“Christy and Geoff were one of our favorite couples to work with this past year. When I first met them, I was struck by what a fabulous combination of excited dreamer and down-to-earth bride Christy was – a beautiful balance she maintained throughout the planning process. She and Geoff were rarely fazed by efforts needed to pull of their DIY endeavor, including cutting logs, painting wood signs, and drawing on chalkboard, among so many other heartfelt details. Their dedication and support system of family and friends was very impressive. They were committed to having an awesome day, and had no problem putting in the work to make that happen, while still remaining open to new ideas and compromise, including calling in professional help when needed. That’s what makes the best couples and the best weddings – the ones who put in the work and keep their eyes on the prize, while still remaining flexible, having fun, and never forgetting the love that brought them to this moment. That was Christy and Geoff. There was no way you could walk into that wedding and think it was anyone else’s but theirs. I was so honored to be a part their wedding day.” – A Bride’s Ally

“Rain on a wedding day, especially one with an outdoor ceremony, is something most couples fret over. Not Christy and Geoff. They approached their big day with their characteristic positivity and excitement, choosing a beautiful, wooded park for the event, handcrafting gorgeous details and looking for ways to make their day really personal. So when a rain storm blew in, we took advantage of the gorgeous skies for some pictures before ducking under umbrellas. Once the storm passed, it only took a few minutes to towel off the seats so their guests could enjoy the ceremony and dance the night away in the pavilion.” – Hawes Photography

What is your favorite wedding day memory?

Right after the ceremony and before we were grabbed for pictures, my husband and I found some quiet time one-on-one on the back deck behind our venue. We got to spend about 15 minutes together alone, allowing time to reflect on the biggest moment in our lives we just experienced and basking in it all together. This was by far my top moment and something I will forever remember.

What did you DIY for your wedding?

Being a budget bride, we DIY-ed practically everything. I found inspiration on Pinterest, Etsy, blogs (especially Something Turquoise!), wherever I could find it and tried to recreate it to the best of my crafting abilities while enlisting the help of friends.

My husband and I made a wine box that we used for our unity portion of the ceremony using the tutorial we found here on Something Turquoise and also the spray painted burlap table numbers idea we found here too! We made chalkboard signs by buying old frames at Goodwill, painting the frames, and spray painting the pictures with chalkboard paint to write messages (such as our menu, instagram our wedding, etc.). A group of friends and I made our programs that also served as fans. I ordered cheap balloons from a wholesaler and made tails out of tissue paper for Geronimo balloons. My husband cut the wood slices used for our centerpieces. We bought the baby’s breath and spider mums in bulk and arranged them ourselves. My husband cut wood into small pieces that my sister and I hand painted to display during the reception. We repurposed a shutter door by painting it for our seating chart. We made our seating cards with kraft card stock and little pretty embellishments. My step-father-in-law made our cupcake display.

Something old, new, borrowed and blue?

I wore my grandmother’s engagement/wedding ring as my something old and borrowed. My something new and blue was my husband’s wedding gift to me: the Something Blue Manolo Blahnik Blue Satin shoes!

Any advice for brides currently in the planning process?

Stay true to your vision! We got some flack for many of our non-traditional wedding elements (our readings, my sister walking me down the aisle, and an outdoor ceremony to name a few). Once the ceremony unfolded exactly how we envisioned, it felt like us and was that much more meaningful and special to us.

One caveat: be willing to go with the flow and be flexible. Some things cannot happen. Be reasonable. The Italian Soda bar I had my heart set on wasn’t practical or cheap; I just had to let go of it. Near the beginning of your engagement, make a list of the non-negotiables with your partner and stick to that. Everything else is negotiable.

Hire a coordinator! That was our single best wedding expense. Being on a tight budget, it’s a hard pill to swallow. But our coordinator was worth her weight in gold. I realized early on that the bride, groom, and their families are usually the ones who work to put on the event and they need to enjoy it most! Also, I had never planned a wedding before and wanted the biggest event of my life to be in very capable hands. Not to mention with our venue being in a public park, there was minimal staff support on site. For us, this was a no brainer. Do yourself a favor and hire a coordinator; the earlier, the better! – Christy, the bride

Event Credits

Photography + Guest Book: Hawes Photography // Venue: Quail Ridge Park // Wedding Coordinator: A Bride's Ally // Caterer: Maggiano’s Little Italy // Officiant: Carolyn Burke // Flowers: Whole Foods // Cupcakes: The Cakery Bakery // Rentals: Weinhardt Rentals // Staff: Party Helpers Unlimited // DJ: Les Adams, family friend // Dress: BHLDN // Shoes: Manolo Blahnik // Hair: Crystal Brinkley