Stylish, Intimate Family Picnic Wedding: Courtney & Cosmo
THIS CUTE DIY WEDDING IN A VILLAGE HALL IS EVERY CRAFTER’S DREAM!
Amy & James set out to achieve a relaxed, informal and celebratory feel that was in keeping with the venue and village surroundings.
“It felt important to us to be married in a place that we had a connection to and that was special to us. We decided where better than the village that we live in. With our ceremony at the church and reception in the village hall next door, both of which we can see from our bedroom window!” Amy told us.
“We wanted a day spent with our nearest and dearest, at a venue we could have the freedom to make our own, and we weren’t keen on the day blowing all of our savings as we were in the midst of renovating our house, so this seemed to be the perfect place!” she continued.
“The things that were important to us, other than the content of the ceremony, were to have good company, good food, and a good old boogie in the evening. And to make sure that our guests would enjoy the day as much as we were going to.”
“We are both really close to our families and we roped in everybody’s help to transform the village hall, and to make the day into the kind of colourful, countryside, village wedding of yesteryear, that we were after.”
“Our wonderful families took to their gardens, growing an unbelievable amount of flowers for decorating the hall. My Mum got busy on her sewing machine with hundreds of metres of bunting and personalised napkins. The cake was made by my Mum and sister-in-law Lucy. The favours were jam, made by James’ Mum using strawberries grown on her allotment. James made blackboards, which I hand lettered, he put up hundreds of metres of fairy lights, and made the big J&A rusty letters. I made the table plan and invitations with the help of my dear friend Marie. We collected jam jars to use for flowers, an old bike, tin baths & old suitcases to use as props. Everybody grafted during the 2 days prior, to get the hall decorated.”
“It was A LOT of hard work, but we wouldn’t have had it any other way. And it felt good to have all of our families involved. It made it a real family celebration that was so personal to us.”
“Our talented florist Gill did an incredible job with the church and personal flowers. With flowers grown on her farm a few miles down the road. We just let her do whatever she wished with whichever blooms were in season, and we couldn’t have been happier with the results.”
“Somehow all of our ideas came together and it worked out to be such a happy, joyful, magical day that we will never forget.”
We asked the couple to tell us their favourite part of the day? “It is hard to pick a favourite moment, but we both agree that it was a magical moment when all of our guests joined in for an impromptu sing-along to ‘Stand By Me’ by Ben E. King during the meal.”
“If we could give any advice to other couples would be to think about the parts of the day that are most important to you and look to spend the biggest part of your budget on those. You don’t have to do things in the same way as every other wedding. Go with what you like and trust in your ideas.”
Finally, have a go at making some elements in a bid to make the day more personal. Listen to advice from others, but try not to be swayed away from your ideas by well meaning family and friends who try to impose their vision of how the day should be.”
“And don’t forget to Involve the groom, it’s his day too!”
Why We Think a DIY WEDDING is The Way To Go!
DIY weddings are like crafting your own love story, one personalized detail at a time. They offer a unique opportunity for couples to infuse their special day with their personalities, passions, and creativity. From handmade decorations and customized centerpieces to homemade favors and DIY photo booths, every aspect of a DIY wedding reflects the couple’s unique style and vision. It’s a chance to break free from cookie-cutter weddings and create something truly one-of-a-kind.
Moreover, DIY weddings can be a budget-friendly alternative to traditional celebrations. By taking on tasks like crafting decorations, designing invitations, and even baking the wedding cake, couples can save a significant amount of money without compromising on style or quality. Plus, DIY projects can be a fun and rewarding way for couples to bond and make memories together in the lead-up to their big day. It’s like embarking on a creative adventure together, with each project adding to the excitement and anticipation of saying “I do.”
But perhaps the greatest advantage of DIY weddings is the sense of pride and accomplishment they bring. There’s something incredibly satisfying about seeing your vision come to life and knowing that you played a hand in creating every little detail of your wedding day. It’s not just about saving money or adding personal touches—it’s about creating memories that will last a lifetime and sharing moments of joy and laughter with loved ones. In a world where weddings can sometimes feel impersonal and commercialized, DIY weddings offer a refreshing and heartfelt alternative, reminding us that love is truly in the details.
Suppliers:
Super Suppliers – Ceremony Venue: St Martin’s Church,Yapham// Reception Venue: Yapham Village Hall, East Yorkshire// Flowers: Fieldhouse Flowers// Catering: Friends For Dinner// Photography: Carly Bevan Photography// Disco: Night Owls// Car: The Alternative Wedding Car Company// Dress: Glory Days// Bride’s Shoes: Monsoon// Bridesmaid dress: ASOS// Groom’s Suit: Slaters// Corn Dolly Pew Ends: Cumbrian Country Crafts// Cake Topper: Better Off Wed, Etsy// Chair Hire: Black Event Furniture//
This is such a lovely wedding, I love how colourful it is!
Very bright, colorful. I am sure that is how they felt as well. So happy and bright!
This is the cutest! Love the fun pops of color.
Proof that it can be done beautifully! What a clever and beautiful bride!