What creative or personal aspects did you include in your wedding?
We had dozens of DIY projects that added personal touches to our special day; but above all that, we are especially proud that every single vendor working our wedding was someone we personally know. It was important to us that the people in charge of making sure everything runs smoothly knew us personally so they would want it to be as perfect as it could be for us.
If you can, hire local and support small businesses. Having people who care about you is important and you can rest assured they will care about your big day as well.
Did you do any DIY projects or create any handmade items for your weddings?
YES! 90% of our wedding was DIY projects. We handcrafted our own bar, dance floor, trash bins, altar, signage, and DJ booth. Every aspect was carefully planned and handcrafted. Our décor pieces were all DIY’d by either the bride& groom or our parents who helped us create our dream vision.
What was the biggest thing you did to save money?
Negotiate + price match rental company.
Craigslist + selling sites for used wedding décor.
We purchased all 20 108” round linen for $60 from a rental company when they were getting rid of inventory items and 150 linen napkins for $40 from a Craigslist seller.
What’s the best advice you have for planning your wedding now that you’re on the other side?
It’s never too early to plan ahead. Keep lists of everything, even the small things that can easily be forgotten as the day nears. Keep it simple as well. The more components you have, the more complicated it can become to manage it. Be sure to hire a day-of coordinator to handle it for you. All in all, wedding planning should be fun and exciting; it does not need to be stressful. Enjoy every moment because it goes by so fast!
What was your biggest splurge?
Rentals. We wanted to have our wedding at a private residence in order to be on our timeline and have the freedom to do what we want; but with that, we needed to rent a restroom trailer, 40”x60” tent, and tables/chairs.
I can see why couples prefer to pay more for the luxury of it all be included in the venue, but I thoroughly enjoyed the process of consulting with rental companies and researching our options.
What was your favorite detail?
Our dance floor. My husband, father-in-law and close friends helped craft a complete DIY black and white checkered dance floor, with custom landscaping and solar lights trimmed around it. It was such a huge project, but it was absolutely stunning. I also loved our custom Mr. and Mrs. marquee sign my husband made for our wedding.
What is the most memorable moment of your day?
Oh my, it’s hard to pick just one moment. One thing I’m super grateful for was having the chance to be so present in the moment and able to remember so much from our wedding. The excitement building as guests took their seats prior to the ceremony was definitely memorable; but also we had an incredible moment where all of our guests gathered around my husband and me for an incredible photo and drone shot, which we didn’t plan at all. I love how our videographers suggested it.
