March, 2011 - DIY Bride

Joanna + Charles

University of Georgia alumni Joanna and Charles’s red, black and white wedding showcases how to use strong colors to make a beautiful style statement.

Joanna and Charles met at freshmen orientation at UGA but did not start dating unitl they re-connected nine years later in Atlanta. They chose to get married in Athens, Georgia because that is where they met and went to school.

The main color of their wedding was red because that is Joanna’s favorite color. Additionally, black and white were brought in as accent colors. Red and black are also UGA’s colors.

The couple’s friends and family did all the flowers and decorations for their wedding. The invitations were designed and handmade by a friend-Emily Butler. The reception was rockin’ as Charles played drums with the band for a few songs. The dance floor overflowed! They had an after party at a local bar and even Joanna’s 82 year old grandfather stayed out intil 2 A.M.!

Joanna McNally & Charles Pinkham
December 10, 2009
Athens, Georgia

Photographer: ZoomWorks
Reception Venue: Foundry Park Inn
Cake Designer: Cecilias Cakes
Ceremony Location: University of Georgia Chapel

Nicole + Ross

Weddings need not be extravagant to be beautiful. A gorgeous setting, a few DIY projects, and a happy couple are the perfect recipe for a wedding day to remember.

Nicole & Ross
July 04, 2009
Waikoloa, Hawaii

Photographer: Joanna Tano Photography
Reception Venue: Hilton Waikoloa Village
Other: Waikoloa Golf Club

Caitlin + William

Caitlin and Will designed and created their entire wedding – nearly everything was DIY – with carefully chosen details.The result? Warmth and charm galore.

Photographer Tammy Swales describes the day. “Caitlin created her hairpiece and her daughter’s flowers. They folded dozens of origami swans (after their new shared surname) and flowers for their place cards and centerpieces, and put together felt mustaches for all the guests. They even had a close friend illustrate their paper doll invitations and program fans. Caitlin and Will’s wedding was so personal and intimate. Their young daughter, so central to their lives, was involved in the entire day, from being included in the invites and programs, to being an important part of the ceremony. Caitlin and Will’s wedding was all about FAMILY, and their family and friends were touched by how personal and how much of a gift their day was. Caitlin worked tirelessly designing their wedding, and created almost everything that you see in the images. It was truly a beautiful day, focused on family and friends, laughter and so so much love. ”

Caitlin + William
August 07, 2010
Clinton, New York

Photographer: Tammy Swales Photography
Event Designer: DIY by Caitlin and Will
Reception Venue: Hamilton College

Morgan + James

I am so in love with lush-yet-intimate intimate outdoor weddings. Washington state couple Morgan and James took advantage of their local greenery for this beautiful wedding. And, really, how could you resist guys in kilts?

There’s a lot of great handmade and upcycled details here: check out the cut wine bottle candle chimneys, the centerpieces bought at Goodwill, and succulent favors. What makes this all work is a rich palette that beautifully compliments the outdoor setting while still feeling fun and playful.

The Details

Couple: Morgan & James
Wedding Date: July 10, 2010
Location: Shelton, Washington

Photographer: Katie Anderson Photography
Hair Stylist: Studio B
Caterer: Mudflower Catering
Event Designer: Tashana Klonius Designs
Reception Venue: Walter Dacon Wines
Dress Store: David’s Bridal
Cake Designer: Costco

Continue reading Morgan + James

Karine + Ryan

One of the things I love about DIY is that it’s so versatile. It can be cozy and comfy projects or, like this beauty of a wedding from Karine + Ryan, it can be elegant and charming.

Karine and Ryan went all-out DIY for their February 2011 wedding day.

In the photographer’s words…

“Karine incorporated a great many elegant DIY details into her wedding!

1. A button bouquet – a stunning take on the traditional bouquet.

2. 150 ‘mardi-gras’ type masks – one for each guest. She photographed each one and put a number in it. The images were then placed into a printed book. Each guest signed next to the mask they took providing both a momento of the favors and a guest book!

3. Boutineers for the groom/groomsmen – incorp. a Lego man into each!

4. 15 different centerpieces using feathers, candelabras, large vases, strings of pearls, etc.

5. Custom graphics for the wine bottles and for the menu’s (which she also designed).

6. Embellishment on the menus & menu design

7. A purse clutch for each bridesmaid.

8. Accessorizing of her own shoes (adding lace and ‘bling’ pearl accents!)

9. “Saying” cards for each table (read them out for the couple to kiss).

10. Place-card display. A fun-loving & relaxed pair – she French Canadian and he English Canadian. To honor their mixed roots they had a ‘handfasting’ ceremony, where they were bound together with green fabric. The Arch in front of which they were married was decorated by her uncles and cousins to accent her wedding theme. Karine honored her father & brother (not present) by putting their pictures into vintage frames and having them overlooking the ceremony. She also lit a candle for her father. Each bridal party member read a part of the wedding vows & the groom’s mother sang. It was definitely a night to remember!”

The Details:

Karine & Ryan
February 26, 2011
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Photographer: Kiss The Girl Photography
Reception Venue: Viscount Gort Hotel
Dress Store: Stella’s Bridal Galleria

Lynsi + James

A few bright accents make this pretty DIY wedding a sweet day to remember.

One of the reasons I love outdoor weddings is they often provide a glorious backdrop without the need for extra decor and flowers. Nature is an awesome decorator, right? James and Lynsi chose a gorgeous park in Syracuse, Utah that provided some lovely scenery for their big day.

Did I mention Lynsi’s mom made all of the table arrangements and decor? The use of color here really sets the tone for a casual but fresh and cozy wedding. Love it!

Vendors

Lynsi + James
July 15, 2009
Syracuse, Utah

Vendors
Photographer: Cahoon Studios
Reception Venue: Legacy Park
Dress Store: The Gallery by Lynette

Terri + Adam

So much fun, so much love, so many laughs is how Terri and Adam describe their book-themed DIY wedding.

Terri + Adam February 19, 2011 Chicago, IL

Terri shares the details: Adam and I wanted to have a unique, book-themed, DIY winter wedding in Chicago. The venue, Architectural Artifacts, was perfect, being as eclectic and full of life as it is. all of our obstacles included having an idea, then having to figure out how to execute each idea and in the timeframe we had!

The flowers were made out of the bride’s favorite publication (a McSweeney’s quarterly.). The centerpieces were made by the bride and groom (paper flowers in vases made from of hardcover books and a little creative scroll sawing). The save the dates were DIY made from old romance novels. The invite was a DIY single screenprinted poster. The guest book was a typewriter. The signage were DIY scrabble boards. The escort cards were DIY library cards housed in old card catalog drawers. The favors were photobooth photos. the guests waved DIY flags instead of throwing rice or blowing bubbles. The bridesmaid dresses were locally made. And the vows were one-of-a-kind.

One really fun factor were the DIY life-sized prints of the bride and groom mounted to wood with the heads cut out for great photo ops. The website (with the bride being a graphic designer and the groom a programmer) was hand crafted with lots of love (http://www.sittin-in-a-tree.com/) and the photographer was a San Francisco gem, here is the link to her post about the wedding: http://www.edytaszyszlo.com/blog/2011/03/07/terri-adams-handmade-book-themed-winter-wedding/ and here is the full set of photos: http://www.pictage.com/client/event.do?event=989586.

Photographer: Edyta Syszlo