Monday, October 11, 2010

Real Wedding Inspiration: Homespun Elegance

To kick off the week, my sister Kellie, the blogger and photographer behind Playing Dress-Up, shares a little backyard wedding inspiration!

Prior to this summer, as odd as it sounds, I'd never been to a single wedding. It was always on my to-do list, since wedding receptions tend to incorporate three things I really enjoy admiring/critiquing fashion, free food, and most importantly, free CAKE. Luckily, this summer, I finally got to attend not just one, but two very exciting weddings – my sister's (obviously), and my cousin Sierra's.

But while Heather's wedding was a meticulously-planned and somewhat formal affair, my cousin's was a simple, relaxed event held in a friend's backyard. Now, I don't have much of a frame of reference, seeing as I'm not exactly a wedding regular, but overall, I was really impressed by how well she and her family transformed a plain grassy yard into the perfect ceremony and reception site.



The small details enhancing the decor really caught my eye. The makeshift aisle was especially cute, with rose petals creating a pathway in the grass, and traditional pew bows replaced with handmade jars filled with flowers.


The favors were another adorable addition! Since I enjoy anything that involves free food, when I got an empty jar and instructions to, "Fill me with candy at the candy table!", I was sold. Plus, this is a simple and fun DIY that would work at almost any event.


After dinner was served (another DIY effort, since the family helped make a potluck buffet), the bride and groom shared their first dance amid the glow of sparklers that had been handed out to the crowd just moments before.


All in all, it was a great day, and it proved to me that backyard weddings can be every bit as fun and beautiful as bigger-budget events. The make-or-break factor seems to be all in the details, and this wedding was definitely a success.






Oh, and in case you're wondering, yes. The cake was delicious.

What do you think of this wedding, and what part of the experience is always your favorite when you're a guest?

(Photo Credits: Kellie Warren) 

8 comments:

  1. Beautiful setting and color scheme. I agree that it's all about the details - they are my favorite part of every wedding I attend.

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  2. Lovely and always filled with great details!

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  3. Oh my goodness this wedding seems gorgeous!!!!!

    I love dancing!!! The first dance is always adorable to wacth.

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  4. great wedding with lots of personal elements.

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  5. I love the bright blue table cloths!

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  6. thanks for your comment! love these ideas as well!

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  7. So, so cute! I really liked the jars instead of bags for the candy!

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