• Real Weddings

Heather and Drew met back in 2016 and immediately bonded over their love of the outdoors. Because of this, the couple dreamed of having an outdoor wedding tucked away in the mountains–a sanctuary and perfect setting to celebrate their love, and that's just what they had! The biggest advice they learned? Hire a planner, no matter the budget! In the long run, you end up saving money from all the tips the planner has learned through experience, and you'll be able to enjoy the wedding process rather than feeling utterly lost and stressed.

Keep scrolling to read more of the couple's advice from their experience around their big day and to see so many more photos by Ariele Chapman Photography of this day at Rancho Las Lomas. The photos feature planning and design by Stephy's Bride Guide, flowers by Fox & Flora, and hair and makeup by Courtney Alvino. Make sure to click here to check out all the photos in the full gallery, also linked at the bottom of this post!

Creating a mood board along the way helped the bride maintain a cohesive color palette

For their wedding, the couple wanted earthy greens and neutrals paired with a rich terracotta. Their advice after creating this color palette? Create mood boards! Save your inspo along the way, and it will make decisions just that much easier for you in the long run. Matching the colors to their venue created a much more cohesive look and feel. The bridal party had mix and match dresses from BHLDN, while the groom opted for a forest green tux inspired by the piney woods.

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Easy DIY Seating Chart

Easily lead guests to their table by recreating this seating chart.
1. Purchase a vintage mirror or find a cute one from Home Goods.
2. Print out table numbers and guests name on a 5 X 7 paper using Canva or word.
3. Have custom wax seals made on Etsy or purchase some at your favorite craft store
4. Place the paper and the seal on the mirror, and you've got a seating chart.
5. You can hang the mirror in your house later.

The couple made sure to budget for what was most important to them at the start

The couple also really wanted to include elements that were uniquely them (i.e. personalized bar napkins, a custom neon sign, etc.). However, they also wanted these elements to tie into the venue, which is why they used details including tile table numbers. These details can add up, though! Heather and Drew shared that to help keep the cost of these custom details from getting way out of hand, future brides and grooms should try to decide where they want to put the majority of their budget. For Heather and Drew, it was florals and lighting. This meant, however, that they nixed table linen upgrades and party favors. Ultimately, they found that guests don't pay as much attention to the smallest of details as the couple does. Their takeaway from that? As long as you set up a night that reflects who you are as a couple, it's a guaranteed success!

• Wedding Photographers: Ariele Chapman Photography
• Event Planning & Design: Stephy's Bride Guide
• Flowers: Fox & Flora
• Venues: Rancho Las Lomas
• Wedding Films: White Elm Films
• Make Up: Courtney Alvino
• Hair: Sydney Felix