A Sweet DIY Wedding That Will Blow You Away

Wedding invitation nestled in flowers, Washington trip details

Elegant white skirt hanging amidst lush greenery and blooms Elegant engagement ring in vintage box with blue flowers Bridesmaid helping fasten the elegant buttons of a wedding dress Bride fastens light blue wedding sandal on her foot

Bride in flowing blue dress walking through a lush green garden

Elegant bride in a blue dress with a bouquet in a forest Two joyful brides jump in the air celebrating in the forest setting A group of bridesmaids and groomsman pose for a forest wedding photo Flower girl admiring the bridesmaids with bouquets

The Inspiration

Brittany and Will, upon meeting these two I knew our time together was kismet. All of us were from different parts of the country, Washington State, Georgia, and New Jersey. We all happened to be in Chicago at the same time in order to meet up and talk about photography and working together for their wedding.
They wanted everything about their wedding to have meaning. The location was decided based on Will's home state. It’s where his parents are located, and they wanted them involved in all the makings. Will's dad made the favors, his mom grew the flowers that decorated the tables, his aunts and uncle catered the event, and Brittany's mom made the flower crowns. Nothing was generic about this wedding and everything was sweet and fitting to them as a couple.

The Dress

Brittany wore a pale blue, tulle dress, that floated on the wind. It matched the blue of the water. Her bouquet was bigger than her. It was beautiful and wild, which was perfectly suitable for her personality. Side note ( Brittany traveled to India alone on a whim after college) Why not! A girl after my own heart.

Man stands on a dock, looking out at the calm sea under a cloudy sky Newlyweds celebrate with joy on a dock near the blue ocean and sky Newlyweds embrace joyfully on a pier near the ocean

Happy newlywed couple poses at a beautiful waterfront wedding

Green bus transformed into a food truck with brewery and sticker advertisements

Bride and wedding party celebrating on a bus with beer in hand

The Loving Couple

The energy between them as a couple is something you wish for in all of your couples. They love each other immensely and support each other in every decision they make. They embrace who they are as people and don’t try to alter that, it's pretty magical.
Will surprised Brittany with hiking boots and an impressive bagpipe performance. Brittany danced around Will, fluttering through the trees in the sunlight like a dream. They treated us like family, and never lost sight of the fun in getting married.

Green leafy archway with blue and white flowers, outdoor wedding decor

Wedding party walking on grass, green forest backdrop, joyful moment

Outdoor wedding venue with rows of white chairs on green grass Groom in teal suit smiles, standing with a groomsman at outdoor wedding Bride and mother walking through a forest pathway on wedding day Paper cones made from book pages, filled with confetti, for celebration

A joyful couple exchanging rings during a beautiful outdoor wedding ceremony Smiling bride and groom exchanging vows at outdoor forest wedding Emotional groom wipes away tear during outdoor wedding ceremony

Newly wedded couple sharing a kiss under a flower arch at their wedding

Happy couple leaving ceremony with joy and flowers in hand

Romantic embrace between a bride and groom with a flower crown Newlyweds walking hand in hand through tall green grass Newlyweds dancing joyfully on a wooded pathway in a forest Romantic couple embracing on their wedding day, close and happy

Beautiful bride smiles in a field of tall grass, holding a floral bouquet

The Reception

They ended their night with a golden cake, and baked goods to die for, followed by a confetti exit and smoking cigars. The lighting was incredible. The venue was perfectly green and rich with life. We got some killer photos for these guys to love for a lifetime. I even had the opportunity to photograph these two on their honeymoon in the South of France!

Cards with illustrations connected by thread on wooden background

Adorable little girl exploring a wooden board at a wedding

Wedding table setting featuring boots with flowers and greenery Freshly baked bread with rosemary on a table setting Freshly baked baguette with rosemary and a decorative bow Watercolor camera sign at a wedding reception with floral details

Wedding guestbook table with green foliage wall backdrop decor

Photo guestbook sign with instant camera film at a wedding Polaroid photos hanging on a green leafy wall wedding decor

Person holding wedding favors of wood slice coasters Couple with matching dinosaur tattoos on wrists, holding hands

Bridesmaids crafting floral arrangements for a wedding celebration outdoors Wooden flower crown and tattoo bar set up in an outdoor garden

Man playing bagpipes outdoors at a celebration event Bagpiper in formal attire performing at outdoor event

Three women laughing at an outdoor event, enjoying a celebration Bride and groom share a loving embrace at outdoor wedding reception

A creative donut wall with Donut mind if I do for a wedding Three tiered dessert tray with brownies, grapes, and pineapple

Elegant two-tiered wedding cake with gold accents and fresh greenery

Couple embracing with sunlight shining in a forest setting Couple embracing in a tender moment, love and intimacy Couple embraces in a sun-dappled forest during their wedding day

Wedding Budget

Photography: $5600
Personal Flowers: $275
Reception Flowers: $1400 in garlands, DIY the rest of the flowers
Cutting Cake (34 servings): $231
Lawn Games, random tables, vintage suitcases, Easel, and String Light Rentals: $413
Linens: $1000
Bus: $515
Staffing: $1359
Catering: DIY
Day-of Coordination: $2150
DJ: $1800
Beauty: $1880
Ceremony Backdrop: Not sure
Officiant: $0 (friend)
Venue: Not sure
Donut Wall: Not sure