DIY Wedding In Paradise From Widdis Photography
Yesterday we brought you one of Kathy and Brian Widdis’ summer weddings that took place at Caberfae Peaks Ski Resort. Thought that was kind of cool (to have a summer wedding at a ski resort) and the wedding was just so pretty! Today, we have another wedding from Widdis Photography that was this fall. Brandi and Neil had always talked about having a destination wedding, but when it got down to planning, they decided that having their family and friends surrounding them on their wedding day was way more important than an exotic location. So, they created their own little paradise in Michigan where they could celebrate with their loved ones!
from the beautiful bride …
Neil and I have been together for seven years and during our time together, we always pictured our wedding on a beach on some remote tropical island. But after Neil proposed, we started working out the logistics of what it meant to plan a destination wedding during a recession. We realized that most (if not all) of our family would be unable to attend…which was completely unacceptable for both of us. So rather than fight the reality of our situation, we decided to simply roll with it.
Neil’s dad lives in a subdivision that maintains a private beach on Wing Lake (Bloomfield, MI) and after getting approval from their home owner’s association to host a large-scale event, plans got underway. Our goal was to create a comfortable, casual atmosphere, similar to what you would experience at a tropical wedding — great food, good music, festive drinks…all outside on the beach!
Once Neil and I chose the date in September, we were off! At once, my graphic-designing brain kicked into high gear. I scoured wedding blog after wedding blog, getting validation that a bride really could take care of most of the details herself, “borrowing” a few ideas along the way (like thank you notes at each place setting). I chose colors that would fit with the fall date but could easily reflect the beach atmosphere we were trying to create — chocolate brown and wasabi green. The bright fresh green was the perfect color because it allowed me to pick flowers like dendrobium orchids and funky, modern spider mums. And chocolate brown grounded the event in elegance…giving me a palette of perfect neutrals to create details like the burlap table runners, the sand, the palm fronds. We wanted every single detail to feel deliberate, hand-chosen, and reflect us…casually and elegantly. We even went so far as to name all sixteen tables with names of locations we had at one point discussed as possibilities for our destination wedding, and then created a seating chart welcoming our guests to “Our own private paradise.”
Ultimately, because we were willing to compromise our “fantasy” to make sure our family was present at our special day, they all stepped up to help; the execution of all the details really became a family affair. My mother baked for months to give us a dessert table she was proud of. She also added the green accents to the girls’ brown dresses and even created the flower girls’ pomanders out of tulle and pearls. Neil’s mother created the flower garlands that hung on the bamboo arbor we built over the foot bridge to the island where we held the ceremony. Neil’s sister painted all of the signs directing our guests to the games, ceremony, etc and really made them more than just utilitarian. Neil’s step-mother created the arrangements that flanked us during the ceremony. My girlfriends came over a few days before, and we arranged all of the flowers and built the capiz shell napkin ring/place cards. And my exceptionally talented sister sang the song for our first dance: Make you feel my love by Bob Dylan. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house! I couldn’t have done it all without all of their help, and our day certainly wouldn’t have been as memorable.
And for those of you who may be interested in Brandi and Neil’s tropical inspired menu …
Our caterer jumped on board with the theme, making suggestions for tropically-inspired stations that would allow our guests to casually meander through the buffet:
Lakeside Luau ~Petite Pulled Pork Sandwich (petite onion rolls and barbecue braised pork garnished topped with coleslaw; Gorgeous Grilled Vegetable Display (served with roasted garlic-lemongrass aïoli); Polynesian Chicken Skewers (seared in pineapple glaze); Sesame Noodle Salad (shredded red cabbage, julienne bell peppers, scallions, crisp peas, and fresh cilantro tossed with teriyaki sesame dressing)
Big Island BBQ ~ Mango Grilled; Salmon Maui Onion Salad (carrots, cucumber and radish sprouts with lime-sherry vinaigrette); Ginger-Soy Grilled Flank Steak (served with jasmine rice and stir-fried vegetables); Asian Green Salad (mixed greens, mandarin oranges, crispy chow mein noodles and teriyaki vinaigrette)
A few parting words from Brandi …
I can’t imagine changing a single detail of our special day. It was so comfortable, and I truly believe our guests had an amazing time. And as you can see in Kathy’s fantastic photos, Neil and I certainly did.
Our thanks to Kathy at Widdis Photography and congrats to Brandi and Neil!!
* * *
Other Credits: — Wholesale Tropical Flowers and Blooms By The Box.com , and Holiday Catering.
38 Comments about “DIY Wedding In Paradise From Widdis Photography”
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I can't help but ask, is that a hole in the bottom tier of the wedding cake?? What for?
Marjorie...that's our card box, not a REAL cake. ;) We opted out of a cake since my mom baked all of the desserts.
OhhhI love the cake card slot lol... Love this site also you guys rock !
clever. I like it!
This is so pretty!! May I ask how you got the paper like that for the "Welcome to our private paradise" seating chart?
Yesterday's posting was in Caberfae - a ski hill where I grew up skiing, today's is near my hometown of Clarkston, Mi. So cool to see some beautiful weddings near my home.
Taylor, it's actually a photograph of parchment on a beach --- like a message in a bottle --- that I added our table assignments to and had printed poster-size to display at the entrance of the tent.
Thanks for posting multiple weddings from Michigan (2 in 2 days@!?). We're a wonderful state with extraordinary natural beauty. But I think we're often forgotten.
This is great! I loved that photo of the flowergirls looking at each other. And the other one with the bride sporting those polka-dot mint green shoes. Such lovely candid shots.
Hi, where did you get that beautiful purse from?
What a very lovely wedding! I love her green polka dot shoes! And the colors! I love the combination and the spot where the wedding was held. The cake of course is very cute!
I love the flower girls dresses, the candles and the table runners, plus the delightful sweets!!! I love all the details in this wedding.
Shagun, I got the purse from Target last spring...if you go online, they always have the cutest selection of cream and ivory clutches, and most of them are for less than $20! ;)
Love that target clutch - what a great idea, looks expensive! How did you DIY that card box - did you use white hat boxes?
Love Love Love it!! Any chance we can get the diy "how to" on the gorgeous, delicate garlands from the first photo on the top left, they are just too darling!!
Yes, Please send info or a "how to" on the lovely garland!!! How are the flowers attached?
oh! these are the exact colors i'm having for my wedding! love those flower garlands -- i second the previous comment requesting a "how to" for those lovelies.
Thank you so much for all of the wonderful comments...It's so exciting to be posted on SMP since it's where I got most of my inspiration!!!!!
As far as the How To's go...Eddye has already contaced me, so I will work on getting something together very very soon!
Beautiful!!! And all those kiddos are so cute!
Beautiful wedding!
I would love to know more about the "games" you had (there is a sign in one of the pictures above that says "Games").
We are having an outdoor wedding, and want to do some sort of garden party/relaxing time on one of the vineyard lawns and have games such as bocce and horse-shoes!
Thanks so much and Congratulations! Wishing you both the best of married life!
Gorgeous! I love the laid back elegant look and the spider mums were a perfect pick (I've always loved them)! You're dress is breathtaking...the fabric and rushing...just absolutely beautiful! may I ask who the designer is? I adore it!
Thanks and a huge congratulations! :)
I love the country/rustic feel of this event! The details where amazing. How classic and fun at the same time.
Beautiful, I love it !
Jill:
We had bocce and a bean-bag tossing game (fondly referred to in the Midwest as "cornhole." God it looks hillbilly even typed. HEEHEE). Everyone loved it...my uncle built us a board as a housewarming gift when we moved in together, so it seemed appropriate to use it.
Honestly though, half the guests played and the other half just sat by the lake and sipped cocktails. :)
Dana:
Um...hmmm...well, I know it's a little unprecedented to admit this so publicly...but...I...well, I bought a knock-off! There, I said it. :)
Because we had such a tight budget, I researched the styles of dresses I liked online before I ever stepped in to a bridal shop. I didn't want to put one on, fall in love with it, and then have to sell my fist-born to be able to afford it. So, I spent hours scouring bridal websites for suggestions on my favorite dresses that had "$" in the cost description vs. "$$$$".
Anyway, long story short, I ran across a company called Group USA that had a couple of styles that I loved, that I could afford, and that just happened to have a store less than 30 miles from my home. So, I went (by myself I might add...another unprecedented admission) tried on 3 dresses, and fell in love with the one I picked. And to top it off...it fit perfectly...all I had to do was have it hemmed and bustled.
I love the candle holders! Where are they from? Your wedding was beautiful and congratulations!
Lindsey, the candle holders were from Pier 1...on sale of course. ;)
Brandi, love your headpiece. Where did you get it? And how big is each bloom? I'm also thinking of having asymmetrical flowers, but the one I like is really big -- I'm fearing, too big. I'd be good to have a benchmark.
Thank you so much for all the dress information! No shame in a knockoff at all! Actually I like it even more than before knowing that! :) My dress search is definitely falling under the $ heading as well! You looked gorgeous...and your dress is simply stunning. Thanks again!
Amy...I actually made the headpiece with a simple thin brown headband (not only did it coordinate with my colors, but it virtually disappeared in my hair) and some of the same flowers I used on our wedding cake card box.
I pulled off just the bloom, which had a wire attached that inserted into the stem. I wrapped the wire around the headband and fiddled with the placement until I was happy with it. Each bloom is about 3 inches in diameter...which was perfect on the side of my head. I'm sure you could go much much bigger if you were planning on placing your headpiece further toward the back of your head.
Anyway it was really easy...and all for less than $5!
Please share how you made the card box. I am so going to copy that idea!!!! Lovely wedding, congrats!
I haven't visited this site for the last month,but as always,you deliver great 'photos and ideas for thins that I do during my wedding shootouts and I also offer my new couples to visit your site and get some ideas.
PEACE
Beautiful photos. And that clutch is lovely!!! From where???
Wishing you and your husband love, good health, and laughter, forever.
Beautiful wedding! Congratulations! I love the ties, especially the one your cute little ringbearer (?) is wearing- where did you find that??
Violet, I got the tie from Me and Matilda on Etsy...
It is all so gorgeous. These are my colors as well. I'm anxiously awaiting a How-To on the floral garland -- just beuatiful!
Hi! Just wondering where to buy the lovely white garland with the little bows / flowers affixed? Thanks! Beautiful wedding! - k
I love those detail shots!
Brandi, loved all of your details, did the directions for the garland make it to the site, I would love to know how they were made. Also what is your signature cocktail, the color of the drink is my accent color, would love the recipe. Thanks so much for the inspiration!