A Rustic DIY Wedding on a Ranch in Oregon

March 19, 2012

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Lyn and Luke

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Designing and creating a dream wedding was a walk in the park for Lyn and Luke Hart. After all, nine months into their relationship the pair bought and renovated a 1924 bungalow. And so, on October 1, 2011, they tied the knot on a friend’s fly-fishing ranch a few hours from their home in Portland, Oregon. Their DIY wedding, crafted and built from scratch by the bride and groom with help from friends and family, was made with love and highlighted the event’s pristine natural surroundings.

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The Location

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The couple had spent the last two summers at Horseshoe Ranch, and after Luke proposed in December 2010, they knew it'd be ideal for their wedding. "We have seen Horseshoe Ranch in the summer sunshine, under two feet of snow, and covered with leaves -- it was beautiful every season," says Lyn. And so, the outdoor-loving pair knew their 100 guests would adore the striking Northwest countryside as well.

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The Stationery

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The suite, made by Kiwi Cards, incorporated a save-the-date postcard and an invitation packaged in a pocket envelope. The ranch’s fly-fishing logo was incorporated, tying it all together.

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The First Look

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Lyn and Luke took portraits with Ryan Wilcox of You Look Nice Today Photography. The wild landscape only enhanced the photos.

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The Bouquet

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Enchanted Florist arranged local flowers in vibrant pink, coral, and yellow shades. Greenery, leaves, and stalks of wheat add a rustic touch.

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The Guys

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The groom and his groomsmen wear Me and Matilda ties and Cole Haan shoes. Luke paired his Brooks Brothers suit with a Hamilton watch given to him by the bride.

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The Girls

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Lyn accessorized her Tara Keely by Lazaro dress with a belt from Twigs and Honey and Boulet boots from Drew's Boots. Her diamond earrings were a wedding present from Luke, and a pearl bracelet belonging to a bridesmaid acts as her "something borrowed." The finishing touch? Her antique engagement ring from Antoinette Antique and Estate Jewelry.

The bridesmaids don BCBG dresses with Anthropologie earrings and carry bouquets of fresh lavender.

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A Special Charm

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To showcase the groom’s love of fly-fishing, a decorative lure from Royal Treatment Fly Fishing adorns his buttonhole.

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Dressed to Impress

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Luke's nephew, Blake, serves as ring bearer. They gave him some Western wear in honor of the occasion.

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The Program

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The program, like the invitation suite, features the ranch's icon.

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The Processional

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The bride walks down the aisle with her father, Tim, and mother, Janet, by her sides.

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The Ceremony

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The couple wanted a backdrop that wouldn’t detract from the area’s natural beauty. Their handcrafted version, of rope-covered metal pipes and billowing strips of fabric, adds just the right amount of festive flair.

Readings of "Little Word, Little White Bird" by Carl Sandburg and "I Carry Your Heart With Me" by e.e. cummings made the service extra special.

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Sipping in Style

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The duo transformed Mason jars by spraying them with chalkboard paint and then writing each guest’s name on them with chalk.

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The Escort Cards

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The father of the bride used old window frames, chicken wire, and mini clothespins to create unique seating-card displays.

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The Favors

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The mother of the bride made jars of peach jam using fruit from Colorado, the family's home state, and strawberry jam from local berries the couple picked. "jam packed with love" tags, designed by Three Eggs Design, garnish each gift.

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The Reception

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Barbecue chicken, ribs, and pulled pork, and sides of baked beans, potato salad, and salad were prepared by Wubba's BBQ Shack.

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The Reception

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To illuminate the tented space, Lyn and Luke crafted hanging candelabras from one-foot-wide plywood boards, rope, and Mason jars. They filled each jar with an electric tea-light candle. The soft glow set the dinner and seating area apart from the dance floor and gave the tent a cozy, warm feel.

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A Common Thread

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Simple and clean, white plates and silver cutlery rest on kraft paper place mats rubber-stamped with the ranch’s emblem.

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The Centerpieces

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Old cedar-wood siding was purchased at a local rebuilding center and used to build three-foot-long “flower” box table arrangements.

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The Cake

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A three-tiered lemon chiffon cake by Crave Bakery was topped with a garland made by the groom, who fashioned it out of Scrabble tiles, twine, a drill with a tiny bit, and sticks.

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The First Dance

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The couple take a spin on the checkered dance floor to George Strait's "River of Love." It fit both their love of country music and their wedding's riverside location.

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Sources

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Photography: You Look Nice Today Photography

Catering: Wubba's BBQ Shack

Flowers: Enchanted Florist

Stationery: Kiwi Cards

Cake: Crave Bakery

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