Handmade Rustic Wedding: Lauren & Phil

There is something about a Southern wedding that I can’t resist. And this sweet handmade Virginia wedding takes the cake. Or should I say pie? And captured so beautifully by Karen Seifert, it’s sure to have you longing for a Southern wedding of your own. From Lauren, the bride:

The inspiration for our wedding day was the South – I grew up in New Jersey and have fallen in love with the beauty and charm of the South since moving to Virginia 2 years ago to be with Phil. We wanted an outdoor wedding on a farm that was unlike anything my family from New Jersey had ever seen. 

The paper wheel backdrop we hung on a red barn wall for the photo booth was one of my favorite DIY projects. I invited a bunch of girlfriends over and we spent an evening making paper wheels and drinking wine. And I made the personalized Star Wars “pie toppers” by painting wood pegs to look like me and Phil as Star Wars characters. The hanging pennants were actually cut from copies of a map Phil had commissioned for me of “our world”. All the chalkboards were frames and mirrors we’d picked up at thrift stores and antique shops and painted with chalkboard paint. Our friend Mary then did the beautiful menu design on them. 

My advice for couples who are planning their wedding now is to hire a planner or day-of coordinator. Phil and I both spent tons of time scouring antique stores, meeting with vendors, and doing crafts at our kitchen table but on the day of the wedding, it was absolutely amazing to wake up and not have to worry about those details anymore. Day-of coordinators are worth their weight in gold. 

How did you make your wedding YOU?

Our wedding reflected everything that we love and let us celebrate under the stars with the people that we love and that made it completely and totally “us”. 

Don’t you just love all of the handmade details? The nods to Star Wars, the engraved mason jars, the chalkboard art, those pinwheels! That’s definitely one of my favorite photobooth backdrops yet. Check out the gallery for even more. Congrats to Lauren & Phil.

{Vendors} Venue: Farvue, Richmond, VA / Invitation Letterpress: Thousand Pound Press / Day-of Coordination: Woodgrain & Lace / Photograhy: Karen Seifert / Pies: WPA Bakery / Flowers: Green Flamingo / Hair: Katie Blue Salon / Make Up: House of Luciano / Bridal Gown: Allure Bridals / Bride’s Shoes: ModCloth / Sash on Gown: Ruche / Groom’s Suit: Brooks Brothers / Mason jar engraving for favors: Big Secret / Rentals: Party Perfect / Catering: White House Catering