Simple And Sophisticated Wedding
Simple, yet sophisticated. That was the motto for this beautiful Lancaster County wedding. Rene and Shae tied so much of themselves, their personalities, and their families into their wedding day. So many of the impressive, professional-looking details were DIY projects. From the heart sewn into Shae’s dress to the local honey favors, every detail was created with love, care, and thoughtfulness.
See more of this simple and sophisticated wedding in the full gallery here, captured by Sara Bittner Photography.
how to include fathers
Aside from the scenery, there were a number of touching details. I wore a vivid white sweetheart dress accented with lace. At the very bottom of my dress, within the skirt, a heart was sewn. The fabric was from none other than one of my father’s old work shirts. He owns a mechanic shop which I grew up in as a child. In a way it was like having a little part of those experiences with me on our special day. As for Rene, he chose to ask his father to be his best man. Regardless of this family tradition, he wanted the man who molded him to be by his side on that day.
historic 1920's venue
The venue was perched atop the beautiful rolling hills of Lancaster County, overlooking the wide and meandering Susquehanna River below. The historic 1920’s charm assured us that nothing was going to disrupt this beautiful union of Rene and Shae… not even the raindrops. There was a steady rain for most of the morning, but Rene and Shae had no fear and all faith. A bold belief when your wedding ceremony is being held outside! In the end, they were right to not scramble to move the ceremony to another location because the sun cut through the haze and the clouds just as the ceremony was about to get underway. Misty, golden sunshine ushered Shae and her father down the flagstone stairway to meet the love of her life at the lily pond.
attend bridal shows
We planned our wedding for about 150 guests. By the end of the wedding, we ended up spending a total of $19,615. While this is small in comparison to some of today’s weddings, it required much planning, saving, and adjusting. In the beginning we didn’t have a good understanding of what the wedding would cost us. Attending one of the local bridal shows did help give us a better idea of what our budget might be. We also had a little fun and got some other decorating ideas there. Oddly enough, through the bridal show we ended up winning some money for our catering. That certainly helped with our budget! We had a lot of support from family and friends and in the end it made it worth every penny!
careful with your bustle
I would have changed the bustle on my dress. Originally I loved it because it was just one loop, quick and simple. Unfortunately the minute I started dancing it ripped and I had to hold my dress all night. Also I would have had a smaller bouquet. I didn't know how large it was going to be and I wish I would have said make it small. It was very heavy to hold all day! Advice I would give brides is to not expect perfection. It won't turn out exactly as planned, but it will turn out better than planned. As long as you are walking down the isle to the one you love, that's all you need.
diy cookie bar
While Lancaster Cupcake created the gorgeously simple cake and tiny cupcakes for dessert, my sister, mother, mother-in-law, and I baked an assortment of delicious cookies for the dessert table. Rene and I also created all of the decorations, favors, signs, and invitations for the wedding. The raw honey that was used for the favors was purchased from one of our neighboring farmers. We wanted to incorporate as much of Lancaster County as we could!
Read on to see how much this simple and sophisticated wedding cost. Please note that costs change as the years go by, and prices are subject to change. This is just one couple’s breakdown to give you a rough estimate on how much a wedding like this may cost you.
Venue: $5,000
Photographer: $3,000
Catering: $5,000
Cake and mini cupcakes: $300
Décor: $800
Favors: $300
Dress: $500
Bride’s shoes: $15
Veil: $100
Groom’s Suit: $400
Bridesmaids’ shoes (for reception): $200
Groomsmen’s ties: $100
Wedding party gifts: $1,000
Flowers: $2,000
Supplies for invitations: $300
DJ: $600
- Cake: Lancaster Cupcakes
- Caterer: Festive Boards
- Dj: Penguin Productions
- Flowers: Petals With Style
- Groom & His Men: J. Hilburn
- Photography: Sara Bittner Photography
- Venues: Lauxmont Farms