You know what happens to be a show stopping combination? A really cute, crafty couple and an all out DIY extravaganza like this California wedding shot by Lukas VanDyke Fine Art Photography. It is a big ol’ family shindig and happens to be mucho adorbs to boot. The bride is breakin it down for you in the description so be sure to read all about it then get your gallery on here.
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From the Bride… “Do it yourself” was the heartbeat of the work that went into our big day. Wil and my dad even built the barn for the reception themselves! Just kidding. But really, I think many people miss out on adding personality and tightening their budgets by not fully digging into resources around them. We found that a little blog-searching and creative thinking go a long way, and that people really want to help! We also found that hunting in unexpected places turned up our favorite treasures. Old quilts covered the soundboards in the reception hall, lanterns hung from the branches of the tree above with twine made our arbor, and mason jars and doilies we collected from our house and from friends made up the centerpieces for the tables. I’ll admit, I was skeptical going into some of the places we looked, thinking that I would never find anything worth my while. But keeping my vision and an open mind together, I ended up with a wedding that exceeded our expectations without too far exceeding our budget.
Our favor table is a good example of this. One of my favorite parts of the decor, it was made up of things we had. A buffet table, step stool, a couple crates and a galvanized bucket or two held the favors (which we did ourselves). It was dimensional, a little eclectic, and visually a focal point of the outdoor decor. I was delightfully surprised when pieces from our own home became my favorite touches! We thought it would be fun to do several different favors for guests to choose from. Honey jars, wildflower mix seed boxes, sunflower bulbs, and candy buckets for the kids comprised our favor choices. We designed our tags and printed them at home, and most of our supplies came from online bulk supply companies. Clearance sections and dollar stores were great unexpected resources too.
DIY invitations are surprisingly doable and a good place to shrink the budget. We found simple invitation kits that fit with our color scheme on sale at a party supply store, and figured for the price, we could definitely work with it. A few extra hours designing on my computer, inspiration from printed materials that I liked, and my local printing store turned a cheap, basic kit from “eh” to exactly what we wanted!
We used old fence boards a friend was getting rid of for signs all over the grounds of the venue. They had a vintage look, and with phrases like “wedding this way” and “thank you,” they made the guests feel welcomed. Start with old fenceboard, cut to any size (we tapered the ends), and mark out the phrase first with white chalk, that way you can fix mistakes. Then all it takes is white craft paint and foam brush to trace over, and you have decor you can put anywhere and add a lot visually.
Wil and I are a down-to-earth, laid-back pair of musicians, and our greatest desires for our day were to make it organic, comfortable, and full of life. We wanted our guests to have fun, enjoy themselves, and really celebrate – big ol’ happy family style – what God had woven together. We kept the traditions that were special to us, tossed the ones that didn’t matter, and worked hard to imagine a day that truly expressed our hearts. That’s why we wanted to have the ceremony outdoors (the oak tree was a big plus!). Wil even surprised me with a song he wrote for our wedding day! Moments like that, planned and unplanned, made the day perfect for us.
My favorite memories are made up of every time Wil stopped me, held me, and said, “Close your eyes, take it in.” Everybody tells you, “it goes by so fast!” He purposed to really grab onto the moments, from beginning to end, and because of that, I didn’t feel like the day went by me; instead, we settled into and enjoyed every part of it and now have vivid memories of so many parts of the wedding.
Wedding Photography: Lukas VanDyke Fine Art Photography / Wedding Venue: The Flower Farm Inn / Wedding Dress: David’s Bridal / Hair and Makeup: Danielle Parker / Shoes: Payless / Bridesmaid Dresses: Windsor / Groom’s Attire: JCPenney + Gap / Groom’s Shoes: Vans / Wedding Cinematography: Rory Delmue, Cousin of the Bride / Event Design & Decor: Sherri Roy, Mother of the Bride + Amber Burns + The Bride / Wedding Invitations: The Bride / Calligraphy: Tammi Brimer / Catering & Wedding Cake: Karen’s Bakery, Cafe and Catering / Ceremony Flowers: Bonnie Flory of b. floral / Reception Flowers: Kim Collins of Buds for Life