Emily + Joe
(September 26, 2020 in Spokane, WA)
In this blog post, we get a glimpse into a beautiful wedding that had to adapt to unexpected circumstances. The bride had always envisioned a small and intimate wedding with boho and casual vibes. When their original venue had to cancel due to the pandemic, they got creative and transformed the groom's brother's backyard. Almost all of their decorations were DIY or thrifted, and they chose vendors that held special meaning to them. Despite the changes, the day was everything they imagined. In this post, we'll dive into the details of their day, from the emotional first looks to their advice for future brides.
Emily looked UNREAL in our Aurora gown by Willowby. This gown is covered with small faceted stones for the ultimate sparkle. It features a double waistband that helps beautifully highlight the natural waist. A soft tulle skirt and bubble sleeves add a softness to the sleek look of this gown.
What was the vision for your wedding?
I had always envisioned a small wedding, something really intimate with close friends and family. My Pinterest board was filled with darker colors, very boho, and casual vibes. We found a small space downtown that was perfect, until a pandemic hit and they had to cancel! We got creative and decided to transform my brother's backyard with the help of our family. Almost all of our decorations were DIY or thrifted. We chose our vendors based on places in Spokane that meant something to us. Joe worked at The Shop in Perry during school, and they baked our beautiful cake. We first met at The Iron Goat, so we had their pizza at the reception. Joe got my bouquet from Wallace, Idaho, the location of our first hike. Despite the change in plans, our day was everything we imagined.
How did it go the day-of?
Our wedding day was so much fun. I got ready with my bridesmaids and decided to do a first look with my mother, mother-in-law, and aunt. I was so happy with this decision and the pictures are priceless. I also did this with my older brothers and father. Ugly tears were definitely shed. Joe knew that I had decided to sacrifice flower money in order to pay for other wedding expenses. When I got to Manito for our first look, Joe surprised me with a beautiful bouquet from Sol & Serre. Joe surprised each groomsman, my father, and his dad with a special bolo tie for the ceremony. At the ceremony, we were surrounded by our immediate family and closest friends. My aunt Laurie married us, which added a special touch. She was able to share her own experiences watching Joe and I grow into the relationship we have today. Afterward, we celebrated with local pizza, beer, and dessert! It was small but perfect. We couldn't stop gushing about how well it went, and how much fun everyone had.
What is your #1 tip to future brides?
The best tip that I received the day of was to take 20-30 minutes alone after the ceremony to just process and be with each other. You don't get much alone time before the ceremony, so this is your chance to take it all in! After the ceremony, we went to the front porch and just spent some time alone together, no photographer, no family or friends. We each got to share our excitement about finally being married, it's one of my favorite memories of the day.
