{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: Jennifer and Julie's Lovely Green Wedding

Jennifer and Julie are just so adorable!  I love so many of the fantastic images from this wedding and they incorporated tons of pretty details.  I especially love their bouquets.

Real Wedding: Margaret & Taylor's Fairytale Wedding

Check out this beautiful wedding, it reminds me of a real life fairytale... complete with horse and carriage!  The blush and gray color palette is one of my favorites right now.  I love the soft romantic portraits KJImages captured.

{KJImages via Two Bright Lights}

{reception: Southwest School of Arts}

{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.