A Laid-Back, DIY Wedding at Trinity Baptist Church in Maplewood, Minnesota

For their laid-back DIY wedding in Maplewood, MN, Elizabeth Fahs (23 and a registered nurse) and Micah Anderson (24 and a director of youth and young adult ministries) wanted every detail to reflect them as both individuals and as a couple. They looked to spring, bluegrass, Micah’s Irish background and their proposal story for inspiration, transforming the Trinity Baptist Church, where both the ceremony and reception took place, from gymnasium to reception hall with unique handmade details and a color palette that mixed both spring and wintry hues, like mint, navy, gold and white. Trinity Baptist Church was one of the few spots that allowed the couple to host both their ceremony and reception in one location, which was key given that the area is no stranger to snowstorms in the middle of March. While the venue was great in this sense, it also meant that the reception would take place in a gymnasium and therefore no dancing or alcohol was allowed. The venue’s limitations only encouraged Elizabeth and Micah to get creative. The couple (with the help of their close family and friends) got to work handcrafting everything from the invitations to the flower arrangements and the playful bunting that created a canopy over the reception tables. ”Our decor worked to make the space seem cozy, less cavernous and less like a game of basketball could take place! Plus, it really added to our friendly, casual feel,” says Elizabeth. Another detail that worked to achieve the couple’s laid-back vision was the dessert-style reception. It wasn’t just a great way to keep costs down — there were over 500 people on the guest list — it was also a fun twist on the traditional reception and kept with the low-key feel of the day — not to mention the wedding fell on 3/14/15, or Pi Day, making a dessert reception more than appropriate. In lieu of gifts, the couple asked their close family and friends to bring along their favorite homemade pie or dessert to the reception. “In addition to keeping us within budget, this meant we ended up with the most fantastic, mind blowing assortment of homemade desserts I’ve ever tasted,” says Elizabeth. The couple hired LaVita Espresso Catering to serve up top-notch espresso drinks for guests to sip alongside their sweet treats. Other fun touches included an improv comedy performance by Slap Happy Comedy and live bluegrass and classical music during the ceremony played by the couple’s family members and good friends.