Homespun details are a sure fire way to put a true personal fingerprint onto your wedding. From the wedding invitation suite to the hundreds of handmade paper flowers, Rhiannon Angell had her hand in every little piece of whimsical wedding decor making her homespun wedding perfection. Set in an arboretum directly across from her parents house, Rhiannon's wedding to James Govatsos was about as personal and homespun sweet as you can get. Embodying a DIY spirit dressed in a mix palette of emerald, peach and gold, Rhiannon & James' whimsical wedding was perfectly personal and sweetly whimsical. To finish off their homespun wedding decor, guests were greeted with handmade bird's nest, serving as the most dear of escort cards! From paper flowers to hand painted vases, Rhiannon & James wedding is down right sweet.

We met in Boston, right after college, where we lived together for three years, before moving to Brooklyn. I am an actress and voice over artists, so New York was the place to be. Unfortunately, it would take another year and a half for Jim to join me here. The distance was hard on us and I remember that year as one of the most difficult of my life, filled with longing and loneliness. However, our perseverance paid off - with Jim eventually landing his dream job in Manhattan. Jim proposed on our five year anniversary, in Union Square. He later took me to a surprise dinner party, with all of our closest friends in attendance. It was fabulous. A whirlwind year of planning later, we married.

I'm often described as 'crafty', so I knew from the beginning that I wanted my wedding to be filled with creative, handmade touches. I designed and assembled our invitation suite, as well as all printed materials used on the wedding day, programs, etc. I also made several hundred paper flowers, miniature birds nests, and painted votives which were used as decoration for our ceremony and reception space. The flower vases were either sourced from my mother's personal collection or made by me, using clay and a lot of gold paint! We were on a fairly tight budget and I felt that these small touches would make the event more personal, whimsical and sweet.

We got married in the arboretum across the street from my parent's house. It was an obvious location choice, as the park is especially lovely in June. As a child, I used to sneak across the street on summer weekends and watch wedding parties celebrate and take photographs there. When we got engaged, I knew right away that this was where I wanted my wedding to be. We were worried about rain, but it ended up being absolutely perfect.

A Little Help From Their Friends ~ Although I'd completed all of my DIY projects well in advance of the wedding, there was still so much to do to pull it all together. Our families arrived a few days before the wedding and every single person pitched in - hanging lights and speakers, arranging flowers, assembling arbors and more. It truly was a labor of love and I was overwhelmed by all of the willing hands. My bridal party was especially heroic, as well as my parents, who opened their home to all of our dear friends.

Favorite Moments ~ I found the wedding planning process to be fairly stressful. I frequently joked that we should just skip it and elope. My married friends assured me that it would be the "best day of my life" and I internally rolled my eyes at that. Little did I know, my friends' predictions were completely right. If I could do it again, I woudn't change a thing. So many people traveled from so far away (Dubai, Shanghai, Boston, Seattle, New York) to celebrate with us. Such a lucky girl I am, to have married the love of my life, surrounded by the people most important to me. I was tremendously humbled by the outpouring of love. Looking at the pictures brings each moment back with clarity. It truly was the most amazing and wonderful day of my life.

Photographer: Casey Fatchett Photography | Ceremony: Slayton Arboretum | Reception: McNamara Hall, Hillsdale College | Wedding Dress: Theia | Shoes: Badgley Mishcka | Groom's | Attire: Express | Music: Style Matters | Rentals: A Grand Occasion | Caterer: Hillsdale College | Baker: Cake Thyme