Made with Love

A West Michigan bride handcrafts the wedding of her dreams

By Angela Flynn | Photography by Cassidy Danae Photography

On July 14, 2023, the weather in Holland was that of a perfect summer day, with the shores of Lake Michigan glittering from the bright sun above. It was on this day that Danielle and Kyle Jacobson were married at Boatwerks Waterfront Restaurant. Their venue was decked out with lush flower arrangements, elegant table settings, and even a greenery wall. But what’s unique about their wedding is that from the save-the-dates to the table numbers, almost everything was DIY-ed by the bride herself.

“I’ve loved art and projects ever since I was little,” Danielle says. “I always knew I wanted to create a lot for my wedding day because one, I’d save money doing it myself, and two, I also wanted it to be exactly what I wanted.”

Danielle and Kyle met in 2018 and were engaged in July 2022, giving them about a year to plan and create their wedding projects. So, what’s the key to planning out a DIY wedding? First, set the date.

“Once that was in place, that was a huge relief,” Danielle says. “We probably nailed down our venue within a month and a half after we got engaged, and then we planned everything around that.”

Once she knew they would have a summer wedding, Danielle turned to wedding TikTok and Instagram accounts for inspiration, and she developed her strategy for the wedding within the first few months. After that, she purchased some items that she knew she would need for the wedding but says she didn’t go on a buying frenzy. “I anticipated what I was going to be doing, but I didn’t want to have everything done and ready to go right away because it was going to be harder to store,” she explains.

By April, though — about three months before the wedding — she was in full DIY mode. “I work in the hospital as a physician assistant, so I worked a seven day on, seven off schedule, and I had every other week off,” she says. “It worked out really well where I was able to knock a ton of stuff out during the weeks off. Around that April time, my goal was to complete one big project every week that I had off.”

Some projects were simpler — such as the table numbers that she painted to match her colors, or the mirror she bought off Facebook Marketplace and decorated with a DIY floral arrangement and Cricut lettering. Others were much more labor-intensive.

“The one that I’m the most proud of was the floral piece,” she says. “It was an 8-foot stretch of flowers that I used for the top of the arch that we had for our ceremony. That was the most fun for me, the most time-consuming, probably the most challenging, and what I was most proud of.”

Once her projects were completed and the venue was decorated, Danielle and Kyle said “I do” in front of 175 of their closest family and friends. There were several special touches throughout the day in addition to the handmade items, including a special reading from Danielle’s grandmother during the ceremony and a champagne tower at the beginning of the reception.

When all was done, Danielle had DIY-ed roughly 75 percent of the wedding. Every element came together seamlessly, making their special day a truly unique, personal celebration.

“My goal was to have something that fit our vibe as a couple and also our vibe growing up in West Michigan,” she says. “I wanted it to feel classy but still fun, not so stuffy or extravagant. Simple in some ways, but also letting West Michigan speak for itself.”

For more DIY projects and inspiration, follow Danielle on Instagram @the_nextproject_.

Vendors

Photographer: Cassidy Danae Photography

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Boatwerks Waterfront Restaurant

Wedding Gown: Casablanca, Becker’s Bridal, with custom sleeves made by the bride

Wedding Shoes: Amazon

Wedding Suit: Dunhill Tuxedos

Rings & Jewelry: Kesslers Diamonds

Hair: Marianne Heeringa, Locks & Lashes

Makeup: Kellie Zammitt

Bridesmaids: Birdy Grey

Groomsmen: Dunhill Tuxedos

Music & Entertainment: Rhythm & Lights DJ

Florals: Picket Fence Floral

Stationery: Designed by bride on Canva

Photobooth: Prestige Photobooth

Rehearsal Dinner Venue: New Holland Brewery