What do you get when you cross a gorgeous couple with a major dose of wanderlust? A DIY weddingand a destination wedding that hits all the right travel notes. Jimmy and Steph of St. Louis, MO packed up their hand-written wedding vows, handmade wedding accents and a handful of their closest friends and headed out West for a week-long celebration on the banks of Lake Powell in Utah. Read on to see how they incorporated all their DIY wedding ideas into one breathtaking setting.
1. Lakeside (and Cliffside) Location: It really doesn’t get anymore dreamy than this. Jimmy and Steph fell in love with the dramatic brick-red cliffs and blue water of Lake Powell on a random trip out West, and both knew that this was the perfect spot for their big day. Since there is not much accommodation out there, they hired houseboats to serve as accommodations for the week. The wedding party ended up at this prime (and totally private) waterfront spot on Lake Powell’s Padre Bay.
2. Bloom-Free Bouquets: Having a wedding on a desolate stretch of beach in a Utah canyon has its challenges, including how to decorate with flowers. Steph skipped live flowers (which would pretty much wilt instantly in the heat) in favor of these super chic DIYed bouquets of paper flowers. She cut up maps and pretty craft paper to form the petals and then added lace and rhinestone accents for extra pizzazz. The best part? The bouquets lasted long after the wedding!
3. Travel Trunks: Since the St. Louis, MO couple and their guests had to travel so far to get to the wedding location, a travel theme seemed to make perfect sense. Steph rifled through thrift stores and antique markets to find accent decor like these vintage gray suitcases.
4. Vintage Vibe: Steph imbued the long reception table with that same old-school travel vibe with these easy peasy DIY burlap and lace table runners. The antique cameras add another playful nod to the past.
5. Twinkling Lights: Once the sun went down, the incredible blanket of stars in the sky provided almost enough light to keep the party going, but not quite. Strings of twinkle lights stretched over the reception table and the sandy dance floor meant Steph, Jimmy and their guests could shimmy and shake all night long.
6. Maps to the Max: Maps, maps and more maps! A simple decoupage DIY turned old wine bottles into on-theme travel trinkets, while more map and craft paper flowers added an extra dose of pretty.
7. A Family (and Friends) Affair: Jimmy and Steph wanted to keep their wedding small, but they weren’t sure if they could convince their close friends and family to make the trip out to Utah. But the destination gamble paid off: “It was so exciting to see their reactions as they arrived,” said Steph, “And now they all want to go back!”
8. Firework Ending: Jimmy and Steph first met as fireworks filled the air on the Fourth of July, so it only made sense to end their wedding extravaganza on the same explosive note. A sandy beach, lots of s’mores, fireworks and good friends and family made for one incredible night.
The creative couple also runs a videography studio out of St. Louis, so they put their mad skills to work and created their own super inspiring wedding video. Check it out below:
Congrats, Jimmy and Steph!
VENDORS:
Photography: Miller + Miller Wedding Photography
Videography: Captured in Frames
Caterer: Antelope Point Marina
Houseboats: Forever Resorts
Do you have a DIY wedding that you’d like to share with us? Leave us a note in the comments, or email us at hello@brit.co.
It can be intimidating to step out on your own and build a business from the ground up. As part of our collaboration with Office Depot, we're talking with Selfmade alum and solopreneur Colette Lawrence, the faith-based motivator and relationship builder behind The M.E.E. Movement, about ways in which women in business can find success.
B + C: How did you know M.E.E. Movement was your business to start?
The M.E.E Movement represents motivation, empowerment, and encouragement for women. It is what represents me. I did not know at first that it was my business to start, but then the thought of monetizing what I loved came to me. It scared me, however. I registered the business in July 2020 and have been slowly building my wings since.
B + C: What's one strategy that's helped you start your business?
Thinking through and researching what the requirements are to start my business, and then asking questions of people who are in the business. Not all advice worked; however, it helped me to figure out what I needed to do and not to do.
B + C: Did you always know life coaching would be your entrepreneurial path?
(Smiles) No, I did not. I 'stumbled" on it. I knew that people were always coming to me for advice and I found that I loved having conversations with them, especially with women, young and old.
B + C: What was your most valuable takeaway from Selfmade?
My most valuable takeaway was the first day of training: Get out of your own way. There were a lot of great moments and important takeaways from every presenter. However, getting out of my own way, pushing past doubts, was for me my most valuable takeaway. Doing something that I had never done before took courage. If I do not focus on what is happening with me mentally then I cannot deliver to my clients successfully.
B + C: What's one piece of advice you would give to female entrepreneurs on the brink of starting?
Get out of your head. You have something to offer. You have what you need to succeed so go ahead and do it.
B + C: How do you stay motivated?
I stay motivated by listening to music and listening to motivational speakers, and sometimes someone will just reach out and talk about the impact that I made in their life. That adds the extra juice or sauce I need to pummel through the day.
B + C: What's your best organizational tip?
Keep a diary and journal. It's the best way for me to keep organized and it also provides a source motivation as I record not only my "losses" but my wins as well.
B + C: Who inspires you in the entrepreneurial space?
Shirley Toliver – She motivates and empowers and makes me always want to show up.
B + C: What has receiving the Office Depot scholarship to Selfmade done to help you start or grow your business?
The scholarship was a blessing in that all the areas that were covered offered valuable information that I needed, from social media to HR. As a new business owner, I needed to know this to increase my own personal awareness in what it takes to run a successful business. The candidness of the presenters made it easy to see myself in their shoes and helped me to realize that I can also get there.
Thanks Colette! You can follow The M.E.E. Movement on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
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Head to Office Depot's Selfmade page to check out even more amazing business resources (and discounts!) to help you accomplish more on your entrepreneurial journey. These offers are available for a limited time only, so be sure to take advantage of all this goodness while supplies last. Want to join the next Selfmade cohort this summer? Check out all of the scholarship details right here.