Green Weddings - 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

Nicole + John’s Timeless DIY Wedding in SoCal

Boy, oh boy, do I have a beauty to show you lovelies today. From the talent behind Viera Photographics, today’s feature is a very classic and neat DIY wedding that the bride described as “Jonathan Adler meets Great Gatsby”. Nicole + John decided to get hitched in Palm Springs, California since not only does the place suit their sense of style, but also because they wanted to get married by the Father and in the church that Nicole’s late mother was very fond of. Despite the raging SoCal heat of 106F the day of their wedding, Nicole + John planned well for the decorations they were going to use so that nothing is welted.

Enlisting help from her group of friends, Nicole and her girls spent a few get-togethers crafting away. One of the favorite projects that Nicole loved doing for her wedding was the crepe paper flowers project. She opted making these flowers instead of using the real flowers so that these would last a lot longer in the high SoCal summer heat as well as for the ease of packing for travel. She’s even re-purposed some as gift decorations post-wedding!

Since their wedding was on the 13th, Nicole gold-leafed dice on 1 and 3 and mailed a pair with all the invites. She had some leftover so she also used them as decoration around the reception.

In Nicole’s own words about her table runners: “The table runners were stenciled on butcher paper then spray painted in an ombre sea mist to teal. I had a slight panic attack when the smell seemed to take about a week to dissipate, but some Febreeze and time did the trick and they were easy to roll up and transport to the site.” Great tip!

The Adler-inspired clay animals as table decorations? Yep! Handmade by Nicole’s friend Staci. Those were cool!
From Nicole’s gorgeous and timeless wedding gown (and the veil!) to all the special Adler-inspired decorations, Nicole + John’s wedding was as classic as it gets. Thank you to Viera Photographics for the incredibly beautiful photos and sharing them with us here on DIY Bride!

Congratulations to Nicole + John!!!

Photographer: Viera Photographics//Wedding Date:09.13.2013//Ceremony Location:Sacred Heart Palm Desert//Hair Stylist:The Light Fantastic Salon Spa//Event Venue:The Parker Palm Springs//Band:The Titan Ups//Event Planner:Vivacious Design and Event Planner//

Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Lauren + Jason’s DIY Alice in Wonderland Wedding

What does vintage tea party, Cricut and paper crafting have to do with our featured wedding today? DIY wonderland, that’s what. Captured by Larsen’s Photography, this Fall California wedding is a delight for fellow Cricut-Scrapbook-DIY lover like myself. When Lauren + Jason got engaged, she knew two things: 1. To get marry back home in California (they live in Texas) 2. A non-cookie-cutter theme that reflects both of their whimsical personalities and love for literature. All this brainstorming led to the Alice in Wonderland-themed wedding that you’re about to view!

From Lauren: “Jason and I liked the idea of Alice in Wonderland, but to keep it classy (we) kept with a vintage tea party, infused with wonderland. Pinterest was my best friend for months, but then my sister Karen turned my Pinterest fantasy into a reality. Keeping on budget we bought whimsical scrapbook paper and my sister and her Cricut let soar with hundreds of tea cups, clocks, keys and hats. We used old books from my mom and my aunt and laid hundreds of feet of mint green tulle underneath everything. The food was prepared and made by longtime friends of mine, as well as the incredible cake and dessert table that was put together with love by another.
What a lovely wedding theme! I absolutely adore DIY weddings such as Lauren + Jason’s, where lots of paper crafting was involved. And just how adorable were the flower girls, walking down the aisle with big paper flowers and mint green tutu’s?? Just pure love! All the cute and whimsical signs displayed throughout the wedding perfectly reflected our couple’s personalities, and it’s very obvious that the couple gave their guests a wedding to talk about!

Congratulations to Lauren + Jason, and much thanks to Lauren’s sister Karen for showcasing her awesome DIY skills!!

Photographer: Larsen’s Photography//Wedding Date:09.21.2013//Makeup Artist:Bella Capelli//Dress Store: Casablanca Bridal//DJ:DJ Ignite//Equipment Rentals: Encore Events Rentals//Floral Designer:Gina’s Floral Enchantment//Tuxedo and Mens Attire: Jos A Banks //Bridesmaid Dresses: Light in the box//Event Venue:Mendocino Hill//Makeup Artist:SKIN Day Spa//Shoes:Something Bleu Shoes//Etsy Designer:The Oyster’s Pearl//Dress Store: Wine Country Bridal//

Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Crystal + Aron’s DIY Beach Wedding

All the crazy weather lately makes me want to escape to this super relaxed and cozy DIY beach wedding down in Pensacola Beach, Florida. Captured by Kate of Kate’s Captures Photography, Crystal + Aron’s wedding featured lots of blue and green, unique center pieces, games, DIY decor, and lots and lots of desserts (family recipes!!) and sand.

For their beach wedding held on 11.11.11, Crystal + Aron had some pretty good DIY decor that’s good to construct for any event. They had lots of blue and green patterned cloth that Crystal’s mom sewn together to make interesting buntings and ribbon garlands. For their center pieces, they incorporated ocean-related elements like sand, starfish, and actual small fish in the bottle! To keep their guests entertained, they had fun games prepared corn hole and bocce ball and made signs indicating where each station is. I like that they even had a sign and a section on the beach dedicated for guests’ shoes! And in addition to have a wedding cake, Crystal + Aron had a big sweets table filled with various family recipes in personal sizes.

Games, sweets, friends and family, and a gorgeous beach wedding… what more do you need to relax and enjoy yourself?? Crystal + Aron captured our hearts with their DIY details and our appetite for sweets with that dessert spread. Much congratulations goes to our beautiful couple!

Photographer: Kate’s Captures Photography//Wedding Date:11.11.2011//Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Summer + Gabe’s Lovely Country Backyard Wedding

Summer + Gabe decided to get married at Gabe’s childhood neighborhood, courtesy of a friend’s backyard. This super relaxed and homey affair is nothing short of gorgeousness. With every detail well-thought out by Summer and with photography by Courtney Bowlden Photography, I got quite a few awe-inspiring photos to show you (think hanging paper lantern on apple trees)!

Summer took it upon herself to do all the decorations and flower arrangements for the wedding. What’s interesting and money-saving(!) was that she didn’t have any particular flowers in mind; rather, she picked up the flowers at a flower stand on the side of the road and just ran with what she had. A very nice touch they had at the wedding was that rather than just hanging up photos of the two of them and/or family, they honor all the friends and family who came by incorporating a lot of photos of them around the yard. For their guestbook, Summer found vintage post cards at antique stores and decided to leave them out for guests to write on, which she’ll then use them to make into a book. And Gabe’s contribution? He did an awesome job DIYing by hand-carving the ring box and center pieces
According to the photographer Courtney Bowlden, Summer and Gabe included an old tradition of jumping over lavender after the wedding, which she has not seen before. Something cute she also shared with us is that after the ceremony, Summer took Gabe’s niece, who was their flower girl, around to look for little baby frogs. The result? Summer caught one and Courtney Bowlden took some awesome photos with it.

Congratulations to Summer + Gabe for a beautiful laid-back wedding!!

Photographer: Courtney Bowlden Photography//Wedding Date:08.17.2013//Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Rachel + Jared’s Sweet Mint Green Wedding

We’re kicking off this week with an adorably sweet mint green wedding from Karen Feder Photography. Rachel + Jared, along with their family and friends, created a very earthy-vintage vibe for their big day. One of the first thing that caught my eyes were Rachel’s ombre mix of mint green for her bridesmaids dresses. It’s sweet, down-to-earth, carefree, and yet all seamlessly flow with one another!

For DIY projects, Rachel and her mom actually planted her centerpieces in her grandfather’s pots. I totally love this as planting and watering flowers is an activity that they loved doing ever since Rachel was a little girl and they continued that tradition with her wedding. Rachel + Jared created a wedding mad libs for guests to do and use Jinga pieces for their guest book as nods to how they both enjoy playing games. For group projects, family got together to help make cheesecakes for the cheesecake bar (yuuuum!!) and the reception area was decorated with an array of paper flowers that Rachel and her friends and family made.
What a sweet, lovely wedding! I absolutely adore the softness of Rachel’s romantic bouquet, and I especially love the unique center pieces and the hanging of paper lanterns inside of the tent. It’s all simple, yet meaningful and beautiful. And how cute were all the kids!

Congratulations to Rachel + Jared, and many thanks to Karen Feder Photography for submitting this heartfelt DIY wedding with us!

Photographer: Karen Feder Photography//Wedding Date:08.16.2013//Dress Store:Adore Bridal and Speciality//Hair Stylist:Bj Hair Salon//DJ:Demario Williams//Makeup Artist:Jamie McFadden//Caterer:La Fiesta//Tuxedo and Mens Attire:Men’s Warehouse//Reception Venue:The Rail//

Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Amanda + Tom’s Stunning Rustic Mint Green Wedding

There are so many reasons why this northern San Diego wedding is just perfect. Amanda + Tom are a beautiful couple, to say the least, but their decision to have their picturesque wedding at Hidden Valley Retreat has got to be one of the best decisions they made for their big day. It’s incredibly beautiful, seemingly secluded, and naturally rustic… and captured perfectly by one of our favorite photographer- heidi-o-photo, everything about this wedding is just absolutely amazing, like Amanda + Tom are with each other.

Amanda + Tom created ALL their decor pieces. Some of my favorites that they did:

~They covered the letters for the word “LOVE” and attached them above the entryway to the ceremony site.
~The silverware was tucked into cute burlap pockets they sewed (love the lace touch!).
~The table numbers were constructed by attaching mismatched house numbers to wood slices.

And of course, to pull it all together, they set up the day before with the help of their friends under the guidance of their event planner, Hannah Smith Events.

I love that not only you can tell how much fun their guests were having, but also just how much fun Amanda + Tom were having. I adore the cowboy boots Amanda and her bridesmaids were wearing, keeping the whole wedding vibe lighthearted. And just how delicious do those pies look! Talk about a great non-traditional alternative! Anyone wants a slice of peach pie?? I do!!

Much congrats to Amanda + Tom!!!

Photographer: heidi-o-photo//Wedding Date:08.31.2013//Linens and Coverings:Abbey Party Rentals Temecula//Caterer: Carriage Trade Catering//Event Planner: Hannah Smith Events//Event Venue:Hidden Valley Retreat//Floral Designer:Jill Again//Equipment Rentals: Teal Green Design &rentals//Musicians:Three Blind Mice//Makeup Artist:Touch of Grace//Cake Designer: VG’s Bakery//

Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Britney + Brian’s Vintage Mechanic Wedding

I can’t even begin to describe just how much I’m in love with our gorgeous couple, Britney + Brian, today. I’ve been going nuts over their photos by Allie Lindsey Photography all morning, and I’m so excited to share them with you now! Britney + Brian are such a beautiful couple- they’re so in love with each other that it shows on every photograph of them on their wedding day… photogenic couple plus the talent behind Allie Lindsey Photography equals stunning photos.

Britney + Brian chose “vintage mechanic” as their theme to represent their style. Since Brian is a mechanic, Britney really utilized the materials from his shop to DIY their wedding. I’m incredibly impressed with Britney, as this wedding is so beautifully decorated and thought out!

Did I mention how in love I am with this couple? Let me say it again! I super adore their First Look and their portraits. So much love and so much gorgeousness! I totally love how Britney really fuze her sense of style with Brian’s mechanic background to make this wedding truly theirs and totally unique. I’m also super impressed with the engraved tags as place cards- what a cool idea to double as a favor as well!

Much congratulations to our beautiful couple Britney + Brian, and much much thanks to Allie Lindsey Photography for bringing us this breathtaking wedding!

Photographer: Allie Lindsey Photography//Wedding Date: 10.13.2013//Cake Designer: Amazing Cakes//Floral Designer:Avante Gardens Florist //Caterer: big b’s bbq//Reception Venue: Fullerton Arboretum//

Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Natalie + Dane’s Blue & Green Nostalgic Wedding

This sweet wedding photograph by Katie Lewis Photography was nostalgic of all sorts. There are classic blue mason jars, pretty tiffany blue bottles, baseballs, paper pinwheels, and the Chevelle. But what really struck me when I saw Natalie + Dane was how much they reminded me of what the quintessential high school Prom King + Queen should look like. When I found out that their venue was held at an old high-school-turned-lodge, all the bells and whistles went off for me. This wedding is sweet and dainty, and just reminds you of all the good ole days.

There were quite a few sweet details I love from this wedding. Natalie looked incredibly gorgeous and sweet in her simple tea-length wedding dress, her jeweled bouquet, and what girl doesn’t want a getaway car in the classic Chevelle? I also love the idea of having guests signed baseballs instead of a traditional guest book, and how cute were all the chalkboard signs?!

Congratulations to Natalie + Dane!

Photographer:Katie Lewis Photography, Inc.//Wedding Date: 06/15/2013//Floral Designer: Java Rose//DJ: Night Scene Entertainment//Reception Venue: Riverdale High Lodge//

Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Kim + James’ Laid-back Wedding in South Wales

The most important thing(s) that Kim + James wanted to make sure their guests feel about their wedding were that they had fun AND they were relaxed. To do so, they chose Glen Yr Afon House Hotel in South Wales, UK, where they fell in love with the beautiful house, the gardens, and the staff. Everything felt like it was just meant to be when they inquired about available dates, July 13 was the last Saturday left in Summer 2013 for them to book. Why they wanted July 13? Kim’s engagement ring has 13 diamonds in it, as well as her wedding ring (Her gran’s eternity ring).

Kim + James and their family worked on a few DIY projects for the wedding. Kim’s mom made 300 Welsh cakes to give out to guests right after the church ceremony. Kim, James, and bridesmaid Lucy made all the gingerbread man cookies as place cards, and James and Lucy iced each one by hand. James also made all the candle favors. James’ brother made the “wedding box” that guests put their wedding cards in. I think it’s so cute that James is the one making the cookies and the favors!

You may have noticed that Volkswagon (VW) has quite a presence at Kim + James’ wedding. That is because these two lovebirds met on a camping trip to Germany, and they quickly bonded over their mutual love for their VW’s! And when they got engaged in 2012, a VW T5 camper van apparently was involved 🙂

Also something very sweet and considerate I want to share about this easygoing couple. James was an altar boy at St. Arvans Church, and it has always played a role in his family’s life. But the main reason they chose to get married there was because James’ Gran Rene, who’s 92 years old, has lost most of her eyesight, and the church was somewhere she could remember what the inside looked like. Super sweet!

Congratulations to Kim + James!!

Photographer:Charlene Morton Photography//

Wedding Date:07/13/2013//Transportation:Lovebugweddings//Dress Store: Confetti & Lace//Tuxedo and Mens Attire:Dyfed Menswear hire//Dress Store:From House of Fraser //Ceremony Location:Glen Yr Afon//Floral Designer:Kay from Poppies of Lydney//Other Location:St Arvans Church//Hair Stylist:SW1 Hair//

Submitted via Two Bright Lights