A Colorful, DIY Wedding at Cheat Lake in Morgantown, West Virginia

Despite Hurricane Joaquin's gloomy weather, Heather Harris (33 and a museum educator) and Devin Smart’s (32 and a PhD student) wedding was bursting with color. Between the floral arrangements, the bride’s shoes, bridesmaid dresses and cakes, vibrant hues of orange, yellow, purple and pink illuminated the tented reception area in the middle of the woods near Cheat Lake. “I have been a theater teacher in the past and currently manage the educational programs at an art museum, so life for me is very colorful, and I wanted my wedding to reflect that,” Heather says. “Neutrals, although they are quite fashionable, are just not my style.” Several local vendors helped the couple bring their hands-on vision to life. Morgantown, West Virginia, print studio Elm Leaf Design created custom invitations, even including a hand-drawn map of the ceremony area; Sweet Babes Cakery concocted the colorful cakes; a local food truck supplied the reception meals; and a local farmers' market vendor grew the flowers for bouquets and centerpieces. —Allie Volpe