Steps to a Great Wedding {Step 2}

 STEP 2: MAKE AND GROW THINGS YOURSELF

We did our best to create an affordable wedding, and one of the easiest ways to do that was to use things we already had around. I'm not talking about little DIY things (which you should also be doing). Think about planting a garden of a flower you want to incorporate in your wedding. Try using decor meant for your yard or house instead of buying something wedding-specific. Look at everything as a wedding supply!

Photo by Jessica Fertig

My parents were planning on building a gazebo for their yard, so they let me use the framework as my backdrop . Extra good idea - they actually had it constructed by some high school boys in shop class. So instead of a cheapo prom archway, I could hang my signature chandelier from a sturdy metal structure.

Photo by A Shafer Photography

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We swiped some hydrangeas from the yard to use in the aisle hangers. 

Photo by A Shafer Photography

Photo by A Shafer Photography

 

We also harvested pampas grass from months ago to use as accents on the gazebo. I ended up buying most of the peacock feathers we used online or at Hobby Lobby, but consider contacting a local peacock farmer for better prices. Be resourceful!

Steps to a Great Wedding {Step 1}

I recently said "I do" to my special someone. I am not the biggest perfectionist and only had about four months to plan, so I've collected a few steps to help you make your wedding a great one. Take notes!

STEP 1: MARRY SOMEONE FOREIGN

Marrying someone foreign ensures your wedding will be unique and festive. Most cultures tend to be a little more festive than the Midwest. Also, if anything goes wrong, you can claim it was just a part of your fiance's culture!

Photos by A Shafer Photography 

Photos by A Shafer Photography 

Cake unveiling was something I'd never seen before I married into my Jamaican family, but it was great that the moms had a special role in the reception. The guests' cake was already in boxes on the tables, so there was no need for cake cutters or servers.

Photos by A Shafer Photography 

But, somehow or another we didn't have our serving set in the right place at the right time. It's OK! We just used a butter knife. If anyone would have asked, I would have said it was a Jamaican tradition.

Sister City - Minneapolis, MN

I visited the beautiful city of Minneapolis this weekend with some of my Ya-Ya Sisters. I pretty much consider it my second home, as one of the Sisters lives there. It has a great feel and typically enjoyable weather.

Pretty flowers on a random walk.

Walking around outfit - Target top, Free People Shorts

Colorful mural

Empty quail egg shell from Masu. Noms.

Wedding Wear

I've been obsessed with the J. Crew Bubble necklace, just like the rest of the blogosphere. But I'm poor, so I bought 2 on Ebay.

The end.

Parrots and Rainbows

So, still talking about honeymoon accessories, I wore some really cute parrot earrings by Betsey Johnson. Sad to hear she's going out of business. She has some cute as heck jewelry, although I was never too into any of the clothing. I also have cute octopi/squid and elephant earrings by Betsey.

 

I wore some beaded earrings I got from Halls. Very Mexico.

And, last but not least, I brought back the rainbow bracelet from St. Patrick's Day. 

DIY Carmelo Necklace

Months and months ago, this gorgeous Anthropologie necklace caught my eye. I actually considered buying it. The $48 price tag is pretty reasonable for Anthro. However, the sparkly bead reminded me of some that my mother-in-law had received as a gift from India.

I decided to give it a go and do-it-myself! I had nothing to lose!

I think it went pretty well. I'm not included instructions because I basically took all the beads and strung them together. I used fingernail polish, acrylic, and some spray paint to alter the colors of the beads I already had. I also used washers in between some of the large beads because the holes were too big. I could have made the main beads a little more yellow to match the Carmelo necklace, but I prefer the orange color for now.

Neck Candy

So, I just got back from my honeymoon - or as I like to call it - nectarsun. I'll post more on my wedding and other adventures soon! However, here are some examples of the pretty necklaces I rocked while in Mexico.

I like orange. My mother-in-law made me this necklace several years ago. It's totally made out of real rocks!

My hubs calls this my "hip-hop" outfit. I was really trying to go more J.Crew, but either way it was a good pool-side pop of color!

I wore this necklace to Crococun to visit some snakes, crocodiles and lizards. I thought its dino-like appearance was appropriate for the outing.

I've had this turquoise beaded necklace for years. I got it from World Market, which is a great place to get unique, affordable, tribal-ish jewelry.

I actually got this necklace at Halls, a departments store subsidiary of Hallmark Cards. That's right, I payroll deduct this stuff, and with a DISCOUNT! And everyone thought I got it in Mexico.