1. Real Weddings

A Whimsical, Backyard Wedding at a Private Residence in Brookshire, Texas

The wedding between Sarah Whitaker (21 and the owner of a vintage rental company) and Corbin Carsrud (25 and a geologist) was a whimsical affair inspi

The wedding between Sarah Whitaker (21 and the owner of a vintage rental company) and Corbin Carsrud (25 and a geologist) was a whimsical affair inspired by vintage pieces. “I knew I wanted the overall design to reflect our quirkiness and also speak volumes about our history and who we are with an abundance of personal details,” Sarah says. Midcentury-modern furnishings, bright colors and Wes Anderson films all inspired the big day. Even the invitation suite was inspired by the director! Many of these elements were DIY, including Sarah’s headpiece, the Polaroid photo booth and Cholula hot sauce party favors. Teal, red and pastels were used in furnished seating areas and in floral arrangements. The pair met while working together in an on-campus coffee shop at Texas Tech University; they were married under a tree, surrounded by ferns and their friends and family. Sarah wore a lace gown with gold tones and accessorized with jewelry borrowed from loved ones. She made her own hairpiece and donned a teal shrug after the ceremony. Her bridesmaids wore teal dresses in the same shade and she also had male attendants, who dressed like the groomsmen and groom. They wore gray shirts, flannel ties, suspenders and black pants. After their rings were “warmed” by loved ones, all sending them wishes as they passed them along, the reception was also in Corbin's mother's backyard. They had a naked cake after feasting on a menu that included pork with green apple slaw and couscous salad. A DJ spun tunes into the night and the couple danced to “The Story” by Brandi Carlisle. “It’s a song that has so much movement emotionally and literally. We just love Brandi and her pipes!” They exited the festivities to sparklers before leaving for their honeymoon in the Bahamas. —Caroline Eubanks

"I was lucky enough to find a great Etsy shop called Black Lab Studio, which had a Wes Anderson invitation suite that I just could not get over. I ordered that and also added a few personal touches to the overall look," Sarah says. "I also DIYed most of the other paper details found throughout, such as the thank-you note attached to our favors."
"I am totally an emerald-cut girl, and Megan Thorne’s jewelry was such a great fusion of modern and vintage that Corbin couldn’t have gone wrong. With his wedding band we decided to go a different route; since he’s a geologist we chose a ring made from a meteorite."
"I wanted a look that stood out but that I would also love to look at and remember," Sarah says. "My dress was sometimes gold, depending on the light, and all my jewelry was borrowed from people I love."
"I have really gorgeous friends, and I just wanted to have them feel superbeautiful and slightly fly," Sarah says. "I think the electric teal dress accomplished that." Her male attendants coordinated with the groomsmen.
"We wanted to go even more casual with the groomsmen and maybe a little bit influenced by a guy named Don Draper," Sarah says. "They wore gray shirts, flannel ties, suspenders and black pants."
"From the first time I saw an air plant, I was like 'Get in my bouquet," Sarah says. "I also wanted to incorporate flowers that maybe looked like you could find them somewhere in a forest."
"We included a ring-warming ceremony before I walked down the aisle," Sarah says. "The families passed the ring, sending a prayer, good vibes or a blessing our way. My mother and my father escorted me down the aisle."
The Brookshire, Texas, backyard setting was ideal for Sarah and Corbin's big day. "I really wanted to be able to create something we would both love, and a backyard wedding totally allowed for that vision."
"We used Corbin's mother's backyard. I wanted to keep it simple, so we hung lightbulbs in a random way from the tree branch we got married under to create a backdrop, and we lined the aisle with ferns," Sarah says. "We also separated the ceremony space from the reception area with a set of stand-alone walls Corbin and I created."
"I really wanted to keep with the industrial-eclectic theme. I also wanted the guests to be able to see one another and feel like one big happy family," Sarah says. "The highlight of the table settings were the wooden pillars, which my mom and my stepdad created and burned our logo into. On top of those, we placed old electric insulators, which Corbin’s grandfather collected, with a tealight inside each. Our favorite condiment is Cholula hot sauce, and we needed a little Texas brought into our day, so thought that would be a great way to do it."
"I hate too much icing on a cake, so when the naked-cake train came through, I was superstoked," Sarah says. "The cake was lemon with strawberry icing and my favorite animal/human cake topper."
Midcentury modern was the design inspiration. "I started with some teals, pastels and pops of reds," Sarah says. "I was inspired by palettes of the '60s and old camping and outdoor gear."
Sarah offers advice for other couples: "When planning the wedding becomes not so fun, just take a step back for a second. It should always be fun and enjoyable."