Hi, friends! It’s Courtney (Melissa’s daughter). I’m thrilled to share wedding planning tips and a full recap of our wedding from this past July. I posted bits of the planning journey on Instagram, but now that we’ve received our photographer’s photos I can share many more details and budget-friendly ideas I learned along the way.
If you’re new here, I shared the proposal story in a previous post—Dong surprised me with the sweetest beach proposal. I also shared our wedding mood board and planning details earlier, and today I’ll go through how everything came together, what we prioritized, and what we saved on.
NOTE: Pin this post and share it with a friend who’s getting married! Weddings require countless decisions and it can be overwhelming. Real wedding inspiration with clear details and vendor information helped me avoid decision fatigue and saved me time. I’ll share specifics and suggestions throughout to help you plan more confidently.
SOURCES: I reference many of our specific sources throughout this post and compiled similar ones on a Wedding Sources page for easy reference. I hope this proves useful whether you’re planning a wedding or just enjoying the photos and ideas!
Grab a cup of tea and get cozy—the post is long and chatty!
Here’s me and my husband. The day felt indescribably special—officially beginning our life together surrounded by people who have shaped and supported us. It truly felt like a dream and we’ve felt grateful every day since.
We were grateful for generous family support and aimed to create a beautiful, personal, and memorable celebration without going overboard. We prioritized a few key areas and saved on others, always asking whether a detail would truly enhance the day or simply felt expected. That balance will look different for every couple.
Our vibe was somewhere between formal and casual—magical, cozy, charming, and fun. We kept things down to earth while still feeling special. We spent well below the local average and were thrilled with the result. If you want specifics about costs, feel free to message me.
If you’ve read Simple Gatherings, you’ll recall the focus on what guests remember most: the atmosphere, the feast, the conversation, and the special touches. That guided many of our decisions.
Our first major decision was choosing the venue: Christianson’s Nursery in Mount Vernon, Washington. It’s a charming garden nursery with a historic schoolhouse, rose gardens, greenhouses, a rustic barn-like building, and mountain views. I’d admired the venue before getting engaged and we fell in love when we toured it. Its proximity made planning visits easy and it’s now even more meaningful with our wedding memories there.
Fun fact: our wedding was on a Wednesday. We chose a weekday to take advantage of better date availability and cost savings. We gave guests plenty of notice and had about 115 attendees, which felt just right.
Instead of hosting the ceremony in the rose garden, we used that space for a garden-party style welcome reception where guests could mingle and sip lemonade before the ceremony, which later took place in the barn-like Vinery.
We wanted A-frame chalkboard signs and found some for free at a local shop—check local marketplaces for great finds. I refreshed them with paint and used a chalk paint pen for lettering. If you’re not comfortable with hand lettering, hiring a calligrapher or a friend can save time.
Posting the schedule helps guests know what to expect. We printed programs with our timeline to make the experience easy and enjoyable for everyone.
I designed our welcome sign and paper items in Canva and had them printed on thick paper. I used an Ikea frame and rented an easel. A faux eucalyptus garland added a warm, natural touch.
Our Polaroid guest book station was a hit. We purchased an instant camera early in planning and used it for guest photos. Instead of a formal book at the event, we collected photos and planned to assemble a memory book later. Think creatively—many wedding-branded items cost more, so look for similar pieces outside the “wedding” category to save money.
We rented drink dispensers from a local company and used a simple welcome table with a white wooden card box for cards.
Botanical touches—pressed flowers, dried florals, and fresh blooms—recurring throughout the day tied the design together. I used pressed flower stickers on stationery and decor for an affordable, cohesive look.
We designed save the dates and invitations in Canva and printed them on deluxe matte paper. Small details—pressed flower stickers and a botanical stamp on envelopes—gave them a polished, personal feel without breaking the bank.
My wedding dress felt like a dream. I found it during a sale online and tried it on with family—an immediate yes with only minor alterations. It had the romantic details I loved: soft sleeves, tulle skirt, subtle sparkle, and a bow at the back. Shoes were comfortable low-heel sandals ideal for grass.
Dong looked handsome, and we even had our wedding date embroidered inside his suit jacket as a small personal detail.
Mismatched Floral Bridesmaid Dresses
I had five bridesmaids who chose their own dresses within a general guideline. Mismatched florals suited our garden venue perfectly and allowed each friend to feel comfortable and confident. Several dresses were re-wearable, which I loved.
Dong’s attendants wore complementary solid dresses to show they were part of his party. Our groomsmen wore suspenders for a cohesive, relaxed look.
My bouquet was created by a local florist using garden-grown flowers—garden roses, poppies, forget-me-nots, and more—tied with a silk ribbon. I pinned my grandma’s cat pin to the ribbon as a sentimental keepsake.
We got ready in a 1920s cottage behind the schoolhouse. My sister served as maid of honor and also helped with hair and makeup, which made the morning even more meaningful.
We used the greenhouse for our first-look photos—an intimate, plant-filled spot that matched our aesthetic. It gave us a quiet moment before the ceremony.
The Vinery, a barn-like ceremony space, was cozy and beautiful. Choosing the venue early made many subsequent decisions easier because it set the tone for the whole day. My mom collected rose petals from our yard to line the aisle, which added personal color and meaning.
We borrowed potted plants from the nursery for stage decor, saving on floral costs while enhancing the ceremony backdrop.
I designed programs in Canva and printed them double-sided. Tiny gold heart paperclips attached additional cards for a delicate finishing touch.
One of my favorite moments: walking down the aisle with my dad.
My grandpa officiated our ceremony. Asking him was a heartfelt decision and made the ceremony especially meaningful. He did a beautiful job and it’s a memory we’ll always cherish.
We swapped the traditional sides so I faced my bridesmaids and Dong faced his attendants. Seeing close friends during the ceremony was a touching choice I recommend to others. We also wrote our own vows—one of the most memorable moments of the day.
After the ceremony we were excited to relax and enjoy the rest of the night with family and friends.
Taco Food Truck
Catering came from a taco food truck—fun, delicious, and cost-effective. We added a mango salad bar to ease lines and provide variety. Choose a truck experienced with events and consider a second service for large guest counts; for us, one truck plus the salad bar worked well.
Reception Table Decor and Flowers
We aimed for simple, pretty table decor without extravagance: white tablecloths, light gray napkins, garden flowers, warm wood accents, and plenty of candlelight.
Instead of a full-service florist for every arrangement, we purchased DIY buckets of seasonal flowers from a local farm and had friends and family arrange bud vases the day before. We rented vintage milk glass vases for a cohesive look and used a few faux flowers for accent tables. Renting vases saved time and cleanup compared with buying a large number of vessels.
Table linens were mostly rented; we purchased affordable napkins that we later sold to offset cost. Lavender sprigs from my mom’s yard and tied napkins with baker’s twine added charming, low-cost details.
I used a deck of watercolor cards as small artworks at place settings, placed in wooden card holders for guests to enjoy. We used compostable palm leaf plates and birch flatware from a local rental company to match the casual taco dinner vibe.
Hand-painted floral candles by a local artist and ceramic taper holders added personality and texture to the head table and key spots around the room.
We placed thank-you notes and “About the Newlyweds” cards on tables so guests could learn little facts about us and mingle while discovering fun details.
Message in a Bottle Station
A nod to our proposal, guests wrote advice and well wishes on paper scrolls and placed them in a large glass bottle—the same style Dong used when he proposed. We pre-rolled scrolls and provided jump rings so guests could write quickly and easily.
We used two lofts in the Vinery: one for drinks and one for desserts and the Polaroid station. The Polaroid station included extra film wrapped in floral paper and a basket of faux flowers as props.
Polaroid Guest Book
Guests used an instant camera to take a photo for themselves and one to leave for us. I created a small shadowbox sign decorated with dried flowers to explain the process. Later we’ll assemble the photos into a keepsake book.
We used an over-the-table rod to add eucalyptus garland and wood bead garland for vertical interest at several stations.
Our dessert bar was a dream—various cookies, cakes, and gluten-free and vegan options—baked by a generous friend who handled everything. She also made our wedding cake, which matched our inspiration perfectly and tasted amazing.
Seeing all the small details come together—songs, food, flowers, and printed cards—was deeply satisfying after months of planning without a wedding planner. It felt joyful to witness guests enjoying the atmosphere we’d designed.
For the dance I changed into shimmery sneakers so I could twirl freely. Later we offered a Petal Bar for guests to fill small paper bags with dried flowers for our send-off, which was a playful interactive detail everyone enjoyed.
We were grateful to have so many loved ones with us. The night before, friends and family helped assemble programs while we watched Father of the Bride together—a memory I’ll always treasure.
Thank you for letting me share this sweet day. If you have questions or want details about anything I mentioned, leave a comment or reach out to me on Instagram.
You can follow me on Instagram to see more wedding details and highlights.
None of the wedding or this post was sponsored. Most photos are by Milana’s Photography; iPhone photos are labeled as such. The venue was Christianson’s Nursery in Mount Vernon. I hope these ideas help you plan a beautiful, memorable wedding that reflects what matters most to you.