A Rustic, DIY Wedding at The Redfield Estate in Glenview, Illinois

Erin Fowers (25 and owner of eFowCreations) and Kevin Watson (25 and works in sales) decided tap into their creative sides when it came to planning their rustic wedding at the Redfield Estate in Glenview, Illinois. From the invitations to the photo booth and centerpieces, the couple handcrafted almost all the wedding’s details, giving the day plenty of personal flair. “I browsed the wedding section of Etsy for hours and gathered so much inspiration for our wedding decor. It was with this inspiration that I decided I wanted to create as much as I possibly could for our day,” Erin says. The Redfield Estate’s lush natural landscape and historic architecture set the tone for the decor, with Erin and Kevin creating each element to embody the setting’s charming rustic vibe and incorporating burlap accents, mason jars, vintage-inspired bottles and chalkboard signs into the reception’s design. When it came to the flowers, the couple originally planned to use silk flowers to make all the arrangements themselves. But when it came to crunch time, they turned to Aberdeen’s Florist for a little help. “We got lucky in finding a florist that specialized in weddings,” Erin says. “Our wedding was planned for Mother’s Day weekend, and many florists couldn’t accommodate our wedding as well.” Aberdeen’s created a stunning wedding-arch arrangement with eucalyptus, orchids and roses in Erin and Kevin’s purple, mint and ivory color scheme, plus fresh bunches of hydrangeas and baby’s breath for the centerpieces, fitting of the day’s rustic theme. For the reception, Erin and Kevin had a photo booth for their friends and family to enjoy, but took it to the next level with Polaroid cameras -- to make it more interactive -- and silly handmade props, including furry, larger-than-life mustaches. And to thank their family and friends for all of their support, they sent everyone home with personalized jars filled with plantable paper hearts that would grow into wildflowers. A tip for the taking from Erin: “Know that everyone will want to give you advice and suggestions on what to do or how to plan your day, but in the end, you really need to decide what will make you happy because it is your day.”