• Real Weddings

Months ago, on the edge of a wharf in the harbor of Sydney, Australia Austen got down on one knee. In an instant, every childhood dream of Carissa's came true. As Austen continued his studies abroad, Carissa was neck deep in everything lace, twine and jute. Her inspiration for her wedding came from her favorite childhood book: The Secret Garden. Little touches of rustic charm nicely compliment the vintage details found throughout this wedding.
Make sure to take a peek at the full gallery here to see all of the absolutely beautiful images Eden Day Photography captured of this vintage DIY wedding, you won't regret it! Don't take our word for it though, keep reading and see for yourself — starting with the super cute video edited by Pioneer Visual Designs that Carissa and Austen used for their invitations.

We have to say that we love the wedding gown from Katie May. Elegant and modern all in one and oh so beautiful!
From the Bride:I have always known I would not be a typical San Diego barefoot beachfront bride. As far back as I can remember, the inspiration for my own wedding came from the pages of my favorite childhood storybook, A Secret Garden. My vision was an open field, shady trees, twinkly lights, lots of wildflowers, and of course, my handsome groom! I hoped to create an environment that represented our relationship and who we are: youthful, romantic, creative, and so deeply in love.

Our search for a budget-conscious venue in San Diego that would accommodate 240+ guests led us to the most unexpected setting. Lions, Tigers & Bears is an animal rescue organization located in Alpine, California, with over 100 acres of natural unkempt landscaping. The open space of lush greenery became the canvas on which we designed and created our dream wedding.

Eleven months of painting, thrifting, refurbishing vintage furniture, and adding "personal touches" to just about everything quickly became a daunting task. Luckily for us, the immense amount of love and support we received from every family member, friend, and vendor, gave us the extra jolt we needed to complete our vision - and slowly pieces started coming together.

Everything from our video wedding invitation, ceramic table numbers, programs, fabric hoops, and every vintage trinket were a DIY embellishment that went into making our wedding, truly "ours." The moment I stepped into my gown, I knew that the past eleven months of projecting and planning was all worth the effort. Our wedding day went by in a blink of an eye! The entirety of that day, up until the moment my gown was hung back up at the end of the night, was absolute perfection. I just simply wish I could DO IT AGAIN. It really was the best day of my life.

https://vimeo.com/61824570

• Accessories & Lingerie: Mignonne Handmade
• Cake: Flour Power Cakery
• Cinematography: Pioneer Visual Designs
• Event Designer & Prop or Furniture Rentals: ClothesPin Collection
• Groom & Groomsmen ties and bow tie: Nordstrom
• Makeup: Liz Dion Cosmetics
• Officiant: Foothills Christian Church
• Photographer: Eden Day Photography
• Prop or Furniture Rentals: Platinum Party Rents
• Venue: Lions, Tigers & Bears