Mismatched China DIY Wedding

Overall theme for the ceremony and reception

Bride’s Comments: “The overall theme was romantic and vintage. We both wanted our wedding to be a representation of us and our personalities. Neither one of us are “flashy” or over the top type people- and we didn’t want our wedding to be that way either. I really tried to pay attention to detail and keep in mind that sometimes simple can be better! When I imagined my wedding day, I wanted a spring, southern, classic feel and I think we did just that!”

What types of flowers did you have?

We used pale pink peonies, hydrangeas, and green berries. My florist was amazing. In order to save money, but keep with my color scheme, he dyed a lot of the flowers, so that they would be the perfect color!

Which pieces of music did you use during the ceremony?

Our ceremony was held in the church that I grew up in and because it was a traditional ceremony, I wanted to have traditional music. The seating of the grandparents and mothers was “Jesus Joys of Man’s Desiring” by Bach, “Trumpet tune” in A for the processional of the wedding party, processional of the bride was “Trumpet Voluntary”, recessional was with Horns and Trumpets. We had two vocalist sing “Surely the Presence” as a solo during the lighting of the unity candle. We were very lucky with our ceremony music. The music director at my church is very talented! She played the organ and piano. We had a violinist, as well as a trumpeter. It was beautiful.

How many guests were invited and what was the final guest count?

“We invited 350 guests to the wedding and approximately 300 attended.”

Was it difficult to narrow down your guest list?

“Yes! It was very difficult. We are both only children. I have a very large extended family. It was probably the hardest aspect of the whole wedding planning process for us.”

What were some challenges you faced planning your wedding?

“The guest list! Also, we are both from the same hometown (which is relatively small). We wanted to do something different and unique for our ceremony and reception. Deciding on a venue was the first thing I did. I visited approximately 6 venue sites. I had my heart set on getting married outside, but with an outdoor wedding, you have to weigh your risks and benefits. I knew we would be having a large wedding, and I also knew a majority of our guests would be coming from the same general area-so I didn’t want them to have to travel a long distance. My fiancé and I both felt it was best to have our ceremony and reception indoors (that way we wouldn’t have to worry with the weather on our special day). However, I did have my engagement and bridal sessions outdoors!”

What were the highlight from the ceremony & reception?

“I think the highlight was the different china pieces used for each place setting. Half of these pieces, I bought from thrift stores and the other half I was able to rent from a vendor.”

Any tips to share with brides planning their own wedding?

“Don’t be scared to delegate. I tend to have a type A personality. I try and take on big projects by myself. With my wedding, when people asked if they could help me-I actually let them. My family and friends were a huge help leading up to the wedding. I couldn’t have done it without them. Also, trust your instinct.  If you don’t have a good feeling about your florist, caterer, etc. then look around for other options. Even if these people come highly recommended, they are not the only people available for the job.”

What was your budget?

“I was actually right on budget. Our budget was $25,000. I was able to stay on budget by doing a lot of my decorations myself. Because my theme was vintage/antique, when family members offered linens, china, furniture, I was able to use them! Also, I shopped around with my vendors. Sometimes the most expensive vendors are not necessarily the best.”

What wedding favor did you give your guests?

“We gave each guest a jar of jam. Some of my co-workers gave me old baby food jars. We took the labels off, washed them, and filled them with jam. I had labels made to go on top of the jelly jar with our initials. We then placed them in old tobacco crates for people to take as they were leaving! Very easy and inexpensive favor!”

Best advice you received planning your wedding?

“Enjoy every single second of the process and not to sweat the small stuff. Something will inevitably go wrong. It is all about how you handle situations. I just tried to have a positive outlook and take things as they come. Also, I tried not to expect too much out of my fiancé. He was awesome in helping me decide on a venue, food, music. However, I did not expect him to be interested in flowers, programs, etc (a lot of guys just aren’t into that kind of stuff- it doesn’t mean they don’t care).”

Where did you go on your honeymoon?

“We went to Couples Swept Away in Negril, Jamaica. We had a BLAST! Already planning to go back for our three year anniversary!”