Sweet and charming, this intimate woodland wedding captured by 3 Cats Photo is sure to make you fall for an outdoor wedding! The couple wove in their literary love with simple book and wood slice centerpieces that they DIY’ed with the help of family.
We knew right away that we wanted our wedding to reflect what matters the most to us, so it was small, simple, outdoors, and family-focused. We wanted it to have that rustic style, like you had stepped into a fairy tale. We chose Lydia Mountain as our venue for three main reasons: the forest atmosphere, the mountain view, and the total flexibility to do everything ourselves.
I have always wanted a whimsical dress with a flowing, slightly poofy skirt and lace detailed sleeves. Soon after our engagement I purchased a dress from a consignment boutique that didn’t quite fit that description, but it was a good price and I was afraid I would never find my dream dress. After a lot of consideration, worry, and online research, I found this dress on Tradesy a few months before the wedding from a former bride and fell in love. We sold the other one back and I am SO glad I didn’t stick with the original!
There was a lot of debate that morning as to whether the ceremony should be held inside, as it had been raining on and off all day. When the final decision came down to me (Katie), I felt a remarkable calm and peace about it: I just *knew* it wouldn’t rain. Sure enough, although it was overcast and misty, we felt like God held off the rain just long enough for us to say our vows and take pictures. As soon the reception started, it rained! What a special memory.
Since we are both still in college, everything had to be done on a budget, and we were so grateful for all the help we got from family and friends in creating the details. My brother designed the invitations, my dad made the wooden centerpieces and candle holders, my father-in-law built the arbor, my mother assembled all the little details and researched the best prices on everything, my mother-in-law, sisters, aunts, and friends cooked most of the food. It took a village, and that made the whole day so much more special!
The centerpieces were made up of dried moss that we bought from Amazon, tealights resting in wooden candleholders that my father made, wood “book ends” that my father also made, and old books that we had collected over the year of our engagement. Overall, it was very cost-effective and very “us”!
The morning of the wedding, the whole bridal party, immediate families, some extended family, and some friends gathered at the venue to set up the ceremony and reception sites. It meant so much to us to see the love and joy everyone had for us. They made the place look so much more magical than I could have imagined!
Photography | 3 Cats Photo | Venue | Lydia Mountain Lodge & Log Cabins | Cake | Paradox Pastry | Catering | The Pie Chest | Dress | Tradesy | Bridesmaid Dresses | Apricity
