What creative or personal aspects did you use in your wedding?
My father in law passed away last July, and we included him by bringing some of his ashes and having some personal photos taken with them after our ceremony. It made us both feel like he was still a part of our day.
Did you do any DIY projects or create any handmade items for your wedding?
Knowing we were going to be in the Grand Canyon, comfortable hiking and walking shoes were a must! I bought some cheap slip on shoes from Target – and then using some lace from my mother’s wedding gown, I dyed it to match my husband’s coat. I adhered the lace to my shoes. They turned out perfect! I plan to make more with the extra lace I have in a bunch of colors!
What was the biggest thing you did to save money?
Instead of flying, we saved money by driving to Arizona from Minnesota. The price for our flight from the Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport to any nearby airport would have cost us close to $1,000 per person, so we decided to road trip instead. It was a beautiful drive, and splitting the cost between 3 adults cut that price way down!
What’s the best advice you have for planning your wedding now that you’re on the other side?
Elope, elope, elope! If it’s something you can do, and don’t mind having some people missing, do it! It is so much less stressful, especially with companies like Simply Eloped that do all the ground work for you!
What was your biggest splurge?
My dress. I knew going into the wedding planning I had a specific vision in mind for what I wanted to wear. Being a plus size woman makes it more difficult to find something I loved. I knew my dress was going to be the most expensive thing, but I’m glad I splurged and went over budget on the dress because it was perfect!
What was your favorite detail?
Everything about the Grand Canyon is gorgeous, so I am spoiled for choice. I would say our photographer Brandon was amazing! He made everything feel so light and not stressful during the entire time. He showed up early and stayed late to make sure we got all the pictures we wanted.
Additionally, he was amazing with communication in terms of when we could expect to get our photos. If we had any special requests, he would make it work for us.
What is the most memorable moment of your day?
Having the people we love most with us on our big day. We aren’t big center of attention people.
I have an enormous family! I just knew that if we had the big traditional wedding, I would be too anxious to enjoy our day. Everything was very laid-back, and easy-going. No stress. Just love.