A DIY Bohemian Wedding at a Private Residence in Okanagan, British Columbia

Rebecca Nickel (28 and in marketing) and Judson Luciak (27 and a student) crossed paths more than a few times before sparks flew. “We bumped into each other on a regular basis through friends. But Judson could not remember my name—at least four times,” Rebecca says. “Eventually, when we finally had a conversation that went past introductions, friendship was inevitable. We simply clicked, and the rest is history.” For their outdoor, late-summer wedding, Rebecca and Judson celebrated the natural beauty of the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia with a ceremony and reception for 100 guests in their front yard. “With the green trees and pops of color from the garden beds, we took our yard’s floral backdrop and carried it through the rest of our wedding plans,” says Rebecca, who handcrafted most of the day’s decor with the help of family and friends. Flower arrangements were a mix of white dahlias, spider mums and fresh greenery. “All the bouquets, boutonnieres and centerpieces, plus the arbor and other decor pieces throughout the space, were created the day before the wedding,” says Rebecca, who also notes that not every DIY project is worth the time commitment. “Know your limits, and keep in mind that some DIY projects will eventually add up to the same cost as purchasing things new. DIY was definitely the way to go for us but would never have been attainable without the help of family and friends.” —Carolyn Meers