A Colorful DIY Wedding at Buckroe Beach in Hampton, Virginia

Kelsey Porter (24, business planner) and Ryan Schwartz (25, quality engineer) met at work. While dating, they spent a lot of time outdoors doing every activity imaginable, so it was only fitting that for his proposal, Ryan decided to incorporate another unconventional activity. At a Norfolk Admirals’ hockey game, Ryan persuaded Kelsey to come onto the arena for a halftime mascots game of broomball. In front of a crowd and on ice, Ryan got down on one knee and proposed. The couple were married at the Observation Pier on Buckroe Beach. They chose that particular beach for the memories they had of it as a couple. Their decor was completely DIY, including the burlap aisle runner, the tablecloths sprinkled with seashells and starfish and the mason jar centerpieces with orange roses and baby’s breath. Ryan also made the two tier buttercream wedding cake himself, which he decorated with shells and sea stars. Kelsey wore a sheath lace wedding dress with a keyhole back, and Ryan wore a suit with a white blazer and orange rose boutonniere. The bridesmaids dressed in orange and the groomsmen wore suits with white slacks and gerbera daisy boutonnieres. Kelsey and Ryan’s DIY beach wedding photographed beautifully with its bright colors, burlap details and seashell and starfish accents.