• Real Weddings

From the handmade details to the sky high pine trees, Steve and Sarah's romantic woodland wedding had all the perfect ingredients. Held in a private estate in Big Bear, their day was filled to the brim with woodsy magic.
Intrigued? Read on to hear more from Sarah about their special day, get a full list of all the DIY projects that she and Steve designed, and be sure to read their full budget breakdown. If you can't get enough of this crafty couples wedding, don't forget to check out the full gallery here to see all the romance and laughter captured by Joe+Kathrina.

From the Bride:Big Bear was our inspiration for our wedding because it was there that Steve told me that he loved me for the very first time. So the wooded forest location really became our overall theme. Since Steve and I both are DIY people and love to do handmade projects all the time in our day to day lives we thought it would be great to create our intimate wedding in the woods by hand. From the kids log wood coloring books to the huge log wood bar, we worked on hand making really everything in the wedding for the year and a half of our engagement.

Even though the projects were exhausting at times in the end we were very happy that every detail of our wedding was made by us and there was a memory behind making each thing.

Walking down the aisle with my Father was the most special moment for me. As I walked down the aisle and I saw Steve waiting for me my father was holding my arm and I just broke down in tears. My heart was so full at that moment. I realized that this was really happening, I was about to marry my very best friend, the man of my dreams.

My father held me tight as my eyes filled with tears. My Dad told me "it's okay. It's okay Sarah." As he walked me down the aisle it reminded me of every single step I took in my life and how he always supported me. I am so blessed to have the most supportive family and father a girl could ask for. I will never forget this moment.

From Joe+Kathrina:They had every detail planned and everyone made sure the day was perfect for them. And it pretty much was. With the sun peeking through the trees during the ceremony Steve and Sarah looked out towards their guests, watching their moms and family add soil to pots, before putting on their own gloves and bending down, each giving a hand to add soil and water to the tree they planted together.

It was the most personal way they could share the symbol of their wedding, marriage and love with everyone as well as the new chapter they were beginning together making it a beautiful and unique addition to their ceremony.

Steve and Sarah really took DIY by the reins and went with it! They were chopping wood for months creating all the little details. They collected pine cones throughout the year and scoured different places for all their dinner plates.
Here were a few DIY projects they tackled: carved wood ring box, wood log guest book, wood log cupcake stands, wood log coloring books and crayons, "Here Comes the Bride" heart sign, carved marriage advice box and wood hearts, and wine bottle centerpieces.

Family and friends were able to lounge about, play croquet and corn hole or walk through a little cluster of trees that told the story of Steve and Sarah (they hung frames on the trees with photos of them from the past, the beginning of the friend and into their relationship - it was a great way to share photos without a slideshow.)From the Bride:If I were to change anything it would have been to make sure to buy more attractive and comfy flats to dance my first dance in. I did not think this was very important because I thought no one would see them but since we had several jumps and lifts in our dance my pink casual flats showed in most of our photos.

You simply must watch the entire video from Daniel Chae. A breathtaking and memorable woodland wedding film that we could watch over and over.

https://vimeo.com/71947445

As for our budget, we did it all for under $24, 000 — venue, dress decorations, band, rentals, supplies for crafts, invites, food...everything.

• Band: Casual Encounters
• Caterer: Sweet Basil Bistro
• Dress Designer: Enzoani
• Flowers: Glasswing Floral
• Photographers: Joe+Kathrina
• Wedding Films: Daniel Chae