Oh Lovely Day

{Guest Post} Salt + Savory Wedding Favors by Favor Craver

noreply@blogger.com (chandra ~ oh lovely day) — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:30:00 +0000

Today's guest post comes to us from Favor Craver, which is about all things wedding favor! She also writes a fantasic blog called Code it Pretty for you bloggers and she has helped me with my own blog. Today she is sharing a great favor idea with us, and one that you can DIY! I'm planning on trying some of these just for fun! Take it away, Marie.

I love edible favors, but sometimes it seems like they're all sweets and candies. After your guests had their fill of sweet wedding cake and champagne, they might find something savory a bit more tempting. Have you considered salt as a favor?

There's a whole world of gourmet salts and salt-based recipes that would work perfectly as favors, and no matter what your level of DIY skill there's one you can do!

{via Weddingbee}

Artisanal "finishing" salts, like Himalayan pink salt or fleur de sel, are the easiest to package as favors. Simply funnel them into little jars -- cork-stopped jars look great! The crystalline beauty of the salt doesn't need a lot of decoration to look lovely on your reception tables.

Are you up for a bigger DIY project? How about flavoring your own salt? There's a huge variety of options for flavoring salt, and I'd love to introduce you to some of my favorites! These are all simple to make and loaded with flavor.

{via Tiffany Lane Handmade}

Rosemary infused salt has a mild flavor that almost everyone enjoys. It pairs beautifully with poultry and veggies, and it smells divine.

{via 101 Cookbooks}

Citrus salts and are delicious on seafood, rice dishes, and popcorn. And they're pretty, too!

{via Braised Anatomy}

If you want to go bold and spicy, give Sriracha salt a try! This flavored salt infused with the famous "rooster sauce" is pretty serious stuff. But, if you're hosting an adventurous crowd, they'll love sprinkling this hot salt on grilled meats or noodle dishes.

These are all great favor ideas, but what if you're truly culinarily inclined? Some of the most amazing salty favors are challenging -- you'll need a little extra planning and a lot of kitchen panache to pull these off.

{via A Table for Two}

Mix the sweet and savory worlds with salt-infused candies, like these bacon and fleur de sel caramels. This would make an unforgettable and ambitious DIY favor, and satisfy the Ron Swansons in your life!

{via Cooking Melangery}

A slightly less sinful, but equally delicious favor idea is salt-preserved lemons. This staple of Moroccan and Mediterranean cuisine is just plain gorgeous in the jar. Add herbs and spices for a bit more color and flavor, or leave them plain and let the bright yellow glow.

Before I turn you loose to go salt crazy, let's talk packaging. Jars are the easiest way to send salt favors home, but if you'd like to give it in a shaker, make sure to cover the holes or seal the inside of the shaker so nothing gets loose in transit! A suitcase full of spicy salt is not the greatest thing to open.

If you're giving a gourmet salt or salt blend, a serving suggestion card or label is helpful, especially if your flavor choice is exotic.

Are you planning to add a little salty flavor to your favors? Got a recipe to share? Let me know in the comments!

{Guest Post} Rustic Picnic Summer Wedding from Love and Lavender

noreply@blogger.com (chandra ~ oh lovely day) — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:30:00 +0000

Today's guest post comes from the ladies of Love and Lavender, my favorite wedding blog duo out there! And their summer wedding inspiration is oh so lovely!

Hi Oh Lovely Day readers! We are thrilled to be guest blogging for Chandra while she is on vacation! Since summer is just around the corner we decided to put together a summer inspiration shoot that has a backyard feeling to it. When we think of summer weddings, we think of a laid-back environment with a somewhat rustic/picnic vibe to it. with casual attire--bridesmaids in mixed-matched dresses and the groom in a plaid button up with a tie. Lemonade is a must as well as delicious pies for desserts.The decor should be fun and informal--almost like you just set up a picnic---with simple flowers and random vintage furniture.

{photo credits} bride and groom / bunting seating chart / lemonade stand / pies / bridesmaids / table / lanterns

Wouldn't you love to be invited to this wedding!? I totally would :) Thanks ladies!

{Guest Post} New England Lobster Bake Wedding from Magnolia Rouge

noreply@blogger.com (chandra ~ oh lovely day) — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:30:00 +0000

Today's guest poster is an amazingly talented and busy lady from the other side of the world - New Zeland to be exact. Not only is she the lady behind the blog Magnolia Rouge, but she's also the designer of Ruby Willow and one of the creators of {MAG}rouge (and if you haven't met any of them yet, you must check them all out ASAP!) So given all she has on her plate, I'm so appreciative that Kate is helping me out today.

Hi, I'm Kate from Magnolia Rouge. I'm delighted to have a little guest post on Chandra's fabulous blog while she's taking some time away! Summer is over in my part of the world - in fact, it was practically non-existent this year! So as I feel a bit cheated of summer entertaining, I thought I'd whip up a New England style lobster bake that I can dream about for the next six months until summer comes around again! I hope this has you eagerly awaiting the summer months :-) Thanks again Chandra for having me!!

Popsicles | Sutherland Kovach for {MAG}rouge, Couple on beach | Trent Bailey, New England Tablesetting | Trent Bailey, Invitation | Ruby & Willow, Stripy Straws | Elizabeth Messina, Aqua Drinks | Sutherland Kovach for {MAG}rouge, Sorbet | Cannelle et Vanille, Starfish | Stacey Hedman

Thanks Kate! I'm so in love with this board and color palette. And now I'm dreaming of a visit to New England... *sigh*

{Behind the Veil} Emma from Emmaline Bride

noreply@blogger.com (chandra ~ oh lovely day) — Mon, 14 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Today's blogger bride is Emma from Emmaline Bride, and since we both love DIY and handmade details, I know she's got lots of inspiration to share!

As a wedding blogger, what is your favorite part of other people's weddings?

I love the handmade details and the stories behind how they were created. I especially love to hear the story in the bride’s own words, like how she crafted the table numbers, how her fiancé built the cake stand, or how the bridal party assembled invitations with the bride to make it easier. Those sweet little details are always a labor of love!

What was your favorite part of your wedding?

The season! It was early December and we selected a wedding palette of deep red and ivory. Mistletoe pomanders, faux evergreen branches, and large red full-bloom roses decorated our ceremony and reception sites. The slight chill in the air meant I wouldn’t sweat away my makeup, either. ;)

What was the first piece of wedding planning you did (booked venue, bought dress, etc.)?

The first thing I did was dress shop with my mom. We went to so many stores and made a few days out of it - we had such a blast! I even tried on a few fun dresses, just for laughs.

In your opinion, what is one vendor no wedding can be without?

No wedding can be without a photographer! The day flies by in an instant… it’s crucial to be able to relive those memories after the day is over. Plus, you’ll find so many shots that you would have missed throughout the night, since you can’t be everywhere at once!

In your opinion, what is one thing or vendor that you think brides can do without (or at least do sparingly)?

It depends on the couple. If you love flowers, make it a large portion of your budget; if not, use sparingly and allocate the funds to another area, like a fun photo booth or a unique wedding favor for guests. Make the most of your wedding by highlighting areas about which you are most passionate.

What was your favorite source of inspiration for your own wedding?

I planned before I was part of the wedding industry, and before many wedding blogs were popular, so I definitely used wedding magazines to help plan. My favorite was Martha Stewart Weddings magazine; I still have a few issues saved with pages bookmarked, ripped out, and highlighted.

Your favorite wedding memory?

Walking down the aisle and seeing him for the first time. I thought I’d be nervous with all those eyes on me, but everyone seemed to disappear and all I could see was him. What a memorable moment!

Did you do an inspiration board? (Would you share it with photo credits or a link to where you may have posted it with credits?)

I did not have an inspiration board, but I did tear out photos of magazines and place them in a folder for inspiration. I bookmarked tons of wedding sites, always checking back to them in between class or after work. My laptop went with me everywhere.

Your favorite wedding detail?

After the ceremony, we were greeted by the most beautiful snowfall. It was perfect. Plus, there was a massive snowstorm the next day with over three feet of snow, which just missed us! Thank goodness.

Were you a DIY bride? If so, what did you DIY? (feel free to share a DIY or link to one if you'd like!)

Most definitely! I DIYed everything… the flower girl bouquets, the programs, the save the dates, the favors… It was the true start of my newfound DIY wedding love.

Describe your wedding style.

Modern, elegant, and chic.

If you could offer one piece of advice to planning brides, what would it be?

Be yourself: your wedding day should be all about you and your soon-to-be spouse. And, remember to keep date nights weekly for a movie, romantic dinner, and other couple-y things (with no wedding talk).

How did you make your wedding YOU?

We were able to hand-pick songs for the reception thanks to our awesome DJ Aaron of A-Team Productions. We included favorite songs shared with friends through the years, along with crowd-pleasers Aaron suggested to make sure everyone would get up and dance… and they did! Plus, my husband and I spent the entire night on the dance floor and enjoyed every minute.

Such great advice! And don't you love her winter bride style? Thanks Emma for sharing with us today! :)

{Guest Post} Bridesmaid Dresses for Curvy Girls from Kiss My Tulle

noreply@blogger.com (chandra ~ oh lovely day) — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:30:00 +0000

Hey lovelies! Miss me yet? I'm sure you don't from all of these fab guest posts I've had in my place! Today Kiss My Tulle is stopping by to give some great suggestions for bridesmaid dress options for curvy bridesmaids. Having a bit of a gadunkadunk (I've never actually written that word out before - that was weird!) myself, I totally appreciate this post :)

Those of you who read Kiss My Tulle know that I have been engaged in a lengthy and difficult struggle with my weight for the last two years. Since August 2010, I have successfully lost over 60 pounds and now have 20 left to meet my personal (healthy) goal weight. This has been really rewarding for me (you can read a little bit more about my journey here) and I'm so happy to be able to once again go a shopping and find cute outfits to wear. Because you know what? Being plus-sized and shopping ARE NOT a match made in heaven. In fact, it pretty much sucks.

But Cris, what does this have to do with weddings? Um, everything. Because I'll bet that most of you out there have a wedding party. And I'm ALSO willing to bet that at least one of your bridesmaids is not a size zero. In fact, I'll wager that at least one of your 'maids is a sexy size 12 or more. And that slinky little mermaid gown you picked out for your wedding party to wear? Not. Gonna. Happen for at least ONE lady in your wedding party. And if you try to force it - she will hate you, hate herself, and hate your entire wedding day. And is that really what you want?

No? Then you're in luck. Because these days, it is totally possible to find cute, affordable, and plus-sized dresses that are completely appropriate for a wedding. And lucky for you, I've rounded up a few for you (and your 'maids). Each dress is under $50!:

*1. ASOS Curve Exclusive Cocktail Dress With Corsage Shoulder. *2. Old Navy Tie-Belt Jersey Dress in Nebulous Blue. *3. Dots Striped Sweetheart Dress. *4. J Crew Tiered Ruffle Dress in Cerise. *5. ASOS CURVE Slash Neck Lace Dress. Simply Be Angel Sleeve Maxi Dress. *6.

Are you a plus-sized bridesmaid? Did the bride try to help you find the perfect dress for your body? Or are you two still looking? Let's start a conversation in the comments. Oh, and Happy Friday!

{Guest Post} Wedding Music Favorites from Ever Ours

noreply@blogger.com (chandra ~ oh lovely day) — Thu, 10 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Hey guys! Guest posting for me today is the sweetest girl and a sweet friend, Lydia from Ever Ours. As much as I LOVE music, I don't do many music related posts, and since that is totally Lydia's specialty she's going to get musical today. Enjoy!

Lydia here from Ever Ours. Glad to step in while Chandra's out on a well deserved vacation. Chiming in with my contribution of music suggestions. Music's key in my life. I have three iPods and they're all completely full of music. There's never a moment in my life without some sort of it going on. While I love discovering new songs that'd be perfect for weddings, I still have an old soul and love the classics too. So take a listen and pleasure your ears. The first ten are oldies and the second ten are a few new ones.

for oh lovely day... by Lydia Yeung on Grooveshark

Which is your favorite? Any here that you used in your wedding? Share a song from your wedding: what did you walk down the aisle to, dance your first dance to? Would you like to see more music related posts?

{Guest Post} Postcards & Pretties: Dreamy Summer Wedding Color Palette

noreply@blogger.com (chandra ~ oh lovely day) — Wed, 09 May 2012 13:27:00 +0000

Today's guest post comes from Postcards & Pretties, who never fails to inspire me with her lovely boards! Today she's sharing her current favorite color palette for summer :)

Hi lovelies, It’s Chris from Postcards & Pretties and I’m so happy to be guest blogging for Chandra while she's away. Today I'll be sharing with you one of my pretty palette boards. With the weather quickly warming up, it has me craving to escape to some remote cabin by the lake and just take in all it has to offer.

{colors} petal, coral, teal, tan

{photos} hammock {unknown} book ring holder {ruffled} bouquet {saipua} desk {elizabeth messina}

Isn't this so dreamy? If I wasn't already on a vacation, it would make me want to relax somewhere in a hammock with a book. Thanks Chris!

{Guest Post} Snippet & Ink's 15 Favorite Featured Wedding Gowns

noreply@blogger.com (chandra ~ oh lovely day) — Tue, 08 May 2012 13:13:00 +0000

I'm really honored that today's guest poster is stopping by, because Snippet & Ink was one of my VERY favorite blogs when I was planning my own wedding (and still is!). Kathryn is so sweet and has already contributed to our Behind the Veil feature, and today she is sharing her favorites of all of the wedding gowns she has featured on her blog. You know these are going to be GORG!

Archives can be a great source of inspiration! I dug through some of Snippet & Ink's past features, and pulled out 15 of my favorite wedding dresses from the last few years. One of them might be my own wedding dress (I couldn't help it!)...

Judd Waddell

Laura & Michael, photo by Cappy Hotchkiss

White by Vera Wang

Holly & Scott, photo by David Shirk

Carolina Herrera

Kate & Jesse, photo by Amy and Stuart

custom J.Crew

Molly & Alex, photo by Belathée

Alireza

Kelley & Thomas, photo by Cliff Brunk

Oscar de la Renta

Jennifer & Mark, photo by Lisa Lefkowitz

Blue Soho

Katie & Jay, photo by Jonathan Canlas

Angel Sanchez

Kathryn & Ryan, photo by Elizabeth Messina

Vera Wang

Lanie & Matt, photo by Aaron Delesie

Carolina Herrera

Amy & Naveen, photo by Meg Smith

Monique Lhuillier

Nkechi & Mitch, photo by Jen Huang

Cortana Barcelona

Georgia & Nate, photo by Jose Villa

Lanvin

Keren & Asaf, photo by Karen Hill

custom Lynn Hamilton

Alex & Mike, photo by Ed Peers

vintage

Lisa & Ben, photo by Wrinkle in Time

Didn't I tell you!? Gorg!! I can't even pick a favorite, but I'm definitely partial to Kathryn's own lovely gown :) Which is your favorite?

{Behind the Veil} Rhiannon from Hey Gorgeous

noreply@blogger.com (chandra ~ oh lovely day) — Mon, 07 May 2012 19:57:00 +0000

Sorry this post is a little late today. I'm on vacation and scheduled this ahead of time, and blogger ate my post! So, I had to get to a computer and try to re-do it. It is just too good a feature not to run, plus Rhi from Hey Gorg was so sweet to get it to me so I could post it while I was gone. So, better late than never :)

As a wedding blogger, what is your favorite part of other people's weddings?

As a wedding blogger, I have to say I am continually looking to see how an entire wedding comes together. I love seeing every single element from the centerpieces and the ceremony back drop, to the dessert table and programs come together to create a cohesive final product. I've also been dabbling in floral design for the past year and of course have a special place in my heart for anything floral. Give me an artfully designed arrangement or a beautiful bouquet and I'm one happy happy girl :)

What was your favorite part of your wedding?

The favorite part of our wedding easily was our balloon release. So many people thought we had those giant peach balloons just for fun and I can't deny that they looked sweet in photos! But the real reason we had them was to release after our first look in honor and memory of my Nan. She was my best friend and the kindest person I've ever known; I wanted to find a way to pay tribute to her and releasing those balloons seemed right. In lieu of a funeral when she passed, we release dozens of pink balloons with notes attached to each from friends and family. I loved being able to mimic this tradition and tribute again on our big day.

What was the first piece of wedding planning you did (booked venue, bought dress, etc.)?

Honestly, I'm not sure I remember what detail we secured first for our wedding since we were engaged for a very long 2.5 years! I think before anything, I had a vision in my head and perhaps even a few colors picked out but I do remember that once we truly started to plan, I kept making decisions one after the other (and sometimes without giving much thought to each decision, oops!) After two and a half years of waiting and waiting to make it official, I was really ready to marry my husband, fancy wedding or not :)

In your opinion, what is one vendor no wedding can be without?

This sounds a bit cliche since I'm a wedding planner, but I really think a wedding planner or at least a day of coordinator can be your saving grace on the big day. Believe me, they are worth every.single.penny. I'm also a huge advocate on hiring someone to rock out on wedding photography and videography for you because after your cake is gone, presents are opened and your dress is tucked away in storage, you'll want meaningful memories to look back on. Don't be afraid to splurge on the person who will capture all those wonderful moments for you! And save money for a honeymoon even if it's just for a few days. It's so so worth it!

What was your favorite source of inspiration for your own wedding?

Style Me Pretty and the Wedding Chicks have always been one of my fave sources of inspiration but as a former journalist with a background in the mag industry, I do have a soft spot for bridal magazines like The Knot, WedLuxe and BRIDES. Something about ripping out pages of a magazine or flipping through a publication while curled up on the couch; it's just my kind of thing.

Your favorite wedding memory?

My fave wedding memory is easily walking down the aisle with my sweet Dad and saying my vows to my husband. I'm such a softie and a sucker for a love story so being a part of my own was really an out of body experience of sorts.

Were you a DIY bride? If so, what did you DIY?

I planned my wedding completely on my own while my husband was 13 hours away and most of my bridesmaids were scattered around the nation. As I was finishing my graduate program and was in school full time, plus juggling a part time job, I really felt like I took on everything absolutely on my own with little time and money to do so. I did a ton of DIY projects to save money on little details, honed in on things that weren't necessarily trendy but rather reflected my husband and I as a couple, and in the end was able to just be content with how things unfold. Your wedding day will be one of the greatest days of your life, Louboutins on your feet or not :)

All photos by Amanda Wilcher

GAH! Don't you just love Rhi's gorgeous wedding!? She is a girl after my own heart and she did such a fab job. If I was getting married now and lived in her area, I would SO want her as my planner! Thanks, Rhi! xx

{Weekly Wrap Up} A Giveaway Winner, A Small Announcement + Charlie stops by

noreply@blogger.com (chandra ~ oh lovely day) — Fri, 04 May 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Happy Friday! Before I announce our winner of the giveaway for a Custom Hanger from Wedding Hanger Shop I wanted to fill you in on my plans for the next couple weeks. We're taking Charlie to visit the grandparents and doing some traveling, and then when we return we'll be really busy with some exciting things happening with my husband's career (to get a peek, go here and look at the 2nd guy from the left around 39 seconds in and then be sure to tune in or set your DVR's!) So I have some FAB guest posters lined up for you over the next 2-3 weeks. I won't be featuring any real weddings during this time, but to make up for that I'm bringing back the Behind the Veil feature and have some wonderful bride bloggers participating. I will also have guest posts from some of my favorite bloggers, some big and some smaller, all really sweet and creative gals that I thought you would be inspired by! Please welcome them with some love and comments :)

Now, on to our winner. Drumroll please! (budududududududududududududududududuud)

The winner is the author of comment #80, Desiree! Congrats!!

{Weekly Wrap Up}

In case you missed any of this week's lovely posts:

{monday} this charming backyard wedding is full of DIY inspiration (and was shot by my wedding photographer!)

{tuesday} some bridal floral crown inspiration & where to buy or how to DIY

{wednesday} a cheerful yellow DIY wedding with the city of Chicago as a guest

{thursday} a modern twist on the classic summer wedding with stripes, chevron, blues + kelly green

And last, but certainly not least (at least not in my book)...

We had a little family photoshoot yesterday with my wedding photographer, and I can't stop looking at this photo of Charlie, so I had to share. I just can't help myself :)

{photo by Jennifer Roper}

See you guys toward the end of the month. Have a lovely weekend. xx

{Inspiration Board} Modern Patterned Blues + Kelly Green

noreply@blogger.com (chandra ~ oh lovely day) — Thu, 03 May 2012 14:08:00 +0000

{Inspiration} By including horizontal, vertical, and diagonal stripes, and a bit of chevron, you give a modern twist to the classic summer wedding!

{Palette} Navy, Cobalt, Aqua, and Kelly Green, and white of course!

This is one of my favorite boards that I have made. It is fresh, classic, modern, with little touches of rustic vintage chic (which is me!). I really really REALLY wish someone would use this board to plan their wedding. I think it would be oh so FAB! And how much do you love that bridesmaid dress in the bottom right corner? I'm obsessed with it and that chevron cake! What about you?

{credits} bout by Shannon Kelley Photography via Every Last Detail, mint julips by Justin Demutiis via Southern Weddings, chevron cake by cocoa & fig, photo by Jeff loves Jessica via Style Me Pretty, bouquet via Martha Stewart Weddings, blue shoes by Jenny Evelyn Photography via Oh Lovely Day , program by Heather Parker Photography via Oh Lovely Day, mason jar drinks via Oh Lovely Day from Donna Hay, invite by Brian Hurst, bouquet by studio 28 via Style Me Pretty, bridesmaid bouquet by Honey of a Thousand Flowers, photo by Jaquelynn

{Real Wedding} Katie & Wes: Cheery DIY Lakeside Chicago Wedding

noreply@blogger.com (chandra ~ oh lovely day) — Wed, 02 May 2012 14:30:00 +0000

There are a few places where I've lived or traveled that hold a special place in my heart, and Chicago tops them all. It is just the best city and I miss it all the time. Yeah the weather sucks 65% of the time, but on those days when the weather is good, there is no place like it. So when this wedding came my way, it was like going home (my second home) for a little bit. I'm so excited to share it with you today! It just makes me happy.

From the bride:
We stuck true to both of our personalities and worked to find a combination of playful and stylish, from the food to the decor to little details of the ceremony and celebration. We opted for cheesecakes instead of traditional wedding cake and had food that reflected Wes' North Carolina roots. My dress and shoes were really reflective of my personality - the shorter length keeping things playful and a little edgy.

Before arriving at the wedding, my bridesmaids and I took pictures downtown. We felt almost famous, standing in the middle of the street all decked out. People were honking and waving and pre-celebrating with us for a second, and it was a great way to get excited for the hours to come.

Wes’s favorite thing about Chicago is the lake, so when we found this beautiful park and gorgeous building sitting on a peninsula right on the lake, we couldn’t say no. The water and city skyline made for an awesome view for guests and an incredible backdrop to our vows.

My bridesmaids and I did all of the flowers on our own. It added a little bit of stress the day before the wedding, but it was totally worth it. We saved a ton of money, and it was actually a lot of fun making the bouquets and boutonnieres. They felt really special.

We really wanted to walk down the aisle to something special and different, and we opted for the acoustic version of “Such Great Heights” by The Postal Service. It made for the most beautiful feeling and was perfect for the lakefront setting.

Our first dance was to the acoustic version of “Beloved One” by Ben Harper. In the first few weeks of getting to know each other, I made Wes a CD of some of my favorite songs, and that song was one of them.

One of my favorite moments of the day was about twenty minutes before I walked down the aisle. My bridesmaids and I were hiding out in a back room, looking out the window at everything all set up, seeing guests begin to arrive, and of course, spying on Wes as he checked things out and talked to a few people. It was really exciting to see him. He looked amazing, and I almost started crying and ruined my makeup.

Ah, I just love this wedding! From the DIY florals (seriously, what an incredible job!), to the lakeside setting...le sigh. And the personal touches that this couple incorporated to make their wedding them were perfect. I'm also really loving the citrus touches in the centerpieces and with the favors! What's your favorite detail? Do tell :)

{Vendors} Photographer: Studio Finch / Location: Promontory Point / Food: Wishbone Catering / Dress: Justin Alexander 8465 / Makeup: Tiara Peach / Cheesecake: Cheesecake Factory

{What I Love} Floral Crowns

noreply@blogger.com (chandra ~ oh lovely day) — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:48:00 +0000

{Mario Testino}

I've been in a ton of weddings. Seriously. I was a flower girl five times and have been a bridesmaid seven times (soon to be eight times after my brother's wedding). I'm a freaking bridal party professional! Out of all of them I think my favorite thing I ever wore was a floral crown as a flower girl. I used it and my pink dress to be a princess for Halloween several years after. So you know I'm loving this floral crown trend I'm seeing on brides!

There is something so romantic and bohemian about a floral crown, but it can be done in so many different ways it really can fit every bride's style. And if you aren't thrilled with the idea of wearing one yourself, your flower girls would love to! Here are some ideas:

Want a floral crown of your own? Let your florist know and she what suggestions they might have. If you would prefer to go the faux floral route you have two options: buy or DIY.

{BUY} check out whichgoose, twigs & honey, de loop, tessa kim, gilded shadows, or just do a search on Etsy for lots of options.

{DIY}, check out these tutorials from The Beauty Department, Green Wedding Shoes, and Bleubird.

So what do you think? Love floral crowns on brides or think they should be left to the flower girls? I would totally rock one similar to numbers 2, 4, and 7 myself!

{photo sources} 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 /

{Real Wedding} Danielle & Aaron: Charming Backyard DIY Wedding

noreply@blogger.com (chandra ~ oh lovely day) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:30:00 +0000

Today I've got another sweet wedding to share with you today from Jennifer Roper. You might remember this gorgeous rustic Ojai wedding of hers I featured a few weeks back, and her images are all over this blog since she also shot my wedding! Well, today a charming backyard wedding with lots of personal DIY details, and a lovely pastel color palette. Feast your eyes!

Now a little from Danielle on how they used DIY and personalization to make their wedding "them":

The first thing my husband and I did- before any planning began- was ask ourselves, in one or two words, what we wanted our friends and family to experience for that day. We decided we wanted people to have the experience of love and laughter.

My husband is a writer and we both love the power of language and poetry. We thought it would be fun to incorporate that into our wedding. We made a list of some of our favorite words and phrases that pertain to love and family. As people walked through the space we wanted their eyes to catch on a word "smitten" or a phrase "my one and only...". We didn't want to go over the top with it- but we wanted it to be a part of the atmosphere and decor. I went to Anawalt and asked for the discarded wood pieces and my friend and I painted dozens of signs with the words and phrases on them. We hung signs in trees and leaned them against rocks in the garden. We used our favorite words to distinguish the tables. The table that we shared with our parents was "kindred".

In keeping with the word theme, I had a vision of people driving up to the house and the first word they would see is LOVE in big letters hanging across the top of the house. My girlfriend, a great seamstress, helped me sew each letter on a separate piece of cloth material. We hung each piece side by side like a clothing line. Because I love the rustic, homemade, vintage look- it all fit in beautifully.

One of my favorite last minute details? We were originally only going to have beer and wine and at the last minute our friend was able to get us several cases of tequila for free. Since my husbands favorite drink is a margarita it was perfect! We were just going to have regular margarita's until my mom (4 days before the wedding) suggested bringing some prickly pear syrup from Tucson (my hometown). We ended up having a signature drink! "The Weekstrong Prickly Pear Margarita". Weekstrong is our last names combined. The drink ended up being a bright pink color and a huge hit during cocktail hour!

This wedding was definitely a community effort. We had tons of help from family and friends. This started out as a necessity because we were on such a budget- but it ended up being such a blessing and really one of the most wonderful things about the whole process. The day was more magical than my husband and I could have imagined. We were shocked at how beautifully it all came together. It was a true collaboration. And in the end, people said they really got "our hearts". Oh, and the love and laughter abounded!

I just love that! It really shows you how the DIY and personal details are what often makes your day so magical, because your guests all see and feel "you" and your love in every detail. And you feel it too, as well as the love of your friends and family. This is more imporant than anything you can plan or buy for your wedding, don't you think? So, what's your favorite part? The pastel bridesmaids dresses, the sweet signs, the adorable flower girls? I love all of the above!

{Vendors} Photographer: Jennifer Roper / Day of Coordination: Ashley of Coco Rose Events / Venue: my best friend's backyard in Echo Park / Attire: Jenny Yoo gown and Hugo Boss suit (bridesmaids wore mostly vintage dresses - some from Shareen Vintage downtown) / Florist: my friend, Annie, designed all the arrangements with the help of friends and family. We saved lots of money by going to the flower market downtown and getting them the day before / Music: DJ UnieQ (Quaye Kennerly) / Food: the best caterer on the PLANET Chef Cameron Czekalla with Romega Catering (seriously, these guys are amazing and so great to work with- I can't recommend them enough!) / Cake: Maryn Surrey / Lighting: my talented friend Geoff Ross

Honeymoon Registries with Honeymoon Pixie

noreply@blogger.com (chandra ~ oh lovely day) — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 13:00:00 +0000

These days so many engaged couples already have linens, pots and pans, appliances, flatware, and all of the other things traditional wedding registries provide. And lots of couples don't feel they need the "stuff" but have wedding guests who would like the guidance for gift giving that a registry provides. My solution? A honeymoon registry!

My husband and I had both a traditional registry (so I could get the Kitchen Aid standing mixer I always wanted, a nice set of servingware and flatware, and a full set of "grown up" glasses - the ones that match and aren't plastic!) and a honeymoon registry. Having a honeymoon registry is one of the best wedding-related decisions we made and almost our entire Italian honeymoon was paid for!

Honeymoon Pixie provides a honeymoon registry service to engaged couples. It’s similar to a traditional wedding registry; however guests purchase fun activities for you to enjoy during your honeymoon. It’s ideal for couples who live on their own and have many of the household items needed to start a home together. Get inspired with these sample honeymoon registries. Creating your free honeymoon registry is easy with Honeymoon Pixie. Simply select one of their pre-built registries and they produce your own honeymoon registry website to share with family and friends. It's brilliant!

If that doesn't convince you, here's a little inspiration from my Italian honeymoon (by way of a 26 hour layover in Paris!)

{Paris}

{Florence}

{Lucca}

(we got rained on a bit, but Lucca was still one of the most charming stops on our trip)

{Cinque Terre}

(if we look like we're glowing, it is because we hiked as far back as you can see...)

{Pisa, San Gimignano, & Siena}

{Orvieto}

(the hubs was a bit sick in all of the "sunglasses" photos - he caught an Italian cold)

{Rome}

{Venice}

(the $150 dollar 15 minute gondola ride was totally worth it, but only because it was our honeymoon and because it was a gift from one of our wedding guests from our honeymoon registry!)

For any brides-to-be out there, I would highly recommend an Italian honeymoon! And ours would not have been possible without our honeymoon registry. So be sure to check out Honeymoon Pixie and start planning your dream honeymoon.

*all photos are property of Oh Lovely Day -

please do not reproduce or use on your blog without asking permission*

_________________________________________________________________________________

Honeymoon Pixie is a Lovely Vendor and a sponsor of Oh Lovely Day

If you want to be a Lovely Vendor, apply here

and if you want to be a sponsor of Oh Lovely Day, contact me.

{Weekly Wrap Up} Plus, Adorable Flower Girls

noreply@blogger.com (chandra ~ oh lovely day) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 19:01:00 +0000

{one love photo}

It is a gorgeous Friday here in LA and I'm writing this as I sit outside and watch Charlie play with his football, a stick, and dirt. Hope you are having an equally lovely day!

In case you missed any of the lovely this week,

here's your wrap up:

{monday} don't ruin your wedding gown photo with an ugly plastic hanger. win a pretty personalized one in our custom hanger giveaway!

[tuesday} this couple incorporated lots of DIY and the bride's three daughters throughout their wedding

{wednesday} one of our featured brides is back with another fab DIY: a chicken wire + vintage window escort card display

{thursday} honey sweet wedding inspiration that bee lovers will appreciate

And be sure to follow my two most popular boards on Pinterest: mason jar heaven & Ryan Gosling's Wedding Advice! Actually, just follow them all :) And don't forget to follow me on twitter and like me on facebook too so you don't miss anything lovely! xx

{Inspiration Board} Golden Honey Wedding

noreply@blogger.com (chandra ~ oh lovely day) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:30:00 +0000

{inspiration} a lovely outdoor summer wedding
{palette} amber, golden honey, cream, green, accented with burlap & rustic wood details

Want to make this wedding yours? Here are some ideas!

Instead of honey jars, why not attach cute tags to these honey sticks and give them as favors?

Honey dippers would make cute escort cards & favors!

Serve sweet tea out of your very own beehive drink dispenser. At that price, get two and serve lemonade as well!

Serve honey infused signature cocktails, like a honey mojito or honey margarita

So, will you bee using honey to sweeten your wedding day? (pun intended!) Tell me about it!

{photo credits, clockwise} honey favors: Ashley Maxwell via Green Wedding Shoes, honey dipper via Wit + Delight, bridesmaid: Matthew Morgan Photography via Style Me Pretty, honey mojitos (YUM!): Brooke Boling via Style Me Pretty, hive beverage dispenser: Love is a Big Deal via Style Me Pretty, invitation from Minted, bouquet: Aaron Hoskins Photography via The Sweetest Occasion

{DIY} Chicken Wire + Window Escort Card Display

noreply@blogger.com (chandra ~ oh lovely day) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:00:00 +0000

You know the contributor to today's DIY - She already shared the Woodburned Table Numbers DIY from her Rustic Southern DIY Wedding. And today she's back to share the DIY for her Chicken Wire + Window Escort Cards Display, which I super love! So, take it away Katie!

List of supplies:

-cardstock tags for the seating cards

-baker's twine

-mini clothes pins

-old window

-chicken wire

-hammer

-staple gun

-wire cutters

-gloves

-safety goggles (if you break the glass out of the window)

Directions:

-break out glass of old window with a hammer (wear gloves and safey goggles - safety first!)

- cut chicken wire with wire cutters and staple it to window frame with a staple gun

-once you have the chicken wire stapled down you can attach your escort cards with the mini clothespins

Now you can use whatever type of escort card you want, handwrite them, print them, or have a calligrapher do them for you. The type of card you choose and style of writing or font you select will make them you! Here's Katie's story of what she did:

First I found the tags. I searched on etsy for "Craft paper gift tags." I used these. Here are some others that I think would work well: round craft tags, metallic paper tags, luggage style tags, craft + chevron tags. The rule on the tags is the bigger the better. Try to get some just over (or larger than) 2 inches. I employed the help of my neighbor to write the names, and we sat with my guest list spreadsheet and wrote them out. After I purchased the tags, I searched for baking twine and mini clothes pins on etsy.

After a long day of wedding errands, I convinced my mom to pull over at this little antique store in my hometown because I needed a window. As we're getting out of the car she says, "Katie, I really don't think you'll find one here." What do you know, there was a six paned window with a broken pane right out front (in the weather so it was all distressed, yay!) for $5. We bought the chicken wire at Home Depot and I had an upholstery staple gun. My mother made it sound like removing the panes would be easier than it actually was. I tried to remove the seals from around the panes but it just wasn't working. So I did what any good resourceful, farm girl would do....I grabbed a hammer and went to banging on the glass on our front porch. I MUST add a disclaimer here to WEAR SAFETY GOGGLES. Also, it would probably be best to spread out something to catch the shards of glass (and there will be millions of them). From there I went on to cutting the chicken wire with wire cutters and stapling them down. I did scratch up my hands pretty bad doing this, so be sure to wear gloves.

I really love this because it is both DIY and upcycling something old, both a touch of rustic + a touch of vintage, and so pretty to boot. I think it turned out beautifully, don't you? Thanks to Katie for sharing!

Be sure to check out all of our DIY features and if you missed it, go see Katie's wedding and her other DIY contribution to Oh Lovely Day! And if you aren't already following me on Pinterest, you are missing out on lots of DIY wedding inspiration, plus my two favorite pin boards: mason jar heaven and Ryan Gosling's Wedding Advice! If you need an invite, leave a comment below with your email and I'll send you one :)

All photos by TimWill Photography

{Real Wedding} Jill & Tim (& three little ladies): Sweet+ Personal DIY Wedding

noreply@blogger.com (chandra ~ oh lovely day) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:00:00 +0000

This wedding had me with the DIY details and the sweet little girls. Jill's three daughters were very involved in the wedding and they are just too adorable for words!

I mean, seriously, HOW CUTE are those little girls!? And I love this family photo at the end! Here's a little bit from Jill, the bride, on how they made their wedding "THEM":

We had fun personalizing the wedding with a few DIY projects: spray painting mason jars and accenting with lace trim, decorating the reception tables with runners made out of plastic lace tablecloths from US Toy, the blessing tree with lights that had cards that we stamped with the T+J, the florist did moss initials with beautiful ribbon, my maid of honor made all kinds of things including a flower basket for my daughter out of an old hat, a sign for my junior bridesmaid that read "here comes the bride" on one side and had our theme T + J on the other side.

The day was so amazing but I think my favorite moment was the time right before the wedding where we spoke and touched hands but didn't see each other as we stood on opposite sides of a door, the anticipation of seeing each other and becoming husband and wife - and the picture that captured that moment is priceless to me.

I love the sweet personal details and how included the daughters were in this wedding. Just precious! What do you think? What part is your favorite?

{Vendors} Venue: Wornall Road Baptist Church / Photographer: Amanda Perry / Makeup/Hair/Catering: friends of the bride & groom / Florist: Victorian Gardens Floral Design

{Lovely Giveaway} Personalized Wedding Hanger from Wedding Hanger Shop

noreply@blogger.com (chandra ~ oh lovely day) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 04:42:00 +0000

It has been a while since we had a lovely giveaway, but I'm making up for it by having a FAB giveaway for you brides-to-be today. The dress shot is one of my favorite photos, but so many times the picture is ruined by an ugly hanger. I've seen it too many times. I don't even feature those photos because I just cannot look at the plastic ugly hanger.

For brides who are looking to get rid of the "ugly hanger photo" and have the most unique and personal details in your wedding, you now can have a personalized wedding hanger for your dress. And I'm giving one from WeddingHangerShop.com away to one of you lucky readers!

Here's what the winner will get: One (1) Personalized Wedding Hanger with any color and text you choose (from the options available on the shop's site).

You have five ways to enter and can have up to five entries per person. Here's how:

Go to WeddingHangerShop.com and then come back here and leave a comment telling me what text and color you would choose. If you are entering for someone else, tell me that instead!

Get additional entries by doing the following:

Become a fan of Wedding Hanger Shop on Facebook. Be sure to come back and leave a comment here that you've done this.

Become a follower of Wedding Hanger Shop on Twitter. Make sure to leave a comment here that you did this.

Become a new fan of Oh Lovely Day on Facebook. If you are already a fan, post a link to this giveaway on your facebook page. Be sure to come back and leave a comment here that you've done this.

Become a new follower of Oh Lovely Day on twitter. Comment that you have become a follower here. If you are already a follower: Retweet this giveaway on twitter with the following "I entered to win a wedding hanger from @WeddingHangers on @oh_lovely_day here http://su.pr/2gh9je." Come back here and leave a comment that you retweeted.

One winner will be chosen at random from the comments left on this post. You MUST leave a comment here for each entry to count! The giveaway ends at 8 pm PST on May 3rd and the winner will be announced on May 4th. Good luck!

_________________________________________________________________________________ WeddingHangerShop.com is a sponsor of Oh Lovely Day

{Weekly Wrap Up} A Super Cute Save-the-Date Film + Ojai Instagram Photo Dump

noreply@blogger.com (chandra ~ oh lovely day) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 13:50:00 +0000

Happy Friday! Anyone have any fun weekend plans or a wedding perhaps? It is supposed to be like 90 degrees here this weekend. Not loving that at all. What happened to Spring? Actually, what happened to Winter!!!? I'm in LA, don't forget, so Winter is still nice :) So I think we'll spend the weekend trying to stay cool. Last weekend we took our first family road trip since Charlie was born and visited Ojai (a must-visit So Cal spot - LOVE it there!) Here's a little instagram photo dump from our trip:

Charlie was not a fan of the bike ride, mostly I think because of the required helmet. He did warm to it after about 30 minutes of protest :) But he thoroughly enjoyed Casper the Parrot, the golf carts (or as he calls them, "cars"), and the grounds of the Ojai Valley Inn. And a side note- if you ever have the chance to stay there you really have to. The Inn, the grounds, the service, the staff - it is all fabulous! We had an amazing stay (and got a great deal on Living Social!)

Now before I get to the weekly wrap-up, I wanted to share this sweet save-the-date film that Tower Films sent over.

Super cute, right? Tower Films is based in LA and you can find out more about them on their website.

And if you missed any of these week's post, here's your chance to catch up!

{monday} this rustic South Dakota wedding was entirely DIY with a stunner of a bride.
{tuesday} whimsical ribbon backdrops, plus Five DIY tips to make your own
{wednesday} One of last week's featured brides is back sharing her woodburned table number DIY
{thursday} I shared what I spent on my wedding, and why I'm happy I did.

Have a lovely weekend! xx

{Lovely Tip} Why I Happily Spent A lot of Money on My Wedding (and it isn't for the reason you might think!)

noreply@blogger.com (chandra ~ oh lovely day) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 14:28:00 +0000

This post was hard to write, for several reasons. First, looking back at how much I spent on my wedding now that I have a child, I sometimes think “I could have put a down payment on a house with that money.” Second, I don’t like to talk about money spent on something, like it is bragging. I worked very hard as a lawyer to pay for my wedding, and my mother and stepfather were very generous and had saved to help us as well, but it was a choice that we made together on what we were comfortable spending. And if we had our wedding in a different location, I would have happily spent less money, and I think that you can have a fantastic wedding for under $10,000, or even $5,000 (I featured one that had was a gorgeous DIY wedding with a $4,000 budget!) But despite these misgivings, I still wanted to share why I happily spent well over $30,000 on my wedding, because to me it is what made our wedding so special, because of what we spent that money on.

My husband and I got married in the Los Angeles area, where we live. We knew that for most of our guests, it would be a destination wedding since most came from Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Illinois, and various other parts of the country. They would have to spend a lot of money and effort to come to our wedding, and many of them made it a vacation. So we wanted them to be as comfortable as possible, as close to the beach as possible, and to get a real Southern California experience. That meant getting married on the coast somewhere close by and making sure there were hotels close by so they could stay close to the wedding venue and the beach, which significantly increased the cost of our wedding venue (and by significantly, I mean 2/3 of our budget).

We also provided transportation to and from the wedding from the hotel so our guests could enjoy some cocktails and not worry about driving, and so they could avoid renting a car or taking a cab. We also wanted them to feel like we thought of each of them when planning our wedding. We made nice out-of-town bags for each guest staying at the hotel, complete with snacks, TWO bottles of water (a must in my humble opinion), a map of the area, suggested things to do, and the weekend’s scheduled activities, plus a homemade hangover helper kit.

We had two guests whose birthdays fell on our wedding day. We had Vanilla Bake Shop (who did our cupcake tower) make them special birthday cupcakes, and we DIY’d cupcake flags for them and sang to them during our reception. We also had fun drink stirs with fun quotes about enjoying a cocktail, which were a fun conversation piece. And my maid of honor made really nice bathroom baskets with all of the essentials for our guests, along with all of the flags, stirs, and cute signs, making everything seem really thought out and personal. I also DIY'd our programs and included a CD inside each one with music that we loved as a couple and that was included in our wedding day. Guests still tell me they listen to that CD in their car and think of our wedding.

We wanted our wedding to be a fun party and we love to dance and wanted to encourage everyone to participate and literally kick off their shoes, so we had flip flops for all of our guests, which I bought at Old Navy’s yearly $1 sale. Almost everyone, including the men, wore them at our reception! And because we were getting married in sunny Southern California at 5pm and there was no shade, I bought some parasols in case guests needed a little. Mostly they just used them as photo props!

(see everyone wearing their yellow flip flops favors!?)

And the reason why I happily spent well over $30,000 on my wedding is that every dollar spent, every splurge and every small detail, made our guests feel special and loved and made our day the best day ever. I didn't spend a ton on flowers. I got my dress for a steal. But we spent a lot on our venue and details for our guests. We still hear from guests how much they loved our wedding, how they feel like they were taken care of, and how they had the best time. To me, that makes the expense totally worth it! It may not be for everyone but if you can do it, spending money to make sure your guests feel loved, comfortable, and taken care of is never a waste.

All photos by Jennifer Roper / go here for full vendor credits

{DIY} Woodburned Table Numbers

noreply@blogger.com (chandra ~ oh lovely day) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 14:18:00 +0000

Hey y'all! For today's DIY, the bride from this Sweet Southern DIY Wedding is sharing her woodburned table numbers and sign DIY project! I loved these, so I'm really glad to have Katie share them.

When my family tore down our barn, we found bundles upon bundles of wooden shingles. My uncle just happened to be helping us that day which sparked my idea for the table numbers. He had woodburned a few gorgeous items when I was little and so I asked him if he would woodburn the numbers for our tables.

We used 16 shingles all together. Numbers 1-15 and he did a "Mr. & Mrs." for the head table. If you don't have a torn-down barn of your own you could find some here or here.

I wanted to cut more shingles at an angle and adhere them to the back (hot glue would be fine) so they would stand up but this was a last minute project and the backs had to be delegated out. My mom knew that they made adhesive cardboard backings and she bought some at Michael's.

But if you want to do wood easels, you could use these and cut them down to size.

And if you don't have an uncle (or someone else) who knows how to do woodburning, you can buy a woodburning kit online for as little as $10.

We picked a font with pretty numbers, blew them up to about 400 pts in word. We printed, traced, and filled in the number with the wood burning tool. The "Mr. & Mrs." was made the same way.

This DIY would be perfect for a rustic barn, ranch, or outdoor wedding! And they are really affordable and easy to do. Thanks so much to Katie for sharing! Any of you planning to try them yourself?

All photos by TimWill Photography

{It's in the Details} Five Ribbon Backdrops + DIYs

noreply@blogger.com (chandra ~ oh lovely day) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 14:04:00 +0000

via Love and Lavender

Hi guys! I'm back from Ojai rested and rejuvenated (if you ever have to opportunity to stay at the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, you really MUST! It is soooo fantastic! I want to live at that resort.) with some DIY inspiration for your Tuesday! By the way, how much do you love that photo above? I super love it, but I may be a bit biased…

When deciding on your DIY projects for your wedding don't forget to include a fabulous backdrop project. Ribbon backdrops are pretty, budget-friendly, and super easy to do. All you need is ribbon, and something to tie it to like a PVC pipe, clothesline, or just long string. SO EASY. Did I mention how pretty they are? Here are five ways to use them:

{Photo Display Backdrop}

via Style Me Pretty

{Dessert Table Backdrop}

via Amy Atlas

{Ceremony "Altar" Backdrop}

via Green Wedding Shoes

{Photobooth Backdrop}

By Jessica Velarde via 7 Year Wedding

{Full Wall Reception Decor Backdrop}

by Jose Villa

I really love all of these ideas that I wouldn’t be able to choose just one! Can you pick a favorite?

{Real Wedding} Staci & Ryan: Rustic DIY Barn Wedding in South Dakota

noreply@blogger.com (chandra ~ oh lovely day) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 14:04:00 +0000

Where do I begin in describing how I feel about this wedding? First of all, the bride should be a model. Like seriously, GOR.GEOUS. The groom is a looker too (those are gonna be some pretty babies someday!) And the couple has such a sweet story: high school sweethearts, a little time apart, a long distance relationship, then a reunion and engagement. Aside from the fact that their journey took 6 years, and mine took 14, my husband and I have a very similar story. Also, every single thing in this wedding was made by the couple and their friends and families.

so stinking cute!

I'm obsessed with how pretty this picture is.

Did I tell you!? How amazing are those portraits!? Now here are some details from the bride, Staci:

We were married at the Salt Lake Temple - May 14th 2011 and had a reception to follow are our house in Salt Lake City. The weather forecast promised a beautiful sunny day but it poured rain the moment we got out, but with that came beautiful photos. We left for our honeymoon soon after in Jackson Hole, WY at a secluded cabin. A couple of months later we drove to South Dakota, where we are both from, and had a ring ceremony and reception for the rest of our family and friends. There a friend of the family offered the use of there historically registered barn that they recently turned over into an event/dance hall. It meshed so well with my decorations that I hardly had to decorate at all..it was decoration it self. I just had to add some flowers, tables, fabric, and lights that would bring out the antique aspects of the barn. I wanted both of my receptions to be really informal so I had a buffet style meal of pulled pork, baked beans, and salads from the renowned Backyard BBQ who are know for their delicious beans and sandwiches. Everyone was able to visit family that they have not seen in a while in the beautiful fall weather of South Dakota and then gather to dance in the barn when it chilled at night. It was a perfect setting to be welcomed into our new families.

Tell us about your DIY process.

I made most of my decorations from ideas gathered from differect blogs and then made them personal. Since I did not choose a specific set of colors it did make it easier to just go to a craft store or thrift store and put together decor of different colors that fit well with my theme and hobbies. The thrift stores gave me an endless supply of mason jars, vases, posts and all kinds of containers for a reasonable price. And the local craft stores supplied my bouquets, ribbons, and fabric. Many of my decorations I use in my home decor now. Some of my favorite was the cut birch tree logs that we burnt our initials in and the mismatched pots that I planted succulents in for table displays. For our favors I purchased can koozies that read 'To have to hold and to keep your drink cold' which everyone loved! I would always look for antique knickknacks that displayed our hobbies of fishing and photography which made it more personal and not just floral decor.

How did you make your wedding YOU?

My husband and I were both raised in rural South Dakota, and when we moved to the big city of Salt Lake we always yearned to go back to our country roots someday. Therefore a country themed wedding came out in our decor. I also incorporated a mix of our hobbies such as fishing and photography to make it even more personal.

I love that they had a country wedding that reflected their hobbies, their roots, and what they love. How sweet is it that even though they had already been married a couple of months, the groom seems so emotional during the ceremony? Love that. The bride's style and the mismatched but cohesive look of the bridesmaids - it is all just so well done. Lovely wedding, lovely couple, lovely photos...lovely day! What is your favorite thing? Mine is a tie between the bride's ridiculously pretty face, and the lawn games :) Now you go!

{Vendors} Photographers: Kimbry Studios / Invitations: Courthouse Basement Design /

DJ: The Lone Arranger / Cake: Emily's Cakes / Reception: Family friends' historically registered barn turned over for events / Food: Backyard Grill / All decor was made by family members or bride.