{click here to see the full wedding} / photography by Paige Elizabeth Photography

From the get go, Mike and I were never a traditional couple. We didn’t meet in a traditional way and we certainly didn’t go through the traditional courting of dates, a la dinners, movies and drinks. We are both very outdoorsy, and we spent the first part of our relationship exploring the Texas hill country in and around the city of Austin. It’s no surprise that when it came to planning our wedding, we wanted something a little out of the ordinary. My first thought was that it had to be outdoors (weather permitting) and the scenery had to be picturesque.

Colorado turned out to be a wonderful fit. Not only had we been there several times together, but my parents also recently purchased a home in the quaint town of Breckenridge. Thankfully, their house and surrounding property turned out to be the ideal site for our ceremony and reception.

My inspiration really stemmed from the beauty of the place itself. I fell in love with using the Colorado Rockies as our backdrop for our wedding day. However, as the snow melted away, we quickly realized that none of the locations we’d previously chosen for our ceremony site really captured the extraordinary views that Breckenridge had to offer. My dad suggested a spot that overlooked the mountains. The only problem was that it was situated on a rugged hillside above the house with nowhere to stand and nowhere to seat the congregation. The engineer in him took over and he ultimately constructed a clearing at the top of the hill, complete with a custom wedding platform that jutted out of the hill and fully captured the grandeur of the surrounding view as a backdrop for the ceremony.

As for the details of the day, we wanted them to embrace and enhance our surroundings rather then detract from them. In order to take advantage of the changing light as it grew darker and the densely starred night, we held our reception under a clear tent so that the guests could enjoy the Colorado evening. As an avid stargazer, this is one detail I knew my husband would love and appreciate. We also chose to use flower arrangements that resembled freshly picked wild flowers that cover the mountains during the summer months. When I stumbled upon the DIY idea for homemade vanilla extract favors (which just so happened to be featured on SMP), I knew I’d found the perfect favors to compliment the rustic feel of our wedding.

All the personal details and the wonderful people we worked with throughout the planning process only seemed to add to the love I felt that day. From Debbie (our lovely wedding planner) to our brilliant photographer to my bubbly hair and make-up artists, we were surrounded by people we adored which truly made our day majestic.

Vendor Credits: Event Planner: Save the Date Events / Photography: Paige Elizabeth Photography / Floral Design Bella Fiori / Cake: Intricate Icings / Makeup: Carissa Beauty / Catering: Occasions by Sandy/ Hair: Roots / Applejacks / Nobility Strings / Soul School (A Music Plus) / Main Street Station / Officicant: Pat Pendleton / Tent: Colorado Tents & Events / Rentals: Event Rents / Videography: Lupher Arts /

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2010. | Permalink | 25 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Breckenridge, Color Palette Purple, Colorado, DIY Vanilla, Paige Elizabeth Photography, Save the Date Events
Post categories: Casual Elegance, The Blog

From Kathleen…”This is a great project if you’ve got some time and want to give your guests something homemade. It takes about 2 months for the Vanilla to mature but it’s a simple project and a gift that will last for years!“

Materials Needed
Small Glass Jars
#4 Size Corks
Mini Gingham Ribbon
Sticker Paper
Scissors
X-acto Knife
Homemade Vanilla

Instructions
Step 1: Download the Homemade Vanilla Extract recipe here and follow the directions on how to make it.

Step 2: Download Vanilla Labels here and print onto white sticker paper. Trim out each label. To get nice circles, take your time and use an x-acto knife and self-healing cutting mat – your fingers and table with thank you!

Step 3: Cut ribbon to 8″ long and wrap around the neck of the bottle crossing in the center. Secure ribbon with a small piece of tape and then apply Vanilla label to the center of the bottle. Finish it off by snipping the ends of ribbon to a point.

Step 4: Once Vanilla is prepared and ready, fill the jars with vanilla using a funnel and cap with a cork. Vilolá! a delightful homemade favor for your guests!

Links to Products
Small Glass Jars: Call Packaging Specialties to order: 206.762.0540 ($6.00 each)
#4 Size Corks at Home Depot
Mini Gingham Ribbon at Michael’s
Sticker Paper from Avery

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Kathleen is our oh-so-fabulous DIY editor that also runs the wonderful blog Twig & Thistle…filled with delicious finds, perfect DIY projects and tidbits that will make you swoon. Make sure you check it out, as it’s one of the blogs that will quickly become a favorite!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 59 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: DIY Vanilla, Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Kathleen, Twig & Thistle, Vanilla Favors
Post categories: DIY Favors and Gifts, DIY Projects