What was your total budget? Please provide a budget breakdown.
- The venue rental was around $850
- The food and alcohol were about $4,500
- The DJ was $975
- Our attire was about $1,000
- The flowers were about $750
- The photographer was $1,200
- The supplies and decorations were about $400.
Total: Around $10,000
How many guests did you have?
We had around 100 guests attend our wedding.
How did you meet?
My husband David and I met at prom when I was a sophomore in high school (2012) and I knew almost immediately that he was who I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. We were close friends for a few months before we started dating and I think it helped us bond in ways we wouldn’t have otherwise. I feel very lucky to have found someone who makes me feel so safe and loved, and I can’t imagine a better husband and father.
What is your proposal story?
I never wanted a public proposal or anything too extravagant, I wanted something intimate where I felt free to react naturally to the wonderful moment. I woke up and came downstairs to hundreds of white candles arranged around our living room and our song was playing in the background. My husband was waiting for me on one knee. He, of course, said all the romantic wonderful things you can think of and I happily said yes. However, because I am a heavy (and late) sleeper and there were literally 300 hundred candles in our living room, it was over 90 degrees in our house by the time I came downstairs, so we had a good laugh about that.
Tell us about your wedding vision.
The theme for our wedding was a rose garden with modern touches of gold and copper. I was immediately attracted to the romantic and whimsical style of this theme and I was able to collect flowers, mossy baskets, vintage bottles, etc for the decor. Our colors included lavender, light pink, light blue, and pale green. The country club was the perfect venue for our wedding because the beautiful greens and old trees made it feel like our theme extended throughout the ceremony and reception space.
Tell us about your attire choices.
Our budget was fairly small for this wedding, so I was overjoyed to find a gorgeous Vera Wang gown at David’s Bridal for less than $900. My dress was made of delicate draped layers of ivory tulle and organza which made it feel very light and comfortable, but I felt like a floating rose! My heels were comfortable grey satin Toms wedges, and I added little white silk flowers to one of the straps. My husband was able to get his Vera Wang tux for free from Men’s Wearhouse because his groomsmen all rented tuxes. He looked absolutely stunning. He chose all black with a white shirt and black bowtie. He wore black brushed leather Kenneth Cole dress shoes.
What was most important to you two while planning? Was there anything you chose to splurge on or skip?
For us, the most important things were the photographer, flowers, and music. We made sure to budget for a fantastic photographer and DJ and were able to get a great deal on many of our vendors from meeting them at our local bridal show. We had a slightly smaller budget for flowers but I was really happy with how they turned out. We chose not to hire a videographer because that just wasn’t really something we were interested in.
What were your favorite parts of the day?
For me, the most memorable part of our wedding day was the incredible speeches by my friends and family. I was so touched by the incredibly thoughtful sentiments from the people I loved the most. It was very special to share this day with so many friends and family members that we hadn’t seen in years.
Tell us about your wedding flowers.
I wanted our wedding flowers to included lots of large blooms in muted colors. Light pinks and purples accented the cream roses and dusty greenery. I requested dahlias, garden roses, freesia, dusty miller, and eucalyptus.
Tell us about your wedding cake.
My sister is a fantastic baker and I was so excited when she offered to make our wedding cake for us! I knew I wanted a naked cake, and since it was my sister I had no problem telling her exactly what I wanted.
What did you do for favors?
I found cute white paper fans on Amazon that were in large hanging moss baskets near the end of the aisle for guests to use during the ceremony and take home with them.
Please describe any handmade, DIY, or personal items.
Well, I would consider this a DIY wedding. I was my own planner, which is way harder than I expected, and I made all of the invitations and stationery. I collected vintage bottles for the centerpieces and bought faux flowers from Joann and Michaels during their end of season clearance. I found cure craft paper plate chargers on Amazon, and I collected all of the cakes plates from thrift and antique stores. I made all of the banners and decorations, including the birdcage I used for cards, the flower girl basket, the centerpieces, the guest book table, the faux floral decorations, etc.
Did you include any family heirlooms or special traditions?
I wore my grandma Jane’s earrings that she wore on her wedding day and my mom wore on her wedding day as well. We also had a “memory table” where I put photos of our grandparents and relatives that couldn’t be there.
Do you have any advice for couples planning their wedding now?
I would say that a wedding planner would be a great option for couples that can afford it. It was absolutely overwhelming to try and put together a DIY wedding and plan everything myself. I was very stressed up until hours before my ceremony. Pick one or the other!
VENDORS
Photography: Bloom Portraiture • Reception Venue: Butte Creek Country Club • Floral: Chico Florist • DJ: The Wedding DJ Company • Stationery: DIY by the Bride • Wedding Cake: DIY by the Bride’s sister • Ceremony Venue: Butte Creek Country Club • Decor Items: DIY by the Bride • Hair: DIY by the Bride • Makeup: DIY by the Bride • Guest Book Alternative: DIY by the Bride • Alterations: AA Alterations • Wedding Website: The Knot Weddings • Perfume: Jo Malone • Table Numbers: DIY by the Bride • Paper Fans: Amazon • Catering: Butte Creek Country Club • Engagement Ring: Luminar • Bridal Salon: David’s Bridal • Wedding Planning: DIY by the Bride • Handmade Items: DIY by the Bride • Wedding Dress: Vera Wang • Groom’s Attire: Vera Wang • Bride’s Shoes: TOMS • Bridesmaid Dresses: David’s Bridal • Veil: Vera Wang • Submitted via: Matchology
