Merry Wedding 2012

We planned and executed a wedding in just 6-months time to meet our goal of getting married on Christmas Eve. Thanks to everyone for showing interest in our planning; in return, I come bearing pictures.

Of the 900+ photos that we received from our photographer, we thought it would be nice to share a few in the off chance that anyone else is planning a wedding 1) during the holidays, 2) on a budget, 3) with DIY personal touches, 4) in a retail store, or 5) as a cocktail-style affair. It was nothing but untraditional, as far as most weddings you could imagine, but it came together really beautifully for us, for our family.

Nearly all of the decorations you see in these photos were already in the store where we were married. We brought in tables (wooden ones), 25 rented chairs to surround those tables, and also 7 bar-height cocktail tables for people to stand at which we arranged to form an aisle. We hung several old white sheets in a hidden corner of the store where I could change on site into my dress and do my own makeup, all of which I did about an hour before the wedding as guests arrived. My mom, my sister, and the photographer intermittently kept me company. I peered through some holes in the sheet-curtain and watched people quietly, I was so happy.

My dad walked me down the aisle to an acoustic rendition of Paul McCartney’s “Maybe I’m Amazed,” a song that my husband gravitated to; we created our own playlist for the wedding, I should tell you more about that sometime. We were in full control of the ceremony and made it our own (big thanks to blogger friend Michelle who shared her own ceremony script with us for structure and guidance, and to my cousin Matt, who got ordained online for the occasion). Without bridesmaids or groomsmen, it was really easy to coordinate our wedding and keep the ceremony very personal. Pete’s daughter Julia is the only one who stood with us, and we incorporated her into the ceremony by giving her a necklace just before doing our vows. It went flawlessly, except when the store’s phone rang loudly as we were pronounced husband and wife, but something was bound to go awry.

Our reception immediately followed the ceremony; the caterers and bar had set up before the ceremony and we all happily ate and drank for hours. Our menu was divine–farmer’s cheese pierogis and polish sausage bites, meatballs, cucumber cups, stuffed mushrooms–all things that could be eaten easily without needing a full set of silverware or table. There was no formal dance floor, no choreographed routines, no father-daughter dance, just lots of hugging and smiling.

And with that, go ahead, enjoy the photos in no particular order, and remember that you can click on each photo to see it larger.

Notes:

• Location: Preferred Plants, Rochester, NY
• Wedding dress, suit, and best girl dress: J.Crew
• Bouquet: Magnolia, Douglas Fir Pine, Colonial Pine, Tallow
• Photography by Katie Duane.