North Carolina - DIY Bride

Samantha & Taylor

Barn wedding lovers, unite! Today we have Samantha and Taylor’s beautiful wedding day that combines everything we love about rustic weddings – burlap, cowboy boots, mason jars, chalkboard signs, a great farm location – combining them in a way that’s uncluttered and unpretentious.

Photographer Kelly Rae Stewart of Kelly Rae Stewart Photography gushes about Samantha and Taylor:

These two people are a perfect example of why we love being wedding photographers. Not only was I almost in tears behind my camera while watching Taylor say his vows to Samantha, but being able to capture their love for one another all day gave me butterflies in my stomach. They danced, not just for their ‘first dance,’ but all night. They stayed close together throughout the evening and watching them exchange smiles back and forth filled me with joy. I couldn’t put my camera down because I wanted to catch every moment for them. I wanted them to see what I saw. This is what true love looks like.

We love how everyone looks happy and joyful – just the way weddings were meant to be!

Samantha & Taylor
Event Date: March, 2014
Starlight Meadow, North Carolina

Photographer: Kelly Rae Stewart Photography//Floral Designer: Just Priceless//Event Venue: Starlight Meadow//Musicians:Turpentine Shine//Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Gina + Michael’s Vintage Backyard Wedding

From the moment I laid eyes on quite possibly the cutest flower girl dress ever, I’ve been completely absorbed in this wedding! You will see why quickly. It is truly amaze! The combination of Josh Deaton Photography‘s spectacular photos that capture such sweet emotions and the the fabulous details that Gina, Michael, their friends, family and vendors all created are simply magical.

Gina and Mickey worked hard to create the perfect backyard to hold this sweet ceremony. All of the stumps on the aisle and the wood circles used as reception decor came from their property. They re-purposed some of their favorite pieces to keep things homey and planted a tree that’s both eco-friendly and symbolic. Gina’s mother made the bride’s and the flower girl’s hairpieces as well as Gina’s garter. Gina’s good friend made the perfectly rustic cake, broken foot and all, and another friend made the amazing fruit display. Besides some genius crafting and inspiration, bride Gina, shared some seriously heartwarming and important info that inspires as well. From the bride:

I think there’s a couple of really important details that you have to identify before you delve into DIY wedding process: one is budget, and two is what do I want this wedding to say about me? There are so many options gorgeous centerpieces and decor, venues, cakes, dresses etc. It was important in the planning for me to keep sight of that this wedding was about us both, and our children, our individual lives coming together as one, and for us both a large part of that is our children as Michael had a 6 year old boy, and I a 3 year old girl at the time we would be saying “I Do”.

Gina knew the number one rule for a DIY bride- Don’t try to tackle EVERYTHING by yourself. To help along the way, she enlisted the help of some awesome Etsy vendors that allowed her to be a part of the process without actually creating the finished product. Case and point the awesomely perfect dried florals from TALLCOTTONnPEAS. And that snazzy flower girl dress is from SnazzieDrawers. Throw in some killer food and the stunning photography of Josh Deaton Photography and you have a brilliant backyard bash! Thank you so much Josh Deaton Photography for sharing this wedding! Congratulations Gina and Michael!

Vendor Information:

Date: May 18, 2013

Location: North Carolina, US

Photographer: Josh Deaton Photography

Caterer: H&M Deli and Market

Floral Design: TALLCOTTONnPEAS

Flower Girl Dress: SnazzieDrawers

Crystal + Josh’s Evening Engagement Session

This engagement session is about as fun as they come! This adorable duo didn’t really need to work on being in front of the camera because you can tell that their chemistry is just there. I mean, how can you miss it when their quirky and fun personalities just pop right off the screen!? Filled with some awesome prop ideas for creating perfect save-the-dates, some beautiful North Carolina evening light, and brought to life by the one and only Open Aperture Photography; if your searching for e-sesh ideas- look no further.

From the photographer:

Josh and Crystal are a fun, goofy couple that loves a good laugh. They brought a couple fun ideas to the shoot. It was their idea to create a silhouette on the umbrella. Their wedding will be in December and they wanted Christmas light pictures for their Save the Dates.

That is one great save the date! Thanks Open Aperture Photography for making this awesome vision come true. Congratulations Crystal + Josh!

Vendor information:

Date: May 19, 2013

Location: New Bern, NC

Photographer: Open Aperture Photography

Event Venue: Whitford Plantation

Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Kayla + Brad’s Sweet Spiritual Engagement

These two? You’re going to love them! They just couldn’t be any cuter! Kayla and Brad were high school sweeties that drifted apart but were reunited through faith. With an everlasting love for their faith and each other,Live View Studios captured this sweet picnic engagement session that will warm your heart like an heirloom quilt. Oh hey! Look at that! There’s one of those in this darling e-sesh too!

The beautiful heirloom quilt has been passed down through several generations of Kayla’s family adding some sentimental value to this totally adorbs shoot complete with show-off style dance moves. The save-the date mugs also had a special verse these two sweeties hold dear while nodding at their shared love of coffee.

The gorgeous grounds of Duke Gardens is just a perfect setting for romance, so don’t miss all of the photos in the gallery from Live View Studios. Thank you for sharing this lovely session with us! Congratulations Kayla + Brad on you r engagement and your recent new Mr. and Mrs. moment!

Vendor Information:

Date: March 10, 2013

Location: Durham, NC

Photographer: Live View Studios

Event Venue: Sarah P. Duke Gardens

Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Sharon + Jonathan’s Travel Inspired Wedding

Happy Humpday lovely crafties! If there’s one theme I love to see incorporated into a wedding it’s a travel theme because it is absolutely impossible to reproduce the same journey between two couples. Sharon and Jonathan’s voyages inspired them to share their favorite destinations (minus the jet lag and lost luggage) with their favorite people in this awesome nouveau-classic wedding captured as pretty as a postcard by Elizabeth Scott Photography!

Perfectly planned by the girls at Mean Party who suggested the use of the vintage maps enveloping the ridiculously sweet invites and creating the custom cuff links and cool color palette in this wedding, this bash was equal parts bon voyage and bon appetit! Self professed foodies, Sharon and Jonathan continued their theme by incorporating some of their favorite dishes from some of their favorite cities. Umm. Can you say cheese steaks and pie? It doesn’t get much better that! Or does it? Looking out the floor to ceiling windows of The Mint Museum in Charlotte was an experience in itself for all of Sharon and Jonathan’s out of town guest. And it’s easy to see why! The sweeping views, modern vibe, yet perfectly intimate feeling looks astonishing! When you throw in the photography of husband and wife duo Elizabeth Scott Photography, you get one heck of a wedding journey!

I think the bride Sharon said it best:

With a clear vision and enthusiastic help from vendors, family, and friends we were able to give our guests a trip of a lifetime! Each and every detail came together beautifully and painted a picture of our love of travel and most importantly, our love for each other! My advice to each couple starting out on their own wedding planning journey would be to make your wedding day your own. Incorporate fun aspects into your special day that are important reminders of the relationship between you and your significant other; I promise it will only make your day that much more meaningful and most importantly, memorable!

What a lovely vision they all created indeed! We can’t thank you and Elizabeth Scott for sharing it with us! Congratulations and many bon voyages ahead!

Vendor Information:

Date September 22, 2012

Location: Charlotte, NC

Photographer: Elizabeth Scott Photography

Caterer: Best Impressions Caterers

Event Planner: Mean Party

Favors and Gifts: Amelie’s French Bakery

Reception Venue: The Mint Museum

Cinema and Video: Cinemotion

DJ: All The Right Grooves DJ Services

Equipment Rentals: Party Time Rentals,Party Reflections,AFR Furniture and Event Rentals

Tuxedo and Mens Attire: J. Crew

Cara + James’ Elegant Rustic Wedding

Happy Monday lovely crafties! I think you guys are going to like today’s wedding because my guess is many of you are going to totally relate. It’s all about a country groom and beautiful bride coming together to craft a rustic yet elegant wedding. Sweetly shot by Simply D Photography, today’s chic affair is full of pretty little rustic details.

Bride Cara shared her inspiration process with us:

Mostly everything for the wedding was DIY. The venue we chose was new to hosting weddings and didn’t have any “packages” that many people buy into. We didn’t have the money in our budget to hire a planner or spend a ton on additional vendors, so I thought to myself– hey I’m crafty, I can DIY most of it. Good thing we had a long engagement!

Lace wrapped mason jars hand arranged by the bride lined the aisles and tables. Don’t you just adore the veggie table names; a nod to James’ gardening skills? Cara also crafted the programs and the sweet Mr. & Mrs sign hanging behind the sweetheart table. And since no DIY wedding is ever really done alone, we have to give a shout out to the thumbprint tree hand drawn by Cara’s sister!

I love all of the sweet little traditions Diana from Simply D. has captured like the penny and the generations of love in the gallery. Thank you Simply D. Photography for sharing this elegant inspiration with us. Congratulations Cara and James!

Photographer: Simply D. Photography

Event Venue: Portofino

Caterer: Mulberry on Main

Cake Designer: Creative Cakes by Melissa

DJ: DJ Feinberg

Other: MEWS Designs

Second Shooter: Christina Marie Photography

Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Ashley + Matthew’s Magnifique Engagement

I’m going to be honest. I don’t even know where to begin. I’m having a case of blogger’s block because this amazing engagement shoot captured by Marissa Joy Photography has brought such joy to my day. Between Ashley + Matt’s amazing images and their even more awesome love story, I don’t know where to start. There’s the vintage mini mart, the VW bus, the great first date story, the romantic picnic, the fact that they won their wedding on a radio contest… OK. How about we start with Ashley’s description of their relationship “Magnifique!” which envelops this lovely e-sesh to the tee.

I’m totally diggin’ the vinyl save the dates which nod at the radio contest win. But I have to share the doggie delivered proposal story that I’m pretty sure sealed the deal for their big win.

I was preparing for bed when I noticed our three Australian Shepherds had made it to the bedroom before me. Cooper (one of our dogs) jumped on the bed and I reached down to kiss him goodnight. I noticed a bow tied around his neck. I sat perplexed for a few minutes noticing that Bandit and Dakota (Cooper’s brothers) also had bows around their necks. Upon further investigation I found a small scroll tucked in Cooper’s bow. The note read “You’re the best thing that has ever happened to my Daddy.” The tears began. I continued opening Dakota and Bandit’s notes as well. They read “Please marry my Daddy so we can all be a pack,”’ and “Please be our Mommy forever.”

Ashley admitted to a potential “ugly cry” moment (since there’s no photographic evidence we’ll assume she was as stunningly beautiful as she is in these photos) while walking to other room where Matthew proposed with his grandmother’s ring. Are you swooning yet? Well, just rest your head on your hand and smile as you flip through the gallery of this soaked in sweetness.

I guess I didn’t know where to begin because it would mean I would have to stop looking at these beautiful photos from Marissa Joy Photography. I can’t thank Marissa, Ashley, and Matthew enough for sharing this magnificent love session! Congratulation Ashley and Matthew! May your lives always be “magnifique!”

Vendor information:

Photographer: Marissa Joy Photography

Event Venue: Tanglewood Park

Faith + Kyle’s Fall Vineyard Wedding

Every once in while, some of you crafty couple’s get to me! Most of the time I find my self in awe and admiration of your crafting prowess. Sometimes, I am enamored by your sweet gazes amongst each other, and other times it’s the spunky style that oozes out of your DIY creations the images by your fantastic photogs. Today is the kind of day where I find myself fanning away the tears from my eyes because they get in the way of viewing all of the the ridiculously perfect images captured by Casey Hendrickson Photography. With the sweetest first touch, a sentimental foot washing ceremony, some seriously pinnable DIY, and a tear-jerker Daddy-Daughter Dance, keep your hankies handy on this one folks; Faith and Kyle are about to touch your DIY souls.

From the Photographer:

On October 19th, I arrived at Dennis Vineyards for what would be one of my most detailed weddings yet. The best part? The bride did ALL of it herself! She styled her entire wedding, bought all the decorations, sewed the pins for grandparents and honorary friends, painted, hung things, and even did her announcements.
Faith and Kyle are far from your typical couple- they strive to be totally original, and I absolutely love it!

Being the first to hold their ceremony in the field behind the standard gazebo space, having the entire bridal lay hands on them in prayer and the foot washing ceremony are just a few of the original details Faith +Kyle added to the day. Faith’s impeccable eye blended vintage touches with rustic vineyard style. Don’t you love the programs, hay bale seating, flowers, and, well, everything?! Check out that sweetheart table!

Father daughter dances get me every time! But how sweet to share that moment with your siblings. Faith let her sister cut in halfway and danced with her younger escort of the day. (Go ahead now. Together. Awwwwww!!!!!!) You really can’t go wrong with a great couple that knows how to stray perfectly off the beaten path and still create a timeless affair! Thank you Casey Hendrickson Photography for submitting this sentimental soiree. Congratulations Faith + Kyle!

Vendor Information:

Photographer: Casey Hendrickson Photography

Event Venue: Dennis Vineyards

Cake Designer: Icing on the Edge

Gail + Pete’s Contemporary Engagement Session

Since we are on the topic of love shoots, I think it’s only appropriate that we have a double header today. Another pro of engagement sessions is that photographers often know some great locations to shoot. I don’t know about you, but the only thing I might love more than an amazing rustic barn shoot filled with blue skies and a cute couple, is a shoot full of architectural elements, great angles and beautiful smiles.

After Tara and Justin’s Country Chic session, the perfect contrast is Gail and Pete’s pretty city shoot. Love stories like these always melt my heart. Gail moved to North Carolina to be near her sweetie who is a reservist in the Coast Guard from Tampa, FL. Any sacrifice here is made up for in the obvious amount this couple has for each other.

Open Aperture Photography not only did a fantastic job capturing the love they exposed for the cameras, but also the amazing exposed brick and historic architecture of downtown New Bern, North Carolina. A town located at the intersection of two rivers, this shoot is the intersection of beautiful natural elements, history and contemporary architecture.

Thank you for sharing this lovely shoot! Congratulations Gail and Pete!

Photographer: Open Aperature Photography

The Southern Wedding of Sara + Tyler

We tend to not get a whole lot of opportunity to showcase many things relating to babies since we’re a wedding blog, but today’s wedding offered us a great opportunity to highlight an event that had a gender reveal with the wedding cake cutting!

From the photographer: Franklin, North Carolina was the mountain setting for this handmade backyard wedding full of DIY projects. The bride Sara, an artist, worked with her close family and friends to create vibrant details that made the atmosphere feel truly magical. The Victorian bed and breakfast where the event took place was transformed with a backdrop of hundreds upon hundreds of colorful ribbon and hand torn fabric strips. The bride had the vision to create a dance floor out the the home’s carport by weaving ribbon along the ceiling and completed the look with a disco ball.
Loved ones also joined together to create all of the signs. The paper plate garland was a sweet pink and white pop against the green exterior.
The “wishes tree” was another DIY project completed for the wedding. Branches were painted white and secured into a sweet white metal bucket with craft cement.
The bride wore a 1930’s wedding dress from a consignment store paired with shoes from Aldo.
As guests arrived they found wedding programs rolled up in a hand painted mailbox.
Sara chose Peacock colors for her wedding day which were incorporated into the flowers, table scape, cake, and attire.

The most anticipated moment of the night was the cutting of the cake. Guests were treated to the sweetest surprise as the wedding cake doubled as a gender reveal cake as well – a baby girl due February 6.

Couple: Sara + Tyler Shook

Date: September 22, 2012

Location: Franklin, North Carolina

Photography: melissa marie photography

Venue: Victorian Retreat

Florals: April’s Flowers on Main

Cake: Ingles

Shoes: Aldo