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Woodsy Camp Wedding

Woodsy Camp Wedding

Always a sucker for sweet love stories, I swooned a bit when I saw newlyweds Heather and Jamie have known each other since they were in their early teenage years. Then I continued on to the images sent from Dreamlove Photography, and I was sold! The bride designed her own wedding dress, which was turned into a reality by a close friend. Get ready to pore over some delightful DIY goodness:

woodsy vintage wedding

From the bride, Heather: Jamie and I met in 8th grade when Jamie dropped his pencil in class. He reached over the desk to get it, his fingers wiggling frantically just out of reach, while I sat next to him laughing at the whole desperate process. Later that year, we started a friendship. We had homework to bring in our favorite song and Jamie and I were the only two who had used same one, “How’s it Gonna Be.” Naturally, the teacher paired Jamie and me up.


camp wedding venue
camp wedding venue

rustic wedding signsyellow lapel boutonnieres

rustic wedding invitations

purple wedding bouquetsfloral wedding shoes

birdcage fascinator veil

dress hanging from tree

Twelve years later, looking for the perfect spot to tie the knot, we came across Camp Kiwanee in the middle of the woods in Massachusetts. Between the beauty of the rustic wooden deck overlooking Maquan Pond and the fun and casual atmosphere of the cabins, we were sold.


cinco de mayo bouquets

newlyweds in woods

ceremony signs setup

yellow grooms boutonnieresglass wedding decor

bride and groom on stump

From the wedding dress, invitations, the boutonnieres and bouquets, the dessert table, hairpieces, the centerpieces, signs, the wedding programs, the printed napkin menus, and more, this wedding was a totally group effort DIY project. Friends and family pitched in on the creation and set-up of the entire day.


bride and groom

rustic wedding bridebride wearing fascinator

rustic reception menu

bride and groom on stump

hot sauce wedding favorsbottled wedding favors

clay cake toppers

Some advice for a vintage rustic wedding: Stalk thrift stores, don’t dismiss things because they’re dusty (clean them!), take time to really let your vision evolve. You don’t have to rush into buying something or hiring a vendor just because your list tells you it’s supposed to be done by now, and reach out to friends and family.


vintage wedding books

white wedding cakesmini wedding cupcakes

indoor camp receptions

cards in birdcages

wedding cake popsno icing cakes

first dance newlyweds

View all images from this wedding in the gallery

Wedding Vendors (Hanson, MA):

Wedding Venue: Camp Kiwanee / Wedding Photographers: Dreamlove Photography / Wedding Dress Design: bride / Wedding Dress: Hayley Jean Walter / Fascinator: Abby Koppes / Hair and Makeup: Personal Best Salon / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: ModCloth and Ruche / Groom and Groomsmen Suits: Men’s Warehouse / Wedding Caterer: DejaBlu Catering / Wedding Desserts: BellaCakes / DJ: DJ by Jake / Invitations and Paper Goods: bride / Videographer: McElroy Weddings

View Comments (17)
  • It was a wonderful wedding indeed! We are so grateful to have had the opportunity to host such a special event. Congrats to Jamie and Heather!

    -Camp Kiwanee

  • Wow! I can’t believe that a few months ago I was obsessively looking at this blog for wedding inspiration and now we are on it! Dreamlove Photography did an amazing job capturing the favorite day of our lives! 🙂 Thank you Ruffled for feature us!

  • Heb, this is amazing & you are BEAUTIFUL!! All the hard work looks like it paid off; beautiful wedding AND an acknowledgment from a great blog. Love to you & Jamie! Congrats 🙂

  • Congrats you guys! It was beautiful in person and captured here!

  • I will be eternally grateful to both Heather and Jamie for letting me a part of their day. I am ever amazed at how effortlessly this wedding came together with no details overlooked. Beautiful!!

  • It is so exciting to see this dress come to life. It has been an amazing process to create this one of a kind wedding dress with Heather for her special day and I hope that it won’t be my last. Thanks to Heather for trusting me and allowing me to be apart of this beautiful wedding!!

  • Does anyone know where to find these amazing shoes? Or even the brand? Help!

  • @Sara I actually bought them at TJ Maxx about a year and a half ago! The label inside says FH, it’s not much, but I hope it helps!

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