This beautiful day, captured by Thomas Shull’s photography, was a rustic meets retro affair.
Sarah looked stunning in her strapless Etsy dress, and her handsome groom was dressed in Navy Dress Blues, ready to sweep Sarah off her feet.
Dresses
I wore a dress I bought on Etsy. It’s absolutely gorgeous. The lady who made this is incredibly talented and kind.
To help my bridesmaids find something that suited their style, I gave them just a few colors and let them go!
I wanted my sister’s dresses to be a little more distinctive than Maids Of Honor. We found them and converted them into the strapless gowns that they are today.
The Flowers
All of the centerpieces, bouquets, and flower crowns were made with sunflowers, daisies, and babies’ breath.
Theme
I selected a variety of shades of greys, a dark navy color, and a creamy color.
Since the wedding took place in a garden, I wanted to make it happy and earthy.
The gardens looked rustic and beautiful, with so many textures and colors. We made some very nice decorations. The ornaments and decorations around the gardens enhanced the vintage feeling.
Decor & Details
I think this wedding could be considered a DIY wedding.
We draped layers over the chairs at the reception and ceremony of the cheesecloth we dyed with coffee. My mother, Naoko, a friend of my mother’s, and my grandmother sewed hundreds of little flowers from cheesecloth that we hung everywhere.
The guest received a small glass lightbulb filled with M&Ms as a favor.
The Ceremony
Instead of using sand, candles, or other symbols to symbolize unity, we tied a knot. My pastor spoke about how the two ropes had now become one.
I love it!
The wedding party left to the music “To Build A Home” by The Cinematic Orchestra. I entered at the end.
The song “Come to Me” by the Goo Goo Dolls was played as the guests left the ceremony.
We walked into the reception to a Cinema Cover by Jason Evigan. Kip Moore’s “Hey Pretty Girl,” our first dance tune, was a perfect choice.
The Photographer
We selected TJ because I believe my husband knew his name from school.
Stanton lived on the other side, so it wasn’t easy to plan. But I liked TJ’s style. It worked out perfectly!
Zach was the videographer we chose at the last minute because my sister had worked with him.
The Refreshments
We had a buffet-style dinner! Italian food always goes fast! It was delicious! I’ve always liked Babbos, and this time, it did not disappoint.
To save money, I decided to make my cake using my baking skills. (I attended a culinary college).
I chose three naked cakes because I liked the look of them. They don’t even have frosting on the outside!
I don’t think we took any leftover cake home.
Advice to other couples
The Knot website helped me plan and stay organized. They think of every little detail! It’s wild! For inspiration, I visited a lot of websites: Pinterest, StumbleUpon, and Tumblr are probably the ones that I used most.
You may have noticed that I am a little fascinated by Etsy at the moment. I love the fact that you can find almost anything on the site; it’s all handmade, and the creators are happy for you.
I made everything for my wedding myself, including the decorations and wedding cakes. So, in that respect, we saved a little money.
Don’t worry about the big day. It’s almost like a fantasy when I think back on that day. I was thrilled to marry my best friend in front of so many friends and family members who cared for us.
I didn’t waste time worrying if I had placed the centerpiece in exactly the right place or anything like that. I wanted to enjoy the moment and take it all in. Maybe I am weird, I don’t really know!
It took me a while to feel that I was actually walking down the aisle.
Funny fact: I cried more during my best friend’s wedding than I did on my own.
No matter what happens in the world, love will make it beautiful.
Favorite Moment
I still love my wedding as a whole! The decorations and gardens were stunning. It was great to see it all come together.
The garden was just right, and the decorations took it to a new level. My mom and I were almost having a reunion. It was amazing to be surrounded with so much love on that day. She has six siblings and a younger brother.
