New Hampshire - DIY Bride

Lisa & Scott: A Beautiful New Hampshire Barn Wedding

Lisa and Scott, a wonderfully creative couple, planned their entire DIY New Hampshire farm wedding from their home in San Francisco. Planning a long-distance event is one of the hardest things a couple can do for their wedding yet Scott and Lisa pulled it off beautifully.

Under picturesque New Hampshire skies, Lisa and Scott’s family and friends helped create a day full of love and happiness.

Lisa was ambitious and even just the day before her wedding decided that they “needed” to make chalkboard signs with lights around them for the bar area – and look how fabulous they were!

Photographer Krista Photography describes the day:

Scott and Lisa got ready in the same house on the property, but took great measures not to see one another before the ceremony. When it was finally time, Lisa’s father walked her down to Scott where Scott’s father officiated the personal and heartfelt ceremony!

After the “I Do” it was time to party! The big barn opened up for dinner and dancing, while the smaller barn was ready with drinks. After some incredibly touching toasts (I do believe the best man/brother of the groom had EVERYONE in the place wiping a tear!), it was time to boogy! Guests tore up the dance floor.

As the night wound down, Scott called his groomsmen together so they could participate in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge; Scott had been nominated earlier in the week. It was SUCH a fun day full of SUCH fun people!

Lisa & Scott
New Hampshire
Event Date: August, 2014

Photographer: Krista Photography//Bridesmaid Dresses:Alfred Angelo//Tuxedo and Mens Attire:JoS A Bank//Dress Designer: Liv Harris//Event Venue: Long Look Farm//Other: Seacoast Bartending Services, Inc//Invitation Designer: Wedding Paper Divas//Event Planner:Everyday Details//Caterer:Hart’s Turkey Farm//DJ:Holycow! Music Production//Makeup Artist:Jannicke Welde//Jewelry:Just Bands//Transportation:Lakes Region Airport Shuttle//Hair Stylist:Make Me Up Bridal//Dress Store: Novella Bridal//Other:Seacoast Bartending//Floral Designer: Simple Bouquets//Equipment Rentals:Taylor Rental//Bridesmaid Dresses: Weddington Way//Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Martha + Ryan’s Country Wedding in New Hampshire

So many of our talented couples we featured on our blog completely DIY their wedding, except well, the photography and videography. Our couple today, Martha + Ryan, is of no exception. With photography by Steve Holmes Photography, Martha + Ryan set their stage at a large field owned by their neighbor. With literally nothing on site, they had to figure out ways to not only to decorate, but also bring in electricity, water, and bathroom… and even make their own bar!

Bagpipes, fireworks, bird seeds tossing, sand ceremony, classic red pickup truck- this wedding with a country flair has it all. I adore Martha’s dances with their dog Axe, and gosh, that firework show! Lots of warmth brought in by the bright hues of red, gold, and orange, Martha + Ryan make sure their guests felt welcomed, had loads of fun, but most of all, a wedding they’ll all sure to remember for ages.

Congratulations to Martha + Ryan!!

Photographer: Steve Holmes Photography//Wedding Date: 08.10.2013//Caterer:Fiddleheads Catering//DJ:Peak Entertainment//Makeup Artist:Studio H//Submitted via Two Bright Lightstephanie Court Photography // Felice and Ben /// 9/14/2013

Jessica + Anthony’s Date at the Orchards Engagement Shoot

Romantic picnic underneath apple trees? Check. Frolicking through pumpkin patches and picking ripen apples from apple trees? Check. This super cute and romantic engagement shoot by Mon Petit Studio was just oozing gorgeous colors and love all over these photos.

I love how this engagement shoot doesn’t really feel like a photo shoot. It actually felt more like a real date Jessica + Anthony were having and Mon Petit Photography just happened to be there to capture it all (*hint* proposal ideas, anyone?). Congratulations to the gorgeous couple, and we can’t wait to see what your wedding will be like in August!
Photographer: Mon Petit Studio//Shoot Date: Oct 01, 2013//Location:Applecrest Farm Orchards//

Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Michelle + Evan’s New Hampshire Barn Wedding

We all know that planning a wedding can be stressful. Some people meditate and some workout to deal with the stress. Others, clear out the card stock at their local craft stores, grab an embosser, a ton of flowers and create some tension freeing DIY. This is just a theory, but by looking at the fantastic photos of Julie Sterling Photography and the looks on Michelle and Evan’s faces as they delighted in their day, I might dare to say that DIY weddings might be a new form of stress management program. Maybe it’s the the splendiforous setting of Curtis Farm, or simply the fact that Michelle and Evan are so adorable around each other, but I think we may be on to a D-stress with DIY campaign. Who’s on board?

From the Bride:

“There were a couple factors that made me go the DIY route with a lot (most) of our decorations – I’m a bit of a perfectionist, I like crafting, and we were on a budget. Making the decorations were a fun way to unwind after finishing up my master’s program. I wanted the name settings and souvenirs to be the same – less clutter on the tables. What I did was bought a bunch of fun wine stoppers and then embossed everyone’s name onto the front of a small place card (thanks to my awesome sister-in-law and photographer). On the back, it thanked them for coming and said which table they were at. We had a map of the tables up so they weren’t completely lost because we didn’t name them by numbers. The centerpieces also ended up being a lot of fun to do. It was two pieces – a bottom stand filled with corks and a top piece for the flowers. We bought hydrangeas in bulk from Trader Joe’s and filled them the morning of the ceremony and the aisle flowers, which were ribbon wrapped plant supporters.”

Perfection accomplished, Michelle! Thank you Julie Sterling Photography for providing the embossing gun that created these fantastic favors and documenting the day with the same perfection as Michelle’s DIY. Congratulations Michelle and Evan!

Vendor Information:

Photogrpher: Julie Sterling Photography

Event Venue: Curtis Farm

Aimee + Chris

I’m so in love with today’s couple. Aimee and Chris not only had a beautiful wedding, full of handmade touches by the bride, but what really gets me is how they look exactly like what you imagine every newlywed couple should look on their wedding day. Happy, in love, full of faith in their relationship and appreciation for the day and their friends and family. Y’all, they are glowing. Aimee created the butterfly ball for the flower girl, jarred apples for favors, and even had a hand in the design of her cake. All in all, a gorgeous wedding and beautiful day for a fabulous couple.

::swoon::

DETAILS

Location: Moultonborough, NH

Photography: Zac Wolf Photography

Venue: Castle in the Clouds

Florals: Linda’s Flowers and Plants

Cake: Jacques Fine European Pastries

Hair: Vanity Hair Studio

Taphena + Scott

Taphena and Scott had a theme centered around lovebirds for their wedding, and they took it to the next level – they were married at the New Hampshire Audubon. Everything at the wedding was DIY, including the shrug Taphena crocheted to wear over her fabulous orange wedding dress. Even the ceremony was DIY – written by the couple and performed by a close friend.

DETAILS

Location: Concord, NH

Photography: Kingdom Wedding Photography by Kat

Venue: New Hampshire Audubon

Christine + Chris

Chalkboards are one of the easiest and most versatile DIY projects you can use in a wedding, and the nuptials of Christine and Chris is a superb example of this. Using a quart of chalkboard paint, Christine created chalkboards for the seating chart, welcome sign, bar signs, menu cards, and centerpieces. The centerpieces were also made using matching vases found at Goodwill, with flowers from the gardens of the bride and her uncle. The family touches extended to the wedding arbor that Christine’s father built, the mason jar favors with a screen printing of her grandmother’s painting, the truck that belongs to her brother -in-law, and the seltzer water crate of her grandfather’s. Instead of renting tablecloths, Christine used canvas painter’s drop cloths, which also made an appearance during the ceremony as covering for the hay bales (borrowed and returned to a nearby farmer) that were used for seating. I also want to make sure to note the Coca-Cola elements of the wedding. Chris has been an employee for Coke since for nine years, so bring that component in to the wedding was very important. Along with bottles being used for centerpieces, the cooler used for ice was one that Chris and Christine pulled out of the woods several years ago and restored!

DETAILS

Location: Goffstown, New Hampshire

Photographer: Suzanna Guidone of Suzanna March Photography

Rentals: Exeter Rent-All

Kendra + John

I feel quite giddy when a wedding submission comes in that subscribes to a “less is more” mindset approach to decor. In a time when weddings tend to be micro-planned to the most minute of details, it is refreshing to see a couple who nails a theme with a minimum of elements.

Holding their wedding on a farm and reception in a greenhouse, Kendra and John created a simple but fun garden-themed wedding. I love how the elements used are playful and minimal but still manage to be pretty.

Details:

Couple: Kendra + John
Wedding Date: May 2010
Location: Plymouth, New Hampshire
Photographer: Richard Esposito

Details About The Couple: Back in 2003 Kendra and JJ were part of a group of 24 students from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) who went to Australia to complete their Interactive Qualifying Projects. Kendra worked at the County Fire Authority on Wildfire Awareness Initiatives while John worked at the Melbourne Zoo surveying use and impact of multimedia zoo exhibits.

Kendra didn’t really know JJ very well when they got over to Australia, but they started to hang out together. At the end of the trip, a couple of students went to Tasmania. One night, Kendra was walking back to her room and she saw John sitting by the car waiting for her. They stared up at the stars some, and then he asked her if she wanted to go out to dinner with him when they got back to Australia. Kendra was a little surprised, because she was pretty sure he was interested in a friend of hers! But, realizing that he was serious about Kendra, they went out to dinner at the HardRock Cafe in Melbourne. Kendra says she had a wonderful time and started having trouble not smiling and giggling every time she thought about John! John left Australia before Kendra, and she remember him calling her up at the airport, asking me for another date when she got back to Worcester! Kendra was thrilled!

Once back in the States, they dated over the summer. Kendra was in Erie, PA for an internship, while John was in New Haven, CT for his internship. They talked to each other every couple of days, and then met up in Hershey, PA for a weekend. Back at college, they grew even closer and Kendra was in love! Upon graduation, Kendra mn to to Hartford, CT to work at Pratt and Whitney and John moved up to Nashua, NH to work at BAE Systems. Just about every weekend, one of them would make the 2 hour drive. After 3 years of driving, they decided to take the next step and move in together. After much decusion, they decided that Kendra should move up to New Hampshire. They bought a condo and Kendra notified Pratt that she was moving up north. They have been living together for the last 2 years with their two cats (Cassie and Olivia) and two horses (TJ and Rigo).

It’s been a long, fun 6 years, and now they are finally married! As most of their family was saying, it’s about time!