Featured Bride, Lauren W. Wedding Location: Wayzata, MN | Wedding Date: October 8, 2011 Well, the holiday season is just about over now, which means it's time for some relaxation! Or… for the bunches and bunches of happy couples who got engaged over the holiday season, it's time to start the fun wedding planning process! We love holiday and Christmas marriage proposals (is there anything more romantic?). So, to celebrate all of the newly-engaged couples, we have been saving a special post from My Wedding Chat featured bride, Lauren W. This post shows pictures from her gorgeous wedding. Hopefully, Lauren's beautiful fall wedding photos will give you some inspiration for your own wedding photography poses and DIY wedding decorations. (As a wedding photographer herself, Lauren has a lot of personal experience with wedding photography poses and has seen a lot of wedding centerpieces!) Keep reading, to see what Lauren W. (now Lauren O.!) has to say about her wedding day! Read ahead to see her beautiful photography poses, DIY decorations, & advice for brides-to-be.

Watching it all come together: Poses, decorations, & a year of planning.

Well, it's official... I'm married! I can't tell you how wonderful it feels to look at B and call him my 'husband' in public. But enough of the sappy stuff... on to the wedding! In one word, I would describe it as "personal". After a year of planning, doing projects, organizing, and stressing, it was magical to see everything come together even better than my own vision. I am so happy that I took the time to do many DIY wedding projects and make the wedding as personal as it was. We had such great help setting up the day before the wedding and the day of. Our personal attendants were rock stars. Every vendor also pulled through and made the whole day absolutely fabulous. Here are a few photos of the result!

Advice for the bride and groom.

As a word of advice for the bride and groom currently in the wedding planning process, I would say: "There is no one way to do a wedding." Be personal. Write your own vows. Pick your own music. Take time every hour or so to take it all in. Wear TOMS, instead of heels. You get the point... we did all of these things, and are so glad we did. The day is about you and your soon-to-be-spouse. Share in it together. Enjoy it. Delegate. Let others help you. There are so many little things left, when it gets down to the last minute in wedding planning, and you just never know what may come up; so give yourself plenty of help. You will return the favor in the future for them in some way or another. I am getting teary-eyed thinking about our big day, even now, as I type this for you all. More than the chair covers, ceiling decor, cupcake flavors, and material details... the most memorable part of a wedding is how you share it with others. We are lucky to have amazing people in our lives - and great dancers to boot! Enjoy it, and take your time saying "Hello" to everyone. Thank you for following my wedding planning journey here on My Wedding Chat! I wish you all the best of luck in your future! Cheers! ~LC Lauren W.'s DIY wedding decorations: (Remember when Lauren told us all about the DIY wedding decorations she made as wedding cupcake toppers and wedding cupcake stands? It looks like they turned out great!)

And they lived happily ever after.

 

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Lauren W.'s Wedding Vendors: Dress (Bride) - Wedding Shoppe Inc. Wedding flowers - Molly's Flower Studio Ceiling drapery / chair covers - Deckci Decor String Quartet - Amundson Strings Reverend - Rev D (Dave Dolahan) Photographer - Viveria Photography Videographer - MereCinema Tuxes - Savvy Formal Wear Wedding cupcakes / wedding cake - Wuollet Bakery (Edina) Ceremony venue - Woods Chapel, Orono Reception venue - Golden Valley Golf & Country Club

To find more fabulous wedding vendors, check out our helpful Wedding Shoppe, Inc. vendor locator, with everything from alterations to wedding music! Again, congratulations to all the lucky ladies whose handsome lads gave them the gift of holiday and Christmas marriage proposals! And happy wedding planning!!

Does Being a Featured Bride Sound Like Fun? Well, it is! If you want to learn more about becoming a featured bride and share your engagement story (fun Christmas marriage proposals, anyone?), wedding planning and gorgeous wedding photos with the world (and get special incentives!), we would love to have you join our featured bride family! Email us, at blog@weddingshoppeinc.com to learn more!

Follow Lauren W.'s Entire Wedding Planning Journey: Featured Bride, Lauren W.: Basic Wedding Etiquette Featured Bride, Lauren W.: One Month Away! Featured Bride, Lauren W.: 44 Days to Go and Lots of DIY!