“When you come across two people like Kim and Jim, no matter if you’re a friend, family member, co-worker, or like me, a vendor turned friend, you just don’t let go. These two are quite possibly the happiest, most down to earth couple I’ve ever met and if anyone needed any proof that two people can be destined to be together, they wouldn’t have to look any further than simply glancing at these two. They truly, truly have a one-of-a-kind love. They are both teachers, and met at the school the teach at in Long Beach NY. Jim asked her out to lunch and a bike ride which then turned into dinner and dessert too!

On wedding morning, Kim, her sisters, her mother and I went to Lake Valhalla where she would put her dress on and get ready for her first look with Jim. When she stepped into the dress all eyes in the room were on her. She was stunning. An earthly princess, complete with tulle and the perfect hair and most beautiful freckles in the world. I went downstairs to check on Jim and he was finishing up his vows. They were to read them privately to each other during their portraits and I couldn’t wait for that moment. He got situated on the docks out on the lake and Kim couldn’t wait to see him. So now I struggle to find the words to describe this incredible moment. I had Jim turn around before Kim got to him and I couldn’t be happier we did. Jim literally RAN to her with arms wide open, the biggest smile I’ve ever see and tears streaming down his face simultaneously. Thinking about this is just making me cry all over again! Towards the end of portraits, they read their vows to each other and I literally needed a towel to wipe my tears this time because one tissue wasn’t going to cut it. At the end of Jim’s vows, he quoted Adam Sandler, and it couldn’t have been more fitting.

“I wanna make you smile whenever you’re sad. Carry you around when your arthritis is bad. All I wanna do is grow old with you. I’ll get your medicine when your tummy aches. Build you a fire if the furnace breaks. Oh it could be so nice, growing old with you. I’ll miss you. Kiss you. Give you my coat when you are cold. Need you. Feed you. Even let ya hold the remote control. So let me do the dishes in our kitchen sink. Put you to bed if you’ve had too much to drink. I could be the man who grows old with you. I wanna grow old with you.” –Laura Lee Photography

What is your favorite wedding day memory?

My favorite wedding day memory was when Jim and I read each other our vows. This was something we wanted to do in front of all of our wedding guests, but as the wedding got closer – my nerves got the best of me and I didn’t want to read them in front of so many people. After our first look, Jim and I found a private spot in the woods near our venue and read our vows to each other. The moment was private, intimate and beautiful. I couldn’t get through one word without crying and either could Jim. It was romantic, simple and I am so glad we decided to read them in private. It was a moment we will remember forever.

What did you DIY for your wedding?

Ahhh what didn’t we DIY for our wedding?! Jim and I are both teachers and we enjoy DIY projects for our house and classrooms. Jim is obsessed with garbage picking, so the majority of our apartment is decorated with things he’s found in the trash and restored it in some way. Jim is also a wood worker – so we knew we wanted to incorporate that into our wedding somehow. When we got engaged, we knew from the beginning that we wanted to make or upcycle the majority of our wedding decor. It was important to us to make the wedding our own, and to make each detail “us”.

Cricut Machine: I wouldn’t have been able to make any of our decor without the cricut! DIY brides – if you don’t have one of these machines yet, it is worth every penny! A co-worker and friend of mine turned me onto it, it’s changed my life. The cricut is a electronic cutting machine. It cuts up to 60 different materials including thin wood. It helped me make signs, table numbers, etc.

Centerpieces: Our centerpieces started with a plank of barn wood that we found for free on Craigslist. We spent a year collecting recycled bottles that washed ashore from Dead Horse Bay in Brooklyn. We took the bottles home, soaked them and cleaned them so that we could fill them with flowers. Each table had between 8-10 bottles on it, so in all we collected around 160 bottles.

Table numbers: Our table numbers were made with a piece of stone tile from home depot. {only $1 per tile} I used the cricut to create the lettering – using a downloaded calligraphy font and black stickers on vinyl. We held the table numbers up with vintage forks from the flea market that we bent to make into mini easels.

Signage: Jim and I did a trip to Home Depot for a large piece of plywood. We took the wood home and cut it into a bunch of different shapes/sizes then we stained it using a stain called “special walnut”. I used the cricut for lettering and “caramel” colored vinyl.

Escort Cards: We got married on a lake, so I wanted our escort cards to be skipping stones. I used a chalk pen to hand letter the stones.

Wedding Favors: We made maple wood candle holders – Jim had a huge piece of maple wood lying around in his wood shop so we cut it up into square pieces and drilled a whole into it for the candle. I sanded them and used a beeswax finish.

Cake Stand: Using left over plywood that we bought for the signs, we made a large cake box to match. Same “special walnut” stain.

Guestbook: We found mini paddles and white washed them so our guests could sign them.

Ceremony Chairs: upside down lightbulbs with twine used as vases!

Did you have a something old, new, borrowed and blue?

I wish! I think I was so obsessed with planning every detail of our decor that I completely blanked on my something old, new borrowed and blue. It wasn’t until my rehearsal dinner when my bridesmaid asked me about it and I finally realized I forgot. My Mom ended up giving me a white and blue handkerchief that we said could be my “borrowed, blue and old” and my dress was new!

Any advice for brides currently in the planning process?

Do not sweat the small stuff {I totally did and regret it!} Remember every moment and enjoy the day no matter what goes wrong {because something is bound to go wrong}. Enjoy every second because it goes by in a heartbeat. -Kimberly, the Bride

Event Credits

Photographer: Laura Lee Photography // Venue: Lake Valhalla Club // Officiant: Christopher Buckley // Florist: Scott A. Designs, LLC // DJ: Offbeet Productions // Invitations: Home and Anchor // Save the Date's: Henry James Paper Goods // Cake: Palermo Bakery // Bride's Attire: I Do...I Do Bridal Studio // Hair + Make-up: Facez // Bridesmaid's Attire: Joanna August // Groom + Groomsmen's Attire: J. Crew