Right now in Australia weddings may only continue with a maximum of five people in attendance – the couple, the celebrant and two witnesses (although WA looks to be the first state to relax this announcing up to 10 people may be in attendance from next week). So while it looks like big weddings, and certainly destination weddings, will be off the cards for a while longer, from the archives here is a beautiful little backyard wedding to inspire - all the way from Chile. Photographed by Dario Vargas.
Bride Fran wanted a vintage feel to the day, 'Kind of backyard chic' she says. 'We decorated the tables with hand made burlap corridors, old bottles and mason jars as flower vases filled with rustic white and yellow flowers arranged by my girlfriends and me, and paper doillies as coasters. And to add some playfulness to the atmosphere, my mom and I sewed some colorful bunting banners from scratch.'
Fran and Ben wanted to do something different with their wedding outfits. 'I had an idea of using an old havanna theme for Benjamin, so we bought him a nice buttercream linen suit and elegant panama hat, custom made for his big head! Which actually came from Ecuador.'
'For my dress I wanted lace and a 50's air. So we also bought it on ebay and was custom made, which saved us a lot of money. For my accessories, I made a birdcage veil with one yard of ivory frech veiling, a comb and some thread. The earrings and the matching bracelet were Sarah Coventry found on etsy, as well as the lovely flower pins I used in my hair.'
Fran fell in love with succulents: 'I used them in little pots as favours, which had a card with seating information for each gest. And my DIY bouquet was made with white peonies and some blue-gree succulents.' And with a lovely eco friendly twist Ben and Fran have since planted all the left over succulents on their balcony. 'They are growing quite well.' said Fran.
Ben and Fran chose to use 'i do' it yourself's gum leaf range for their wedding stationery. 'We chose the gum leaf theme for all our stationery, because I thought it really expressed that sense of green and relaxation that we wanted for our wedding.' said Fran 'We used the lovely gum leaf paddle fans as a courtesy for our guest too, since it was a sunny day.'
Instead of a classical wedding cake the couple opted for fun mini cupcakes with bright blue, yellow and white frosting - a real hit with guests, espeicailly the kids. These where placed on cake stands made of old plates bought at a flee market along with the bottles and mason jars. Talented bride Fran even made a pair of beautiful felt love birds as a cake topper. Emulating the groom and bride, with a hat for him and a birdcage veil for her. Too cute!
Fran and Ben wanted to do something different with their wedding outfits. 'I had an idea of using an old havanna theme for Benjamin, so we bought him a nice buttercream linen suit and elegant panama hat, custom made for his big head! Which actually came from Ecuador.'
'For my dress I wanted lace and a 50's air. So we also bought it on ebay and was custom made, which saved us a lot of money. For my accessories, I made a birdcage veil with one yard of ivory frech veiling, a comb and some thread. The earrings and the matching bracelet were Sarah Coventry found on etsy, as well as the lovely flower pins I used in my hair.'
The couple incorporated a unity sand ceremony which parents also took part in, pouring different coloured sands into one big vase to symbolise two lives becoming one. Fran even made her own ring bearer cushion using a scrap of yellow silk, two vintage doillies and some ribbon! Gorgeous!
Fran fell in love with succulents: 'I used them in little pots as favours, which had a card with seating information for each gest. And my DIY bouquet was made with white peonies and some blue-gree succulents.' And with a lovely eco friendly twist Ben and Fran have since planted all the left over succulents on their balcony. 'They are growing quite well.' said Fran.
Ben and Fran chose to use 'i do' it yourself's gum leaf range for their wedding stationery. 'We chose the gum leaf theme for all our stationery, because I thought it really expressed that sense of green and relaxation that we wanted for our wedding.' said Fran 'We used the lovely gum leaf paddle fans as a courtesy for our guest too, since it was a sunny day.'
Instead of a classical wedding cake the couple opted for fun mini cupcakes with bright blue, yellow and white frosting - a real hit with guests, espeicailly the kids. These where placed on cake stands made of old plates bought at a flee market along with the bottles and mason jars. Talented bride Fran even made a pair of beautiful felt love birds as a cake topper. Emulating the groom and bride, with a hat for him and a birdcage veil for her. Too cute!
To finish up the day groom Ben, a musician, played a selection of special songs after the reception with a couple of friends. And guests were encouraged to sign a thumbprint guest book tree. 'The end result was framed and is currently decorating our living room.' What a clever and creative couple! Thanks so much for sharing Fran and Ben!
