Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…I took basically everything in my wedding from Style Me Pretty and other wedding blogs!  I wanted something relaxed and whimsical and really informal so people could just have a good time. Adam and I are pretty laid back people and I wanted our wedding to reflect that. As we were about to leave the reception, I was chatting with my friend and his wife and she said “I don’t know you very well but this wedding just seems so…’you’”. I guess that’s when I knew we had done it!

We wanted our wedding to be very “us” and also wanted it to be fun and entertaining for our guests. We put a lot of thought into the decor and thought that pennant flags would look great in the barn. Then we just ended up putting them on everything (the invitations, the quiz, the cake). We came up with the idea for the quiz as a way for people to get to know us, and some little things about our relationship. As it turns out, no one, not even our closest friends and family, knows anything about us! How disappointing! But we’re still glad we did it because overall I think people really enjoyed it (even if they all did fail miserably).

Adam and I are both Latter-day Saints (Mormons) and knew that a marriage in an LDS temple was essential to us. We believe that marriages must be performed in a temple by an authorized temple “sealer” (officiator) in order to last beyond this life. However, marriages which are performed in temples are very sacred and as such, only adult members of our church can attend. We both have many friends and family members who are not members of our faith so we decided to have an exchanging of rings ceremony in addition to the temple ceremony. It was important to us that those who could not attend the temple still be involved and witness some kind of commitment ceremony, even if we were already married.

I found the bridesmaid skirts that I wanted from another bride’s wedding. I knew they were perfect because they were simple, allowed each bridesmaid to personalize a little with her own top and shoes, and were long enough that my best friend, who is Muslim, could still wear the same thing as the other bridesmaids. I immediately knew I wanted to ask my grandmother to make the skirts. She had sewed bridesmaids dresses for one of her daughter’s wedding and a wedding gown for another so I knew she was the woman to ask! I loved having her make the skirts and she loved doing it. I also loved that every time I called her during the 4 or 5 months before the wedding she was busy working on skirts! It was the best wedding present she could have given me.

We had people from all over the country! 17 states total! I am originally from Virginia but Adam is from Washington State, so when we started planning the wedding in Maryland, we knew we would have to sacrifice having some of our loved ones there but we were so impressed with how many people made a real effort to be there. All 8 of Adam’s siblings…including a sister and her family from Alaska! Planning my wedding from Seattle was, in a word, “h e double hockey sticks”. I wouldn’t change a thing about our wedding but I feel like a lot of that was pure luck. It didn’t help that we were wanting to do everything ourselves which is hard to do from a few thousand miles away. Luckily, we had my sister living in VA who was more than willing to help and we came out two weeks early to do wedding planning like crazy.  In order to save money we didn’t hire a wedding planner, florist, caterer or DJ. I know, right?! It wasn’t easy but in the end we’re glad we did it this way and love how everything turned out!

Wedding Photography: Lisa Marie of Sweet Tea Photography / Wedding Gown: Custom Margot Eltsa / Bridesmaid Skirts: Bride’s grandmother / Groom’s Suit: Indochino / Groomsmen Attire: Their own / Ties: Etsy / Catering: DIY with help from friends and family + Honeybaked Ham + Costco / Flowers: DIY + Fields of Flowers / Hair Stylist: Rebekah, Friend / Make-up Artist: The Bride

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Post tags: Costco, Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Etsy, Fields of Flowers, Garden Wedding, Honeybaked Ham, Indochino, LDS Mormon temple, Margot Eltsa, Maryland Weddings, Sweet Tea Photography
Post categories: The Blog

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Meredith Carlson Photography…Jana and Collin were married in the LDS Las Vegas Temple, and held their reception at Gilcrease Orchards, Las Vegas. Their wedding was a very DIY affair, as the bride comes from a very artistically talented family (Jana and Collin are graphic designers as well). Jana’s dress (styled after a JCrew dress), as well as her flower girl’s dress was made by a family friend. The fingerprint tree at their guest table was made by Jana, and the typewriter was Jana’s grandfather’s. Jana’s dad made the wood cake stand, as well as the wooden candle holders, Jana’s mother made the jam and apple butter that was handed out as guest favors, Jana’s sister designed their wedding invitations and thank you tags. Friends and family helped arrange the flowers on the banquet-style table. They used some burlap fabric bought at JoAnn’s for the table runner.

Wedding Photography: Meredith Carlson Photography / Wedding Gown: Family Friend / Catering: Gaya Guymon / Wedding Cake: Lezlee Goronsen / Flowers, Favors, Decor, Cake Stand: DIY / Wedding Invitations: Linsey Laidlaw-Morris / Gazebo: Target / Rentals: RSVP Rentals / Table Runners: Joann’s / Reception Location: Gilcrease Orchards

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Post tags: Cake Stand, Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Gilcrease Orchards, jam, Joann's, Las Vegas, LDS Mormon temple, Meredith Carlson Photography, Nevada, Outdoor Reception, Outdoor Wedding, RSVP Party Rentals, Rustic, Target
Post categories: Do-It-Yourself Inspired

gorgeous photography by Duston Todd

Here are some fun details from Shea…

There was a lot of love and DIY that went into this wedding – we made the wreaths that hung outside the barn, ironed tablecloths that my parents brought in their suitcases, strung lights, a friend did my hair, we hand-picked every song played, hung bicycle wheels and giggled along the way making the whole process an unforgettable memory.

At the reception, Syd and I did not worry about a thing and I know our guests could really feel that – we just had fun dancing, chatting with old friends and smiling til our cheeks hurt. We rode off into the night on our cruiser with guests throwing fall leaves into the air – the bottom of my dress is still caked with dirt and I wouldn’t change a thing.

More to come!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 11 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Dustin Todd, Duston Todd, LDS Mormon temple, Mapleton, Salt Lake City, shea, syd, Utah
Post categories: Casual Elegance

Now, on to the reception…

Duston Todd is the talent behind these ridiculously lovely photographs and I have to say, although a great photographer will make any wedding appear beautiful, I don’t think he had to work too hard to make this one seem completely gorgeous! As a quick sidenote, Duston’s images are some of the most breathtaking photographs you’ll ever see…they literally glow with emotion.

From the gorgeous bride…

The reception was the cozy evening we had hoped for – filled with mingling, comfort food and lot’s of dancing! We had the fireplace going, hor’dourves during a mingling hour, a hot chocolate bar (with our bike logo printed on the mugs which were our favors – a big hit), panini bar for dinner and a dessert bar with ancestors’ wedding photos.

My mother stayed up day and night sewing every tablecloth, overlay and handstitching flowers. The centerpieces were half containers made out of bicycle baskets and the others were actual bicycles. The florist was fabulous and acheived the “glamorous wildflower” look perfectly. We hung lanterns from the ceiling and lights everywhere. Guests signed postcards made from our engagement pictures and put them in a mailbox instead of a guestbook. We also had a photobooth which was great because the little kids (and big kids) found it very entertaining.

More to come!

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Post tags: Barn, Bicycle, Dustin Todd, Duston Todd, LDS Mormon temple, Mapleton, Salt Lake City, shea, syd, Utah
Post categories: Casual Elegance

Don’t you wish you were at this wedding? It just reminds me of a warm and cozy weekend, filled with great food, really good wine and friends to make you laugh. I love that. The pictures, all shot by the insanely talented Duston Todd, let the true beauty of the day shine and all of the details that Shea crafted to appear as if they came right out of a magazine. Pure loveliness.

So much more to come!

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Post tags: Dustin Todd, Duston Todd, LDS Mormon temple, Mapleton, Salt Lake City, shea, syd, Utah
Post categories: Budget Beautiful

ridiculously gorgeous photographer by the forever talented Duston Todd

More from Shea, the lovely bride…

I was having my dress made and we all hear those horror stories – well I was one of them. Three weeks before the wedding I had to find a new dress. One day after work I went all over Salt Lake and found a sample dress that fit like a glove and did not even have to be hemmed. I designed this jacket and had it made in 3 days transforming it into the custom look I had been wanting all along. I wore the ban.do for the wedding ceremony and changed it to a purple suede flower for the barn. Syd wore a suit from Zara. Wedding disasters happen, but it all comes together.

So much more to come!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 9 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Dustin Todd, Duston Todd, LDS Mormon temple, Mapleton, Salt Lake City, shea, syd, Utah
Post categories: Casual Elegance

the absolutely lovely images are by Duston Todd

Complete and utter charm. Loving every bit of this wedding! From the bride…

Syd and I are not the type of couple to get married in a typical “wedding venue” so I set out to find a location that could provide the rustic, romantic feel I love so much, but provide the practicality of indoor plumbing, heating and place for the caterer. I found a barn in Mapleton, Utah that fit the bill. We had our wedding ceremony at the LDS temple in Salt Lake City and the reception later that night. We invited close friends and family (about 125 guests) and decided to not have bridesmaids and groomsmen.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 22 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Dustin Todd, Duston Todd, LDS Mormon temple, Mapleton, Salt Lake City, Utah
Post categories: Casual Elegance

all photographs by the ridiculously talented Duston Todd

Filled with DIY touches, undeniable charm and a style that is completely envious…every detail of this wedding is simply lovely. Here is a bit about the couple, from the lovely bride, Shea…

Alright, so to give you info on how this all unfolded – my husband and I met at school in Utah and when we first met, we went on bike ride dates practically every night and continued to restore and ride vintage cruisers throughout our courtship. Two years later, we decided it had to be carried throughout our wedding! We got engaged in July and were married October 25 (of the same year)! In three months, with lot’s of help from my mother (my parents live in Texas), I managed to plan the wedding of my dreams. Bicycles included.

So much more to come!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 9 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Bicycles, Dustin Todd, LDS Mormon temple, Mapleton, Salt Lake City, shea, syd, Utah
Post categories: Casual Elegance