Happy Friday everybody,

If this unique, back to school themed wedding (and the couple's sweet story of how they met in elementary school) dosen't give you that Friday Feeling, I don't know what will!

Jerry and Ira's wedding is bursting with creative DIY details from cootie catcher programs to a ‘yearbook' guestbook and even pinwheel boutonnieres all designed and handmade by Ira. The black, white and red colour scheme and stunning winery location lend a chic, grown up edge to their wedding but it's clear to see this couple's playful side shining through. Expect converse, milk and cookies, hearts-a-plenty, a school bus and a whole lot of fun!

Pack lunches at the ready, it's time to go back to school…

In the bride's words:

At age seven, Jerry and I were classmates in elementary school in Pendleton, Oregon. We lived a couple of houses apart and would go to each other’s houses to play after school. We remained friends until halfway through our eighth grade year, when my family moved to Portland. But in 2010, we reconnected through Facebook and met to catch up on the past 23 years. We chatted exactly like we were old friends and connected on so many levels almost immediately. From that day on we were inseparable.

In February of 2011, during a wonderful surprise weekend in Bend, OR, Jerry proposed. The drive home gave us plenty of time to talk wedding and it was obvious that our wedding was going to have a Back-to-School theme. For the wedding gown, my mother and I took elements of various gowns that I loved and designed a one-of-a-kind gown. Once we had the design, my mother spent the next several months making my gown come to life.

We added whimsical school elements like a school bus parked outside of the winery during the wedding and brown paper lunch bags as favors. We had two vintage school desks, (that were Jerry’s and his brother’s when they were kids) and, with the creative minds of our photographers, set them up as a self-service photo booth for our guests. It was a hit! All of the save-the-dates, invitations, programs and thank you’s were designed and made by myself. The programs were cootie catchers, a form of origami used in children’s fortune telling games. And the thank you’s were reminiscent of elementary school Picture Day packets. Jerry’s and his groomsmen’s boutonnieres were miniature pinwheels and my bouquet, along with the bridesmaid’s, incorporated green pencils as bouquet stems. Our wedding day went without a hitch with family and friends pitching in to make it a joyous, memorable and fun occasion. It was a day filled with love and laughter; a truly unforgettable day, 32 years in the making.

Many thanks to Ira and Jerry for sharing their wonderful story and wedding day.

Thanks also to the talented Wilton Photography who captured their day so beautifully.

How amazing is the stationery suite that Ira designed?! I love the cootie catcher programs ~ such fun!