This post may not be directly tied to parenting like this whole blog is focused on. However, it’s part of the story on our journey into parenting. Our wedding day is a reflection of us as a couple, and the values we hope to instill into Rory and future children as our family grows. I was recently on the Choosing Your Reflection podcast where I shared details about our wedding experience. You’ll notice in the cover photo that we have our wedding rings tied to the hiking boot laces. When we got engaged there was the societal pressure to have “the diamond ring” and so we did that. The truth? We could have gone without those rings. They don’t fit our lifestyle and instead, we wear our groove rings on a daily basis.
We were married in 2017 and the things we did on our wedding day still hold true to our values. Our engagement story very well represents us as a couple as well. Navigating a wedding can be challenging, stressful, and overwhelming but in all honesty, it does not have to be. If you stick to your true selves of who you are as individuals and who you are as a couple, the day will roll out beautifully.
In the podcast interview, the host Lauren asked me “Do you think marriage is like hiking or backpacking?” And it absolutely is. You can enter a marriage prepared, just like you enter a hiking/backpacking trip prepared. However, you never know what you are going to encounter on the trail or in life. As long as you enter prepared and feel confident in your decisions on planning for the trail or choosing the person you are spending the rest of your life with, you can get through the challenges that lie ahead.
I hope people can take insight from this post especially if you are planning your weddings or dreaming about your wedding in this COVID world we are currently in.
Here are just a few of my favorite things we did to keep our wedding unique to “us.”
A meaningful unity joining. We took dirt from each of our parent’s gardens/yards and did a unity planting during the ceremony. I love that it was dirt from our parents’ gardens reminding each of us where our roots are from, but also representing two families coming together. We have the plum tree planted in our yard and it’s a reminder of our marriage. It’s a reminder that we will always be growing as a couple. It was also a practical to us because it was something useful for years to come.
A relaxed vibe and venue. We are both laid back and hospitable people. We like to host and we like for people around us to be relaxed. We loved the venue, Eko Backen because it was so open, and created for a very laid back feel. There were a handful of things for guests to do including mini golf, a giant hill for kids to run around on, a bonfire, dancing, and plenty of outside areas for people to spread out. It gave people the opportunity to feel comfortable and do what they enjoy. The “getting ready” aspect of the day was very relaxed too and all of us were having a splendid time! I think often times brides can get caught up in the day and it can take away from living in the true moment of it all. Having a relaxed tone to the day helped to feel at ease, and liven up the mood for everyone involved. When the bride and groom are relaxed, the wedding party and guests will feed off of that.
We brought our D.I.Y into the wedding. We are naturally D.I.Y. people so bringing our hobbies into the wedding was fitting for us. We also were conscious in using what we already had at home, or getting items from thrift shops as needed. We wanted to keep it eco-friendly and thrifty as possible. Some things we did to D.I.Y include:
*Made our own invitations and printed them ourselves.
*Made our own centerpieces using the beer bottles Andy had saved.
*Asked friends/family to use their hobbies and help us with things we wanted like guest books and canvas drawings.
*Had friends do makeup/hair.
*Andy carved a wood sign and it hangs in our house as decor.
*Andy homebrewed beer for the wedding.
*Made the flower bouquets out of fake flowers and resold them to a thrift shop (we consigned most of our items to a thrift shop.)
We dressed ourselves, and our wedding party very much aligned with who we are as individuals. What we love about the outfits for the bridal party was that they were able to be worn more than once. This was purposeful and intentional in our picking but also aligned with our personalities. Sarah is a free flowing spirit who allowed the girls to choose the dresses. Andy likes knowing what to expect and picked the outfits out for the guys. This photo sums it up.
We stayed budget friendly and practically minded. We are practical people and entered the wedding planning in a practical mindset. We shopped around venues for a good price point, Sarah got her dress at a thrift shop, we brought in liquor from Costco, we brought in our own trail mix bar. These things take extra steps and planning, but saves money. The planning process for us is something we enjoy. While not everyone enjoys the planning process, it can save you money. We also use items from our wedding as decor in our home. Hanging the items in our home is a daily reminder of that day and our commitment to one another.
We wrote our own vows. Writing our own vows brought more meaning to the day, and brought more of our own emotions into the ceremony. It was special to write in our own words our vows to one another, and we have those to always look back, reflect, and have as a reminder of our commitment to one another.
If you take anything from this post it’s that you should stay true to yourselves and the experience will be one you want to reflect on for years to come.
I could go on about other things we did but I’ll stop there. Instead, take a listen to the Hiking Thru Life podcast where we reflect on the wedding as a couple or you can listen to the Choosing Your Reflection podcast where I share more details about the experience.
In this episode, we celebrate our 3 year wedding anniversary! Sarah and Andy, the faces behind this podcast, have been married for 3 years. We wanted to take some time to reflect on our wedding day and give some wedding advice and insight. Weddings are a time of love, commitment, and the bond of two people creating a life together. It’s important to remember that your wedding day should be a reflection of who you are as a couple. We reflect on our wedding day and what we did to bring our love of the outdoors into the wedding. We also reflect on how we have grown as a couple in the outdoor journey and how Hiking Thru Life has played an impact on our life together.
Gear mentioned in this episode:
Garmin InReach SE+ – https://amzn.to/2Y75r52
Garmin InReach Mini – https://amzn.to/320h5zJ
ATIKA sandals – https://amzn.to/3iLGvb9
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