Since photos (and photobooths) have been a big part of this John and Sherry’s relationship, what better entertainment to bring to the wedding than a photobooth! It was a splurge (at $1200) but for them, it was the perfect touch and ended up making for some pretty killer keepsakes. To encourage guests to leave their photostrips, they transformed their garage door into an oversized magnet board.

And, to take the photo theme one step further, the couple created a clothesline version of a wedding slideshow by stringing twine between 2 garden hooks and using wooden clothespins to clip the story of their lives. The cost was less than 20 bones but it made such a cute impression. To see all of the adorable photos, click right here!

Now, on to the food. Oh the food.

John and Sherry nixed the idea of hiring a caterer for a couple of reasons…one, the price. Obviously. And second, most caterers require a prep area which is something that they just didn’t have! So, instead, they did it all themselves, designing a menu that didn’t require any heat (other than the entrees which were cooked on the grill) and didn’t require more than a single fork. Fresh fruit, shrimp cocktail, rotini salad, lemon pepper potato chips. Kind of an upscale picnic of sorts.

Guests could then order up their own choice of a blue cheese angus burger, sweet apple chicken sausage or a tomato and cheddar veggie burger. The blue cheese burgers were made ahead of time (seriously simple…adding chunky blue cheese dressing to ground beef, then freezing the patties) and the other ingredients were bought in bulk just a few days ahead. For a gourmet touch, they added fresh baked buns and some fancy shmancy toppings.

For dessert..perfect vanilla cupcakes, from the famed Ukrop’s in Richmond, and a fun DIY s’mores station on their homemade firepit. Sounds like perfection to me.

* * *

For all of you that are now completely obsessed with Sherry and John and their unbelievably crafty real wedding, there are so many more details and ideas over at This Young House. From lighting tips to attire, a complete cost breakdown and fun DIY ideas, you’ll learn everything you need to know about throwing your own backyard fete. Plus, it’s wedding week on the cute site, so you’ll get even more info and ideas!

And, if you are a bit house obsessed, like I am, beware. This Young House is one of the greatest sites in the world, chock-a-block full of projects, inspirations and eye candy. It’s actually quite dangerous.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 11 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Backyard, Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Richmond, This Young House, Virginia
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Do-It-Yourself Inspired

Well, low and behold, as I am surfing around the site, I discover that the pair has chronicled their AMAZING DIY backyard wedding. It was so cute that I asked them if we could do a profile on SMP. They agreed and we’ve actually concocted a complete SMP + This Young House mish-mash made in heaven!

Now for the low down. Sherry and John tied the knot on their two year anniversary in a fabulously chic, DIY affair in their own brand spanking new backyard. From the invitations to the decor, every little detail was crafted by their own two hands, all without breaking the bank. Before they dove head first into wedding design, they had to take a survey of the space and make sure that it was good and ready.

First and foremost, they invested some of their wedding dollars into replacing their old slate patio with cobblestone, which created an ideal space for a wooden buffet table and a grilling stationed, manned by John’s uncle…who shamelessly donned a custom apron that read, “You may now kiss the cook!”

And while they were at it, they also decided to pave their gravel driveway so as to create the perfect eating and entertaining space!

Ok, like I mentioned earlier, nearly everything John and Sherry did for their wedding was completely DIY. Between John’s cousin officiating the ceremony, a friend playing “here comes the bride” on the guitar, and relatives cooking up some gourmet fare on the grill, the pair did their best to keep things personal and meaningful.

Now on to what we love so much on SMP…the decor!

With the goal of designing a space that felt fun without scarifying style, the couple spent months collecting perfect little details that would stay well within their budget and their design ideas. The tablecloths and runners were simple white muslin and textured yellow fabric. The glassware was purchased from Ikea and the silverware from sam’s club. Buying all of their servingware ended up being much cheaper than renting it and at the end of the weekend, they were able to donate it to their favorite charity.

Rather than doing pricey flower centerpieces, John and Sherry went with vases of fruit that they bought the morning of at their local grocery store. The glass cylinders were found at Michael’s for $3.99 and the votives were found on Craigslist (purchased from a former bride for $30). The cute lemon and lime paper napkins were scored at Target.

The cute little brown favor bags held a single gladiolis bulb with easy planting instructions and photo strip of the couple that read “Plant one…on us!” And perhaps the most creative part of the table decor…the recycled wine bottles that held water, sweet tea and homemade mint lemonade.

I swear, I want to move to Richmond just so that I can be best friends with Sherry and John. They are so resourceful, so stinking creative. And yet they don’t sacrifice a bit of chic in the process. LOVE that. More on the way!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 29 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Backyard Wedding, Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Richmond, This Young House, Virginia
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Do-It-Yourself Inspired