Massachusetts Backyard Wedding

There is nothing better than having the people you care about most helping you prepare for your big day – and that is exactly how this wonderful Massachusetts backyard wedding came together. Levi Stolove Photography was kind enough to share the love and details he captured of this DIT (do-it-together) wedding. The whole day was truly a collaboration of the bride and groom’s closest family and friends, and they were all able to celebrate happily ever after – together!

From the bride: We wanted our wedding to be warm, homey, and beautiful. My husband loves ferns and they sort of developed into the theme of our wedding, without us planning it. We thought of the look as backyard elegance. I’m not crafty at all, so our DIY became DIT – do it together. My younger sister made my veil; embroidered the chuppah (wedding canopy), which was a family heirloom tablecloth; and hand lettered the signs. My mom, aunt, grandma, and mother’s friends fringed cloth by hand for the table runners and one of my best friends and bridesmaids designed the invites and save the dates. My husband’s best friend played the guitar for the ceremony and two of my childhood friends twirled fire during the reception. A friend of ours who is a rabbi officiated the ceremony.

The best advice I was given was to sit down with my fiance before starting to plan and come up with the three things that matter most to us about the wedding, to set our vision according to those things, and to make those our budget priorities. Doing this helped us to have priorities, know we were on the same page, and let go of the things we thought “should” matter to us but didn’t. Certain things, like flowers, didn’t matter to me, but they mattered a lot to my mom, so she designed the flowers without my input and they were gorgeous. The other best advice I was given is that families and friends are only more themselves during the process and not to expect anything from the people you love that you wouldn’t expect normally. The wedding feels huge and planning may feel like an enormous task, but at the end of the day, what matters is that you’re married and happy. And if you’re not totally happy with your wedding itself, that’s ok, too. Try to let go of what didn’t go right and remember the moments that bring you joy.

Processional: “Here, There, and Everywhere,” the Beatles
Recessional: “Two of Us,” the Beatles
First Dance: “I Will,” the Beatles
Last Dance: “This Will be Our Year,” The Zombies

Wedding location: Great Barrington, MA / Photographer: Levi Stolove Photography / Flowers & Decor: Gillooly Design / Catering & Coordination: Ginny Filkins of Sills and Co. / Bride’s dress: Alita Graham from Kleinfeld / Bridesmaids dresses: J Crew, Nordstrom, and Alfred Sung / Veil & Chuppah: bride’s sister / Groom’s suit: Men’s Wearhouse / Makeup: Makeup Artistry by Liz / Hair: Jenursa / Stationery: Hello Peachy (bridesmaid’s company) / DJ: Addam Bombb / Venue: family member’s home