You may remember tattooed bride-to-be Jessica and Red’s engagement shoot last month from Chris Nachtwey Photography. They met when they were 13 and didn’t see each other again until Jess was 21. Red proposed on Halloween at a concert too but you’ll have to read the engagement story for that! (It’s seriously awesome!) Well now they’re married and I get to share with you their day!
We love nature so there were cute vintage owl figurines on our head table that have their heads leaning toward each other, also our cake topper was custom made for us on Etsy as a drunk husband being dragged by his bride, both with fishing rods in hand. Red grew up playing and helping on his grandparents’ farm and so that’s why I picked the farm that I did, in Litchfield, where their farm was. But the whole feel of the day was as if you stepped back in time and that’s exactly what I was hoping for… a feeling of a better time, when people loved for a lifetime, as Red and I do.
Most of my wedding was DIY. I made lanterns from mason jars with ribbons and lace, which I have to say was the most fun because all of my girls got together at my house and drank wine and decorated together! I ordered mis-matched vintage china online to be used instead of plain white, all the vases and other random items were vintage pieces I either had or bought, and I was able to find lots of vintage lace table cloths and shawls to place over the dark brown table cloths to give this really awesome vintage shabby chic look. My aunt made the most amazing bouquets for us, along with this gorgeous sash for my dress (which she put my mothers earrings and brooch into that she wore at her wedding to my father) I also made and decorated little birds nests to place on tables, since I had a nature theme, and had found little birds on clips to clip onto some beautiful lighted willow branches as centrepieces.
There were so many highlights to our day! My rings were tied (apparently not tight enough) to a birds nest that my adorable little ring bearer was supposed to carry to my future husband… he decided to stop mid isle, untie them, and run to Red with an empty birds nest! At the time I was freaking out, it was not a highlight, but in retrospect it was quite a memory.
I have a pretty chest piece and so I was really looking for a dress that did not cover it up and also complimented it. The sweet heart neckline to my Maggie Sottero dress was perfect.
Our advice to other couples planning their wedding: Don’t do it all yourself!!! I’m not kidding. It’s a tonne of work. Also make sure that during your wedding, find a minute to step away from everyone and just observe… breathe and take it all in, because the night goes by too fast.
I love all decoration of Jessica and Red’s wedding day – especially the colourful flowers (which were custom made by Jessica’s aunt). Thank you to them both and to Chris Nachtwey Photography for sharing their day with Marry Me Ink.
