***Contest Closed***
The contest voting has officially begun! Each of the contest finalists has their own post, and you can vote on the couple/wedding that you like best, to win FREE wedding photography from Jessica Velarde Photography!! We created an inspiration board for each of the weddings so that you can get a visual concept of the wedding. Below the board is the information that the couple sent to us, and a picture of the couple.
Voting rules: Please vote for only one couple – although I know they are all amazing and it’s hard to choose! You can vote only once per day on the blog, but if you are a super fan of any particular couple, you can come back every day and vote again. (Vote by leaving a comment on the post of your favorite couple stating that you are casting your vote!) You can also add ONE additional vote on our Facebook page, by liking or commenting on the photo of the couple’s inspiration board, under the “Contest” album.
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Top Row: Left: Pinterest Middle: Pinterest Right: Pinterest Second Row: Left: Pinterest Right: Pinterest Third Row: Left: Pinterest Right: Pinterest Bottom Row: Left: Pinterest Right: Pinterest
From Amy: I am from Massachusetts and Derek is from Iowa. We met in Los Angeles at a party on a Monday night where we each only knew one other person. Derek had been settled in LA for awhile, but I was just finishing up my summer internships and was only two weeks away from moving back to Boston to finish school. We started talking about a work project we had in common, but I won Derek over when I wanted to jump on the trampoline that no one was utilizing. We went on four dates before I moved and didn’t plan on pursuing a long-distance relationship, but before we knew it, we were on the phone every week, then every night, then Derek was visiting me in Boston. We did long distance for 9 months before I moved back to LA, two weeks after I graduated college. We got engaged on our three year dating anniversary while on vacation in Hawaii. Derek proposed on our first night there at sunset on Waikiki Beach and we enjoyed a week of relaxing on Oahu together. If you’re interested, you can see the video from our trip here.
Having a green, vegan-friendly, DIY, budget-conscious, quirky-themed wedding makes us unique! We’re getting married and having our reception in a community/arts center that was built as a library in 1914. It’s a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Needless to say, we were very inspired by our venue, and when we found it, we found a new vision for our wedding that felt truly “us.” Now, we’re planning a vintage library inspired wedding!
We’re still early into our planning, but we hope to use lots of vintage books in our decor. To keep things “green,” we’re staying away from traditional flowers and will be using live succulents and paper flowers made from book pages. I’m dreaming of a 1950s style tea-length gown, and my groom is tracking down vintage ties for himself and all his groomsmen. We’re having our favorite taco shop cater dinner and will have vegan cupcakes in lieu of a traditional cake (though I’ll be baking a small cake in my fiance’s favorite flavor for cutting). We’re also DJ-ing the wedding ourselves from our personal iTunes collection. It’s going to be a lot of work, but we’re excited!
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Vote for Amy and Derek in the comments and on Facebook!
***Contest Closed***
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Vote #1 – 10/3/11
Consider this a vote!
Vote!
love
Voting!
Go Derek Go!! I vote for Derek all the way!!
DEREK HAS MY VOTE!!
thanks colleen and jessica for running this contest! we’re super excited! here is my daily vote for myself… lol
amy and derek have my vote! xoxo
VOTING!
Voting for Amy & Derek!!! Super cute photo!
a vote for Amy and Derek
It’s going to be awesome! I love your library wedding.
Vote!
Sounds wonderful, I hope you win.
They desrerve Best #1 Vote…I would vote for this beautiful couple any day!!!
Casting a huge vote for Amy and Derek! What a creative, thoughtful and inspiring wedding you have planned.
My friend Billy asked me to vote for them. They really are adorable. I love the whole kismet thing how they crossed paths and that was it.
kathleen
I am casting my vote for Amy and Derek, they are working so hard to pull off this very ” GREEN” wedding for themselves and future generation inspiration! they are an amazing couple!!
cute! I hope they win!
A fellow vegan and book lover, casting my vote for this adorable twosome!
BEST COUPLE OF ALL TIMES
Amy and Derek!
Love this couple! They’ve got my vote!!
You got my vote!
Amy and Derek have my vote! Good luck!
Votally Votes!
Creative, Beautiful, and Vibrant! Derek and Amy just can’t help but be beautifully adorable!
P.S. – They TOTALLY have my vote
Good luck
Go Derek & Amy!
Oh yeah. Couple #4 rocks!
Here’s my vote! Can’t wait for the big day!
Got my vote
This is a SUPER VOTE
I Like!
Yay amy intern!
This is your winner for sure!
Best of luck, you two deserve it!! And congrats again!
Congrats and best of luck!
Loooove the theme
You guys should win for sure!
horray!
I hope you win!
Yay yous guys. I vote for you
What a fun and loving story Amy and Derek shared! Truly excited for their wedding!
yay derek and amy! i vote them!
If Derek and Amy don’t win, well, I would not do something mean as that would not be in the spirit of this whole “scenario”, but I may sigh heavily, and that’s not cool. So, D and A FTW.
Sounds like a dream wedding! xo
Go Dooks n Amy!
my vote again
Good Luck Amy & Derek !!!
I’m voting for Amy and Derek! Looks beautiful, congrats!
I vote for my neice Amy Dawn dadadada
Good luck Amy & Derek! You guys deserve it
A friend of Erik’s who is voting for Amy and Derek. All the best.
Kirk Joslin
AMY!!!! Congrats again, and of course you get my vote!!!!
here’s my day 2 vote…
Vote #2 for Amy & Derek!
I’m voting for Amy and Derek. Great theme!
I am casting my vot for Amy and Derek — there could not be a greater couple — and I love the DIY attitude and everything they are doing is truly who they are!
vote #1 of many
Vote #2
I vote for Amy and her guy!
They deserve to be #1
Amy and derek!!!!
VOTE!
Vote
VOTE! I hope you win!
Vote
“To keep things “green,” we’re staying away from traditional flowers and will be using live succulents and paper flowers made from book pages.”
Amy, I am obsessed with you. Haha!
Voting! I wish you nothing but the best!!!
i vote yes!
my vote for the day! good luck!
Voting for Amy and Derek. Best wishes on your Adventure!
#2
i finally get to vote on something! GOOD LUCK
VOTE
voting for Amy and Derek again!
voted!~
They are so cute! Hope they win!
vote.
You’ve got my vote!
Love it! Got my vote
Vote.
Vote #2 – 10/4/11
vote for Amy and Derek
Cutest couple ever!
Love it!
vote 1!
Amy & Derek have my vote!
This couple rules! I vote for them!
My vote is for Amy and Derek. Vegan? Like mother, like daughter.
The dar
My vote is for Amy and Derek. Vegan? Like mother, like daughter.
The dark hair through me at first, though. From an old friend of Lisa’s.
Here’s my Tuesday vote!
Best Wishes to the Bride & Groom!
Love the ideas!
Voting for Amy & Derek !!
You got my vote
You got.my vote.
Docks and Amy!!!!!!
God bless the happy couple.
Go Amy & Derek!!
Love you <3
I’m voting for Derek and Amy!
Vote!
Good Luck Amy!!!
GO AMY! WIN WIN WIN!
Winners right here!
Derek and Amy are the best! My Vote is for them!
Vote! Good Luck!
Best wishes! Hope you win!
Voting for Derek and Amy on Tuesday
Voting for Derek and Amy on 10/4!
Voting for Derek and Amy! They deserve it!
Got my vote!
Voting again!!!
vote for amy and derek!!
Very nice. You’ve got my vote.
You’ve captured my vote and my imagination!
Good Luck!!
I VOTE for them. And now you know, and knowing is half the battle
Vote!!!!!!
I vote Amy and Derek! Best of luck and Congrats!
Day 2, Vote 2!!!
Voting for Amy. I met her in college and she has a great vibrant energy that can’t be ignored and I can’t wait to see this wedding.
Yay!!! Super cute couple. You have my vote
team amy and derek!
mcclurgles and amy all the way!
Voting!! Love your wedding plans!
Yeay, books!
Count this as another vote!!! I love the whole theme
Lots of Love from Norway. A big hug and my vote!
Another vote
Chuck
vote
Good morning
Congrats Amy and Derek
Derek and Amy!!!!
Voting again on 10/5! Good luck guys!!!
another vote for Amy and Derek!!!
this is fun, can’t wait for tomorrow.
I vote for Amy and Derek!
Amy and Derek….What a great love story! They have my vote and should have yours too!
Vote 3 — go Amy & Derek!
Voooote
here is my daily vote for Amy & Derek, they are the best!
Vote #3
Another vote for D & A.
VOTE!!!
How can you NOT vote for a green wedding like this. This one wins for me!
Vote!!!!!!
I vote for this couple!
day #3 voting…
I vote for Amy! (and Derek by default)
vote #3!
voting.
one more!
Go Amy & Derek!!!
<333 vote
Vote!
i think these two deserve to win. So cute, love the DIY aspects of their wedding.
Voting for Papo, he wants them to win!
Go Amy (and Derek)!
Love the library idea, def. most unique wedding, and the paper flowers..and vegan cupcakes.
Voting is fun.
I like these guys! Vote!
Voting!
I vote this couple!
Vote
Vote, please!
My Wednesday vote!
This wedding is happening! Best Wishes!
Voting – 10/5
Vote.
WOOHOO Congrats!! I’m voting!!!
i vote! my vote counts!
Voting for Amy and Dooks!
Derek and Amy are the best!!!
Best Wishes to both of you!
Awesome Vote for these guys!
Here’s my vote! Good luck!
Love these two. They have my vote!
You have my vote–Good Luck!
This one gets my vote!
amy and derek are the best and deserve to win!
vote 2!!!
Vote #3 10/5/11
Here’s my vote for Amy & Derek! Good luck
Voting again, good luck~
My vegan 3 y.o. would vote for you, so I am w/ her name attached!
Yes, good luck
Amy and Derek 10/6
Vote #3!
VOTE
Vote
Voting
Hooray! I like it!
vote 3!!!
Voting for the best!
Voting.
Yay, Derek and Amy!
Another vote for another day. Go Amy and Derek!
I vote for amy and derek! Good Luck!
Vote!
LIKE!
Voting! Yippee!
Vote!!
I think this is vote 4
word
VOTE! 10/6
A vote for Lisa’s daughter, Amy!
vote!
Thursday vote
Wheee voting!
Another vote!
Vote 10/6
My daily vote here, they really deserve to win!
Vote!
me again #3
Good luck and best wishes. My daughter just was married in May 2011…they had a wonderful time planning thier wedding! Enjoy every minute!
another vote for AMy and Derek!
Vote!
1 vote
vote today!
day 4 i think? lol…
Vote!
vote
FRIDAY vote!!
Great ideas for you wedding!
Happy Friday ! Here’s my vote.
Vote for Amy and Derek
2nd vote!
i like these guys. another vote!
happy friday!
Vote 10/7
Friday vote from me. Congratulations!
and again.. !
vote!!!
Let’s hear it for a Friday vote!
I love it, I vote for them!
i voted for these people!
I vote for Derek and Amy! I love these guys!
I vote for these two because they radiate awesomeness!
Happy Friday (vote), everyone!
These guys rock!
VOTE 2
this was the smartest decision i’ve made all day
i love amy & derek
Yay!
vote!<3
vote!
my vote for 10/7 i want amy and derek to win!
vote 4!!!
Woot Dooks n Amy!!!
VOTE FOR 10/8!
Another vote for my fave!!!
Rockin’ the Sat vote.
Saturday vote!
#4?
Amy and Derek
I vote for amy and derek!
Love you two
Voted; Good luck go get em!
vote 5!!!!
Saturday vote!
5555555555555555555555555555
Sunday vote! Less than a week left!
Vote!
Sunday vote for Papo!!!
Amy and Derek, I love your DIY green ideas!
Another vote!
Another vote…. Derek and Amy!!!
Love you two
Another one for the win!
10/9 vote for Amy and Derek!
Voting again for these two!
Vote!
goods
luck
I vote for AMY & DEREK!
vote 6!!!!!
Vote for 10/10!
Monday vote for the cool couple.
10/10!
vote for Amy & Derek
vote for amy & derek!
Doooooks!
How can this couple NOT win? VOTE VOTE VOTE!!!!
Yay! Again!
10/10 vote for Amy and Derek!
voting again!
Vote for 10/11!
tuesday vote
vote 10/11/11
Happy Day!
Voting
Amy and Derek vote # 6
another vote for the amazing couple
yaya Derek & Amy!!!
Another vote comin’ at ya’.
Let’s vote!
Voting!
Hurray Voting!
Hump Day vote!
Most romantic wedding idea EVER!!!!!!
Vote for 10/12!
10/12 vote
Amy & Derek FTW!!
My vote again.
Go Amy and Derek!!!
Vote for Amy & Derek!
second wednesday vote
Good Luck!
You’ve got my vote!!! Good luck!
Pebs forgot to remind me, sorry!
Amy is the sweetest person i know she and Derek deserve these memories
Love Auntie Helen
vote !!
Go, Amy and Derek!
Voting!!!
vote 7!!!
Another vote for Amy & Derek!
Vote for 10/13!!
another day, another vote.
Voting!
Vote for Amy
Thursday vote!
10/14 vote!
vote 8 yo!!!
another vote for the best!
Voting
My vote go to Amy and Derek.
Its Friday, I’m in love with this idea.
vote all day!
vooooooooote………….9
my 10/15 vote for amy and derek!
We’re here…the weekend…yay! Got my vote.
Voting for Papo
Go Couple 4, Amy and Derek! Enjoy your day!
My vote again
Voting formPapo!!!
Voting
Vote
vote 10
Amy and Derek!!!!
Vote for 10/16!
Vote for 10/17!
Super big happy fun time vote!
More votes and Happy birthday!
happy birthday
Best idea and couple ever! Vote!
vote 11!!!
vote 12! aiiieeee!!!
is this still going? vote!
Good morning and a vote for you.
And vote once more!