“Before we got engaged, Ethan and I talked about wanting our wedding day to be colorful, fun, and intentional,” remembers bride Brook. “Our goal was not only for our friends and family to have a great time together, but we also wanted every detail and aspect of the day to be chosen with purpose.”
And the care + creativity with which Brook + Ethan planned their wedding shined through every single bright + brilliant detail of their La Grange, Texas celebration.
When budgeting, Brook + Ethan made sure to focus their funds on the areas that felt most important to them: their venue The Ice Plant Bldg, Infallible Proofs Photography’s gorgeous photos, lots of beautiful flowers, and that show-stopping tiered tulle Vagabond wedding dress from Alta Moda Bridal.
That means that every other element of the day was thrifted, borrowed, or handmade. “As someone who finds joy in all of the small details, it was a challenge to make sure we were able to fit all of the projects into our budget and timeline,” says Brook. “In total, my family, friends, and I spent well over 500 hours on DIY projects. When I found ideas on Pinterest or vendor’s websites that didn’t fit in the budget, we did our best to remake our own (less expensive) version of it. Overall, it was very time-consuming, but it made every aspect of our wedding that much more special because so much love and energy was invested in it.”
We can’t wait to give you a peek into this joyful day and to show you the fruits of Brook + Ethan’s remarkable DIY journey. Let’s dive in!
This details shot says it all: all the romance of those Boho Beige Letterpress Vow Booklets from Michelle Renee Co with plenty of playful disco sparkle!
Here’s the first peek at the tiered tulle “Kahlo” wedding gown from Vagabond that Brook first fell in love with online and flew all the way to Utah to try on at Alta Moda Bridal!
So in love with that Shimmer Fairytale Ankle Gown from Needle & Thread! What a fun + floral mother of the bride look!
Here’s your sign to add a bridesmaid first look to your wedding day shot list! There’s nothing sweeter than the excitement on your besties’ faces when they first see you in your dress.
“My goal was for everyone in the wedding party to feel comfortable in their outfit,” says Brook of creating this bright+ balanced multicolor bridal party color scheme. “I assigned each bridesmaid a color and then let them choose a dress. This gave them the freedom to buy something in their own budget and style. I gave a couple of examples that they could purchase, but they were free to purchase something else if they wanted.”
Check out our guide to nailing the mismatched bridal party palette if you’re digging Brook’s approach to her bridal crew’s wedding day looks.
Brook paired her sleek bridal updo with the Deepa Gurnani Czar Headband, and we. are. obsessed. Look through our collection of the best bridal headbands for even more wedding day hair accessory inspo.
Brook’s journey to this gorgeous tiered tulle square neck wedding gown almost went a totally different direction. Though she knew she loved this look from the start, another dress caught her eye while she was dress shopping. She initially left Alta Moda Bridal having said yes to a different gown. The regret set in quickly, and she knew she had to switch things around so that she walked down the aisle in the look she fell for first.
Brook’s unique, oval engagement ring from Berlinger Jewelry has such a charming, antique silhouette!
Even this sunny yellow bouquet ribbon was a carefully chosen detail—plant dyed silk All The Colors Floral on Etsy!
Groom Ethan found his classic black wedding suit at Suit Supply!
A Private Moment
We love a bride + groom blind gift exchange as an alternative to a first look!
The Ceremony
Prepare yourself: This clever, modern, b+w flower box welcome sign is just one of the day’s MANY impressive DIY creations.
Brook’s sister (aka Hubbard Designs) and friends brought these brilliant pink, orange, and white ceremony floral arrangements to life as well as the rest of the day’s fabulous flowers.
Disco balls + florals = pure joy.
In the early stages of dress hunting, Brook entertained a confetti look. When she found her dream dress and left that idea behind, she was thrilled to discover she could still incorporate polka dots with these Foil Polka Dot Tulle flower girl dresses from Lola + The Boys!
Our Favorite Memory From The Wedding From the bride: "Ethan and I chose to do communion together instead of the traditional unity candle. After this, we had our immediate family and officiants pray over us. Stepping into a new season of life can often be overwhelming, so having this time for family and friends to pray blessings over our marriage and this new chapter was incredibly meaningful."
Check out our collections of long sleeve wedding dresses and puff sleeve wedding dresses if you’re loving Brook’s bridal silhouette as much as we are.
Our Musical Choices Processional: "So This is Love" by Sneha feat. ConTejas + "So Much More" by Bella Moore
Recessional: "Good Day for Marrying You" by Dave Barnes
First Dance: n/a
The Reception
Those colorful + shimmery hand-tied fringe patio streamers? Another impressive DIY accomplishment!
Fun heart-shaped sunnies that matched each bridesmaid’s dress color made for brilliant bridal party gifts.
Love this shot of Ethan showing off his brand new wedding band from Blue Nile!
Can you believe?! This massive BEST DAY EVER sign was a DIY creation as well! “I didn’t have to make it this large,” says Brook, “but my husband is 6’8″ and I wanted it to be taller than him.”
Also, so fun to get a peek at Brook’s shimmery platform wedding shoes from Nicola Bathie!
Such a romantic portrait of the happy couple beneath Brook’s L & T Couture wedding veil.
The playful patterns + vibrant colors of this table decor brought so much joyful energy to Brook + Ethan’s warehouse style reception space!
Personalized, embroidered details. Bows. Two of the wedding trends we’re loving to see!
Brook + Ethan created the day’s paper goods—including these thoughtful pink + yellow thank you cards—on Zazzle!
Our Advice To Those Planning Now From the bride: "Don't procrastinate and don't worry about what other people may think when making decisions for your wedding day. Not everyone is going to agree with your colors, decor, vision, etc. Ultimately, the day is about you and your spouse. If it's what you want, try not to let other people change your mind or make you feel bad about your choices.
I waited until the last few months to get most of my DIY projects and planning done. This made the last several weeks of planning an absolute nightmare (I think I cried daily). This season of being engaged is supposed to be a fun time for you and your fiance, but it can quickly be robbed if you are consumed with wedding planning. Try to be strategic with your time when you get engaged. Delegate if possible and utilize the help that you have around you."
The sweet, two tier white wedding cake covered in pink + yellow icing flowers from The Best Little Cake Shop In Texas was perched atop yet another DIY achievement: that fluted pillar cake stand!
“Our wedding wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for our friends and family that were willing to help with all the DIY projects and set up,” says the couple. “We are forever grateful for our support system and everyone that came to celebrate this new season with us.”
Congratulations, Brook + Ethan! Your bright + modern Texas wedding day was a total DIY marvel. GWS wishes you both all the best!
photography: Infallible Proofs Photography // venue name: The Ice Plant Bldg, La Grange, Texas, United States // florals: Hubbard Designs // wedding dress: Vagabond Bridal + Kahlo Gown // wedding dress boutique: Alta Moda Bridal // hairpiece: Deepa Gurnani // bride's shoes: Nicola Bathie x Antonio Melani // bride's ring: Berlinger Jewelry // getting ready robes: Amazon // groom attire: Suit Supply // groom's shoes: K&G // groom's ring: Blue Nile Diamond // videography: Dillon J Pacholek // paper goods: Zazzle // catering: PEJ Events // cake: Best Little Cake Shop in Texas // desserts: SAMs Club // veil: L & T Couture Atelier // vow booklets: Michelle Renee Co // bouquet ribbon: All The Colors Floristry
