my big fat covid wedding

Don’t worry – this wedding wasn’t big and Covid 19 wasn’t invited. But it was one of the most original, organic, and enjoyable weddings I’ve ever attended. What could be more fun than a social-distancing ceremony in 90 degree weather plus a thunderstorm, you ask?… by making it a double, of course. Throw in a few close friends, a picturesque park, a guest with a Joan Baez voice and a borrowed ukulele, and a bride & groom (or two) that care more about each other than a lavish venue and you end up with an amazing memory. You also end up with some pretty cool DIY projects that – although not perfect – were perfectly made with love. Here’s a glimpse of what I’ve been up to the past two weeks.

(Affiliate links included for your convenience. As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See disclosure here.)

First, meet the guests of honor. The brides? One petite Brazilian wearing a bit of bling, and one rock-climbing bohemian carrying a bouquet of wildflowers. Both beautiful inside and out. The grooms? My son and his bride are on the right; his best friend & bride on the left. 

Vows were exchanged in a graceful stone pavilion at a park just down the street from my home. An unexpected thunderstorm visited briefly, as if to add Mother Nature’s shout of approval.  

Both brides looked stunning yet remained true to their own aesthetics. Daia in her short sassy dress with touches of pink in her bouquet, and Lilly in a cotton gauze maxi dress from Free People holding a cluster of wildflowers. 

And speaking of fashion, my youngest son Hadji turned many heads in his new tuxedo. (Just a side note for any of you pug owners – order a large regardless what the size chart says.)

Now on to the reception… Giant paper flowers placed on my front door greeted the guests. They were surprisingly easy to make! 

I kept decorations fairly simple, using ribbon and garland from my craft room stash and fresh flowers from the grocery store. I did, however, arrange the silverware in an eloquent fashion. Umm, did I say silverware? (Shh… they were plastic.)

I’m pretty proud of the tiered cupcake stand I made; it took center stage on my dining room table. Check out my tutorial, and you’ll realize that it is much easier than it seems. No saw required. 

We kept the party small and were careful to respect the seriousness of this pandemic. But as the evening continued, as the music grew louder, and as feet started to ache, we still managed to include all the traditions of a big, scripted wedding. Daughters danced with fathers, couples sliced the cakes (did you notice the difference in the cake sizes? I laugh each time I see that photo), brides tossed bouquets, and grooms threw garters. 

And speaking of garters, did I mention that I made them for the two brides? You can see the tutorial here. 

The evening was perfect in every little unexpected way. Let’s just not talk about the morning after, okay?

The biggest compliment is a little share – pin the photo below!