Handmade Lake Arrowhead Wedding: Abbygale + Nathan

lake arrowhead wedding

Abbygale + Nathan’s friends describe them as “old souls made for another era.” The pair decided to play upon that concept and it became the inspiration behind their handcrafted Lake Arrowhead wedding!  Their attire included fun vintage + thrifted pieces – Abbygale even received her vintage wedding gown and hair piece through a trade at a local antique store! Amazing! Their day was full of simple, yet beautiful details that truly reflected the two of them + the things they love. Here’s a bit more from the beautiful bride:

We really wanted our wedding to be in a secluded and quiet place, something that was very hard to find in Orange County. The perfect venue fell into our laps just three months before our wedding date, and from then on our entire wedding became a community effort. We utilized the skills and talents of our close friends and family to fill the roles of the vendors and we only had to hire one “outside” vendor, our photographer Tyler Branch, who ended up being friends with a few of our guests and feeling like family anyway! It made our wedding day feel so relaxed and we are so grateful for all of the helping hands that made our wedding possible…

Big congrats to Abbygale + Nathan on a beautiful day and thanks so much to Tyler Branch for the gorgeous photos!

window signage

vintage bride

wheat bouquet


Abbygale made the bouquets + centerpieces herself with a fun mix of dried wheat + wildflowers. The perfect match for the natural surroundings!

wheat bouquets

mismatched vintage bridesmaids

mismatched vintage bridesmaids

groomsmen in suspenders

hand tattoo

ceremony

groom

bride walking through woods

Our Favorite Memory From The Wedding

The whole morning I was telling everyone I wasn't going to cry - I was filled with too much joy to cry, and I didn't want to be that bride. Little did I know, the second I would appear from behind the trees and see tears running down my husband's face as he looked at me for the first time, I would be filled with fifty times more joy than I ever thought was possible and absolutely LOSE IT! I saw my whole life flash before me as I walked down the aisle to be married - I couldn't believe how miraculously God turned both of our lives around and united us from across the country! All emotions came crashing down on both of us during our ceremony, it was so beautiful. Looking into Nathan's eyes as he was saying his vows to me, tears running down both our faces, was so incredible.

groom seeing bride

bride and father

bride and father

lake arrowhead ceremony

lake arrowhead ceremony

lake arrowhead ceremony

lake arrowhead ceremony

lake arrowhead ceremony

Our Musical Choices

Processional: Bridesmaids: Come Rain Or Come Shine – Billie Holiday; Bride: Let It Be Me – Ray Lamontagne (both performed live by Juli Reitler)

Recessional: Gold on the Ceiling – The Black Keys

First Dance: Beth/Rest – Bon Iver

lake arrowhead ceremony

vintage bride and groom

vintage arrowhead bride


Seriously can’t believe her dress was given as part of a trade! What a deal as it is gorgeous!!

bride and groom

bride and groom

bride_with_hat

chalkboard signs

wood slices


And loving this super cute vintage fabric strip backdrop – so many fun colors + patterns!

striped fabric backdrop

first dance

first dance

first dance

lake arrowhead wedding

Our Advice To Those Planning Now

Be inspired by beautiful weddings in the beginning, but take your own creative reign. Your wedding will be so much more "you" that way! If you're not creative yourself, hire a planner or recruit the help of a friend whose creativity you admire. See a trusted premarital counselor - you'll get to know each other on a much deeper level and you'll learn how to fight fair. It WILL save your butts, I promise!

Accept the help your friends and family offer you - it takes so much stress off of your shoulders. If you're feeling really stressed, make a priorities list, putting the least important details last, and take it one thing at a time. If the things at the bottom of the list don't get done, at least you'll know you have the most important tasks completed! Oh, and don't forget to love each other - no venue or caterer or florist or photographer matters more than giving each other patience and grace through the planning process!

photography: Tyler Branch // venue: Calvary Chapel Conference Center Twin Peaks, California (Lake Arrowhead) // wedding dress + hairpieces: vintage from Doodads & Whatnots in Tustin, CA // shoes: Not Rated Footwear // bridesmaid dresses: assorted designers // hair + makeup: Allie Overholt // groom suit: shirt from Macy’s, vest was thrifted, jeans from Tellason Denim, boots are Red Wing 1911 // paper goods: DIY by bride // catering: potluck style // cake: Desi Rocha // music: Nathan Wing

Explore: