Analisa + Keith

(July 16, 2022 in Clayton, WA)

Welcome back to the Ivory Blog where we share stories of our real brides and their amazing weddings! Today’s post is about a couples gorgeous wedding which took place on their property in Clayton, WA. The couple had complete freedom over their day and built their own venue, farmhouse tables, and bar. They were intentional about selecting vendors who aligned with their personal vibe and making sure the day matched who they are as people. On the day-of, the author enjoyed getting ready with their bridesmaids and having their dogs around. The ceremony was kept simple, with private vows during the first look, and the rest of the night was one big party. The author's #1 tip for future brides is to delegate, especially during the week of the wedding, and to show appreciation to vendors with thank-you bags.

By our real bride, Analisa:

What was the vision for your wedding?

We always knew we wanted to get married on our property in Clayton, WA! We wanted complete freedom over our day and we knew doing it ourselves would allow for that! What we didn't plan on, was building our own venue, farmhouse tables, and bar. Starting in January 2021, we began clearing a space in the middle of our 20-acre forest and by July 2022 we were ready to party! After being together for 12 years, our hope was to have one big celebration with our family and friends at a place that was meaningful to us. We were intentional about selecting vendors who aligned with our personal vibe and making sure the day matched who we are as people.

How did it go the day-of?

One of the things I most looked forward to on my wedding day was getting ready with my bridesmaids and mom! I wanted to soak in every moment so I made sure to be present. We drank champagne, had music going, and talked while getting our hair and makeup done. Allowing lots of time to get ready minimized the rush that some wedding days have. Another special part of our day was having our dogs around! While we were afraid of the added stress, our photos with them were some of our favorites.

When guests began arriving, we made sure their first stop was the bar! We wanted everyone to have a nice cold drink during the ceremony. We wanted our ceremony to feel very personal and "us". A close friend played music as I walked down the aisle with my mom and dad, while another friend was our officiant. We opted for private vows during our first look so we kept the ceremony simple. Once the ceremony was finished, we headed straight to the bar for margaritas! The rest of the night was one big party. Between our amazing DJ, glowsticks, groomsmen dressed in dinosaur costumes, and a super fun photobooth, people danced well into the night! We were having so much fun that we declined our planned "exit" because we didn't want people to leave. Our wedding day was perfect. Having a year and a half to plan was helpful but when you are doing it yourself, you need to think of EVERY detail.

What is your #1 tip for future brides?

The best tip I can offer is that you have to delegate, especially when it comes to the week of the wedding! It is ok to ask for help and utilize your bridal party and family. I struggled with this but it would have been impossible for me to have done it all without being fully overwhelmed. Your people want to contribute so let them help!

Also, I wanted to make sure my vendors felt appreciated so along with a tip, I put together vendor thank you bags and gave them out on the day of!

DRESS: INEZ BY MARTINA LIANA

PHOTOGRAPHER: KAT SKYE

VIDEOGRAPHER: MEZIA MEDIA

CATERING: BORRACHO TACOS

FLORALS: CHRISTINA ROSE FLORALS

PORTABLE RESTROOM: ROYAL FLUSH

CUPCAKES: SWEET P CUPCAKES

PHOTOBOOTH: CDA PHOTOBUS

DJ: MOONBEAM MUSIC

BRIDESMAID HAIR: BEAUTY BANDIT

MAKEUP/BRIDE’S HAIR: MUAH