“There is no remedy for love, but to love more.” -Henry David Thoreau

A relaxed day, surrounded by love on all sides. That pretty much sums up Kate and Geoff's beautiful backyard wedding in Acton. I was so lucky to be a part of it - I felt like part of the family with everyone celebrating all day long. And Kate and Geoff (with the help of their planner Wendy, from Wendy Harrop Events), had so many fun games and decorations that just made it perfect. Thanks for letting me share in your day!

What were your goals for your wedding day?  

We wanted everyone to have a relaxed, enjoyable time, with good food and games. The wedding and reception were at my grandparents' home because another main goal for us was that it was an intimate gathering of very close friends and immediate family with us to celebrate. We tried not to overplan with too many things, so that there were very few small details (which meant we had nothing to stress over!).

Such a gorgeous spot! We had a perfect day, weatherwise, and as you can see, just so lush and green! (Can you tell it's mid-April and we have yet to see spring arrive yet this year and how much I miss it? Ha)

I always love the Mason jars, reclaimed wood tables and rustic details! 

One of the ways Kate and Geoff personalized their wedding was by getting everyone involved! They had a friend officiate the wedding, and Kate's cousin's band, Yankee and the Foreigners, played throughout the day and into the evening (they were awesome, by the way - definitely check them out!). They also passed around their rings for everyone to make a wish/thought/prayer over, which I thought was quite special.

(From Kate) We felt very comfortable and relaxed for the ceremony-- we had everyone we loved with us, hearing our commitments to each other.

We literally did not worry about the pictures, not even for a second. We trusted that you were there taking photos of what ever needed to be photographed, and we were right! When we got the pictures back, there were images from moments we didn't know anyone had been watching for, and often, it looked like you captured them from several points of view despite only being one person. It was perfect!

What is one suggestion you have for other couples who are planning their weddings? 

It's your wedding, so plan it how you want, with what will be important and memorable for you, no matter what 'normal' or 'required' is, or what your (dearly loved) family thinks. Our family had a lot of opinions on what we should or shouldn't have as part of the wedding, and in the end they all had an amazing time (or at least said they did!), despite us not doing everything they said. Our wedding was perfect for us, and many of our best friends have had beautiful weddings that were so so different from ours, and that was perfect for them! 

Another personal touch - all the cookies were made by family and friends (and they were delicious :))

Florist: Wilson Farm  
Band: Yankee and the Foreigners
Caterer: Peppers
Invitations: Paper Source
Jeweler: Grandma Byrne’s engagement ring, and William Schwartz Jewelry
Dress: BHLDN
Planner: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Wendy Harrop  
Favors: handmade cookies from friends and family

Looking for some more backyard wedding ideas? Check out these blog posts!

Krysia and Michael’s garden backyard wedding with farm pets and origami cranes

Samantha and Paulo’s backyard wedding ceremony overlooking a lake