Handmade weddings are the perfect labor of love, where family and friends come together to help make a couple’s day as special as possible. This sweet DIY spring wedding from Brianna Wilbur is the perfect example. I love the pastel color palette and all the lavender details.
Our wedding was held on a windy early Spring day before Easter, just when the tulips were beginning to pop. We chose soft and airy pastel colors with bright locations to complement including lots of natural light. We knew it would be too chilly for an outdoor wedding, but wanted to create an earthy, outdoor feel, while still holding true to our desires for a church wedding and to have our guests feel comfortable and relaxed. I grew up in New Jersey and my husband grew up in Pennsylvania, so it was only fitting that our church was in New Jersey and we traveled across the Delaware River into Pennsylvania for the reception.
Although we did not have any heirloom details, we definitely wanted our parents and grandparents honored at our wedding. We each have three living grandparents and they all walked down the aisle to begin the processional at our ceremony. My grandmother is a talented seamstress and sewed all of the mint table runners with lace detailing on top for the reception tables. She also made her own dress for the wedding! My mother created my bridal sash by sewing a rhinestone applique on a ribbon that matched my wedding dress and it was just as perfect as the ones I tried on in bridal shops.
In all the weddings we ever attended, we both agreed that the ones we most enjoyed were those that were true reflections of the couple. That was our goal in planning our wedding. We hoped others would look at the details and genuine joy surrounding our day and think that it was a true reflection of who we are.
Our lavender toss church exit was certainly a highlight. We took the lavender theme to the next level when we literally were covered with it as our guests sent dried flowers flying through the air as we exited the ceremony. All the dried lavender was purchased from a local lavender farm.
There was definitely a lavender and lace theme resonating throughout our day, particularly in the DIY details. My labor of love for this wedding was the homemade soap wedding favors. I made them all by hand in lavender and honey almond oatmeal scents & wrapped them in lace before gluing on labels I designed. My now husband Chad, my sister (the maid of honor), and I created the aisle decorations. We spray painted peet pots gold, secured dried lavender and baby’s breath in the pots and decorated them with lace. I also wood burned hangers with the names of my bridesmaids as gifts and burned “Mr.” and “Mrs.” on two of them as keepsakes for my husband and I. DIY doily streamers, a Mr. and Mrs. banner, framed engagement pictures, and a painted “Welcome” sign designed by one of my bridesmaids were also handmade details created with love for our day.
Another favorite moment was when we slipped out of the reception at dusk when the wind died down to take silhouette photos. It allowed a few moments to ourselves at the end of the evening and had it captured on film from a distance with the most amazing result! We absolutely love those photos.
Photography | Brianna Wilbur Photography | Ceremony | Lebanon Reformed Church | Reception | Riverview Country Club | Florals | Deborah Moyer | Desserts | Christie’s Artisan Bread & Pastry Shop | Paper Goods | Messiah College Press | Dress | Casablanca from Bridals By Sandra | Bridesmaid Dresses | Alvina Valenta | Hair | CUT Artisan Hair Design | Groomswear | Macy’s | DJ | Celebrations Disc Jockey | Transportation | Aprodlimo Limousine Service LLC | Dried Lavender | Carousel Lavender Farm | Cake Topper | Don’t Toss It | Chalkboard Sign | The Fox and The Raven Studios
