Grab your wedding binders, moleskin notebooks or whatever you use to jot down great ideas because there are a TON of them in this handmade wedding from Weddings by Two. When the couple couldn’t do something themselves (there doesn’t seem like much these two can’t do!) they rallied their talented friends and family to help get the job done! We are in love with every last precious detail from the vintage illustration table numbers to the handcrafted cake stands! There is so much more in the full gallery so go check it out!
Click here for more handmade inspiration in the full wedding gallery!
Nearly everything in our wedding was handmade, and most of it by us. I love old things; so, since our wedding was set on an old estate hugging the Hudson River, I tried to create the feeling that the year could be 2010 just as likely as it could be 1927. When planning our wedding, the words that resonated most with me were vintage, intimate, lovely, playful and tasteful. Through and through a detail person, I was inspired by all the things that reward the senses in subtle ways. Subsequently, most of the items I used were made from natural materials — from the all-cotton, eyelet napkins I made myself to the twine that attached the shipping tag name cards to the napkins; and from the hand spun lace runners to the muslin-wrapped candles. Wishing to neither procure in excess nor create waste, I tried to have as much of the things needed for the wedding harvested from what we already had, obtained as secondhand items, or reused once the day was done. Subsequently, I spent at least ten months gathering old candlesticks and limoges plates from yard sales and thrift stores to make the cake stands and tiered trays that served throughout the courses of our wedding — from cocktail hour appetizers to savory dinner tarts and finally macarons and cupcakes. In doing so, I learned how to drill through porcelain (surprisingly not all that difficult). As for other “something old”s — I found my earrings at a county antique store and stitched the ring pillow from a handkerchief that belonged to my grandmother (which my aunt had embroidered for our big day). The table number illustrations — scientific drawings of flowers — came from an old poster I found through an antique dealer. I bought my dress from a bridal atelier that gets couture gowns straight off the runway and donates 100% of sales to a children’s charity.
Despite an intensive planning process, I happily recognize that many of our wedding successes were due to sheer luck (or serendipity, depending on how you view those things). The flowers are a perfect case in point. Not wanting to spend a lot of money, and ambivalent overall about cut flowers, we were still without a flower solution three weeks from our wedding. During our final trip upstate to tie up loose ends, we took a side road we hadn’t previously taken, and that’s when we discovered “you pick flowers.” No one was present, but in their absence a sign read “please leave a check for what you take.” A week later, it occurred to me that we may have seen the field at its peak, and by the time of our wedding — at the summer’s end — there would be no flowers left. Nevertheless, I gave myself over to fate. When my husband and I arrived the day before our wedding, we found an even more bounteous offering. During my “bridesmaid luncheon,” my husband and his older brother went to work cutting all their sheers would allow. The ladies — instructed to only use their creativity and imagination as a guide — spent most of the afternoon the day before the wedding helping me arrange the flowers into gorgeous bouquets in mason jars. The flowers could not have been a more perfect, personal expression of us… or of how, for us at least, the act of not planning was rewarded handsomely, and how flowers CAN be done on the cheap.
Though it’s trite to say this, our wedding day was the best day of our lives. All of the nervous anticipation melted away once the activities were underway (and perhaps because there were so many details to tend to, we couldn’t be preoccupied with whether things would go “perfectly”). Seeing our guests before me during the ceremony filled me with so much joy, and throughout the entire reception there were endless touching moments. Many guests told me they cried seeing me dance with my father. I later noticed that my expression in the photos seems one of sentimental weeping — though, really, I was laughing uncontrollably throughout our dance, as my dad — never at a loss for jokes — was making me laugh throughout our “father daughter dance.” Though my husband and I did much of the heavy lifting in the months before the wedding, we would not have pulled off the wedding if not for all the help of our families, particularly in the final days leading up to the wedding. Their support and contributions made the entire weekend that much more special.
Ceremony and Reception Venue: Clermont State Historic Site / Wedding Photography: Weddings by Two / Band: Saturday Night Bluegrass / Event Design and Planning: Thistledown Creative / Favors: Crop to Cup Coffee Co. / Wedding Desserts: Kumquat Cupcakery and Macaron de Paris / Invitations: Sesame Letterpress / Bridesmaid dress: J.Crew / Groomsmen attire: Haspel / Groom’s suit: Mr. Ned Custom Tailor / Dress: Ulla-Maija Couture / Day-of-Coordinator: Sara Grady
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Absolutely STUNNING wedding!! Congratulations! To the bride: Do you think you will be selling any of your decor (particularly the framed table numbers)?
My heart melted when I saw this feature. As a bride who made most of the details for her own wedding (with the help of my family) I love when I see incredibly crafty brides who put themselves into their wedding...simply stunning. From the bridesmaid dresses to the darling garlands, everything just works beautifully. And you nailed the dress. So lovely.
timeless bridal style. such a beautiful wedding.
Gorgeous dress and stunning on the bride, who does look like she stepped right out of the '20s. Beautiful photos.
any chance the bride intends to sell the dress? it is absolutely beautiful, and is exactly what i've been desperately searching for.
Who designed the bride's dress? It's absolutely beautiful!
The bride looks so graceful in all of these photos. Just beautiful!
This is all so stunning...love the bride's dress...seems somehow to capture her personality...gorgeous photos!!!!
Absolutely beautiful. Everything... the bride. her dress. the details. AND I want her shoes! They're exactly what I've been looking for if anyone knows where I can find something like that, I'd be very grateful!
Lovely 20s inspired hair style - and with that birdcage veil and hair piece, so perfect!
Your wedding is gorgeous! Can you provide directions to the "you pick flowers" location? Our wedding is in the Hudson Valley next September and I too have been looking for an alternative to expensive floral arrangements. Thanks!!!
Some of the decor can be found on my design and planning website -- Thistledown Creative (www.thistledowncreative.wordpress.com). More will be available soon. If there's something in particular that interests you, or for Hudson Valley self-pick flower details, you can email me at thistledowncreative@gmail.com. Thanks for all the kind words! Next time I get married, it'll be to you guys!
This is the most beautiful wedding I have seen, and I have literally been reading every post on at least 11 blogs since April when I became engaged. This one tops them all. This is exactly what I want for my wedding. Way to go Elizabeth. This is all so stunning! And you looked so incredible on your big day
Great details in this wedding and I love how they all flow together. Great photos too!
Beautiful colors!! Such wonderful photos
Beautiful wedding :) Where is this Hudson Valley wedding exactly located? My fiance and I are hoping to do an outside/tented vintage-chic wedding in Northern New Jersey this August. We both grew up in northern NJ and would love let the scenery be the decorations. We have looked into a few parks in the Jersey City area, but have not been able to find anything that fits our needs. Does anyone have any reccomendations/ideas? Thanks, Happy New Year!
Which caterer did you use? Or any recs in Hudson Valley area?
Stunning!!!
I actually just visited this site myself and plan to book for 2013.
I love the "you pick flowers" story and idea- any way I could be contacted with more detail?
We'd love to steal the idea for our own wedding!
Thanks for sharing!
So happy you decided to host your event at our lovely Hudson River estate. Clermont State Historic Site has been hosting weddings in the Hudson Valley since 1996. Inquiries please call (518) 537-4240.