Welcome to the Wedding Guide 2019 

Nobody plans a wedding in Humboldt County for the same cake, lace and flowers you’ve seen a million times. Up on the North Coast, we like to do things a little differently, building celebrations around our individual styles, rather than trends that come and go in the flash of an Instagram scroll.

In this issue of the Wedding Guide, we’re highlighting ways to customize your wedding to suit your story and your style. Starting with rings. We’ll introduce you to the work of some talented artisans in our county who rework stones and settings handed down through generations, create entirely new pieces all the way from sketch to velvet box or search out ethically sourced and sustainable stones and materials.

At first glance, tuxedos may not appear to have much individuality but the handsome devil/diva is in the details. We’ll share some pro tips on choosing and fitting your black-tie look, whether you’re going for Bogie in Casablanca, slick James Bond or red carpet Ellen Page. Your bouquet can go beyond beauty, too, speaking volumes about who you are and what the day means to you. You just need to brush up on the Victorian language of flowers, the symbolic tradition through which you can communicate everything you’re feeling with the blooms and greens in your grasp.

As for your wedding’s backdrop, why not go full Humboldt with a barn? Well, not just any barn. We’ll ride out to a pair of beautiful barns-turned-venues with character, history and, yes, even a tractor. And while we’re adding vintage touches, consider the honeymoon getaway vehicle as a piece of the setting, too. Cruise through a collection of cars — from a VW Bug to a technicolor truck to a surfboard-toting wagon — that add charm to those “just married” photos. And if you’re going really classic, you can’t beat black and white. We’ve gathered some gorgeous local examples to inspire you, along with our annual photographer’s showcase, where you’ll find inspiration and (fingers crossed) the right person to capture your wedding.

And for luck, we’ll send you off with something blue — a spread of chic, clever, sparkly and sweet ideas for that touch of traditional blue, whether seen or just for you. Although, at the end of the long, beautiful, joyous, exhausting day, it’s kind of all just for you, right?