A Rustic DIY Wedding at St. James Farm in Wheaton, Illinois

Amy (26 and in mental health care) and Mark (27 and in graphic design) met through a mutual friend at a crowded party, where the only place they could find room was under a table. They hit it off within the first conversation, playing a "game of questions, just dying to get to know the other person and all their idiosyncrasies," Amy says. They didn't start dating until a year after their first encounter, but they got engaged just three-and-a-half years after that. On the day of the engagement, Mark took Amy on a date to Chicago for dinner at an Italian marketplace and dessert at her favorite spot. Knowing she always wanted a more intimate proposal, he didn't pop the question until they were back in the comfort of their home together. Once they decided on an outdoor wedding, they did some research and found a local venue, St. James Farm in Wheaton, Illinois. Amy and Mark decided not to have a color palette, saying, "The idea of 'Amy & Mark's wedding' being remembered as bright green and purple was not appealing. We wanted to set a mood and an ambiance that people would remember more." Bridesmaids wore neutral vintage lace dresses, groomsmen wore gray suits, handmade bouquets (arranged by a friend the day of the wedding) had white and burgundy calla lilies and roses, and the rest of the decor stuck to neutral colors. Since Mark is a graphic designer, he made all of the invitations, stationary, and hand-calligraphed wedding signs. Almost all of the decor was made by the couple and their close friends. Small DIY centerpieces incorporated some of Marks Hispanic heritage with papel picado flags (traditional Mexican folk art made from cut paper) and flamenco music at the reception. Amy and Mark had a small, simple cutting cake and instead served guests a selection of cupcakes from Amy's favorite bakery (the same place Mark took her on their engagement day!). For favors, the couple gave their guests handmade seed pouches with love-in-a-mist flower seeds. Amy concludes, "The simplicity, the handmade-ness of everything, and the rustic and vintage [feel] all reflect our desire to be real and not flashy."