A DIY Backyard Wedding in Galena, Illinois

Rather than scope out reception venues in their town of Galena, Illinois, Rylynn (28) and Jeff (34) settled on the bride's parents backyard to celebrate their special day. Thanks to her detail-oriented mom and some serious crafting skills, the bride was able to create a DIY wedding with plenty of personal flair -- including a custom cocktail at the tented reception! "I wish we could have invited the whole world to see the love that was shown that day," Rylynn explains. "We had so many different elements that made the wedding truly about our love and our journey together. We incorporated so much of who we are that it really made our ceremony one of a kind." After a night of dancing and ceremonial toasts alongside family and friends, the couple closed out the night with a private fireworks display. "The reception was one for the books," Rylynn says.