“Nicole was one of the most elegant and poised brides I have ever had the pleasure to photograph. Honestly who could have rocked that vintage fur coat better than her? No one. I promise. The day had a bit of a chill to it, but the sun was shining which made it absolutely perfect for a February winter wedding day. No detail was overlooked on this special day. Nicole + Paul have a love you can just feel when you are in their presence. They really are perfect for one another.” – L Hunley Photography

What is your favorite wedding day memory?

The entire day was my favorite memory! There were so many special moments, from spending the morning getting ready with my bridesmaids, to my daughter and dad walking me down the aisle, seeing Paul for the first time, seeing all our wedding guests {some of which we hadn’t seen for years}, having a blast at the reception, my new husband and daughter sharing a step-father/step-daughter dance to their favorite song, heartfelt toasts and leaving the evening as husband and wife. It was also very special that my grandmother was able to attend. She has been in poor health for quite some time and we weren’t sure if she would make it, but she did and it really made the day even more special. Oh, and the weather! It was an unbelievable 50 degrees that day, which is unheard of for February in Southwest Ohio!

What did you DIY for your wedding?

We DIY’ed nearly everything! Partly because of our modest budget, but also because I wouldn’t have had it any other way. I think I set the tone {but also raised the bar pretty high} with the save-the-dates that I created. I used our favorite photo for the front of a piece of narrow, folded kraft paper and hand designed the message on the inside. I finished it off with a piece of jute tied in a loose knot on the inside so when our guests opened the card, it would tie the knot! I also designed our wedding invites, reception cards and RSVP’s. Paul and I also had our hands on almost every piece of our reception and wedding décor.

There were very few things that were store bought, but most items that were still had a little something extra added to them, like the wreaths and swags that were used in the reception décor. Our favors were tiny live pine trees our guests could take home and plant to remember our wedding day. My bridesmaids and I worked tirelessly to make 200 little burlap bags by hand for the favors to go in. I absolutely loved the setup we used for the seating cards which were completely DIY. I borrowed two old ladders from a friend and strung rope between them from which I clothes pinned little handmade tags with our guests names and table numbers. I opted not to use individual programs and made a big sign that the guests could look at as they entered the church. At our reception, we had a neat canvas that my sister designed for our guests to put their thumbprints on as leaves for our guestbook.

My favorite DIY piece of our wedding was the tablescapes on our guest tables. I felt that these were extra special because Paul cut down two cedar trees to use for our greenery in the floral arrangements and on the tables. We also used the same trees for log sections which were used as centerpieces on our long reception tables. I also had some DIY help from two of my friends who had their own DIY weddings and lent me some of their décor! I’ve gotten so many compliments about how unique our wedding was and am proud to say that we did all the work to make it that way!

Something old, new, borrowed and blue?

I had several old, new, borrowed and blue pieces, but one in particular covered all but the new and was very special to me. I wore my late great-grandmother’s blue cocktail ring that I borrowed from a very dear aunt of mine. It meant so much to have a piece of my great-grandmother with me to feel like she could still be part of our day.

Any advice for brides currently in the planning process?

Pinterest is your best friend! I really couldn’t have made my wedding what it was without the ideas I got from Pinterest to make on my own. I would also say that little things that may seem like a really big deal don’t mean that much in the long run. Just enjoy your special day and don’t fret over small details. Everything will turn out perfectly even if you feel like something didn’t go just as planned! Your wedding is just one day, but your marriage lasts a lifetime. Don’t get so caught up in wedding details that you forget to work on that too! -Nicole, the bride

Event Credits

Photographer: L Hunley Photography // Ceremony Venue: Saint Louise Catholic Church // Reception Venue: Pattison Lodge // Invitations: The Bride // Caterer: Jacks Catering // Cake: Kakes and Karaoke // Florist: The Bride + Friend // DJ: Kakes and Karaoke // Wedding Dress: Wendy's Bridal // Bridesmaids Robes: Silk and More