Are you ready for a gorgeous wedding? I am! I featured Chris and Caitlin’s big day in our wedding publication, and I literally BEGGED to feature it after seeing only one photo. Having an urban greenhouse wedding was a last minute switch, but it all came together perfectly. Take a peek at the beauty!

Your wedding is a day for celebration.

A time to gather with family and friends as you begin a new life together. But if you are considering a DIY event, gathering those family and friends long before the day itself is essential. Such was the case with Chris and Caitlin’s DIY greenhouse wedding – and the results were stunning!

“We wanted our wedding to feel personal and true to us as a couple and luckily, we have a lot of creative friends whose skills are perfect for weddings,” offers Caitlin. Their friends helped in areas such as floral design, hand-lettering, officiating, hairstyling and organizing and facilitating the ceremony, which personalized their day even more. Caitlin adds, “The influence our friends had on our wedding was apparent from beginning to end, and highlighting their talents was one of the absolute best parts of the weekend.”

And then came an unexpected change of plans.

Originally scheduled at a North Garden farm, plans changed for this Virginia Tech couple just a mere three months before their wedding. Their officiant suggested Lynchburg Grows, which offered exactly what they were looking for. “The more we thought about it, the more it made sense. It was really important to us that we had an outdoor wedding, and the greenhouses provided the perfect backdrop. The setting was industrial but natural with all the plant life, and we were still married on a farm – an urban farm,” reminisces Caitlin.

They were able to support a local cause while soaking in the benefits of the beauty of Lynchburg Grows, which also provided their caterer with locally grown vegetables. The bonus? The Hillcats were playing the same day, so their guests enjoyed a complimentary fireworks show.

And why DIY for their greenhouse wedding?

Caitlin advises, “I had a fairly specific vision for how I wanted our wedding to look and felt that the best way to accomplish that was to piece everything together ourselves. It was also important that our wedding be as eco-friendly and economical as possible, which can be a challenging balance.” The use of palm leaf plates, bamboo flatware and compostable cups were environmentally friendly choices made for their wedding.

They also borrowed or purchased the vases and brass candlesticks, and Caitlin hand dyed the table runners with her friend. “There were certainly a few bumps in the road but the end result of all the DIY elements definitely surpassed our expectations,” adds Caitlin.

And now, sage advice from the bride, Caitlin.

Wedding Planning Advice

Delegate. Particularly for a DIY wedding, delegation is an absolute must. Chris did 50% or more of the wedding planning and without him, I wouldn’t have made it through. Also, friends and family members genuinely want to help out and enlisting their support can really take the pressure off.

Favorite Wedding Day Moment

There were so many great moments from the first moment Chris and I saw one another to hearing everyone laugh as Chris read an excerpt from “The Princess Bride” during our ceremony but by far and away, my favorite moment was looking out over the dance floor and seeing all of our favorite people boogie down! It gave me this overwhelming feeling of pure joy that honestly took my breath away and it’s a moment that I will never forget.

Marriage Advice

Individuality. Chris and I agree that one of the biggest reasons our relationship is so successful is because we both maintain our sense of independence and individuality within the relationship. For us, the result is a relationship with abundant trust, romance, and appreciation for one another.

Greenhouse Wedding Vendors:

• Photography – Melissa Diane Photography
• Venue – Lynchburg Grows
• Catering – A Bowl of Good, Harrisonburg
• Floral Design and Hand Lettered Signage – Sarah-Louise Dechow
• Tent, Table, Chair Rentals – Skyline Tent Company
• Planning & Design – Lauren McQuillan, A Little Party Events and Max & Dexter Event Design
• Ceremony Organization and Facilitation – Katy Overby
• Wedding Gown – David’s Bridal
• Groom’s Attire – Jos. A. Bank
• Bridal Party Attire – each attendant chose her own based on a color palette
• Bride’s Hair – Elizabeth Victoria Owens, Nashville
• Groom’s Hair – Dakota Claytor of Mojo Hair Bar, Lynchburg
• Officiant – Victoria Bartholemew
• Rings – Rare Earth Jewelry (hers) and Ring & Grove Co (his)
• Table Runners – hand dyed by Sarah-Louise Dechow and Caitlin
• DJs – Brandon Burneson & Thomas Dean
• Restrooms – Royal Restrooms
• Wine – Vintage Cellar, Blacksburg

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