s Shoes: Diane von Fürstenberg // Bridal Headpiece: H&M // Bridesmaid Dresses: Ouma // Groom’s Apparel: John Varvatos, Theory // Photography: Us of course // Wedding Featured on East Side Bride