A DIY Fall Wedding at Phoenix Room in Newburyport, Massachusetts

Emily Zilm (26, a photojournalist) and Mike Fortier (30, a UX designer) met at not one, but several Halloween parties. A few weeks later, they went on a fitting first date: a horror movie. Mike proposed one night on the beach during a weekend getaway on Cape Cod. "It had been a gray day and overcast night, but right after he proposed the clouds parted and a shooting star went by," recalls Emily. "It sounds cheesy but it really happened!" Newburyport made sense for the Boston-based couple's wedding day, given its convenient location between their families in Connecticut and New Hampshire. Without a particular theme in mind, Emily and Mike focused on creating a certain feel for their day and making it feel like their own. " We wanted our wedding to feel timeless, classic yet modern," explains Emily. "We found ourselves taking vintage elements and giving them an update." The artistic couple outfitted their day in a slew of DIY details—from Emily's hair comb to the handwritten escort cards and maple syrup favors harvested from her parent's backyard for a truly one-of-a-kind effect.