{Real Wedding} Tina & Derek: Homespun Outdoor Lovebird Wedding

Some weddings are so reflective of the couple being married, and this wedding is one of those.  This couple wanted a wedding that would reflect their laid-back style and their love for the outdoors.  The bride weaved the idea of 'lovebirds' in many of the details.  The centerpieces, cake stands, garlands and signs were all DIY.  Birds were found on the vintage hanky invitations, on each table name, and the bookmarks that served as escort cards.  They couple were married at a campground overlooking a lake and incorporating the outdoors as their backdrop.

Instead of clinking glasses, guests hoola hooped to get the couple to kiss!

Photographer: Ryan Birchall submitted via Two Bright Lights

How did you make your wedding YOU?  From Tina:

 I honestly don't even know where to begin!  Every last detail of our wedding was very personalized, from the hankie invitations to the choreographed first dance.  Derek and I wanted to take the sometimes "stuffy" and overly traditional aspects of weddings and make them more casual to reflect our laid-back personalities.  The campground was a perfect opportunity to do this, especially since we both love the great outdoors!  

{Real Wedding} Alexa & Andrew: Pretty Preppy DIY Wedding

The bride was going for an "elegant casual by the seaside" feel for this Massachusetts wedding.  I think she succeeded, with a touch of preppy to boot!  I love the use of patterns and colors in the details and DIY elements.

Is this a gorgeous venue or what?!

Such pretty florals!

Colorful + preppy + a hint of nautical = perfection!

The drink flags and pinwheel escort cards were both DIY projects.

I love photos of the hora!

Photographer:  Heather Parker Photography submitted via Two Bright Lights

Event Planner:  Dot Your i's Events

Floral Designer:  Bella Floral Design

Reception Venue:  Castle Hill at Crane Estate

Invitation Designer:  Blush Design Studio

How did you make your wedding YOU?  From the bride, Alexa:

I had dreamed about getting married at Castle Hill from when I was a little girl.  I wanted all of our décor to meld with Castle Hill for an “elegant casual seaside” look.  I used coordinated paper products from Anna Griffin & the matching fabrics, also by Anna Griffin. We made escort card pinwheels by hand & they were a huge hit at the wedding. Also we had mini paper pinwheels on the cake. Our other projects included-paper pomanders to decorate the aisles, pennant banner to decorate the bar & the lawn, drink stirrers, table numbers, menus, programs (which I hand printed with a gocco).  We baked over 1000 cookies for a cookie buffet.  Our mothers did a lot of sewing, making all of the table overlays, & the chuppah top.  We used bright pinks & greens coupled with navy blue to achieve a summery look. Our décor had a subtle nautical theme, with shells & coral prints on our paper and fabrics. We met while we were at Vanderbilt, so we included a few southern touches - a signature cocktail of sweet tea vodka & lemonade. 

I love when couples personalize their wedding to make it a reflection of who they are.  Inspired by this wedding and want to do something similar?  You can find the Anna Griffin paper and fabric here.  You can find DIY pinwheel projects here.  And you can find a DIY drink stirs project here.  Just remember to make it YOU.

Inspiration 220: DIY Mint & Antique Coral Wedding

Lovely, lovely, lovely!  I love the combination of soft mint, vintage coral and aqua... and it really works well for a spring wedding.  This board has a lot of sweet DIY elements that are just to die for.

sources:  One Wed, La Partie Events, Snippet & Ink, Style Me Pretty, Seesaw Designs, Green Wedding Shoes

{DIY} Easy Easter Egg Escort Cards

Having an Easter weekend wedding or party?  This egg escort card/place card idea would be perfect for you!

Supplies needed:
-eggs (hard boiled)
-chalkboard paint
-small paint brush
-chalk

Paint your eggs with chalkboard paint, let dry, write names and table assignments (for escort cards, or just name for place cards) and voila!  You're done.  Simple, easy, and super cute.

{source}

These would also be really cute for a farm wedding!

Chalkboard eggs are also just a fun way to decorate your eggs for easter, and let your kids (or the kid in you) draw and decorate on them.  How cute are these!? 

{Source:  Homemade Simple}

{Real Wedding} Melissa & Ross: Rustic DIY Texas Wedding

This outdoor Texas wedding was a DIY labor of love by the whole family.  The bride's mother made all of the bouquets out of silks; moss, burlap squares, lanterns, candles, and river rocks were used to make the centerpieces; the bride and groom's mothers made the eight foot long 'celebrate' sign; and the groom's sister and boyfriend painted the signs used to guide the guests.  

Don't you love these shoes?

Yes, these are homemade silk flowers.  They look so real!

Texas wedding = bridesmaids in cowboy boots!

Love this shot!

Vendors:

Photographer:  AlexM Photography submitted through Two Bright Lights

Event Designer:  Keely Thorne Events

Reception Venue:  Private Residence

I love a wedding that is also a good party, and this looks like a great one!  

How did you make your wedding "YOU"?

From Melissa:

I made it 'me' by just having it at my parent's ranch...which is my favorite place in the world and I've always known that I wanted to get married there. I love being able to see the stars so having an outdoor reception was perfect so that we could enjoy them that night (I live in Houston so I never see stars). I always envisioned it to be very simple yet different, and I think all of our small details really portrayed that.