A Purple, DIY Wedding at the Roundhouse in Beacon, New York

After five years of dating long-distance, Sarah Lowe (32 and an assistant professor of psychology) and Jeffrey Moran (32 and a licensing director) knew they were in it for the long haul. "Jeff and I both decided to get engaged, so he paid my parents a visit and we picked out our rings together from a vendor on Etsy," Sarah says of planning their proposal in their New York City apartment. A punchy, spring-inspired palette of purple and green infused personality into Sarah and Jeff's whimsical affair at the Roundhouse in Beacon, New York. "We had planned on an indoor ceremony, but because it was an unseasonably warm day, we made the last-minute choice to get married outside," Sarah says. "Saying 'I do' outdoors felt like a dream, especially since it wasn't what we had envisioned." After the pair tried to include guests in a ring-warming ceremony (their 2-year-old nephew refused to let go of the band), Sarah and Jeff sealed the deal and retreated indoors for a reception filled with personalized touches and DIY centerpieces made from repurposed bottles and wooden slabs. "We bought all the flowers from a local florist and spent the morning before the wedding arranging them," Sarah says of enlisting bridesmaids to get the job done. But not all the blooms were the real deal. "I've been in a few weddings and always felt sad at the end knowing the bouquets might end up in the trash," Sarah says of purchasing fabric bouquets and corsages on Etsy. "I liked the idea of giving my bridesmaids a keepsake and having a bouquet to keep for myself, which is currently on my bookshelf." Sarah's mother made homemade Syrian baklava for a dessert that doubled as a sweet favor, while her the father helped create the escort card display using votive candles. "We wanted the day to be about our guests, so we could celebrate the love and support they've given us throughout our lives," Sarah says. —Rachel Sylvester