Re-Caps: Details & Decor (DIY & Discount Ideas Included)

Yes, y'all I'm still recapping...slowly, but it's not like it's going anywhere, right? So here goes... 

The goal was for the entire day to feel warm, loving, intimate, and sophisticated without being stuffy. In other words, reflective of who we are as a couple. I also wanted lots of candlelight with vintage details and decor evocative of a forest in the fall. When I met with my florist/decorator, Debbie from Nouveau Fleur she instantly understood what I wanted and she worked hard to make it so. I could not have been happier! Since she was an old friend, she threw in a few unexpected extras. She wanted our guests to have little bits of unexpected details from the moment they arrived until they entered the sanctuary.

I attempted to share the few DIY things I could muster and places where I saved money by buying on the cheap and/or re-thinking a few things.

Because I knew I wouldn't see everything in it's entireity, I made sure the photographers captured everything! So, without further ado...The Ceremony Deets!

Outside



Lanterns ready for their close up. I purchased greenery; the riot of flowers were a surprise gift from my friendor and florist, Debbie Moultry of Nouveau Fleur Designs. Image by Dennis Drenner

  


Wreaths on the doors to the church...more feathers and leaves like my bouquet.
Designed by Nouveau Fleur.
Photo by Dennis Drenner




More lanterns tied to the tree outside the church...
This was a total surprise courtesy of my beautiful friendor, Debbie Moultry of Nouveau Fleur.
Note the pretty orchids which she repurposed for reception decor.
Photo by Dennis Drenner



I love this photo, the church grounds look so pretty...Note the bench I insisted be moved under the tree for a post wedding photo op{Sadly, we have no photos on said bench...miscue with photogs who went straight to reception with Planner immediately following service and my cell phone was in my bag which the Planner took with her so no way to call them to come back. SIGH}.



Inside the Church



Family photos and a manzanita tree with tealights on top of  the piano greeted guests when they arrived.
 DIY/Discount Alert: I scanned all of the photos and had them printed for on Snapfish.com (4x6 were only 9 cents each).
I displayed them in inexpensive frames I collected over the past year from discount and thrift stores.
After the reception, we gave some of the framed photos away as gifts to family who requested them.
Photo by Inhar Chong





More photos of our family flank our card box.
DIY Alert: I used leftover card stock from our invitations to make all of the signage and printed it myself.
I found this scalloped shape and used it throughout the ceremony and reception signage.
The ribbon on the card box is courtesy of my florist who thought the birdcage needed to be spruced up! :)
Photo by Inhar Chong




More photos and our photo guest book. Another one of my DIY signs and thrift store frames.
The photo on the right is of me and my Mother. It's the same one that I wore as a charm on my bouquet.
The one on the left is Old Dude and his Mother.
Discount Alert: Got the photo book done on Snapfish.com for $19.
Photo by Inhar Chong



DIY Alert: Tissue packets"For Your Tears of Joy".
Purse pack sized tissues from the dollar store for $2 (I put the leftovers in our out of town bags) 40 glassine envelopes for $3, Kraft labels I found at work (!) for and leftover ribbon from another project $0. Total = $5 Photographed next to our programs which I had professionally designed and printed (see details below)
Photo by Inhar Chong





Leslie Chen of Slieberry Designs created our programs. I loved the way they turned out.
Discount Alert: The programs were printed one sided on a single sheet of khaki colored 11x14 (legal) paper, folded twice and and secured with a deep red paper belly band cut from 8 x11 paper sheets. Our names and wedding date were printed on the band to avoid paying for a double sided print.  A high-end look for much less money than a multi-page program. The church janitor said you know a program is a "keeper" when he isn't cleaning them up off the pews after the ceremony. SMILE Photo by Inhar Chong


Inside the Sanctuary




The satin runner with a rose petal "W", to reflect our soon to be shared last name.
DIY/Discount Alert: The church prohibited sprinkled flower petals so I printed out the "W" using my company's large format printer and mounted it onto a piece of cardboard. My florist spray glued silk rose petals in deep red and burgundy onto the cardboard and secured it to the runner with pins. That way I could still have my "rose petal walking moment" without creating a crushed rose petal mess on the runner or in the church. Photo by Inhar Chong



Instead of two small alter arrangements, we went with one bold central arrangement as a focal point, flanked by more lanterns. I wanted it to look like we were getting married underneath a flowering tree with firelight around us.
Discount Alert: This arrangement, sans the giant urn and the lanterns did double duty as decor at our reception site. Lanters were rentals for $8 each,  I purchased the candles online for $2 each.
Photo by Inhar Chong





The full alter with our curly willow archway and yes, more lanterns
Photo by Inhar Chong




Detail image of our "3 Cord Unity Braid". This symbolizes the man and woman, with God central to their marriage.
 It references Ecclesiastes 4:12: "Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."
DIY Alert: I found cords, a round belt buckle, and ribbon at Jo-Ann Fabric. I spent $8 total on materials.
The belt buckle is wrapped in ribbon, the cords are pinned and hot glued to the buckle.
A belly band from our programs completes the look. 
Image by Dennis Drenner



Our Planner placed our rings on the alter right before the doors were opened.
Discount Alert: I was eyeing the handmade, custom dishes on Etsy.com, then I found this leaf shaped dish at Michael's in the $1 bin. I think it worked just fine.
Photo by Dennis Drenner




All decked out and ready for the best walk of our lives!
When all the candles were lit, I'm told it looked amazing...Sadly, I don't even remember what it looked like. SMH
Photo by Dennis Drenner



Next up: The Ceremony and in case you missed them;  recaps can be found here