Cecily + Abram’s DIY wedding has us making all sorts of plans for spring (yes, already!)—getting crafty with friends, hosting intimate gatherings, picking out the brightest bouquets. They, along with a host of talented friends and fam, pulled off their dream day with a 10k budget that included so many cute creative touches. Thanks to Lauren Fair Photography for sharing the images!
Their dear friend Alexis of Woolly Bully dreamt up the invitation suite.
Cecily explains, We were very intentional about making every aspect of our wedding reflect our values. We don’t have tons of money, but we’ve invested our whole lives in meaningful relationships with loved ones that mean the world to us. A potluck was the only way to go, both because of our budget and because sharing food with friends and family is so important to us. From there, our friends and family pitched in to help make our vision a reality in so many ways, including:
• potato stamping 100 ft of kraft paper runner (could not look at potatoes for some time after the wedding…)
• making the picnic blankets from fabrics we chose
• helping set up on the wedding day & coordinating the potluck
• designing invites
• building the chuppah
• arranging the flowers in hundreds of glass bottles
• sharing personal blessings as our interpretation of the Jewish tradition of Sheva
• Brachot (with a communal sing-along of “If I Had A Hammer” for the final blessing) & more!
We’re thrilled that Cecily + Abram found their photographer through our vendor guide!
Fun idea!
For the potluck, they only asked local friends to contribute, and just specified a category (like appetizer or salad). Meanwhile, Cecily spent months sourcing vintage dishes, while her friends coordinated and made the paper tablecloth.
Find more in our gallery:
Cecily had proposed to Abram with a surprise performance of their song (“I Second that Emotion” by Smokey Robinson), including a back up band with lots of out of town loved ones. Abram returned the favor at the wedding, surprising Cecily with a 7-piece band performance of an original song that he had started to write about her years earlier but never finished.
A feel good story fit for a Friday, if you ask us! Congrats guys!
Photographer: Lauren Fair Photography / Venue: MAAS Building in Philadelphia / Florist: Triple Tree Flowers / Hair & Makeup: Jennifer Haines / Invitations: Friend, Alexis Wade of Woolly Bully / Popsicles: The Little Pop Shop / Vegan BBQ Chicken: The Nile Café / Ketubah: Jolly Edition / DJ: Dave Kloss / Jazz Trio: David Fishkin (of the West Philadelphia Orchestra) & band / Folded Book: Novel Brand / Bride’s Dress: Erin by Erin Fetherston / Flower Crown: Friend, Ilana Saul / Wedding Rings: Bario Neal with gold recycled from a bracelet the bride’s grandfather gave her grandmother for their 35th wedding anniversary / Groom’s Suit: Indochino / Vegan Shoes: Novacas / Vegan Belt: Truth Belts
