Did you do any DIY Projects or create any handmade items for your wedding?
Almost all of the decorations were DIY! I used my Cricut machine to make all of the signs and personalize our vow books. My family helped me make the chuppah and aisle markers. I also made our program fans, our”guest book” sign using wood, nails, and string, and designed all of the paper myself using Canva.
What creative or personal aspects did you include in your wedding?
We wanted to make our wedding feel unique and personal to us as a couple. We chose menu items that reflected places we have lived or traveled to together.
One of my good friends who knew Chris and me when we met in college was our officiant and we wrote the ceremony script ourselves and chose 7 Blessings (Jewish ceremony tradition) that were more applicable to us than the traditional scripts.
Chris is in the film industry and we both love watching movies together, so the table “numbers” were some of the movies we love. Our color palette for the wedding (light blue) was chosen to reflect our shared love of the ocean and my aquamarine engagement ring.
What is the most memoriable moment of your day?
We chose not to do a first look, so walking down the aisle and seeing each other was such an emotional moment we will never forget. We also built in 20 minutes to just be together between pictures and the reception, which was a really special time for us as newlyweds.
What was the biggest thing you did to save money?
DIYing the decor saved a big chunk of money! We also chose to have a small cake just for us and instead provided cookies and s’mores for dessert rather than a traditional tiered cake or dessert bar. We are lucky enough to have some amazing friends who provided services for free (officiant) or largely reduced prices (photographer).
What was your biggest splurge?
Our venue was the biggest splurge. Our main priority of the wedding was to have a space where family and friends could spend quality time together because they are all spread across the country. Our venue allowed us to rent the entire mansion for the whole weekend, which created time and space for our loved ones to all be together for three days! So while it was more than we originally planned on spending, it was well worth it for the memories created with our favorite people.
What was your favorite details?
I loved the personalization we put into the details, such as the movie title table numbers, using family heirlooms in the ceremony, the unique menu, and all of the DIY touches. It was so fun seeing the things I created myself! We also had a port & chocolate pairing and s’mores, which were special touches.
What’s the best advice you have for planning your wedding now that you’re on the other side?
Think about your wedding vision or mission and what is the most important aspects for you as a couple. And plan ahead! If you are doing DIY, do as much as you can as early as possible. That saved me in the weeks leading up to the wedding! Think about where you can save money, but don’t stress too much about the money you spent on things that are valuable to you. While it all adds up quickly, every penny spent will be worth it for the beautiful day.
Share any additional details you’d like us to know about your event:
I loved following Budget Savvy Bride throughout the whole planning process! I used the book for great money-saving tips and enjoyed looking every week online for inspiration from real weddings. The wedding was even better than I ever dreamed of. Thank you!!
