“Tory + David are among the coolest, most laid back couples I have ever worked with. Victoria is a graphic designer/artist in Quincy, MA who stole my heart when she told me she was creating all of her own wedding stationary! With a plant theme in mind, I was absolutely blown away when I saw her stationary and how well it spoke to them. Their wedding was by far the most personalized and true wedding I have ever witnessed and I am excited to share it with you! These two met at their childhood job of Walmart and have quickly upgraded as she is a designer and he is an engineer. They spend their free time taking gorgeous drone photography and hanging with their cute kitty!” –Rachel Strangie Photography

What is your favorite wedding day memory?

There are many! I am so glad we did a first look. Seeing each other dressed up for the first time was a moment I’ll never forget. Once I had the dress on and was ready to go, all the stress I experienced leading up to the big day just went away. Our processional song was “Here Comes The Sun”. I remember hearing it start as I waited to walk down the aisle with my dad and thinking “okay, this is really happening”. Looking at my husband as we said our vows and thinking, “I’m marrying this guy right now” was pretty wild. As we were sitting at our table and listening to the speeches from our maid of honor and best man, I just looked around and thought “We just got married!! This is our WEDDING!” Just seeing how happy our guests were and how much fun we all had is something that especially stands out. Everyone told me the day would go quickly and it sure did. Remember to step back a little bit and take in everything around you.

What did you DIY for your wedding?

It was really important to us that the wedding was true to who we are. I’m a graphic designer, and knew before I even met my husband that I would design my own wedding invitations. We both love plants (seriously, our apartment looks like a jungle) so I gave everything a botanical theme. The save-the-dates, invitations, info cards, RSVP’s and thank-you notes all featured vector artwork I drew of all different types of leaves. I did the same thing for our table numbers. We wanted to include our beloved cat, Buttons, in any way we could, so for the numbers on each table, I took a different photo of her with each number and mounted it on gold card stock. I also designed the place cards — to keep them consistent with the invitations and table numbers, each guest got a cut-out of a different leaf on their card. I gave the guest book a similar look and feel. I designed a book using the leaves and marbled background from the invitations on the cover, and pictures of us and our cat throughout the pages. I have a good friend who happens to be an art teacher, and she provided a giant prop of our cat that she hand-painted for use in the photo booth. It was such a hit and everyone loved taking pictures with it. For our bridal party, I made gift bags for each person. I bought some plain canvas bags and dip-dyed them green, and made a name tag for each one using green and corrugated craft card stock. My hair and makeup was also DIY. Since I have short hair, there wasn’t much I could do there, but the makeup involved hours of practice, deep dives into YouTube for tips and tutorials, and many trips to Ulta. I was glad I did it because my makeup skills improved, I learned some new things, and I still have all the makeup so I can use it again! If you are on the fence about doing your own makeup — take it from me, it is possible!

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

Yes! My dress and shoes were the something new. For the something old, my godmother gave me a set of pearl earrings, a necklace and a bracelet that had belonged to her mother. My godmother again came to the rescue for the something blue, which was a glittery blue streak in my hair. This was a throwback to my college days when I would dye my hair with a blue (or purple, or pink, or red) streak. I guess the blue glitter could also double as the something borrowed!

Any advice for brides currently in the planning process?

Wedding planning can be stressful. It may be the biggest event you’re fully in charge of planning — so be sure to have fun amidst all the craziness and trust that it will all come together. It’s easy to get overwhelmed seeing Pinterest-worthy photos of other weddings and answering questions from relatives and friends. I learned that weddings are something EVERYONE has opinions about! People are going to want to give you all kinds of advice — learn how to say “Thanks! We’ll keep that in mind!” and don’t lose sight of what’s most important to the two of you. But at the same time, don’t be afraid to lean on your friends and loved ones for help. At the end of the day, it won’t matter if you have square or round tables, what type of shoe you wear, or if you arrive in a fancy white limo or your bright blue Honda Fit (we did this … and nobody noticed or cared). All your favorite people will be there to celebrate YOU and have a good time! At the end of the day, you’ll be married, and that’s the most important thing. The rest is just details. – Tory, the Bride

Event Credits

Photography: Rachel Strangie Photography // Venue: The Jones River Trading Post // Flowers: Whole Foods // Catering: Plymouth Bay Catering // Officiant: Dr. Don Gage // DJ: Austin Diamond // Engagement Ring and Wedding Bands: Jared // Bride + Bridemaid's Attire: David's Bridal // Bridesmaid's Shoes: DSW // Groom + Groomsmen's Attire: Men's Warehouse // Cake Topper: Creating Carmichcael