More Fun Other Projects

It’s been three years today since Mr. T (no not that Mr. T) and I tied the knot, and I think I was so caught up in the overwhelmingly awesome experience of it all that I couldn’t bring myself to post any tutorials at the time. But when I happened upon Jennifer Perkins’s (aka the Naughty Secretary) wedding nostalgia post back in March, I was inspired to put together a little walk down memory lane myself, in hopes that it might provide inspiration to someone else!

Naturally, our wedding was heavy on the personalization and DIY, low on the budget, and like most weddings, a true family affair. My sister Sophie, a graphic designer, designed the save-the-dates (we sent out a romance novel to each guest with a personalized book plate and “mark your calendar” book mark — the particular gem featured below stars a cave-dwelling gentleman protagonist-from-another-time named Thor). (You’ll notice many of the details are literary-themed — that’s what happens when a writer/editor marries an English teacher!)

The invitations were letterpressed (our big splurge) by Coeur Noir in Williamsburg, Brooklyn (can’t DIY everything–sometimes it’s better to delegate!) and also designed by Sophie.

They were envelope-free with a tear-off rsvp postcard with the prompt “What’s your story?” that allowed guests to get a little creative in their replies. (My sister Ariana‘s colorful reply below.)

To answer the big question, no, I didn’t wear the T-shirt wedding dress (I had already spent a lot of time in it for the Generation T photo shoot, plus I wanted it to be a surprise!). I wore a simple on-sale J. Crew dress that I had my friend Diana Rupp help me adjust one day in her workshop while I was wearing it! She introduced me to Michelle Courtois who took me on a whirlwind trip through the garment district to purchase the materials for my birdcage veil and detachable silk flower–which she hand-crafted and made to fit.

But lest you think the occasion was T-shirt free, we commissioned a special T-shirt hand silk-screened by our friends at Campfire Goods to give to the members of our wedding party…no word as to whether anyone’s done any T-shirt surgery on them!

(Come to think of it, my sister-in-law and mother-in-law made 1″ punk pins for the rehearsal dinner that would be perfect to complete the Pin-up Girl halter top from Generation T: Beyond Fashion.)

And though I saved corks for a year to use as place card holders, we ended up having a buffet (no assigned seating) in the beautiful old two-story barn where we had the reception.

The buffet-style dinner was catered by Marie Gerli Catering (who I used to work for during the summers in high school!) with local fresh vegetables from the family farm up the road.

We floated the beer and wine in a pile of ice in my family’s canoe, propped up on some hay bales in the barn.

I made and distributed a “Wedding Activity Book” to guests young and old so they could entertain themselves if the toasts went on too long.

I spent way too much time on it, but had a ton of fun personalizing the workbook with coloring pages, connect the dots, mazes, matching games, trivia (in the form of a GSAT, or Granite State Aptitude Test, in honor of the state I grew up in), and a homemade Mad Libs describing the proposal.

The welcome bags, decorated with a reproduction of a vintage postcard from the town where I grew up, included the activity books, packets of crayons, bottles of NH spring water, some locally made maple candies, and directions to all the fun hikes, swimming holes, and the 24-hour ice cream spot, of course.

My father-in-law, an interior decorator with a real green thumb, created simple bouquets of dahlias for me and my bridesmaids and groom’s lady.

He was also the mastermind behind the beautiful flower arrangements at the ceremony site. He found a bunch of bamboo tiki torches that he brilliantly repurposed into flower containers to line the aisle in the field. (Mr. T and I got married under that big oak tree.)

My mom and I saved and collected tins and mason jars for months to use for the flower arrangements on the tables.

My brother Franz, a musician, composed the processional (the recessional was The Clash’s London Calling, which he arranged for string quartet). Our friends from the Anti-Social Music collective made up the quartet who played at the ceremony and at the reception at the barn.

Our guest book, a scroll of paper fed through the Hermes 3000 portable typewriter my dad received as a gift for his high school graduation, was an homage to my Oma and Opa, who ran a typewriter and office machinery business out of their home for all the decades I knew them!

Mr. T spent hours creating the ultimate playlist (we went DIY iPod-style and borrowed speakers from a friend). And we did opt for the ubiquitous wedding CD (yes, those are hand-stamped labels) — we love music and wanted to share some of our favorite tunes so people could take the dance party home.

Our photographer, the incredibly talented Brooke Mayo, whose photographs you see here, submitted the photos to Brides Magazine, where selected shots and details appeared in May 2009!

My ladies wore brown cowboy boots and red dresses! I strung a necklace of natural pearls for each of them to accessorize with.

Here are the details the Brides thought were most notable: The flowers! The tree! The lights! The barn! The cupcakes! The invites! Our friend Pat, who often sports a mohawk and plays a mean cello!

It was an amazing day, filled with wonderful handmade details–so  thanks for indulging me, and giving me the opportunity to reminisce!

And even though I’m well past planning my own wedding, I love attending others’ events so I can take note of my favorite DIY details! What about you? Any tips or favorite party details to share with the Generation T community?

Save-the-Date photo by Tory Williams.

T-shirt and button photos by Megan Nicolay.

All other photos by Brooke Mayo!

[ Posted on August 11th, 2010 ]