This Bride Was Her Own Wedding Planner + She Nailed It!

This bride loved the idea of styling her wedding, being her own planner, and selecting small artisans and vendors to take part in her special day. And let me tell you, she absolutely knocked it out of the park! Lauren Fair Photography was there to capture all the lovingly crafted and curated details, from the 'maids wearing an assortment of soft blue gowns each chosen to complement them best to the ceremony and reception decked out in greenery by A Cottage Gardener.

From Lauren Fair Photography... Kate and Nick's wedding was a perfect representation of them - all the beauty surrounding them just lent itself to highlighting their love for each other, for family, and for God. From Kate, the bride... My inspiration for the day starts with my love of September. Something about the cool yet still warm weather and the changing leaves has always captured me. Also, we were engaged in April (on Nick’s birthday!) and knew we didn’t want more than a six-month engagement, so it worked out perfectly. Last, I had fallen in love with Lauren’s photography. I emailed her and Tim as quickly as I could, and we got their last available date – September 24th! That made our wedding date decision easy ;)In terms of design, I was looking for one that best reflected our relationship. We are laid-back and love the outdoors. We wanted an environment that made our guests feel comfortable yet that maintained an elegant flair. Wyndridge Farm provided exactly the atmosphere we were looking for, and we fell in love with the chapel view and, of course, the craft ciders!I took on the challenge of being my own wedding coordinator. I wanted to dig into my creative side. It was exciting to discover all the different, small vendors that contributed to our big day. I wanted to create a romantic feel that didn’t distract from the beautiful natural colors of the barn and landscape. To develop a light and airy vibe, we used primarily dusty blues and all white flowers. Kim from A Cottage Gardener created amazing lush, green table runners and a natural, elegant floral chapel display.I chose a dress for each of my bridesmaids that they would feel most beautiful in, and used the varying colors to elicit a watercolor effect as they stood side by side. The groomsmen wore navy suits but had the option to remove their jackets and stay sharp in their suspenders and bow ties. That worked out well because it was 86 degrees – an Indian Summer!Our favorite memory from the day was having so many friends and family come from all over the world. Just to name a few, we had friends travel all the way from Japan, China, Canada, and all over the United States. Having all these friends gathered to celebrate with me and my groom is something I will always remember. I loved looking out into the audience and seeing all of our loved ones.My grandparents weren’t able to make it, either due to health or passing, so I tied in a few special elements to represent them into the day. On my bouquet, I had my grandmother’s pin and my other grandmother’s chain necklace. Outside the reception, there was a table featuring our family members’ pictures who have been married before us, called “Generations of Love.”Another favorite moment was our “first look”. I was nervous to break tradition, but it was actually my favorite part of the day! It was thrilling to see Nick’s face and to have that intimate moment, just the two of us.Above all, our focus was to honor Jesus Christ in our ceremony and to give Him glory alone for our marriage. Before our vows, we had a special time of worship, singing hymns with those around us. That is a memory we will cherish forever.Lauren and Tim made Nick and I feel at ease. They captured our day and helped fill it with joy. We can’t say enough how in love we are with our photos!

Photography: Lauren Fair Photography | Cinematographer: Mason Ford | Floral Design: A Cottage Gardener | Wedding Dress: Hayley Paige | Invitations: Pretty Little Papers | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Groom's Attire: Joseph A. Bank | Venue: Wyndridge Farm | Bridal Journal: Manda Writes | Dried Flower Confetti: Larkspur Hill | Groom's Suspenders: Creattive Collective | Jelly Jar Favor Labels: Mavora | Program: Simply Suite | Signage: OAKYdesigns | Table Numbers: Red Clay Paper