It’s been two and a half months since M and I (finally) tied the knot and there really hasn’t been a day that I haven’t thought of that day and how perfect it was for us. When I started planning in January or February, I had a few non-negotiables:
- We weren’t going to spend a fortune
- The day was going to be low-key and fun
- Nothing formal or stuffy
- Our kids would play a big role in the day
Here’s how it all panned out.
The Ceremony
M and I both wanted a short, sweet ceremony that was rooted in our story. It was incredibly special for us that we were able to have the minister who had baptized me deliver the ceremony – which was part of a greater backup plan to ensure we’d have a place to get married if the weather didn’t participate!
Our ceremony took place at the end of the lawn below a family cottage we are fortunate enough to call our home away from home during the summer months. Instrumental music played from a Soundcore Bluetooth speaker. Each of our guests had a drink in their hand.
We laughed. We cried. It was… perfectly us.
The Décor
You probably noticed the ~ gorgeous ~ arch behind us on the lawn. This window frame came from an old church and has been in my cousin’s possession for a few years. He generously dropped it by the cottage the day before the ceremony.
As you can tell from the photos, we had a stunning backdrop that required next-to-nothing to create the perfect space for an intimate wedding. The church window, some tulle, a cheesecloth and local florals were all we needed to make the vision come to life.
(And honestly, it was better than expected…)
Additionally, F built me the most stunning arch which served as the entrance to the wedding on the cottage front porch. It was built with birch wood from the property and decorated with my great-grandfather’s rope and my grandfather’s buoys. We topped it with ivory tulle and it was truly a show-stopper.
I made a couple of signs to direct folks to the location, and also forgot to put a few of the signs I’d made up. (And, btw, there’s a second location coming next…)
The Party
No wedding is complete without a party and a Cape Breton, seaside-inspired wedding involving a fishing family means you’re probably going to end up near the wharf! We did.
My cousins generously allowed us to use their lobster pound as a base camp for the party. We brought in a Porta-potty, set up a tent (very last minute) and borrowed tables and chairs from my family’s church hall.
We literally picked oyster shells and rocks from the beach to add to the tables’ decor, which was plastic tablecloths and light blue cheesecloth. Some great battery-operated candles, string lights, and simple accents made a pretty but rustic vibe.
I grabbed a lot of our decor from thrift stores, Temu, SHEIN, and Amazon to keep costs lower and have also passed a lot of it on as gifts or sold it!
I also baked and decorated my own cake, which took a tumble when I arrived at the party. Oops!
The Clothes
I remain OBSESSED with my dress. I’ve been seriously considering having it shortened so I can wear it again (and again and again).
My dress was custom-made to my measurements by Lily Marks Brand on Etsy and it was exactly what I had imagined for the day. I chose it because I wanted something with wider straps and a low back, but I especially loved the button detail on the back and the gentle train. It was a silk crepe fabric and so, so lightweight and comfortable.
I paired it with a $40 Amazon-purchased cathedral length veil, which I loved for a bit of extra drama with an otherwise simple dress.
M snagged his suit from Simon’s and F, who walked me down the aisle, chose his light blue suit from RW&Co. The toddlers wore matching shorts and vest sets from H&M – and while they had fantastic loafers to wear, they wound up in Crocs and it was entirely on brand.
My nieces were my bridesmaids and they wore cute dresses from Abercrombie that matched the day, the decor, and everyone else’s outfits.
When I say things came together better than I expected, I’m not exaggerating.
Hair, Makeup & Details
I did my own hair and makeup, clipping a few hair extensions in to help hold the curl and ensure my veil stayed in place. This added about 1.5 inches of length, too!
I also did my niece’s hair and makeup, which made getting ready feel like a little party. We used pretty little blue floral hair combs to add some colour and flair.
My jewelry came from Etsy – simple earrings and a necklace with CZ and freshwater pearls.
I planned to skip florals, but I fell in love with a local Instagram seller and ordered fresh flowers from her. She thoughtfully included mint to the arrangements which helped repel bugs, a handy inclusion since there was no wind to keep them at bay…
For my cake, I used simple paper florals from IKEA rather than piping flowers on. This made the decorating quick and easy but also looked so beautiful.
When it got cooler at the end of the night, I threw on a cropped, faux fur rosette jacket from Anthropologie that I snagged on Poshmark.
In case you can’t tell, I loved every minute of the day and I regularly think back on the little moments that made it so special. We had more guests than we initially had anticipated but it actually made it so much better! At the end of the night, most of our friends piled into the cottage with us where we ate leftover food from the party (we ordered catering from President’s Choice!) and freshly BBQ’d hotdogs while we poured sparkling wines and danced in our PJs.
Truly, the perfect end to what had been a pretty perfect day.
