It has been pretty crazy in our household for the past little while, but for all the best reasons.  After a whirlwind two months of planning, we tied the knot this past weekend!  I got to put my organizational skills to use, making lists of tasks to be done and tracking payment dates, pick-ups, and tastings.  Through some solid planning, good friends, and some serendipity, our big day went off as smooth as silk.

If all that talk of lists planning makes it sound like more of a job than anything else, let me change your mind!  If anything, it gave me a framework of what needed to be done, and gave me the freedom to have a lot of fun with the process.  The best part?  I got to put my own personal touches on our day through some of my own creativity.  Of course, I made my own wedding jewellery.  For myself, I went with some gold-filled chain and added clusters of Swarovski pearls and Preciosa crystals, with a large teardrop crystal pendant on my Y-shaped necklace.  The matching earrings had the same crystals, dangling from short lengths of chain.  Even better, I built a great hair comb to accessorize my ‘do, featuring more of the teal- and honey-coloured crystals in swooping twists of gold wire.  It gave a great peacock effect that turned out just like I’d hoped.

Handmade wedding jewellery
Handmade wedding jewellery, made to match our colour theme.
Peacock-inspired bridal hair comb
Peacock-inspired bridal hair comb

I also made the matron of honour’s jewellery.  For her, I went with a floating necklace using the same teal and honey crystals and pearls, and some simpler cluster earrings with the same crystals.

Our ceremony was mid-morning, outdoors at a beautiful estate-turned-museum.  Running with a tea party theme, the groom, a good friend and I took the afternoon before the wedding and made our centrepieces – mismatched pairs of teacups filled with flowers.

Teacup centrepieces
Teacup centrepieces, made by the bride, groom, and a good friend.

Other great personal touches came from our fantastic caterer, Gourmet To Go, who really ran with our tea party theme and made some spectacular scones and shortbread as a part of our garden luncheon.  Also, a great friend, Trisha, made a fantastic Mad Hatter-style cake, topped with a teacup filled with handmade icing-sugar flowers.

Mad Hatter Cake
Mad Hatter Cake, complete with teacup and handmade sugar flowers.

All in all, it was a fabulous day and we both loved adding our own personal touches to make it an extra-special handmade wedding.