Lael & Zach’s Simple Country Wedding

Lael married her sofa surfer Zach in perfect Pacific Northwest style! This classic county wedding in Oregon earns an A for originality and personality.

This ceremony and reception took place at their house. It was business in front, party in the back. Backyard weddings are just so great and the fact that Lael and Zach did pretty much everything themselves makes it all the more special!

They totally nailed the DIY wedding philosophy: keep it simple and spend in areas you really care about. They wrote their own vows and her uncle officiated. The invites came courtesy of their chickens! Family and friends pitched in wherever they could. Personal touches played a huge role.

Think sunshine, simplicity and smiles all round.

Sunflowers make a massive statement. You don’t need to spend a zillion dollars to get great bridal blooms. Take a leaf out of Lael’s book and use statement flowers sparingly. She got smart and took advantage of a local farm’s pick-your-own flowers offer.

There are so many budget-busting deals out there. Check Perfect Weddings Without the Debt for heaps of inexpensive ideas.

Whoever came up with the concept of wedding cupcakes deserves a medal. They look gorgeous, taste great and keep your budget from spiralling out of control. Whip out the apron and make them yourself. Pop down to the local bakery like Lael did. Alteratively, get mom to lend a hand. One of my bridesmaids is doing the honours.

All you need is a cake stand, decorations and hungry guests.

Looking for an offbeat bridal bouquet? Check Lael’s beautiful bouquets and boutonnieres! Lael got busy creating the arrangements from shafts of wheat that Zach brought back from his uncle’s last harvest. Genius! Zach’s boutinnieres is perfect for this fall wedding!

Greens, nudes, yellows and golds were worked into every aspect of this wonderful outdoor wedding.

The laid-back wedding reception in the back yard hit the right note. Guests hung out in the treehouse, listened to a friend’s specially written song and tucked into tamales with lashings of hot sauce. TOTALLY digging the idea of bbq and hot sauce wedding favors btw!

Choose locally sourced, seasonal ingredients and you’re onto a winner – in both the budget and taste stakes.

I love that this reception embraces the true spirit of the backyard wedding. No frills or flounce. The setting didn’t call for fuss. The beauty was in the simplicity. The whole day was basically a big, fun celebration with all their favourite people.

There are big benefits to be had from holding your wedding at home. I’m not just talking about the money saving aspect. You have control over everything from setting and music to food and drink. What could be better than having your fave food and wine at your own wedding?

Vendors for this wedding:

Photographer – Diana M. Lott

Two Bright Lights