Real Wedding: Ashley & Mark

After posting an adorable engagement shoot the other day, I wanted to end the year with this super sweet real wedding courtesy of Gaby J Photography.  She recently shot the Las Vegas backyard wedding of Ashley & Mark and I wanted to share some of the lovely personal touches.

I think sometimes during wedding planning, people can lose sight of the big picture… getting married.  Instead you are focused on registries and head counts and it can be overwhelming for many brides and/or grooms.  This couple kept is simple, got thrifty, and in the end had a very meaning and personal day.

Ashley made all the decorations herself using inspiration from various wedding blogs.  She used a mix of thrifted lace, vellum, felt and anything else she could get a hold of.

From Ashley, “For months and months, I scoured every thrift store in town searching for vintage floral dinner plates and dessert plates, vintage lace table cloths, doilies, mugs, thermoses, platters, jars, and vases!  It was a lot of work, but it turned out exactly as I planned and in the end, saved a ton of money! ”  One tip from Ashley… she found lace table cloths to be really expensive but found several lace curtains that were much more affordable.  Getting clever, she just layered them onto a plain colored table cloth and voila!  Beautifully covered tables with change to spare.

Ashley said her favorite crafty creation was the mason jar drinking glasses.  She bought chalkboard contact paper (we found some here) and cut them into cute little labels.  Chalk markers (less messy than regular chalk) were placed on the tables so people could write their names on their jars.

To fill their vintage mugs and tea cups, they served hot water for tea, hot cocoa, and warm apple cider in retro pump thermoses.  They had agave syrup, marshmallows, apple slices, and cinnamon sticks as garnishes.  Ashley said this was a big hit!

Another quirky aspect was the totally vintage feel of the images.  Gaby loves vintage cameras, polaroids, and isn’t afraid of light leaks or sunflare.  If it fits the tone of your wedding, feel free to hire a photographer that embraces the past.

I also love how Ashley & Mark’s whimsical tastes extended to the bridal party.  Look at these adorable gals. (I own mustard yellow tights too and LOVE them!).  It is nice to see each bridesmaid able to express her own style.

Congratulations to Ashley & Mark!  Thank you for letting us share your wedding and to Gaby for sending these our way.  Ashley also has her own Etsy shop where she sells many of the things she makes.  If you aren’t very crafty but like her decorations, you may be able to hire her for your own wedding decor.