Rustic Backyard Wedding

https://www.katebackdrop.com.au/collections/wedding-backdrops
The weather was beautiful, not a cloud in the sky
and thankfully, everything came together just as I

had hoped.

And when little things didn’t go as I had planned,
I kept repeating the mantra for the day:
“A wedding is a party, not a performance”
And it helped, a lot.

 
My daughter wanted to get married in our backyard
this summer, so months ago we set out planning a

late June wedding.  And prayed for good weather.

Here is how we pulled it off on a shoestring…

The burlap wedding arch was probably my favorite
feature of the wedding backdrops (besides the bride and groom!)
I measured from the ground to the limbs is would hang
from and gave myself extra burlap to puddle at the ground.
I ended up using 7 yards of natural burlap.
 
The tissue paper balls were a Dollar Tree project that I
found the tutorial for here.
 
I filled Mason jars about 1/4 full of clean seashells,
and bought big bundles of fresh flowers from the grocery
store to fill each mason jar.  Then wrapped jute twine
around the top to give each jar a rustic, romantic look.
 
8th grade dance dresses
I used scrapbook paper and jute twine to make bunting to
hang along the fences…
 
 

 

 

A little chalkboard with the initials of the Bride and Groom greeted
our guests as they arrived…

 
 

I found this chicken wire wrapped galvanized bucket at the thrift store
and it made the perfect holder for cards…

 
 
 
Our hydrangeas began blooming just before the big day arrived.
We filled metal buckets around our yard with fresh hydrangeas and greenery
from the plants…
 
 
The Dollar Tree had these basic white favor boxes, which we filled with dinner mints
wrapped in aqua tulle…I saw the phrase “mint to be” which I thought was
so cute, and printed it on favor tags…
 
 
 
 
The bride wanted Tiffany blue punch at the wedding, and I found about 100
different variations of it.  I made my own and it was a hit.
 
Tiffany Blue Punch
 Large glass drink dispenser (I think ours holds about 1 1/2 to 2 gallons)
Add three cups of sugar
2 packages of unsweetened Lemonade Koolaid
2 packages of unsweetened Blue Raspberry Koolaid
 
Add about eight cups of ice, and fill with water
stir well and enjoy!
 
After the bride and groom exchanged vows, and spent the afternoon with
family and friends they escaped for their honeymoon.
I held back the tears as I sent my little girl off as a “Mrs” in her
Ford covered with Oreo cookies, “just married” on the windows.
With the guys she loves at the wheel.
 
We gained a son this weekend, watched as memories were made,
and the kids ran barefoot in the grass laughing and playing tag.
While hosting a wedding in your backyard or home is a lot of work,
I wouldn’t change a thing.  It was casual, fun, and a lot less stressful
than it could have been had we have not chosen a relaxed theme
and venue.
 
Plus I have a lot of burlap left over.  I may be up late a night munching
on dinner mints and crafting with that burlap for a long time.
The benefits of playing wedding planner and Mom 🙂
 
 
 
 
 
 

   

{fabulous places I party}
 
Monday
The DIY Showoff
Craft O Maniac,
Skip To My Lou
Alderberry Hill 
The Scoop @ The Farmhouse Porch 
Mod Vintage Life Tuesday
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia 
A Diamond In The Stuff 
Home Stories A to Z 
The DIY Dreamer 
The Winthrop Chronicles 
Today’s Creative Blog 
House On The Way
Clean And Scentsible-The Inspiration Exchange

Wednesday
Ginger Snap Crafts 
Southern Lovely 
Lil’ Luna  
Vintage Gwen
 http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2013/06/wow-us-wednesdays-124.html
The Blissful Bee  Thursday
Live Laugh Linky Thursday 
The Shabby Creek Cottage  
House Of Hepworths 
52 Mantels 
Beyond The Picket Fence 
The 36th Avenue 
Stone Gable   

Friday 

32 Responses

  1. Tanya, WOW, what can I say? You did a great job and as you said, a wedding is a party and you created the perfect place for a relaxed and beautiful party!
    Great!
    Ciaoo
    Lisa

  2. Gorgeous touches for a beautiful wedding! I've been waiting to see this post and you did not disappoint. Love the arch and the pennants on the fence. Good job, Tanya! Your daughter is lucky to have such a clever mom 🙂

  3. I am so glad it all came together so well. And the weather cooperated – hurray! Love the "mint to be" boxes – so cute! Congrats on a job well done!

  4. Beautiful wedding Tanya! I absolutely love the burlap arch! Great job! I'm sure your daughter will cherish the day even more knowing that you put your heart into every part of it.

  5. Great job. Love the burlap arch too. I see the chalkboard sign says "J & A", but the pairs names are Mandy and Justin. Who is the A? Just curious…

  6. Tanya!
    Handmade weddings make me SO happy, and I realized I was holding my breath as I read down your post! Haha
    That burlap arch is just stunning, and ALL of your handmade special touches are so beautiful. What lovely memories you two will share of making her special day come to life. Love it all! Congratulations to the newlyweds, and your whole family.

    Jeanette

  7. Hi Tanya,
    My first time to visit through bloggie friends parties.

    OMG! this wedding is such a spectacular moment, when Mum do all the decors. I salute you for a grea JOB done.

    Congrats to the newly wed.

    Greetings from Stockholm,
    /CC girl

  8. This is great, Tanya! My hubby and I are hosting a "post" wedding party in our backyard for our son since their wedding is a destination wedding and you've given me some great ideas! Looks like it was a fabulous time!~ ~~Angela

  9. It all turned out so pretty — love the burlap arch. Thanks for the punch recipe…the color was perfect! Tweeting & featuring tomorrow. Thanks so much for linking up. xoxo

  10. Hi! I was wondering if you could tell me where you got the burlap for the wedding arch you made. I am getting married next year and making my own arch (and pretty much everything else), and I adore the arch you made. The burlap you chose is just perfect, but I can't seem to find anything like that, so I was hoping you could tell me where you got it. Thanks so much!

    1. Hi Debbie, when I have made this recipe it fills my punch bowl so it makes at least a gallon 🙂 but it’s so yummy you may want to double it! Thank you so much for stopping by – xo

  11. Pfy5Se Your current positions continually include much of really up to date info. Where do you come up with this? Just saying you are very resourceful. Thanks again

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hi there !!

Welcome to twelveOeight! I’m Tanya and I am so glad you are here. If you are ready to start loving the home you have now, then join me on my mission. One thrifty project at a time we can make our today homes our dream homes.

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