California - DIY Bride

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

Russa + Andy’s Pink and Red Vineyard Wedding

Our featured wedding for the day comes to us from a gorgeous Californian vineyard. Russa + Andy got married on a beautiful day in late October, and the celebration was sentimental and full of lots of fun and love. Captured by Cherie Mariko Photography, this wedding is not short of gorgeous details. They incorporated lots of small personal and meaningful details to make this wedding theirs. Their color palette of soft pink and vibrant reds really spoke romance, and I love how Russa coordinated both colors into her bridal party attire.

I want to highlight the DIY project that Russa’s uncle did for her wedding. He built all of the wooden boxes that they used as the base for the floral center pieces. What was so special about these boxes is that these are the same 100-year old barn wood that Russa’s parents used to originally build their first home! I love how these wooden boxes fit in harmoniously with the rest of the decor, and definitely with the setting.
Russa + Andy’s wedding has so much swoon-worthy moments, and I honestly think it’s because of all the sweet details (I really love that Russa had henna drawn on her hand as a nod to Andy’s Indian background!). It also helps that they have a gorgeous place and a super-talented photographer (Cherie Mariko Photography) that knows all the right moments to capture (one of my favorites is the one of Andy twirling Russa during their First Look). Although I kept ooh-ing and aah-ing all over their photos, what really got to me the most is seeing Russa’s gold locket that she carried on her bouquet. In the locket are two photos of her late father, one of which was one of her and her dad when she was little. She attached it to her bouquet because she wanted to make sure that her father got to walk her down the aisle. I’m not ashamed to admit it, it got me a little teary-eyed to see it and to know about it!

Congratulations to Russa + Andy!!!

Photographer: Cherie Mariko Photography//Wedding Date: 10.26.2013//Dress Designer: Bridal Galleria//Dress Designer: Monique Lhuillier//Caterer: Beth Sogaard Catering//Floral Designer:Blossoms by Lisa//Event Planner: So Eventful//

Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Winter Wonderland Style Shoot in Sonora, CA

Our feature styled shoot this weekend comes from Midview Studios and a few of the awesome vendors from Sonora, California. The photographers wanted to do a snow-filled shoot, and their vision came to life by teaming up with the talented team from Save the Date Events & Planning. With the snowy backdrop, their bride and groom models had no problem steaming up the shoot for the camera, donning dark hues of red and purple.

From the bride model’s makeup to the gorgeous bouquet by Mountain Laurel Florist, this snowy styled shoot is elegant, sexy and romantic, and gives me a bit of mysterious flair to it. Perhaps it’s the awesome decor, or simply the way Midview Studios shoot the pictures, we can all agree this style shoot is fabulous and dreamy (love the chandelier!). Lastly, CornerSpace Cake and Cafe, can I have one of your super delicious looking cupcakes??

Great job to all the vendors who worked on this styled shoot!!

Photographer: Midview Studios//Date: 12.15.2012//Flower: Mountain Laurel Florist//Bakery: CornerSpace Cake and Cafe//Makeup Artist: FLAWLESS Hair and Makeup Design//Event Designer: Save the Date Events & Planning//Female Model: Ursula Bahamondes// Male Model: Jake Wacker//Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Rachel + Franklin’s Intimate Shoot at Presidio Park

To continue with the Valentine’s Day weekend, we’re featuring an intimate engagement shoot at the famous Presidio Park in San Diego, California. Rachel + Franklin wanted to do something super low-key and simple, so what better way than allow the nature to set the mood!

From the photographer over at Studio Sequoia:

“…[Presidio Park] is a beautiful park that is one of the few park in San Diego that is green year-round. The shoot took place on a sunday afternoon, we strolled around the park and captured quiet and romantic moments between the two of them. Afterwards we headed to northern downtown San Diego, to an area called bankers hill that has breathtaking canyons that lead to the San Diego bay. As the sun set, we captured some warm and colorful photos to close out the afternoon.”

Indeed, the views are breathtaking and so is our couple!

Photographer: Studio Sequoia//Engagement Shoot: 02/1/2013//Event Venue: Presidio Park

Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Amy + Max’s Charming & Playful Yellow Wedding

Happy Valentine’s Day to the fellow lovely DIY brides and grooms! We have tons of beautiful photos from the talented Matei Horvath Photography to share with you today. Amy + Max is a super playful couple, whose personalities really shone through with their sense of style. Our gorgeous bride donned a short and adorable tea-length wedding dress, but my eyes were in love with her cute mustard yellow booties she wore to complete her look. They are so sweet and playful to each other, it’s no wonder that their photographer had a ton of great photos to share with us!

Let me tell you, I was caught off-guarded by Amy’s white ruffle shorts that she wore underneath her dress… and she absolutely had no problems showing it off. What a fun, cool bride!

Amy + Max fell in love with their venue as soon as they saw it. It allowed them to decorate it as they see fit to their personality, from the giant jenga game to the charming yellow VW bus and the camper that allowed them to have a special quiet moment away from the festivities. But my favorite aspect of this awesome wedding, which also happens to be Amy’s favorite as well, is their First Look with the battle of the nerf guns. You just can’t help but laugh and smile along with them.
I want to share something sweet and romantic about Amy + Max’s engagement. They were college sweethearts, and Max confessed he loves Amy (accidentally!) about one month into their relationship. It happened in what’s got to be one of the most unromantic places- gas station, during one of their pit stop in Seattle while on vacation. BUT it became their super special spot and a must visit (gas pump #9!) whenever they are in the area. So, it’s not very surprising to the rest of us romantic gals that Max would choose to propose to Amy at the exact same spot where he first told her he loves her!

I love every aspect of this super sweet, yet quirky wedding. Amy + Max really allow their fun personalities to shine through. Thank you so much to Matei Horvath Photography for sharing this gorgeous wedding and couple with us!

Congratulations to Amy + Max!

Photographer: Matei Horvath Photography//Wedding Date: 10/27/2012//Equipment Rentals: A Rental connection//Dress Designer: Dolly Couture//Invitation Designer:Everybody! Everybody!//Bakery: Magnolia Bakery//Makeup Artist:Pure Skin and Lash Studio//Reception Venue: Saddlerock Ranch//Floral Designer: Unique Floral Designs//Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Christine + Clay’s Sunflower & Burlap Wedding

For Christine + Clay, faith is really their number one virtue. Not only did our couple met online through christianmingle.com, but lots of praying and patience were exuded for their wedding. This couple originally had a reservation in Yosemite, but with the Rim Fire incident and government shutdown, Christine was forced to arrange a last minute switch for a hotel in South Lake Tahoe. Whew!

With a strong family support, Christine + Clay were able to pull this traditional outdoor wedding together. Captured by Larsen’s Photography, this sunflower + burlap rustic theme wedding is full of DIY from bride’s parents.

I love Christine’s radiant smile, Clay’s camouflage vest and blazer, but mostly, I love all the sweet DIY details Christine’s parents put together. Christine’s mom and friends baked and decorated their pretty multi-tiered cake, while dad, the mr. handyman, got all the wood signage and other details together, including the flowers. I also enjoyed seeing a different way to a “sand ceremony”… instead of colored sands, they poured different seasoning in a nice jar.

Despite all the nerve-wrecking setbacks that nature (and government) hurled their way, Christine + Clay sailed through it all like a champ. Congratulations Christine + Clay!

Photographer: Larsen’s Photography//Wedding Date: October 05, 2013//Dress Store:Allure Bridals//Caterer: BBQ Smokehouse Restaurant & Catering//Jewelry:Diana//Jewelry:Forevermark//DJ:Goodtime Disc Jockeys//Floral Designer: Grohe Florists//Hair Stylist:Hair Couture//Dress Store: House of Fashion//Cinema and Video:Life Reflections Video//Reception Venue: Sova Gardens//Equipment Rentals: Wine Country Party & Events//Dress Designer:Wtoo Brides by Watters//Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Elizabeth + Brian’s Simply Yellow Wedding

Simple, yet intense. Hip, yet elegant. That’s how I would describe Elizabeth + Brian’s wedding at the Kimberly Crest House & Gardens. This yellow and “child of the nature” rustic wedding captured by Summer Shea Photography is so pure and the delicate details (yellow mason jars, super simple bouquets, and sunflower bridesmaids’ bouquets) were pulled together so effortlessly.

I love the simple yellow bridesmaid dresses, but I super love the pretty hair styles they all adorned (which worked seamlessly with bride’s own hair style). The simple bouquets are just perfect complements for the fun bridal party! Sometimes, less is more, and Elizabeth + Brian proved just that with their wedding.

Photographer: Summer Shea Photography//Wedding Date: September 01, 2013//Reception Venue: Kimberly Crest House & Gardens//Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Yoko + Brian’s Rustic Cultural Wedding

We’re rounding out our day with a special Japanese + Jewish wedding from Robin Jolin Photography. This super lovely wedding is a great example of how two completely different cultures can be combined seamlessly into one perfect wedding. Marin Art & Garden Center is just the perfect backdrop for Yoko + Brian, lovers of outdoors and music, to set up their Japanese-Jewish-rustic wedding.

To blend in the two cultures and to truly make their wedding all about them, Yoko + Brian folded 1,000 origami cranes as their ceremony backdrop. For those that are unfamiliar with the significance of origami cranes, it’s best to hear straight from Yoko herself:

“… In the Japanese culture, the crane is a symbol of longevity and prosperity. Folding a crane takes time, patience and understanding. The crane is a majestic bird which mates for life and is extremely loyal to its partner. The bird is strong, graceful and beautiful. These origami cranes bring good luck, good fortune, longevity, fidelity, and peace to the marriage.

In addition, Yoko folded mini cranes to decorate for each seating place cards, as well as to be used as decorations throughout the reception.

They also had a ketubah (Jewish wedding contract) hand-made for them. They wrote their vows together and had an artist hand-painted the vows in Hebrew and English. They also worked with the artist to have her design two Japanese maple tree that join together with accents of cherry blossoms and cranes to represent Yoko’s Japanese background. This is not only something super meaningful for the two of them, but also something very beautiful that they can use to display as art!

Similar to the more well-known Chinese Tea Ceremony, Yoko + Brian had a traditional Japanese sake ceremony called “san-san-kudo”. Yuko: “Through the tradition of going back and forth by each sipping the sake three times each from 3 different sized sake cups for a total of nine times, we brought together the two families and celebrated with all of our guests. The ladies who served us the sake need to be “unmarried ladies” so I had 2 of my best friends and single ladies help me out. It was like my version of the bouquet toss.”

I love seeing how traditions from two different cultures come together for a beautiful wedding. And yes, Yoko + Brian are super cute together, but I have to say, I think Yoko + her mom really spoke to me. I love how you can see how much they love each other and what a strong bond they have!

Congratulations Yoko + Brian!!!!

Photographer: Robin Jolin Photography//Wedding Date: March 23, 2013//Makeup Artist: Nikol Elaine Makeup Artistry // Reception Venue: Marin Art & Garden Center//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