My daughter's getting married in September.  We don't have a lot of money to spend on store bought things plus she has eclectic tastes.  Getting things in stores that are exactly right is problematic so I'm making a lot of things for her.

Ever since she was a little girl, she was my wild gypsy baby.  She is fey with a little bohemian thrown in, loves the out of doors and animals so her wedding has sort of a Midsummer's Night's Dream feel to it.

Wedding dresses are very expensive and every girl imagines her dress on this day. We bought a white crinoline. I took off the straps and added lace and seed pearls and white sequins. I fitted the lace over the bodice and the did a bunting for the skirt. There is a small train in back that fits my daughter's small stature. She's 5'4". I added a purple ribbon in her favorite shade and a bow with a rhinestone dragonfly we found in an antique shop for $2.00 Her shoes? They are a nod to being born in Texas. They are the one huge luxury I bought for her. Nocona cowboy boots from Shepler's that are purple above the ankle with green stitching. I can only show you this one photo since the bride cannot be seen before the wedding. After the wedding, I'll post photos of her with all the decorations I've made including the flower arrangements.

Every girl imagines a carpet at her feet. My daughter is no different. But for an outdoor wedding I showed her burlap and told her I could embroider her a garden. She loved it and here are some of the shots. First, she'll walk up the aisle crossing a wildflower garden of daisies, grasses, gladiolus, and hydrangeas. I'm still working on the garden. She'll pass vines that run up either side, a lunar, a collection of bees and a few butterflies. At the opposite end of the runner, waiting for the new young couple to walk back down, are their names and their wedding date. The back is upholstery fabric, very light green with dragonflies. When I'm finished with the embroidery, I'll have it professionally pressed.

Her ring pillow is a small burlap pillow I stitched and stuffed with poly-fil.  I bought the moss, ribbon, butterfly, fall leaves, and one stem of a silk hydrangea to make it look like something a fairy would have at her wedding.  It's vastly different than the white satin ring pillows at the stores but it is uniquely hers.

My daughter's wedding veil is one piece of a beautiful lace that we picked out. I have an old pin that had belonged to my grandmother that i'm using to pin the lace in the back.  Again, I'll post a better photo once the wedding is over.

Rather than the usual white guest books with lines for the names of the guests, we bought a soft leather diary with blank pages.  A card shop was going out of business with everything half off so we bought a lot of different blank gift cards.  I glued one envelope on each page and stuck the gift card under the flap.  Now guests can write sentiments as well as their names, like "have lots of babies," or "love always conquers all." 

My husband died in February and he will be greatly missed.  Memory candles are used to honor those who cannot be there and my daughter is no different.  Our Marine means a great deal to her so I made my own Memory Candle using an ocean scented candle and glued shells we had gathered on the beach up in Rockport.  I wrote a message and had it printed on a card that is water-colored with beach designs.  And the Marine Dress Blues teddy bear has two of his mini medals on his uniform.  He'll have the first chair front row and then be moved to the Memory Table to stand with his candle and my note of love to him.

A wedding can be put together with things made by family members who have the time and the skill. It doesn't take anything more than organization and imagination. I listened to what my daughter wanted and we always went together to get the supplies. She picked. I sewed, painted, wrote, and created. The biggest expense is the lovely old house owned by the historical society where we are having the wedding and reception and it is very reasonable.

There are quite a few other things I am making for her but this is a quick glimpse of ways to cut wedding costs.  I think it also brings out the bride's unique personality, at least it has for my daughter, and for her, the wedding is very personable.  What she's wearing, where she walks, what her rings are tied to, right down to where her guests sign their names, is all very different than the store bought things we cannot afford.  The fact that I've made so many things has only heightened her satisfaction and attachment to her wedding things.

My daughter loves everything I've made for her. Everything is made to last and be family keepsakes and heirlooms. She's very happy and proud of it all and that is all that is important to me, her happiness.