Today I am so excited to share with you photos from the Wedding Carnival! To be honest it was a very frustrating post to do because I have so many wonderful photos and I think I might blow up your computer if I tried to share them all in one post!!! So what I will be doing is sharing an overview of the entire carnival today in photos (and there is a lot of them) and over the next week I will break it down into sections (decorations, food, etc.) and post more photos and information, resources etc., in those posts. So, as you look at the photos if you have specific questions for me please leave them in the comments and I will try to answer them in the follow up posts I do.
I began working on the carnival soon after I knew about the engagement last March. I spent the next four and a half months having so much fun and pouring my heart and soul into the wedding carnival. It was so much fun and I loved every minute of it. It was a total DIY wedding thanks to all the creative efforts of my husband and friends. Jim spent the last four months working building booths, hanging lights, and tending the garden in every free moment. I have some amazingly creative friends who spent uncountable number of hours helping me too! I am also grateful for my great group of friends who showed up at my door on Friday to help set up and those who worked behind the scenes that evening making sure everything ran perfectly so I could enjoy the evening.
It was truly a group effort of amazing people who love and care about Clark and Jessica (and me).
I owe my friends big time.
I am a firm believer that life is in the details and I so agree with this quote by John Wooden:
It’s the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.
I love focusing on and spending time on the details and I hope that will come through in the pictures I am sharing.
All the wonderful photos were taken by talented friend and photographer Megan Elle Photography.
So welcome to our Wedding Carnival!
The beautiful bride and groom.
The new and improved Wilkes Family!
Please sign in!
There was lots to eat!
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!
Carnival Food is fun! Hot Dogs, BBQ Pork Sliders, Mac & Cheese and Curly Fries!
We didn’t do the traditional wedding cake. Instead we did a doughnut cake! The cake topper made by my friend Meg was one of my favorite parts of the carnival!!
You couldn’t have a carnival without games so we had plenty of those!
And what would a carnival be without a balloon man!
And there was a Photo Booth too!
Some of the best money we spent was on a live band! They were amazing and added so much to the atmosphere of the carnival. If you are in the Portland/Vancouver area I highly recommend the band 24/7.
We danced and danced until we had to stop because of the noise ordinance!!
The only thing that Jim gave me a hard time on in regards to the carnival was a dance floor. He didn’t think we needed one and I did. After months of searching I was able to find one to rent for a reasonable price. The week before the carnival it fell through. Not one to be defeated easily I talked Cali and her friend Hannah into building me one! It turned out wonderful and it was perfect. Jim even admitted after the carnival was over that I was right – the dance floor was great!! (If you are in the Portland area and want to rent a dance floor – call me!!)
It is hard to pick a highlight of the evening as it was just one magical moment after another but I have to admit that the Flash Mob we did was pretty amazing! Cali, Tessa and Hannah choreographed it and then enlisted the participation of our neighbors and friends! We did it when the band took a break and used the song “Call Me Maybe.” Cali introduced what she told the crowd was a lipsync of this song as it is what Jessica said to Clark the first time she met him. They began their lip sync and then groups of neighbors who were scattered through the crowd began to join in – it was great!!
The crowd loved it!
And so did the bride and groom. We even got them to join in at the end.
I think a flashmob may have just become a new tradition at all Wilkes’ weddings in the future!! It was a blast!!! I can now cross that one off the Bucket List but I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
Then the sun began to set and our backyard turned into a magical fairyland thanks to the hundreds and hundreds of feet of lights that Jim had strung through the yard. It was truly magical. 
The best part of the evening was of course celebrating the new bride and groom.
It was so amazing to be able to share it with so many of our dear family and friends.
As I looked out over the yard and saw everyone laughing, eating, dancing and enjoying themselves my heart was so full. 
It was a perfect moment in time. Just what I had hoped for.
For more details check out:
The Wedding Carnival}The Food Part One
The Wedding Carnival}The Food Part Two
The Wedding Carnival}Decorations
The Wedding Carnival}Carnival Games
The Wedding Carnival}Music, Dancing and a Flash Mob
The Wedding Carnival}The Bride and Groom
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Amazing Leigh Anne! I am excited to see the individual posts!
Truly magical Leigh Anne…
Cheryl
Since I first started reading you blog I have been waiting for you kids to get married, so I could see the AMAZING party you would throw. You did not disappointing, what a party!
Wow! What a beautiful wedding reception! It all looked amazing and I loved reading all about it. Thanks for sharing and great job on pulling off a fantastic party!
Wow!! What an awesome night!! You did a fantastic job! (I may be slightly jealous that my wedding was not as cool.).
Wow! Jessica is so lucky to be part of your wonderful family 🙂
We are lucky to have Jessica as part of our new and improved family! Thanks.
How Fun!!! I loved how colorful everything was, so bright & cheery!! I also loved how there were so many activities going on, something for all ages!! Your kids are lucky to have you for a mom!! You know how to party with style! =D
true to all the parties you organize… this looks PERFECT. I want to get married all over again and have you organize it!
I agree with Aline. You have a gift Leigh Anne!
Love! Love! Love!
Looks like an amazing time. Great job!
Love your polka dot dress, too.
Laurel
mama of 12 (we recently had 4 kids get married in 14 months)
Not sure how you did 4 weddings in 12 months! Wow!
Is it dumb that I was tearing up the whole time I looked through this? Truly, such a gift to your family, friends and loved ones. I can’t wait to see close ups and even some behind the scenes shots of how you brought it all to life! Love it Leigh Anne! Congratulations!
I love that you did that because I do it every time I look at the pictures too!!! Love ya girl!
Amazing as always!!! What a fun memory to have of such a wonderful and special time in life. All your hard work paid off. Can’t wait to see what you come up with when the girls get married.
When we got home after celebrating, my son said, “Best wedding reception, ever!!”
I hadn’t even asked.
Now they can’t wait to get married too!
I have never in my whole life seen something so fun and darling and clever and beautiful and CUTE! Well done…if only you could hear my applause. 🙂
Oh.My.Goodness! I don’t even know where to start!!!! Maybe with you in your DARLING polka dot dress??? Every ounce of this is pure perfection! I got goose-bumps just reading through and admiring each and EVERY Picture! I can’t wait to see the rest!!!
All I can say is… WOW! Just brought tears to my eyes looking at the photos that show all the love you have for your family and friends! You are amazing.
Jennifer Barker’s post, the post above mine……said it ALL!!! All I can say is WOW!!! What an incredible celebration for your family and friends!! I can’t EVEN imagine how special your new ‘daughter’ must feel becoming a part of such an amazing and loving family. You are truly an amazing woman full of so many gifts and talents….thank you for sharing them with us!!
i have been waiting paitiently for this blog….what an awesome party you put on. All the details are what really made it special. So pretty, so colorful, so fun, so full of love. You and your family are truly special. I love the photo of them behind the parisol…adoraable!
Wowza! I scarce can take it in! All the details are amazing and so right on. As I was scrolling through the pics I couldn’t believe how it kept getting better and better even when I thought you’d already reached the top. So very lovely. A day your family will never forget. Thank you for sharing.
Uh-Maz-ing! That’s all that needs to be said. Congrats!
Leigh Anne! this is simply AMAZING!!! I can’t beleive you put all this together! it’s fabulous! I love every. single. thing about it 🙂 xoxo great job!
Loved every bit! I’m very curious as to how you made the red lit letters that spelled love.
Looking for the posts on all the details.
Details coming up! They were fun to do!
The reception looks AMAZING!!! I don’t know what recipes you will post, but if you made the waffle cones/bowls and the curly fries, I would love the recipes in a future post.
What a fun time – I don’t know how you managed to pull it all together – but it looks wonderful and the new couple look so happy. I’m sure you’re just tickled with the whole thing. Thanks for sharing with us!
There really are no words to sum up the complete awesomeness of this event. Seriously, it makes me want to get married all over again just so I can have a carnival like this! You’re amazing!!
Thanks! Made me want to get married again too!!
Kuddos to Uncle Jim on the booths he made- they look awesome! I’m stealing some great ideas from you! Thanks!
Have fun with your Carnival Birthday – wish we were closer so we could share.
I’ve been waiting to see the final outcome…all put together! It’s so spectacular and so fun. Made me wish I had been there! Thanks so much for linking up at Tuesday Time Out!
Smiles,
Melanie 🙂
Everything looks great and so much fun. You have such great ideas. Thanks so much for sharing the pictures and information.
Your daughter-in-law is one lucky lady!! And I think you be getting requests for more than the dance floor!!! You may have just discoved your new job ~ wedding carnival coordinator!!!
I can’t wait to see all the detail posts!
Bravo Mom!!! You did an amazing job and created a life time of memories for your family!!
xo ~ kristi
Thanks Kristi and thank you again for your fun contribution to the carnival. The plaque looked perfect right next to the doughnut cake!!
Eeeeeks!!!! Leigh Anne, I am so so happy to see this, It is amazing, and all your hard work was well worth it! BEforeyou told the story of the dance floor i thought, That dance floor is AWESOME! I’ll rent it in 10 years when my kids become married age;) Congrats, friend, seriously, and ummm, I would like to see a video of the flash mob!!!
Thanks Kristen – you are welcome to use the dance floor. You just have to come pick it up!:) My one regret is we didn’t get a good video of the flash mob. I have a so so one and may just have to post it!!
I love everything about this. It looks like SO much fun! If I could go back and get married again (to my husband of course), I would want a wedding like this.
~FringeGirl
Wow! This is AWESOME! Such a great idea! So beautiful and fun 🙂
WOW! WOW! WOW! Wish we could have joined you. We were praying hard for good weather and for all to go smoothly. We are thrilled for all of you!
You were missed. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. We had perfect weather!
p.s. who was your fab photographer?
My friend Meg of Megan Elle Photography. There is a link to her site in the post.
Thank you for posting pictures. I can’t wait to read the follow-up posts. Everything looked fantastic – but I’m not really surprised. I have been reading your blog for quite some time, and you throw the best parties and serve the best food. Congratulations to you and your family.
I looooooooved it!!! Cali needs to do a guest post on how she built the dance floor well done girl! I can’t wait for more details!
She should! It was pretty easy to do. I even took photos!!
I would love to know where your daughters got their dresses! I really love the orange one!
Tessa’s yellow dress is from Anthropologie. We got it on clearance and Cali’s dress we found at a vintage shop. It is actually an old square dance dress. We just had to redo the sleeve (it was big and puffy and had elastic) and it turned out so darling!!
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What an amazing, lovely celebration! I am getting married in seven weeks and hope to be able to ‘borrow’ some of your ideas. Thank you so much for sharing.
Congrats Katy! Borrow away.
Fantastic!!! You do such fun things and involve so many people.
Looks great and it is over. Ya done real good!!!
Love this and the Mother of the Bride’s dress! Where did you get such a cute dress!
My dress is from J.Crew. I bought it back in April. When I saw it I thought – “that is the perfect carnival dress!!” I love it.
The wedding looks amazing, Leigh Anne! I’m so glad everyone enjoyed themselves. What a wonderful way to start off your married life!
It looks magical Leigh Anne! I wish We could have been there. Will you be posting a video of your flash mob? It would be fun to see. Take a break now and do something for yourself. Weddings require some serious recovery time!
Laurie, That was my one regret – we didn’t get a good video of the flash mob. I have a so so one that I may end up posting – better than nothing!! I have finally got my house put back together – returned everything to people that needed to be returned. Working on thank you gifts this week!! We are off to Utah next week for an Open House there and then I think I can rest – maybe….
You mentioned your friend did the food, but I was wondering if you could share some of the logistics with the food…how to keep it hot, did she make all at once or spread the food production out throughout the evening, etc.
Ruth – to be honest I just turned everything over to her and didn’t pay a lot of attention but I’ll see if I can’t put some info together and include it in a post.
Well, I just picked my jaw up off the floor Leigh Anne! I knew your carnival would be great but I didn’t know that it would be the best Carnival reception in the entire universe! 🙂
All I can say is, “Amazing”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Uhmmm WOW! I knew you threw a fantastic gig but holy hannah this is beyond anything I even imagined! I think if you REALLY wanted to you could fill your empty nesting with professional party planning. You and your crew pulled off a simply AMAZING party yet it was still elegant and fun. I am just amazed and in awe.
Sorry to have stolen my Mom! Looks like it turned fabulously. Total fun and great pictures. Jessica’s sister is a good friend in my ward–so glad i’ll get to hear how they’re doing 🙂
I guess having a baby is a good excuse for stealing your mom! We did miss her though!!
Congrats on baby Allie!
oh my gosh, that was amazing!!!!! You’re amazing!!!!
Beautiful and fun in every way!! Will you be able to put your feet up for a “few” minutes? You certainly deserve it!! 🙂
Thanks Lisa. We have one more wedding party in Utah next week and then we will be done. Hope you have recovered from your wedding!!
Amazing work! So unique and done so well. Love the idea not only for a wedding, but birthday parties for kids too. Great job!!
Your son and daughter in law are lucky to have you. I can tell you put a lot of thought, time and effort into this. Thank you for sharing this. It looks amazing!
Yup! This is the most amazing wedding reception I have ever seen in my life! If there were awards for this kind of thing….you just won it. Everything looks so magical and so fun! Wow, wow, wow!
Thanks so much Bonnie!!!
I love everything about this! Very inspiring for parties!
SUPER ADORABLE !!! I love the whole thing. Great pictures!
Oh my goodness! Love! What fun! That hard work paid off!
I would love to feature this in my Soiree Day sometime, may I?
Thanks for sharing at Show & Share!
Thanks Jennifer – I’d love for you to feature it on your site, Let me know when you do.
Oh yay! It will be this coming Tuesday! Thanks so much, can’t wait!
Holy cow Leigh Anne, I’m so inspired by your amazing creativity! This is just so fun. I’m only sorry I did not get to see it in person. Wow!
Warmly, Michelle
PS – Do you free hand all those beautiful chalk board signs??? If you have any tips about how you make them look so fabulous, please share!
Michelle, I have a friend who is a very talented artist that did the chalkboards for me – wish I could do them myself!!
WOW, this is absolutely magical! Just discovered it from the post at Kara’s Party Ideas, and I’m completely in love. This is the very best kind of backyard wedding, full of beauty, family, friends, and FUN. Spectacularly done! I’d love to post about it on the Tikkido/Tradewind Tiaras blog, with your permission.
Hi Leigh Anne, the whole thing looks amazing. Could you tell me where you got the vinyl/nylon skirting for the games tables? I’d really appreciate it. Thanks Lucy
I got it from Oriental Trading. Glad you enjoyed the post!!
Leigh Ann,
I love your dress. Where did you get it?
It is from JCrew. I thought it was the perfect carnival dress!
Hello, I’m hoping you could tell me where I could buy the image from your lemonade sign. We would love to use it for a little kid carnival that we are having and I can’t seem to find anything similar- this one would be perfect! Seriously- this event is SO CUTE and PERFECT!
Thank you so much! [email protected]
My friend actually made the sign and bought the image form an etsy shop. I have emailed her to see if she can remember the name of the shop – I’ll let you know if she does.
Thank you so much!
Hi Leigh Ann,
I’m so sorry to bug you, I was just wondering if your friend had replied to your email about the cute image she purchased from Etsy? I need to get started on the signs. No worries if she did not, I knew it was a little bit of a long shot! Thank you again for trying for me!
So glad you left another comment – I actually just got the info from my friend yesterday so your timing is perfect. here is the link to the etsy shop.
[email protected]
You are AWESOME!!!!! Thank you, thank you! made my day!
Great post! Wonderful ideas! You did a great job!!!!!
Hi! Thank you for sharing your wonderful pictures!! Can you give me any details about your candy table sign, like what materials were used or how it was made? thank you so much!!!
Glad you enjoyed the pictures. We made the candy sign from those brown craft letters they sell at the craft store and just cut the top off of them and then painted them and put holes in the letter for the lights to come through. They are then mounted on some heavy cardboard type material.
This wedding was AMAZING!!!!! I wish I lived in your area; I would rent EVERYTHING!!!!!! I am working on building the cotton candy stand, for my son’s first birthday!! 🙂 Please tell me where you found the cardboard material behind the words Cotton Candy. Thanks!!!!
We just used foam core board.
I am getting married and we are having a vintage carnival themed reception too. I just found your blog (thank you pinterest). Any advice on running games and a wedding reception at the same time? Any chance you are selling any of the wonderful decorations? Thanks!
I had a couple of teenagers man the game area – they had a great time. I didn’t do tickets or anything like that and just had a big bowl of prizes people could take what they wanted. I do rent many of our carnival decorations if you are in the Portland area!
Would you be interested in selling any of the supplies you used?
Not interested in selling as I rent them out.
Could you please tell me if the popcorn sign image came from Etsy as well? I really need one for our school carnival and this one is perfect!
The popcorn kernals were hand drawn and the word popcorn was just printed off. The red and white stripe background was hand painted.