Homespun Bohemian Canadian Wedding: Katarina + Jesse

wooded bride and groom

When we tell you Katarina + Jesse’s day was truly a handmade with love type of celebration, we totally mean it. These guys didn’t just stop at the typical easy-peasy DIY crafts. They built tables, hand dyed linens, scoured garage sales + thrift stores and made their own wine – all with the help of their closest family + friends! Everything came together beautifully at Jesse’s grandparent’s hay field and family cabin, and we love how each sweet, little detail meant something special and made the celebration a fun reflection of the two of them! Here’s a bit more about the day from Kat:

Jesse and I are both quite simple, we don’t really like flashy things or sparkles or extravagance. We like earthy things, clean air, camping, creating things ourselves and having a good time with our friends and family. Virtually everything was DIY by someone close to us. I created the invitations myself. We built and stained 12 picnic tables and created 16 spruce benches ourselves. My best friend crocheted my barefoot sandal. My sister and I dyed the table cloths. My sister did our flowers. My grandma, Opa, mother and sister along with Jesse’s Aunts, Oma, Great Oma and mother prepared our desserts and my mother made all of the salads. My brother in law did the music. I hand painted the table numbers using vintage postcards, and created the place cards. Jesse’s grandparents allowed us to use their hay field and family cabin.

A big thanks to Heart + Sparrow Photography for sharing these lovely images with us today + congrats to the newlyweds on a beautiful day!

log cabin

wooden wedding sign

forest boutonniere

wooded canadian bride

Our Favorite Memory From The Wedding

Our first look. I was unsure about the idea of it at first, having that instilled belief that I needed to see my husbands face as I walked down the aisle. However, I wanted our first look at each other to be personal and with 90 people watching I didn’t think it would be. I was so rushed right before it, waiting for my sister to arrive to help me get ready and doing last minute things at the reception sight. But as soon as I walked up behind Jesse, and I felt butterflies in my stomach and my hands were shaking, the anticipation and excitement in the air was palpable. Those moments with him made me forget everything else that was happening. I was marrying the most incredible being I had ever met.

canadian first look

canadian first look

canadian first look

flower crown canadian bride

boho bride and groom

boho bride and groom

backless wedding dress

lavender flower crown

We’re super in love with Kat’s gorge For Love and Lemons dress (which she purchased from Revolve Clothing) and that awesome berry-hued bouquet, made by her talented sister!

boho peony bouquet

boho bride and groom

boho wedding party

feather boutonniere

boho canadian ceremony

blanket ceremony

boho canadian ceremony

For our processional, Here Beside Me by The Henri Girls was performed live with cello accompaniment by friends. This was my wedding present to Jesse and I kept it a complete surprise. The lyrics of this song are just perfection and one of our childhood friends played cello white another sang. In a sunlit field, surrounded by our love ones, this song rang out and Jesse had the biggest smile on his face. 

boho canadian ceremony

boho canadian ceremony

boho canadian ceremony

boho canadian ceremony

boho canadian ceremony

boho bride and groom

postcard table numbers

boho reception

The reception tent was decked out with all kinds of amazing homespun details, like fresh garden flowers, sustainable bamboo tableware, pretty table numbers painted by Kat, and – of course  – lots of homemade wine!

postcard table numbers

boho tablescape

boho tablescape

recyclable plates

custom wine bottles

peony centerpieces

naked cake

first dance

Our Advice To Those Planning Now

Early on, Jesse and I decided on the most important aspects of our wedding as we had a very limited budget but very BIG ideas. We decided that great photography was our greatest want – a beautiful way to remember all the hard work we put into and all the big love we got out of our wedding day. Choosing Natalie as our photographer was THE best decision we could have made. I really feel like we found a kindred soul that captured exactly what we wanted captured - family, happiness, love and light.

Figure out what is most important to you, involve your friends and family and don’t give up on your vision. Throughout the planning process we encountered many set backs that had me doubting whether our wedding vision was appropriate or achievable. I am such a perfectionist and I have trouble asking for help (especially when I want everyone to be surprised). Because Jesse didn’t arrive to help with wedding things until 2 weeks before the wedding, I had created this concrete vision of how things NEEDED to be mostly without him. Wedding planning long distance is extremely difficult. There were times were I felt unbelievably frustrated because Jesse wasn’t there. Find your support system! If it were not for the collection of wonderful people in our lives, giving up some control to them and trusting them, our day would not have been possible. And of course, relax and enjoy the day. Try to have as much done BEFORE hand as you can, so you can really take time to absorb every little bit about the day you get to marry your soulmate.

photography: Heart + Sparrow Photography // venue name: Private Property, Sundre in Alberta, Canada // event design: The Bride + Family // planning: The Bride + Family // florals: The bride's sister arranged and created all of the flowers, bridal bouquet and boutonnieres using wildflowers the couple had picked from the property and feathers they had collected on their travels // catering: Kodiak BBQ // cake: A carrot-cake with creamcheese icing naked wedding cake was created by Jesse's Aunt Corrina. It was a complete surprise for us for our wedding day. We also had a dessert table full of cakes, squares, crumbles and cream puffs made by our closet friends and family. It was such a sweet potluck of love // bride's dress: For Love and Lemons purchased from Revolve Clothing // groom attire: Shirt from Maliposhaclothes pants are Volcom, vest is vintage // invitations: Handmade by the bride, using vintage postcards from Etsy as RSVP cards // tent: Alberta Rentals // biodegradable/compostable cutlery: Green Munch // dinnerware and cups: Green Munch // dinnerware: Ikea // napkins: Ikea // wineglasses: Ikea // wedding tree favors: Treetime // rings: Jesse -- Under The Porch, Kat -- Wexford Jewelers

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