Toledo-DIY backyard wedding of Lauren and Chad
Lauren and Chad were married on July 21, 2012 in the backyard of one of their very close friends. In fact, almost everything about their wedding involved their friends. The wedding officiant, the wedding musician, the DJ, the band, the bartenders, and even their photographer (me) are all friends of the couple.
Lauren worked very hard on making sure all of the details were just right! The centerpieces were painted alcohol bottles with stenciling, and each bottle was unique. Because it was an outdoor summer wedding, mosquitos were a concern. To combat the problem, Lauren used the bottle centerpieces and added a few drops of Lavendar Vanilla and Rosemary Mint oils to the bottles giving the centerpieces a dual purpose.
The wedding arch was built specifically for Lauren and Chad’s backyard wedding.
Instead of a sign in book, Lauren and Chad had river rocks to sign and put in a tall vase for their living room. This is a great idea because it not only creates a beautiful addition to the room, but it is also unique and will bring back wedding memories for everyone who sees it.
The aisle for the wedding was lined with petals Lauren had saved from every flower bouquet Chad had ever given to her.
The glasses for the bridal toast were borrowed from a neighbor who had them at their wedding.
The wedding guests got to play a few games of cornhole.
And the happy couple made a homemade photo booth for everyone to enjoy.
The bridal party was not traditional either. The bride had her brother as the would be maid of honor and her son was also part of her “side” along with two of her female friends. The groom’s “side” also consisted of one of his female friends.
The property that Lauren and Chad’s wedding took place on was large enough that they encouraged their friends to bring tents and camp out with them so the night didn’t have to end!
Of course, a real DIY Backyard Wedding wouldn’t be complete without a lot of beer kegs and jello shots!
Once all of the tent decorating was finished, it was time to get started taking the photos we could take before the wedding.
The ceremony was short and sweet.
We managed to escape the crowd and go to another part of the yard to take some bridal party, family and newlywed photos while the chairs were being moved back into the tent and the dinner was being set out.
It was soon time to head back to the tent for the dinner, toasts and formal dances.
As the night continued, the band, Boogie Matrix Mechanism, kept everyone going.
Congratulations and belated Happy Anniversary Lauren and Chad. May you have many more happy years together!
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