“Mom, would you help us plan a really simple DIY, home-grown, ‘blended-family’, outdoor fall wedding?”

Months after the wedding, my daughter and I gathered together the ideas, tips, suggestions, etc. to share – hopefully making it a tad easier for others to plan their own DIY “laid-back”, casual, outdoor special day. Beware: many photos!
We hope you can use an idea or find some little thing useful from this post š
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Inspiration Piece

We found an old box of inexpensive aqua Atlas canning jars in a junk shop.
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Initial Planning
Right away: Choose a venue, set a date and contact the officiate.
Create a Planning/Checklist
Browse Pinterest and online interactive planning websites
Start Gathering: DIY, Borrow, Thrift Shops
Write out Guest List
Purchase Invitations online
Determine wedding attire
Plan Menu
Write a ‘Wedding Photos to be Taken’ List
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The Day Before (AKA: Set Up)
Canopies & Other Supplies: Both my husband and son-in-law were eligible to reserve canopies, tables and chairs from the local Morale, Welfare & Recreation center. It was a considerable savings! We borrowed coffee and drink urns, platters and chafing dishes. An uncle provided ice for the canoe we filled with beer, wine, water and apple-pie moonshine. š

More ideas:
- Canopies can be very expensive. If you live near a military base, are eligible (or know a friend who is) it is possible to save a bundle by renting tables, chairs, canopies, etc. from a local Morale, Welfare & Recreation storehouse.
- Try to borrow chairs and tables from a local group (Scouts, church, benevolent group). Remember to make a donation!
- Place waterproof seating arrangements.

- String plastic lighting around edge of canopy and in trees for evening lighting.
- Repurpose vintage windows. Great-grandmother’s 100-year-old carriage garage house windows were turned into inspirational signage. (See DIY Vintage Windows as Signs here).

- Fill wheelbarrows, galvanized tubs, john boats or canoes with ice and load with drinks.


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The Special Day Arrives

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Bouquet & Boutonniere: Simple. Grocery-store bought rose nosegay and hand-crafted boutonniere from the Etsy shop, The White Bouquet.

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Directional Signs: These were placed strategically to help guests find their way since the wedding was in the ‘boonies’. The groom’s mom created signs from scrap lumber, paint and balloon’s. My daughter and son-in-law’s names are pronounced “BRY-en” phonetically and we teasingly call them “Brianne Pink” and “Brian Blue” – hence the pink and blue balloons.

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Continue reading “DIY Real Wedding” →
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