Elegant Outside to Shabby Chic or Family Barn

In my 25 years of helping a bride have the wedding and reception of her dream, to say I have seen it all would be an understatement.  The brides I have helped in the last year are more about their wedding being more personalized than for the so called wow factor.

Outside wedding held at a more interment location or at a family members home have become a very much sought after day.  I love the more laid back atmosphere, with so many personal and homey touches. Outside and home weddings show the love of family and friends, and play a very huge part of the brides and grooms special day.

So pulling from the weddings I have helped with in the past year, I want to show some of the same story board and inspirational themes and ideas for the DYI bride.

Your wedding can be an elegant affair with a story book feel with lace candles, to a grand shabby chic affair with wonderful touches of vintage or  a simple service with the barn decorated with sting lights and huge tissue pom poms with a huge party after.

                  Inspirations pictures we gathered ideas from:

A few extra touches always make the event more personal.

Shop at your local thrift stores and you can find old individual salt and pepper shakers, and use wire to make the card holders for the tables.

Hobby Lobby and Michael's carry a good assortment of bottles, and jewelry brooches to adhere to the jars.  Add ribbon and your ready to put your place cards in salt and pepper and some small flowers to match your theme in the bottles and place on tables or in clusters of different size and shape bottles.

Another great find at thrift store and antique markets are plates you would love to use over and over again.   Have your guest and your bridal party writes well wishes on them or maybe a favorite recipe with a permanent marker.

Use mason jars at your outside wedding; you can fill with sand and place a candle inside, or as in the above picture make a chandelier with the clear and blue jars. I like the use of the mason jars with different colors of sand instead of the unity candle.