Weddings are one of my favorite social events, because they are such a celebration of love and lives to be shared. Recently I served as a bridesmaid for my friend Marci’s wedding in Arkansas. She decided on a winter woodland wonderland theme, and I posted about her inspiration here.
There were so many frugal, creative, and handmade touches throughout the reception. Matches and sparklers awaited the departure of the bride and groom. Painted branches hung with white lights and origami birds greeted guests as they entered.
The bride looked radiant in her 3/4 sleeve beaded gown. She had each bridesmaid pick her own dress with a color guideline of pale to slate blue. We looked everywhere for a maternity dress in those colors for me, but finally found one in the regular section at the Gap. They basically only make maternity dresses in dark monochrome or giant crazy patterns.
Each centerpiece was unique and handmade. They made the room look really lovely and fit the winter woodland theme perfectly.
The soft glow of white candles set the romantic mood in the room. Mirrors reflected the light throughout the room.
The wedding and reception were so lovely and different, and really fit the personalities of the couple. My favorite weddings are those that make you think, “This fits them so well.” Every touch was thought through and so many were both frugal and handmade, which makes them dear to my heart. I’m so thankful I got to be a part of Marci and Scott’s special day.
What unique idea did you have at your wedding, or see at a wedding you attended?
Jackson suffers much during the winter. It is not wiener dog weather around here. He wears his horse blanket jacket all the time. I’m not a big proponent of clothing on dogs, but my friend Leslie made matching jackets for Jackson and her wiener dog (Slappy) a few year ago and he absolutely loves it. 
The only problem is that his giant Young Life sweatshirt blanket has a tendency to stick to his horse blanket, with pretty hilarious results. He ends up dragging the big blanket around the house until it finally comes lose or we remove it. 
Sometimes he retreats to our master bathroom, because it is the warmest room in the house. 
We took him out on the front porch with us to see the snow and he wanted no part of it. 
Once the cold front came in, Jackson doesn’t want to go outside unless forced. I thought the snow was lovely, but I’m also several feet higher off the ground than he.
I love weddings, especially when they involve people I care about. One of my oldest and dearest friends is getting married in January, and I am so excited for her and her fiance. We have been friends for about 17 years, and she is one of my favorite people in the world. I’m thrilled to be one of the bridesmaids. She has is one of the most creative and original people I know, so I couldn’t wait to hear about her vision for the big day.
She sent me these pictures to capture her vision of a “Winter Woodland Wedding”. I am obsessed with it. It is so them and just perfect. So, in honor of Marci and Scott, here is a glimpse of their winter woodland wedding fantasy for your enjoyment. I’ve added in the lyrics to The Avett Brothers’ song, “January Wedding” to get us all in a wedding mood. Go listen to it!
No longer do we wonder if we’re together
And I was sick with heartache
I’m sorry but I don’t know the source of all the photos, because they were sent to me.
Our wedding theme was a mountain fair and barn dance, with brown and robin’s egg blue as the colors. We had snow cones, a popcorn machine, a photo booth, and a Marble Slab buffet. Our ceremony was in a field and our reception in a barn. 