Do-It-Yourself Wedding in Austin, Texas

For those of you that are just coming down off a long holiday weekend and have a slight workday hangover, we’ve got just the ticket to make you feel all shiny and new again. It’s a sweet, pretty, nothing-but-lovely kind of wedding where the bride and groom put so much thought and attention into each and every detail…you almost feel like you were right there with them. Photographed by Sweet Caroline Photo in Austin, Texas, there is nothing not to love about this lovely, lovely affair. And if you’re dying to see more, click right here. There are tons of additional reception and detail shots.

click here to see the full wedding gallery!

I wanted our wedding to have the theme of “vintage simplicity”. The first thing that I found was my girls’ dresses in the sale room of Anthropologie. I loved the color and the vintage detailing. Everything just sort of developed from there. The guys’ suspenders, bbq meal and the square dancing played along with the theme.

Here is a look at some of the DIY projects that we did, starting with the flowers…

My friend, Patty, and I made the pew decorations from wheat (since Craig is from Montana) and baby’s breath. My mom was on the “bottle brigade” as she called it. Over a period of 8 months she collected all of the bottles for the table decorations. I purchased the flowers in bulk from Central Market and my friends arranged them in assorted ball jars and bottles the morning of the wedding. My friend Merrill spent the morning with my mom and me making the boutonnieres and the bridesmaids bouquets. My mom and I took apart the bridal bouquet that Central Market had made and added more ranunculus and gomphrena to it. Then we cut burlap garland and lace and wrapped them around the stems.

We also DIY-ed our papergoods. My husband, Craig, painted a watercolor of a jar of flowers that I had at the house. Then we put it into photoshop, shrunk the size of it and put it on business card sized table assignments. For our programs, I downloaded a template for a wedding invitation and then altered the color and design of it to suit a program. The place settings were labels that I got from A Print Lady. I shrunk the size of them and cut them out. Then my friends and family tied them around all of the lemons the morning of the wedding.

Other small DIY details. My friend, Cher, made the burlap runners and applied the monogram “HS” with transfer paper as a decorative detail. My sister, Kelly, and I created the text for the crossword one afternoon. Craig and I worked on the map together. I drew the map and he adorned it with miniature images and signs of places such as the church and the reception venue. Craig and I brought my dresser from Houston for the cakes to sit on. My dress came with a belt which I wasn’t the biggest fan of, so I found a trim that I liked and a new piece of ribbon. I had it sewn on to the dress.

As for advice, I know everyone has already told you this, but the day really does fly by in a blink of an eye. Take a moment to cherish and thank all of the people that have come from far and away to support you and celebrate your marriage. Also try and steal two minutes from the busy timeline of your wedding day for a private moment with your new husband.

Photography: Sweet Caroline Photo / Caterer: Salt Lick Barbeque / Ceremony Location: St. Paul Lutheran Church & Mercury Hall / Cakes: Buttersweet Bakery / Bluegrass band: The Darcie Deaville Band / Reception Venue: Mercury Hall / Flowers: Central Market / Hair: Shannon Briggs, Path Salon / Shoes: Steve Madden