Kristen & Dale’s DIY, Rustic Virginia Wedding at the Barns at Wolftrap

Images: Kathleen Hertel Photography

So normally I would be insanely excited about the impending snow storm. I love snow and it will be Evie’s FIRST snow. But 7-10 inches sounds a bit crazy (we know DC can’t handle 2 inches) and Andy is headed out of town so being snowed in, alone, with Evie sounds a bit intimidating. Here’s hoping we just get a few pretty inches! In the meantime, we have a GORGEOUS DIY wedding to share with you today – one that our girl Alesha coordinated oh-so-perfectly. Kristen & Dale’s wedding was so full of love, community, and handmade goodness. You guys are going to love it. Let’s get to it.

How we met: Dale and I met in middle school! We were both in a middle school production of Annie, I played Annie, Dale played the butler Drake! We didn’t really become close friends until later on in high school, and we started dating my senior year. We are high school sweethearts!

How he proposed:I had just finished up an Indiegogo campaign to help fund my life coach training and certification, and to celebrate this big next step, Dale took me out to dinner. That night there was a super moon, and after dinner we stopped to star gaze and look at the giant moon in the sky, and he proposed right then and there. We got engaged over the summer and had a trip to Disney World planned in October – and I thought for sure it was gonna happen in Florida later that Fall! When he pulled out the ring, he said, “I know you’re probably expecting this a little later – but it’s happening now!” We took another big step forward that night :)

Our close friends sang, played cello, read, and officiated our ceremony we created ourselves, my Uncle designed our flowers and my brother helped bring it all together, and my brother’s girlfriend hand-painted a number of beautiful signs that were all over the Barns. It meant so much to us that our incredibly talented and creative community shared their gifts with us! It made the day even more special.

READ MORE FOR THE REST OF KRISTEN & DALE’S PERSONALIZED, DIY WOLFTRAP WEDDING!

What went into planning our wedding: A girlfriend recommended the book, A Practical Wedding, which suggested to brainstorm a few words about how you want your wedding day to feel. I wrote the words Cozy, joy-filled, fun, warm and community and put them on a bulletin board, these words guided all of our planning decisions. We both knew right away we wanted our community to have a hand in our big day, not just as guests but as participants.

Favorite wedding memory: There are so many to choose from – but I think our whole ceremony takes the cake. Our incredible friends who sang and played, watching our rings be passed during our ring warming ceremony, having our high school theatre teacher officiate, hearing my husband’s vows – it was so so special and something I will never forget!

Advice for couples in wedding planning mode:Take care of yourself throughout the planning. This is such a special, beautiful time in your life – rest when you get tired, breath when you get overwhelmed, stay connected with your fiancé and enjoy! Know that everything will work out exactly the way it’s supposed too.

Vendors ~> Photographer: Kathleen Hertel Photography | Wedding Coordination: Alesha with Capitol Romance Wedding Coordination | Venue: The Barns at Wolf Trap | Florist: Environmental Design Studio (Uncle Sean!) | DJ: Scorpio Entertainment | Doughnuts: District Doughnut | Dress Designer: Sarah Seven via the Lovely Bride Shop | Suit Designer: Jos A Bank | Photo Booth: DIY! | Catering: Main Event Caterers | Submitted via Two Bright Lights