Did you do any DIY Projects or create any handmade items for your wedding?
Being in a national park, our wedding involved a good number of DIY elements! With the help of our dear friends we arranged our own flowers, including the bouquet and boutonnieres, and decorated a breakfast reception with custom spreads for bagels to add a personal touch.
Kristen personalized a white denim jacket that was highlighted during a climactic sunset photo shoot with lace appliqué. She also embroidered our wedding date in blue thread to serve as the ever-important “something blue.”
What creative or personal aspects did you include in your wedding?
We incorporated many personal touches that reflect our personalities, relationships with each other and our families. We chose to get married in Yosemite National Park, a place incredibly special to us since it’s where our relationship began 11 years ago on a camping trip with mutual friends.
Kristen’s bouquet held charms with wedding photos of her late grandparents to symbolize their presence, and a piece of family jade, serving as both “something old” and “something borrowed.”
Kristen’s cousin, a talented guitarist, played meaningful songs during the ceremony, including one song that reminds us of our first camping trip together in Yosemite.
During our first look, we exchanged gifts—both surprisingly chose to give art, something we love to collect together. Kristen gave Tyler a map depicting the timeline of our relationship (he loves maps) by Loveix, and Tyler gave Kristen a cyanotype of a ranunculus (she loves flowers) by Nat Joy.
We wrote our own vows to share the depth of our relationship and the promises we were making to each other.
What is the most memorable moment of your day?
There were so many memorable moments, but the first one that comes to mind is our sunrise first look. It was such a peaceful, intimate moment to share before the day got busy. Another unforgettable moment was at sunset when we were sitting on the edge of a cliff, holding up our rings for a photo. In the quiet, we suddenly heard a “ting-ting”—Tyler had dropped his ring! Thankfully, it bounced backward onto a reachable ledge, and we were able to laugh it off.
What was the biggest thing you did to save money?
Choosing a national park as our venue saved us the most money. While arguably the most beautiful place, the process to get a permit was very simple and inexpensive. We’re so grateful to our friends and family who made the trek from the Bay Area and beyond to join us.
Friends who had recently gotten married, Facebook marketplace, and an auction site for returned Amazon items were great resources for finding materials to save money and reduce waste.
What was your biggest splurge?
Photography and videography, without a doubt! We both deeply value the artistry of photography and the lasting power of capturing moments. It was especially important for us to invest in that, considering how meaningful the day was and how stunning the backdrop of Yosemite is. We wanted to be able to look back and relive it all, with photos and videos that truly reflected the beauty and emotion of the day.
What was your favorite detail?
Our favorite detail was our picnic breakfast reception. We wanted to celebrate with our family and friends who had traveled so far and gotten up early for our morning ceremony. We tried to elevate the outdoors to resemble a more traditional reception by dressing up rustic tables with beautiful linens, fresh flowers, and even a champagne tower in place of a traditional cake. To represent one of our most beloved family members who was not able to attend, we had a ceramic figurine of our cat Finnegan there — who, of course, would have hated the event since he’s an indoor cat!
What’s the best advice you have for planning your wedding now that you’re on the other side?
Our best advice is to keep plans as simple as possible while prioritizing what is most important to you, speak up for what you want, and try to be present in the moment. It’s easy to get caught up in pleasing others, but this is your day—focus on what’s important to you.
Don’t stress about making everything perfect. The day can be overwhelming, so just be present and enjoy each moment as it comes.
