I am IN LOVE with today’s DIY rustic, southern wedding. And the couple, Vickie and Ben. And the photographers who captured it all, Brett and Jessica. You can absolutely feel Vickie and Ben’s love for each other through these images… and on top of that, the film by Heart Stone Films is a total tearjerker! Y’all, get ready for some southern DIY gorgeousness!

What (or who) helped you most in your planning process and/or on your wedding day?

Going through different blogs (your blog of course!, ruffled, rustic wedding chic, style me pretty), magazines (unveiled, southern weddings, the knot, brides), and of course Pinterest pages of real weddings and wedding inspiration boards really helped in my planning process.

What was the most important thing to you when deciding who to work with for your wedding?

Personality was really important, but also the level of passion my partners had for learning about me, my future husband and our wedding. We were so lucky to find the most amazing people we could have ever hoped to work with. They all took a very real interest in not only making the wedding Ben and I had envisioned, but making it better.

What was your inspiration for your wedding details and/or design?

I created a vision book that was a collection of images (from many years of bridal magazines, blogs etc.) that inspired everything from my invites to my flowers and wedding dress. I took this book everywhere with me -from my first dress appointment to my wedding day. This book allowed me to translate my vision to the partners I was working with.

What was your favorite thing about your wedding?

I loved having all of my friends and husband’s friends from all over the country in the same place. We will never have that group together again all in the same place and I soaked up every single minute I could with all the people we love.

And now you MUST watch this amazing film by Heart Stone Films…

Vickie + Ben | Fearrington Village Wedding Film from Heart Stone Films on Vimeo.

What is your best piece of advice for other brides?

Add a few of what we like to call “sprinkles” that really speak to who you and your future husband are as a couple. Ben and I did sunglasses we designed, bibs at the rehearsal dinner that we hand-drew and had produced overseas, and a sign that listed our favorite cocktails – which were also the signature cocktails at the wedding. It’s these little additions that speak to who you are as a couple and make the wedding special – not the 12 tiered wedding cake, the horse-drawn carriage, or the designer dress (although those help too :)) – but really, its adding in your personality that is what makes a wedding memorable.

Ben and Vickie are a couple after my own heart! I absolutely love that they clearly worked together in planning their wedding day, making it a celebration of their love and their life together. Not only that, but their wedding details are amazing too! My favorite detail: the table numbers! (Are you surprised?)

So tell me- what are you loving from this DIY rustic wedding? Anything in particular?

Vendors who made it all happen…