DIY Oregon Destination Wedding: Laureen + Seth

Happy Monday, you guys! Let’s start the week off on the right foot with Laureen + Seth’s awesomely executed DIY wedding in Hood River, Oregon. Not only did these two pull off a beautiful, handmade celebration (described by the bride as vintage + natural but not overly kitschy or rustic), but they did so from afar, making it all the more impressive! Let’s hear from Laureen why a destination wedding was right for them + stay with us throughout the post for fun peeks at all the DIY goodness…

We choose a destination wedding so that we could give our family and friends an experience they wouldn’t otherwise have. Oregon, and specifically the the town of Hood River, had resonated with us since our first trip there together as a couple. With a region in mind, we wanted to create an open platform for our wedding day – an outdoor venue in which we could bring together the people we love most. Keeping the ceremony, dinner and reception outdoors was important to us, so we really kept the flow of the space in mind. A long U-shaped table would foster new relationships. A satellite bar would keep people on the dance floor. One of our biggest goals was not only to bring people together to a beautiful location, but one that would keep them talking…with each other.

Thanks so much to Jonas Seaman for the stunning photos + congrats to the newlyweds on a beautiful day!

Loving the tones in L’s bouquet by The Green Dandelion!

While designing our invites and website, we settled upon a visual motif of two overlapping triangles as a nod to both the intersection of our lives and to the beautiful mountains framing each side of the Columbia River Gorge. Triangles came up again as we considered the seating chart. With the help of a friend and a Chicago makers’ space, Seth cut a batch of wooden triangle blocks. After gluing, sanding and adding numbers via photo transfer, these became a guest table mountain range, adorned with Laureen’s individual name tags and table assignments.

Each place setting was completed with a cloth napkin folded into a tepee, and a copper-sprayed figurine animal from the pacific northwest.

A mega-amazing reception view!

See even more of Laureen + Seth’s day in the film below by Two Pines Film Co.:

photography: Jonas Seaman // venue name: Gorge Crest Vineyards, Hood River, Oregon // event design: Hitched In The Hood // planning: Hitched In The Hood // florals: The Green Dandelion // hair stylist: Lisette Murphy // makeup artist: Lisette Murphy // videography: Two Pines Film Co. // catering: The Lamb's Table // music: Dmoefunk // second shooter: Mary Williamson // bride's dress: Rebecca Schoneveld // bride's headdress: Eskell // ice cream: Salt & Straw // ceremony musicians: Those Willows