A true backyard wedding is few and far between now a days but if you’re lucky enough to procure the perfect family retreat, what follows is usually an intimate and incredibly personalized affair. Elisabeth Kate Photography is proving my point with this vintage meets DIY meets budget friendly Utah wedding. It’s about as sweet as you can get with an equally stinkin cute couple and the getaway car? Now that is how you make an exit. See more of the day here.
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From the Bride…I decided I wanted the reception in my parent’s backyard which wasn’t quite wedding ready… Since our budget was fairly small, my Dad and then fiance decided they could do the work themselves. Little did they know it would take more than blood, sweat and tears to get that yard in tip top shape. But they did it! It turned out beautiful and they were so proud to be able to show it off to our guests. My uncle built the pergola over the patio and it went up the day before the wedding!
I wanted to be super involved in the theme and decorations of the wedding. After changing my mind several times, I decided on an old English meets shabby chic style. I got caught up in what everyone around me was telling me I should do or what they liked that I kind of lost my own opinion. When I finally decided on the theme it was a breath of fresh air knowing it was exactly what I wanted.
I found most of the decorations on local online classifieds, consignment and antique shops. The yellow antique couch I bought from a lady that posted on the local classified. That was definitely my favorite find! I wanted something unique for the guest book and came up with the idea of the bulletin board a few weeks before the wedding! We bought a lace fabric to cover the board and mailing tags from an office supply. We took the strings off of the tags and tied hemp on them for a more rustic look. I found an awesome, budget friendly wedding planner who understood my vision for the decor and helped me out every step of the way.
We used very few vendors for our wedding. We were lucky enough to have some amazing friends and family that helped out. A family friend catered and the food turned out so great. Chicken skewers, wild rice, an array of fruit and green salad. A perfect summertime meal. We had a huge variety of desserts thanks to our extended families. French desserts from a local pastry shop, sugar cookies, brownie bites, coconut haystacks. The mini cupcakes that my husband’s sisters and mom made were a big hit!
A co-worker of my mom’s made the cake, another co-worker made the invitations, my aunt painted the wooden signs in calligraphy, my now brother-in-law was our videographer, my uncle provided the antique car, my close friend made my veil and my cousin took my bridal shots. If your budget is low, don’t be afraid to ask around! People are more willing to help out than you think. Don’t give up on your dream wedding because it is still possible to do at a lower cost. I spent many days searching blogs for DIY ideas and inspiration. Start early and you will be surprised at what you can do on your own.
Wedding Photography: Elisabeth Kate Photography / Wedding Planner: Wedding Expectations / Florals: Classy Petal Designs / Wedding Videography: Longstone Videos / Wedding Dress: The Brides’ Shop / Bridesmaid Dresses: YESSTYLE / Dance Floor, Linens + Chairs: All Star Rentals / Wedding Cake Decor: Classy Petal Designs / Wedding + Reception Location: Salt Lake City Temple + Private Residence