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Story by
topsyturvydesign
Published on April 10, 2009 in This Handmade Life |
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Growing up, I always had a flair for the theatrical. I think I inherited this inclination from my awesome hippie parents. You see, my parents’ 1972 Hippie Wedding is a thing of legend in the small town of Alameda, California.
New in town, they posted signs on telephones poles inviting the town-folk to attend their “no-hoopla wedding.” The ceremony was held in a small, tree-shaded park across the street from their apartment. They expected 50-odd guests, but attracted crowds in the hundreds. Some musicians walking by set up on a stage and jammed into the wee hours. My Dad's co-workers surprised him by pulling up in a converted school bus turned hippie love bus filled with libations.
Greeting guests in front of the hippie bus.
Cutting the cake for throngs of hungry children.
I have heard the legend and have admired the terribly groovy photos, but the elements I treasure most from their big day are the handmade ones. My Mom recently brought over my Dad's handmade wedding vest and her vintage bridal shoes, so I could admire their handiwork.
My Dad, the ZZ-Top looking fella', was "just not into suits" and asked if my Mom would make him a "groovy" wedding vest.
"He actually joked that the wedding would be called off if I didn't make him one," my Mom recalls.
"I had just started to crazy quilt at the time and decided to go patchwork for his vest. I handembroidered around each patch, and in the centers of some on the backside, I embroidered your father's initials. We found a pink paisley shirt at the Five & Dime, and I made him a pair of red velvet arm garters to finish off the look."
My Mom and her bridesmaids decided to make their gowns from simple, store-bought patterns.
"We decided to make our gowns because we were on a budget. Back then, you would have to go to a fancy boutique or department store to find a gown. I found them to be very intimidating and impersonal."
"I chose ivory brocade, which was a bit rebellious at the time. In Chinese culture it is traditional to wear a red gown for good luck. I figured since there was nothing traditional about our wedding, I would buck the 'old ways' and wear what I liked. I wore my red dress in our engagement photos instead, which made your grandfather happy..."
Of course, no wedding day would be complete without something old.
"We found my vintage (now antique) bridal shoes at a small mom & pop shop during a road trip to Monterey. They were wrapped in their original packaging materials and were in pristine condition. I really loved the silk embroidery and the bright colors, a lot of work went into them. They were the perfect finishing touch on my perfect 'no-hoopla' wedding ensemble." I would agree.
My parents celebrated their 36th Wedding Anniversary in October.
If you have a soft spot for nostalgia, check out more posts about real weddings and their vintage elements. Not only are Kim's parents fabulous, you should see her hats! Watch this video we made with Kim about her millinery, topsyturvydesign.
Wedding Gift Guide | Wedding Category | Wedding Showcase | Handmade Wedding Series
208 comments Login to add your own!
weirdwolf
Best post ever! Yay for hippie weddings and handmade weddings vests. Brilliant.
thisilk
Beautiful story !!!!!!!love the hippie look. What a perfect wedding!
KittyKatoure
pengpengs
Being the result of a 1969 Jewish (dad) + Chinese (mom) marriage, I completely enjoyed Hippie Wedding story!
Thanks for making me smile :)
HamboneDesigns
ShesFancy
Congratulations to them (and you) on a long marriage and happy life!
katiearms
This is the greatest post in the history of posts! I swear to blog!
foxtrailgeneralstore
Great story! Love the idea of a non traditional wedding. That patchwork vest is awesome!
PussDaddy
avantanthologue
florigander
Absolutely amazing. Thanks for sharing! That's what I want my wedding to be like!
misohappi
SeaFindDesigns
thepairabirds
I agree. This is by far one of the best post. I'm an "Hey, baby, let's elope" kind of girl. So most wedding things do not interest me. But, this one is great. It's all about community, life, and culture. I would certainly have a wedding like this!
fromthefigtree
Furiousdreams
I had a wedding almost just like this in '76... and made my hubby a paisley shirt and my own wedding dress that I have stored. Embroidered with green ivy on white wool. It's still beautiful.
Fun memories~
MayaBella
This is such a neato article. I love his crazy quilt vest! It looked like such a fun relaxing time.
Sonniesuellc
lizroca
WoollyWonka
vitamini
It was so cool to see these pictures! My parents also had a hippy wedding and my mom made her wedding dress and the grooms-men's shirts.
Your mom did a beautiful job on your dad's vest, by the way. ;)
Thanks for sharing!
VieModerne
Can this be a permanent feature in The Storque... sellers writing about their parents or grandparents weddings? This is the most enjoyable post I've come across in quite a while!
Faeriedtreasures
That is so awesome. My parents had a semi hippie wedding, full of handmade touches too! I should dig up their old photos and maybe I'll blog about their wedding!
zwzzy
Awww, so sweet I'm tearing up! Their wedding sounded like so much fun!! Yay for Monterey too! :D oxox.
TangledDaisies
Thank you for sharing this! Such an awesome story! They look so happy!
UglyBaby
So cool! I love no fuss weddings. We got married in a helicopter over the Vegas strip and there was absolutely no stress involved. Yay!
chakrapennywhistle
I smiled the whole way through this story! Lovely! Congrats to your parents:)
LaveMeSoapCo
missrubysue
Oh my gosh! I laughed and laughed! Great story- I think this article should go to Time Magazine! Real Hip photos, true style and written well! Simple Weddings are a great way to go!
xoxo,
mrs
hemlockhollow
Can't we write about our own? I wore a deep sapphire blue velvet mini dress. 1968. first marriage. (next marriage has lots of love and flowers and lizards.)(that was another weird wedding)
CositasSeriasVintage
maryjanefrances
phydeaux
Kim, you've outdone yourself with such a wonderful story! Thank you for sharing this delightful tale, complete with photos of beloved handmade goodies!
renouveauclothing
enhabiten
i agree...such a sweet story, great pictures. thanks so much for sharing!
IWillFly
elisasherejewelry
OMG, I LOVE, love, love this story. Thank you for sharing this. Such a great story! And, your Mom's dress is amazing.
topsyturvydesign
I can't wait to share this post with my folks!
They are truly the most amazing, creative, loving & terribly groovy people I have ever known.
Thank you Storque for letting me share the story of their wedding & thanks everyone for your sweet comments.
Peace & Love
Kim
jewelrybyallison
OhFaro
busterandboo
What an awesome wedding. Your Dad's vest and your Mom's shoes are both so beautiful. What a perfect celebration.
thanks for sharing!
shopgoldmine
this is totally what my wedding will be like (hopefully!) love it! thanks for sharing your story :)
ScottieinaCanoe
capitolagirl
jennifermorrisbeads
this was the sweetest and most inspiring story ever!
it completely explains the genius and spirit of kim, too.
i love you even more miss kim!
xo
lovinganvil
cozycottagecreations
Great story!! I love every bit of it! Makes me wish I could go back to that time! Thanks so much for sharing!
choklit
OMG, my parents wedding looked EXACTLY like this, and they got married in the East Bay in the early 70's, too... YAY! Too sweet.
dragonhouseofyuen
what an amazing story!
great to see the photos and the history of the items - super!!!
jenniferlynnstudio
Thanks for sharing..that vest was amazing! takes me "back in time".
SavonShoppe
Fantastic photos and story...feel like I was there. Really sweet that you can build memories and find inspiration around their special day.
fineartstoneware
SundraSandrusi
lusterbunny
Hey I was born in Alemeda around the same time and my parrents were hippies, I wouldn't be surprised if our folks knew each other!
Cheers,
Rain
Vanessa
hemlock, convo me if you want to submit an article in this series. we're all intrigued.
MintyFreshFusions
As my mom would still say, what a gas!
seriously, awesome story, and for some reason the lawn mower in the bus pic cracks me up, there are just so many layers of stories in the pictures.
and some of us had hippie weddings more recently-
littlealouette
this rocks! I had to add it to kirtsy.com asap! xoxo the world will love this! fab!
odiliafu
HookableDesigns
There's something about hippie weddings that will always intrigue me. Probably because my own parents looked especially hippie-ish at their own wedding.
livefunky
I love it, I love it! This so reminds me of my mom and dad's hippie wedding in 71. My dad and uncle with their hair down to the middle of their backs, my mom and her brides maids in handmade hippie dresses, driving away in a flower power painted vw bug. Too classic. Hip hippie hooray for this article and for your parents still going strong! I particularly love the vest. It's wonderful that it's still in such great condition. Love and peace!
JesseMosher
This is a great article ......could be just the perfect wedding gift here in my shop ...
I like the bus too , and the qulit
taylorseclectic
Wonderful story! I love the community aspect of your parent's wedding and the fact that they followed their vision of a dream wedding and didn't bend to the set standards of the time. It was an enjoyable read!
SimpleTraditions
what an awesome story. It's hard to find marriages that last that long these days. Thank you so much for sharing it with us!
vintageitville
Oh my goodness as soon as I read the title of this blog.......... I knew I found my handmade wedding :)
Well maybe one day. Love the pictures of your parents.
sandali
I LOVE your article !! It's such an awesome story & your features are trigger happy -- it makes me want to sing "flowers in my hair, the power is to share" -- Happy Days ;)
LippincottSoapCo
I love the silk embroidered shoes! They are so awesome! Very vintage, yet modern at the same time. Love!
TwoKazoos
What an awesome story! LOVE that vest and the story behind it. You have some amazing parents! Thanks for sharing.
RockisSupplies
This is right up my alley! LOVE this article and everything about it - made me smile big time! I actually got goosebumps while reading it. Congrats to your parents! The smile is still on my face :)
clubviv
GeeZees
mazedasastoat
This is absolutely the BEST storque yet... I just love it!
OffTheHooks
EarthBabyDesigns
I love this article and wedding. The vest is truly "groovy."
Article reminds me of my own wedding 16 years ago. While decidedly not hippie, it was nearly all homemade and personal. Wore my mom's wedding dress from 1967 that my grandmother made. And I carefully took apart my mom's handmade veil, replaced the smooshed flowers and sewed it all back together again.
This is how weddings should be!
solocosmo
pumpkinhaus
I love this! I had a hippie handmade wedding myself, only it was in 2001... your parents are so wonderfully cool!
kittytrishia
Awwwwwwwwwwwww Kim this was the most awesome story about weddings ever! BIG loads of kitnip and chocolate to you my dear!
TheCottageCheese
I love everything about this wedding! Oh, the bride's shoes are simply amazing. I have been eying threadhead's spectacular dresses for months!
topsyturvydesign
PS...Alison & Vanessa - I love that you put ZZ-Top in the tags :p
Xenotees
I agree with all the comments- this is the best! I would love to see a series in this vain. It's always so incredible to learn more about talented Etsians!
My mom made her wedding dress too- out of gorgeous gray velvet! She also made my older, half-sister's dresses (it was her 2nd one) & the pictures of event are so magical to me.
Thanks for sharing this awesome story TopsyTurvy!
donnasserendipity
Fancy0Frances
Aw, this made me smile sooo much. Thank you. I needed that. I love the spirit - and the look - of the hippie movement. It's so peaceful and comforting- I can't help but think of a balmy breeze and sunshine. And color! All mixed up! That's my favorite look of all.
Plenty of color in my photos and necklaces: Fancy0Frances.Etsy.com
lavalleygirly
mizzluvlybonez
wow this is such a lovely story... and really neat for me because i live like 30min from alameda! this article encompases many ideas which draw me to the hippie culture of the 60s
BluCille
eraseandrepeat
this gave me goosebumps(in a good way)!! such a lovely story and even more awesome pictures :)
millalove
bastiano
I have hippie parents and their hippie wedding was in 1969. Sadly I have no anything of their clothes from that time, but still there were when I was child and I used to wear belts, sandals and bags made for them with leather.
I like very much there is here in Etsy people with hippie parents. Where else!
Hippies forever!
zombuki
This is so sweet! The "groovy" vest is, I must say, outta sight.
@ bastiano: Hippies forever!
MixedMediaByZehner
My day and time...brings back memories...the only thing missing is a current photo of your parents...love it
DappleGrey
that was an great story, i love it, i love the whole hippie wedding thing, totaly my dream :)
mykonos
dlkdesigns
bayousalvage
what incredible and down to earth folks. and the vest- it's a dream. no wonder topsy turvy is so creative!
cherrylippedroses
What a great story! The photos were wonderful! Thanks for a great day brightener!
monamivie
dotia10
i love this posting. best one ever!!! so jealous of your parents. what a groovy wedding.
quirkybeauty
What a beautiful story! I'm getting married in 2 weeks - this story made me feel warm and excited at once. Thanks!!
futurowoman
That's such a great story!!!! Your parents created an event for their community and made their wedding something I'm sure everyone remembers! Congratulations to them on their anniversary! :)
SkinnySwallow
What a fine story... a good read early on a saturday morning... filling my day with vintage thought and hippy credo:)
FrucciDesign
seaglassvintage
Your mother is so pretty and did a great job on the vest, and I love those shoes!
BabbidgePatch
lovely article ~ my mother made my wedding 'gown' 32 years ago :)
knittles
what an uplifting article. makes me all warm and fuzzy inside.
poppyswickedgarden
Oh how lovely! I remember wandering through my parents old hippie wedding momento's as a little girl. My mom's handmade peach floral wedding dress with matching peach hat. and my dads cords and pheasant blouse(of course handmade by mom) cowboy hat and boots.
I think my mom's creativity helped to make me the designer I am today. I remember thinking how wonderful it was that she made everything herself, and I hoped that I could do the same someday! Thank goodness I get to fulfill my childhood dream!
topsyturvydesign
It makes total sense that many etsians would have hippie parents or were hippies themselves :)
I love to read your stories & would love to see your hippie wedding photos if you have them on flickr.
I just uploaded a recent picture of my parents-today on my flickr page - Thanks MixedMediaByZehner for the suggestion!
beachhouseblues
PetiteRobeNoire
What an awesome story to have as part of your own history...your parents are very cool!
Thank you...
worksofwhimsy
What a fun story. I'm curious to see what your parents look like now. That vest should be framed!
ThePurlMinx
starlettefinery
The sweetest story!!!! Thank you so much for sharing it!
WallisReid
dajoli
papaververt
Oh that is just the sweetest story ever! And I live in Alameda Ca! Small world.....
HeadCaseByG
jasperpoppies
EpicBones
Thinkoutsidethebox
I adore this couple..and love the photos from their wedding..I secretly wish that the world were this peaceful and low key..There is much to be said for the non-traditional. It is very evident from the photos and the story that there is much love and acceptance from your parents..You are very fortunate to have been brought up with these values. I too am a California baby of sorts and also had a very hippie mom..back in the day of course and a lot of that has stayed with me throughout my life. Thanks so much for sharing this personal story!
michellesadventures
I love it! my mom got married (1968) in a silver brocade mini skirt and jacket. Who'd a thunk it would be cool again?
nectorgirl
This is the best wedding article I've read in a long time, and I hope I can have a non-traditional wedding in this fashion someday. LOVE the bus that pulled up front! The shoes are so gorgeous, well, everything is. Speaking of vests, my aunt gave me a suede hippie vest with feathers floating off of the fringe... I'm gonna have to find that one in the depths of my vintage clothing! I cannot wait to see pics of the other hippie weddings out there! ~peace, love, positivity, and grooviness~
piperewan
kim- that is so awesome! i am a huge sucker for crazy quilts (and quilts in general), and i love those embroidered shoes! your parents are so adorable! xo, k
comfortablyblue
babymomo
asundrynotion
True romance! Weddings shouldn't be about how much money is poured into the celebration or status. Heartwarming to know this marriage has lasted 36 years. The shoes are beautiful, too.
TeacupAdventure
ExQuisiteInVitation
Donauluft
by reading this article I remembered my own wedding. A self sewn dress with a braid which was taken from India by my husband.... Now we had 31 th anniversary....very nice article!
minouette
ManoCelebrates
Romantic story, and 1960-1970 shoes adorable. I love to wear those kind of shoes. A year ago I bought something like that and wear it very often.
PAINTINGSBYSAM
What a great story! and Beautiful Photos! Thank you so much for sharing :) Peace & Love ~
EyePopArt
You guys rock and those shoes are amazing! Love the photos!
What a great wedding. My parents were married on December 31, 1971, in a courthouse. My mom was 7 mos. pregnant with my older sister and she wore pants, there are only a couple of pictures. I always wished they had had a hippie wedding like this!
berrymorin
I so loved reading your parent's wedding story. I hope that our teen will have nice things to say about our renewal ceremony.
novadesigns
I just love this story. I was raised by a hippie mom myself and this story brings back some great memories of my childhood!
ModernMetalJewelry
I just loved the wedding story and the wonderful "hippie" selections!
LifeUncommon
What a great post (and fabulous photos!) - thank you for sharing :)
jennabanena
thanks so much for sharing! definitely one of the best wedding stories i have EVER heard!
TigerTeeth
BeautifulSoaps
Pussykat
This is really sweet the type of memories we all can enjoy. Hopefully I can provide that essence with my clothes. Pussykat Clothing.
angelcake
as a fellow east bay-er and alamedan, i love this story and the pics especially! sooo sweet!
Lelikat
What a wonderful wedding story! And the photo's really captured the feeling. That wedding vest is amazing!!! Thanks so much for sharing!
OpusMuse
such a beautiful non traditional wedding. mixed marriages are very rare back in those days. this reminds me of my own wedding. ;)
CourtneyBathBoutique
thevintagethread
Gosh, just about the best story I've read on Etsy! How wonderful that your parents followed their hearts - congratulations! Lucky you!
fifthquadrant
what a sweet personal story and wonderful photographs ~ your parents are adorable
yoganoodles
What a wonderful story! My husband and I were married outside at sunrise on Easter Sunday almost 17 years ago. We, too, expected only a handful of people and ended up with over a hundred (handwritten invitations on Current stationary). My wedding dress was handmade and I made my floral arrangements by hand the night before. I guess there is a little hippie in all of us! Thank you so much for sharing!
gjarvisjewelryetc
I agree with thevintagethread, this is one of the best, and my favorite stories on Etsy so far. Keep them coming!
thecraftpantry
kachingdesign
Signs
this is a good story too :) my parents were hippies too. My mom and dad could both sew.
BayMoonDesign
Great love story and the best part is that the love is still going on after all the years together. I have a 1971 marriage that is still going strong.
eMeLLeS
TreeHuggerStudio
How cute are they? So many times I have heard "If I had saved all my clothes from the 70's I'd be rich" I don't know about that but,they sure are groovy!!!!!!!!!
Happy Easter!peace out!
kthyvnhrn1
What a Groovy story...and the pic's just topped it off !
Thanks so much for sharing.
Peace to you and your family.
ClaudiaLord
savistudio
Very cool, my parents were hippies too! As a child I grew up around that whole vibe. High quality article!!!
jiorji
Ozknits
I want those shoes!! This was a really awesome story with great pics. Thanks so much for sharing and happy anniversary to your parents.
You have reason to be proud!
WeddingSkulls
haannh
BlackStar
sleepingcatbeads
I'm so glad I stumbled upon this...what a lovely story! I love the quilted vest, and your mom (and dad, heck, lol) are adorable!! I love the old pictures too, they remind me of my childhood. Thanks for such a lovely story - well written and with great photographs.
lolitarose
What a wonderful story! I think it's awesome that your mother made her dress and your father's wedding vest, and how neat that the whole town was invited to the wedding! Hooray that they've managed to make it for thirty some years too, that's sure a rarity in this day and age.
cefische
OnTheRound
niTeBecOmEsdAy
poppyandclover
Thanks for sharing this story and great photos. I love that they invited anyone who wanted to come...and that a big fun party developed! The best thing about this story is that your parents are still together all these years later. I wish your family continued love and happiness!
nfall2rt
This is such a cute and heartwarming story! Thank you for sharing your personal photos:)
HistoryofArt
What a totally great wedding with spectacular wedding-wear! Thanks so much for sharing.
mamaofcuties
I loved this story, it always makes me smile to read about people who are themselves despite what every one else thinks they should be. We should all strive to be this individual and cool! Wonderful and heartwarming story, thank you for sharing it!
hummingbird26
TheRusticHome
ModFarmgirl
How awesome is that!!! Very cool parents, and wonderful story!!!
thehippiechicks
mythunderstood
This is a wonderful story to share, so personal and sweet, and put a totally new light on the seller here for me. Just wonderful!!!!!!
wolfmothercommune
what an amazing wedding!!!! the spirit to which every marriage should aspire to!
the vest is so incredible...thank you for sharing your story and pictures! a beautiful story from an incredible era...
DenasDesigns4sl
question im new so very new i get my daughter to do these things for me now im trying my self> I just put a few things on here to sell. took the pictures and down loaded them my self that how lame i am.. so question now that ive done this how do i know if it sells. say someone want to buy it take me step by step what i will see and need to do. PLEASE
mamabear82
Awwww, what beautiful old photos! This really brightened my day. Thank you for posting this!
RawrRinne
People may not believe this but the man in the pictures is Joesph Brown and the and he is my grandfather. My fathers dad. My dad is a junior accuiring the same name: Joesph Brown as well as my brother. The women happens to be my step mother. I'd include more fact proving I know them but I'm Corinne May-lynn Brown a 12 year old girl who lives in New Jersey while my Grandfather and his wife live In California. We've never met the only thing I know is we are related, the storys a hear from my father, and what online provides.
WanderlustBling
Long live the hippie wedding! Great photos and love that Daydream wedding dress!
creativefeltboards
THIMBLEandACORN
That is so great, thanks for sharing! I love the beard!
FiregypsyVintage
Wow, You are a luck one, for having such a great parental pair. I wish I lived during that era, it must have been a blast! I find some of the most amazing hand made garments here in Cali from that generation! Great story thank you for sharing, Happy crafting and creating...
RawrRinne
Okay,
Fact: I forgot my grandpa's name.
Fact: That makes me feel stupid.
Fact: Kids shouldnt use the internet.
Fact: Sorry grandpa.
-Corinne
ThePaperPeddler
This is the cutest post everywhere! yeah for your parents, 36 years!! This made me happy!
katinkapinka
i love this! i love that they put up signs inviting folks to their wedding. seriously, your story gave me goosebumps.
brownbear9
Hi,
I'm Kim's dad and I signed on to get a message to my New Jersey grand daughter. Honey you have NOTHING to be sorry about in not knowing my first name. Your grandmother and I went separate ways over40 years ago and your father who I love dearly is not much into keeping contact with his West Coast family. You and your brothers can call collect at any time or e=mail.
Love you,
Grand pop
mospirit
themolliellama
Fun!
Kim, you need to come up with a hattie that is a nod to your folks!
:)
-m.
sintajimenez
gardendiva
What a great story! I was a wedding photographer for over 20 years, and I always found that the best weddings were those where people added personal touches that made their special day unique and special to them.
ireneagh
ToxicInk
What a great post. Steping back into that corner of time, I love it!
DarkStar
Oh my god I completely adore your parents, they are so FREAKING ADORABLE! Thank you for this lovely story, and the priceless, priceless photos. Just wonderful. :)
Heidi
rachelchristydesigns
I love this story, so exquisitely beautiful! The pictures are soooo freakin cool. I wish I could go back in time and be an attendee! It reminds me a little bit of that movie Fandango. This is such a cool story, so glad I read about it.
strawberriesandcream
what a beautiful love story, love love love the pictures!!
Happy 36th anniversary!
modflo
Art2ArtColorado
far out! ;D
this brought an immediate smile... and i'm wishing you all the best.
*keep on truckin'!*
missbatch
I can feel the love, 36 years on. Congrats to them for doing it their way! Very inspiring.
fjonesart
shanskimo
NJBeads
LaFaeVert
redpumpkin
There is nothing I love more than hearing great stories that have been passed down by a generation. I love everything about this story- and the pictures! So awesome!! Your parents are a truly inspirational couple! Congrats to you and them, and thanks for sharing this :)
PenGwynneBeads
What a great story! I love the vest your Dad wore! Thanks for sharing!
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