Eco-Friendly - DIY Bride

Haley + Seth’s Cute and Offbeat DIY Wedding

Today’s wedding is full of love, laughter, and DIY prettiness. Captured by Sur La Lune Photography, Haley + Seth DIY all their decorations. Coffee filter flowers? Check. DIY photo booth background? Check. Large piñatas that doubled as “hanging decorations”? Check. Come see for yourself how fun this wedding was!

Not only did Haley opted to not wear the traditional white, she and Seth also opted to get ready together and helped each other dress for their big day. Although Haley + Seth worked on many DIY decor projects, my ultimate love are the large coffee filter flowers that were carried by the flower girls. And how about them piñatas? What a fun, cool idea to have!

Congratulations to Haley + Seth!!

Photographer: Sur La Lune Photography//Wedding Date:09.07.2013//Event Venue: 1869 Homestead Bed and Breakfast//Hair Stylist:Bella Salon//Caterer: Chuy’s Restaurant//Equipment Rentals:Kentucky Music Company//

Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Becca + Mike’s E-Session at Valley Forge National Park

Today’s Fall E-session from Lindsay Docherty Photography is gorgeous with all the gold and browns. How can it be not when the weather was great and the Valley Forge National Park had all the amazing colors.

According to the photographer Lindsay Docherty, Becca + Mike is, in a way, total opposites. She’s petite and he’s a “big lug”. She loves and is good at shopping, while he’s awesome at mowing stripes on the lawn. I love that they share how when they first met at a mutual friend’s party years ago, Becca basically Facebook stalked him and messaged him before they went out on their first date. I love it because let’s face it, who doesn’t do that these days???

The love between the two is apparent and combined with the gorgeous setting, you get one awesome e-session.

Photographer: Lindsay Docherty Photography//Shoot Date: 11.06.2013//Other Location:Valley Forge National Park//Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Rachel + Michael’s Artistic DIY Wedding

Here at DIY Bride, we not only seek for DIY + prettiness aspects of a wedding, we also seek uniqueness and different interpretations of a theme. Don’t get us wrong, we love Pinterest and all the inspiration that’s out there offering us a chance to do the same thing for our own wedding/event, but when we come across a wedding that’s completely refreshing and unique? Well, we’re pretty darn excited.

Rachel + Michael is a very artistic couple that we’re featuring on this lovely Friday. Seriously, Rachel was so resourceful and determined to make their rustic-nature-DIY wedding as unique as it is money-saving. Yes, you read that right. They only spend… *gasp* a little over $700 on everything. Rachel tried really hard (and succeeded!) in using as many free, recycled, or thrift shop finds in the décor as she could, and enlisted friends and family for everything that they couldn’t do or needed help with. With super pretty details and unique finds, Allison Pense Photography did a wonderful job capturing them all on film.

Rachel and her DIY projects were pretty awe-inspiring. She did all the art on her invitation suite, programs, treat bags and table signs. Something super special and unique during the ceremony was that Rachel’s bridal bouquet was literally made as she collected the flowers from 17 of their guests as she was walking down the aisle. Her maid-of-honor then wrapped the stems to create the bouquet! What an awesome cool way to allow the guests to be involved.

Other DIY projects made by the couple as well as friends and family:
Michael’s vows were created in the form of origami fortune teller (Salt Cellar). All the hand drawn art by Rachel for the treat bags, matchbooks for favors, seating labels, and place cards. She grew half of the flowers used for the wedding, including flowers for her bouquet and center pieces. The ring pillow was hand made as well using small baskets with moss and hand made clay mushrooms. Yarn was used to wrapped bottles, jars, monograms, and lamp (photo backdrop).

Much congratulations to Rachel + Michael!!

Photographer: Allison Pense Photography//Wedding Date:09.14.2013//Cake:Laura Zinsman//Fortune Cookies:Carol Jeans Confections//DJ:Elite Entertainment//Favors and Gifts:Fireball Printing//Restaurant:Our House//Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Jennie + Morgan’s Great Outdoors Engagement Session

Jennie + Morgan share a mutual love for the great outdoors, so it’s a no-brainer that when it comes time to do their engagement shoot, they chose Clear Lake in Oregon, as it is one of the places they love to hike. One of the coolest part of their engagement shoot by Simply Kissed Photography is that apparently, they brought their own “engagement canoe” for the shoot. I can’t wait to share with all you awesome readers this all-American, great outdoors engagement shoot!

Photographer: Simply Kissed Photography//Shoot Date:05.18.2013//Other Location:Clear Lake State Park//Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Sara + Nick’s Intimate Soiree at Lord Jeffery Inn

We’re kicking off the first wedding of the month by featuring a super intimate soiree at the Lord Jeffery Inn, starring Sara + Nick. Michelle of Michelle Girard Photography did an incredible job of encapsulating all the charming and romantic details. With palette of orange and pink, Sara filled the space with lots of warm colors and candles.

The Inn’s library was the perfect setting for Sara + Nick’s intimate ceremony. The fire in the fireplace and the candles filled the room and created a warm and inviting environment. Sara also continue the theme by having candles and lights all over the reception, making it super romantic. Though she had a few mini DIY touches to complete her wedding, my favorite DIY element were the center pieces that Sara created for the tables (Is she a pro?!)
How cute was the First Look? I think it’s a superb idea (and great photo opportunity!) to include family/wedding party. I totally love that for Sara + Nick, their wedding party had a “sneak peek” for one of the big moments of the day. And the look on Nick’s face when he saw Sara? SWOON. Just exactly what every woman dreams of when the love of her life looks at her. Major bonus points there, Nick!

Sara + Nick did not need to DIY every aspect of their wedding to make it romantic, warm, and literally, filled with lots of love. And did I mention I *heart* their wedding cake & the “we do” cake topper and the map of hearts “guest book”? Congratulations to you both!!!

Photographer: Michelle Girard Photography//Wedding Date: 09.01.2013//DJ:And The Beat Goes On//Floral Designer: Forget me not Florist//Bakery: Greggory’s Pastry Shop//Tuxedo and Mens Attire:Joseph A. Banks//Reception Venue: Lord Jeffery Inn//Hair Stylist: Salon Herdis //Dress Store: The Bridal Barn & Tux Shoppe//

Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Heather + Chris’ DIY Wedding at the Family Farm

Our second feature for the day is brought to us by Nikki May Day Photography. This colorful summer wedding was held at a farm belonging to Heather’s relatives in Pennsylvania, featuring Lake Erie (for the ceremonial site) and a big barn where the reception was held nearby.

Both Heather + Chris are creative people (Heather art directed and Chris handled design and production). Together, they put lots of neat special touches to their day. From the photographer:

“They designed their own Save the Dates, Invitations, Thank You’s and Programs and they were AWESOME. They even designed their own H&D temporary tattoo’s (which were a huge hit) as well as making their own light up H&D sign. All of the direction signs were hand painted, the wedding pie was home made, the linens were all collected by Heather, and even Heather’s engagement ring was customized by Chris.”
I super adore their invitation suite, I mean, how can you not when you have a couple who are incredibly talented as Heather + Chris? I also love how they are not afraid to use bold colors such as yellow and red to showcase the playfulness of their wedding. Flower seed packets for favors? They totally have my heart!

Congratulations to Heather + Chris!!!
Photographer:Nikki May Day Photography//Wedding Date: 06/15/2013//Dress Designer: Saja//Dress Designer: Saja Wedding//

Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Bekah + John’s Delightfully Rustic Wedding

For our bride Bekah, the amazing designer behind Laurel & Fife (a custom dress company based in Tennessee and has worked on custom gowns for The Not Wedding), it is a no-brainer that she would design and handmade her own wedding dress. Other than the photography by Val and Sarah, everything else was designed and created by our couple and their family and friends. With a pretty mix of yellow and purple, this rustic wedding is traditional, romantic, and delightfully fun for all involved (and for us to see!).

It was without a doubt that Bekah would also custom create dresses for each of her bridesmaids. Other DIY details I love were the handmade buntings hung all over the reception area (a close friend of the family’s barn), the stars backdrop, as well as the pretty yellow wedding cake baked and decorated with lavenders by a friend.

In case you’re wondering, Bekah + John got married at their church. What’s so cool about it is that it was built to look like a log cabin, so the venue perfectly tied in with their rustic theme! And to keep it eco-friendly, the couple opted to do their exit with a shower of lavender.. Got to be one of my favorite moments from the wedding!

Congratulations Bekah + John!!!

Photographer: Val and Sarah //Wedding Date: 09/28/2013//Dress Designer:Laurel & Fife//

Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Grace + Nick’s Offbeat Rustic Wedding

In continuing our unintentional theme of “offbeat” weddings, I’m ending our features today with a very picturesque wedding. Our gorgeous bride Grace opted to wear a stunning vintage purple dress for her day, and the couple chose to wear color stones instead of “traditional” diamonds for their rings. This beautiful wedding photographed by Joshua Aaron Photography set a great example that it is completely okay to be yourself and to be different. After all, your wedding day is all about you as a couple!

From the photographer:

“To showcase their love for nature, Grace and Nick had packets of seed for guests, a picnic reception with games, and beer made by the couple themselves.” They also DIY all the flowers themselves as well.
This inspiring wedding at the Vista House is truly spectacular. Our stunning couple not only showcase what’s important to them as a couple, but their fun and unique personalities as well. I love that the talented Joshua Aaron was able to captured the romantic flair of Grace’s vintage dress, Nick’s emotional moment as he sees his bride walking down the aisle, and the breathtaking moments from the paper lantern send-offs. Congratulations to Grace + Nick!

Photographer: Joshua Aaron Photography//Wedding Date: May 18, 2013// Flowers: Kelly Singer // Event Venue:Vista House//Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Mia + David’s Sweet & Wholesome Wedding

We all know that planning a wedding is no easy task. When the wedding is a very DIY wedding… well, that certainly requires months of advance planning and executing, and of course, talented friends and family. For our super creative and talented bride Mia, she knew exactly what her dream wedding would be like and immediately started planning and working on the details as soon as she knew that she would marry David.

This sweet wedding consisted of so much DIY details, it’s awe-inspiring. I have so many favorite details from this wedding, and had a really hard time trying to pick them out from TréCreative Film & Photo. But if I had to pick my utmost favorites, it would have to be Mia’s dreamy dress and rosette boutonnieres. Mia, along with her dear friend Kierna, constructed her gorgeous vintage lace wedding dress for less than $45. They also created the beautiful boutonnieres and bridesmaids’ bouquets from pages of old French books and dictionary.

Other DIY details include invitation suite (Mia designed them their silhouettes as the main motif and hand lettered the invitations), headpiece, bouquet and garters, the flower girl baskets and flower head wreaths, the ring bearer’s nest, the cake topper, and the chalkboard directional sign.

What a sweet, sweet couple. Ialso want to share a couple of other sweet details:

The bridesmaids gifts include Sseko sandals, which are made by Ugandan women earning money to go to college.

But the sweetest one of them all?

Mia’s locket on her bouquet was actually a present from her grandfather. The locket originally belong to her grandmother, whom passed away before she was born. The locket says “I love Lenny” (also short for Mia’s middle name “Helen”, and grandmother’s name)… and when her grandmother opened to see it for the first time, that was also the first time her grandfather had expressed his feelings for her. Awwwwwwww!!!

Congratulations on your beautiful marriage Mia + David!

Photographer: TréCreative Film&Photo//Wedding Video: Mia + David//Wedding Date: August 04, 2013//Wedding Location: Fremont, California//Cake Designer: Amia Bakery //Caterer:Mikonos Grill//Event Venue:Shinn HIstoric Park & Arboretum//Cinema and Video: TréCreative//

Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Erin + Cameron’s Thrifty & Stylish Wedding

First thing that popped in my head when I looked through Erin + Cameron’s photos by Shirock Photography was the word character. This couple is not shy about expressing how much fun they are having nor how in love they are, a quintessential combination that every wedding photographer dreams of for their perfect couple. They’re just exuding so much personality and style, it’s really hard not to smile and giggle and go awwwwww at the same time.

Erin + Cameron are ALL about being thrifty in the best way possible for their California summer wedding. With their share love for old things, they scavenged through their parents’ closets and barns for things they can use for their decors- jars, old books, trinkets, and tons of fabric.

I’m in love with Erin’s vintage-y dress and the flower wreath that she wore on her head after the ceremony, as well as on the heads of those super adorable flower girls. According to Erin, Cameron’s mom planted all the flowers that were used in the wedding a few months prior to the wedding… so that all the flowers would bloom in time to use! They had a big BBQ the night before the wedding, and Erin delegated her bridal party to go around and cut all the fresh flowers to use the next day. Talk about fresh flowers at low cost!
The banners and strips of vintage-y fabric were surprisingly easy for Erin to do. They acted like curtains as decor throughout the venue. I especially *heart* the ones hanging down from the tree. So uber romantic! It was an easy project that made a big statement, AND she could delegate other people to help her with it.

And if I counted correctly, Cameron had fourteen groomsmen in his party. Whew! I think it’s totally awesome that Erin + Cameron took such a carefree and unorthodox approach on their wedding day… they totally focused on what’s important to them, and everything certainly paid off! Thank you for showing us how to stay stylish and thrifty yet the same time!

Photographer: Shirock Photography//Wedding Date: July 14, 2012//Location: California//Hair Stylist:Ballyhoo Salon//Caterer:BStroh Catering//DJ:Cameron Duff//Dress Store:David’s Bridal//Jewelry:Kenneth Cole//Floral Designer: Rosemary Duff Florist//Cinema and Video: 618studios//Event Venue: Bates Nut Farm//

Submitted via Two Bright Lights