Amy and Jim knew what they wanted for their wedding…and who could say it any better than them?

The overall look were were trying to achieve could be summed up by the song “Old, Old Fashioned” by Frightened Rabbit. However, we tried really hard not to feel overly dedicated to any one style or theme because we wanted everything to stay fun and happy…without a lot of stress.

Jim and I are not super fancy people. So when we set out to plan our wedding, we both knew we wanted it to be nice but also relaxed and reflective of our personalities. We also didn’t have a lot of money to spend so the need for creativity was paramount. In order to create this relaxed (and also budget friendly) atmosphere, we decided to have the wedding be at my grandparents’ house. They have a fabulous backyard in the beautiful White Mountains of New Hampshire. I grew up in NH and we both have a lot of fond memories of their home so it felt like a nice choice.

The planning process was a little tough because Jim and I were living in Portland, Oregon up until two weeks before the big day. Lot’s of help from both our moms made it all possible. Jim whipped up the music playlists, which were awesome! We also chose to make mix CDs for our guests that were a collection of music we love. Music is something that defines our relationship and giving the gift of music made the most sense. Everyone loved the CDs and got to experience many bands that were new to them.

Ceremony (processional and recessional): I love New Years Eve / Badly Drawn Boy
Reception, wedding party entrance: Kid on my Shoulders / White Rabbits
First Dance: Travels and Trunks / Hey Marseilles

Mix CD Playlist
Hang On / Dr. Dog
When U Love Somebody / Fruit Bats
Whiskey Angel / The Black Lillies
Autumn Almanac / The Kinks
Wagon Wheel / Old Crow Medicine Show
Wild Mountain Nation / Blitzen Trapper
3 Rounds And A Sound / Blind Pilot
All The Right Reasons / The Jayhawks
The Book Of Love / The Magnetic Fields
(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher / Jackie Wilson
My Sunken Treasure / The Duke Spirit
Rose City / Viva Voce
Sovay / Andrew Bird
Old Old Fashioned / Frightened Rabbit
To Travels & Trunks / Hey Marseilles
Sons And Daughters / The Decemberists

For the dancing playlist, we tried to start off with some stuff that everyone (including the “gray hairs”) would like. Then that segued into more of an 80s theme. So in trying to find dance music for the wedding, we wanted to stay away from the typical music but also create something high energy and fun for everyone. Wedding + 80s Dance Night = AMAZING! The drinks and dinner was more a collection of stuff we love, mixed with some selections that everyone would want to hear.

Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours – Stevie Wonder
Tighten Up – Archie Bell & the Drells
Super Bad Pt.1 – James Brown
Sugarfoot – Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears
Move On Up – Curtis Mayfield
It’s a Shame – The Spinners
I Second that Emotion – Smokey Robinson
Shilo – Neil Diamond
Boogie Shoes – KC & The Sunshine Band
Love Rollercoaster – Ohio Players
Sexx Laws – Beck
Lover – Devendra Banhart
That Lady (Part 1) – The Isley Brothers
Try A Little Tenderness – Otis Redding
Heart of Glass – Blondie
Play That Funky Music – Wild Cherry
Lady Marmelade – Labelle
Build Me Up Buttercup – The Foundations
I Want You Back – Jackson 5
Groove Is In the Heart – Deee-Lite
I’m Walking on Sunshine – Katrina and the Waves
Friday I’m In Love – The Cure
Video Killed The Radio Star – The Buggles
Hungry Like The Wolf – Duran Duran
Come On Eileen – Save Ferris
Invisible Gurls – Genesis vs. Katy Perry
Walk Like an Egyptian – The Bangles
White Wedding – Billy Idol
Footloose – Kenny Loggins
Moondance – Van Morrison
You Spin Me Right Round – Dead or Alive
Do Ya Think I’m Sexy – Rod Stewart
Tainted Love – Soft Cell
Jessie’s Girl – Rick Springfield
Let’s Go Crazy – Prince And The Revolution
Girls Just Want to Have Fun – Cyndi Lauper
Sweet Dreams – Eurythmics
Let’s Dance – David Bowie
Blister In The Sun – Violent Femmes
Rock This Town – Stray Cats
I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) – The Proclaimers
Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough – Michael Jackson
Take On Me – A-Ha
Karma Chameleon – Culture Club
Here I Am (Come and Take Me) – Al Green
You Can’t Touch This – Mc Hammer
Pour Some Sugar On Me – Def Leppard
Bust a Move – Young MC
Rapper’s Delight – The Sugarhill Gang
You Shook Me All Night Long – AC/DC
No You Girls – Franz Ferdinand
Rebel Yell – Billy Idol
Livin’ On A Prayer – Bon Jovi
It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) – R.E.M.
Laid – James
Still Crazy After All These Years – Deer Tick
Baby’s Got Back – Sir Mix A Lot
Feel Good Inc. – Gorillaz
Pop Song – Starfucker
Hey Ladies – The Beastie Boys
It Takes Two – Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock
Music Is My Hot Hot Sex – Cansei De Ser Sexy
The Sweet Escape (feat. Akon) – Gwen Stefani
Concrete Schoolyard – Jurassic 5
Crazy – Gnarls Barkley
Run This Town [Ft. Kanye West & Rihanna] – Jay-Z
Jimmy – M.I.A.
Jump Around – House of Pain
The Seed (2.0) – The Roots
The Choice Is Yours – Black Sheep
B.O.B. – Outkast
Rump Shaker – Wrecks n Effect
Gin And Juice – Snoop Dogg
Big Poppa – The Notorious B.I.G
Nuthin’ But A “G” Thang – Dr. Dre
Scenario – A Tribe Called Quest
Sex Karma – Of Montreal
Ignition (Keep It Remixing Louder) (R. Kelly vs Major Lazer) – The Hood Internet
German Love – Starfucker
Little Secrets – Passion Pit
Don’t Stop – Brazilian Girls
Temptation – New Order
All My Friends – LCD Soundsystem
Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey
All is Love – Karen O and the Kids
(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher – Jackie Wilson
Got To Get You Into My Life – The Beatles
Harold T. Wilkins, Or How To Wait For A Very Long Time – Fanfarlo
Two Weeks – Grizzly Bear
Kick Drum Heart – The Avett Brothers
Age of Consent – New Order
Fitz & Dizzyspells – Andrew Bird
Numbers Don’t Lie – The Mynabirds
Kate – Ben Folds Five
Can’t Keep It In – Cat Stevens
One Red Thread – Blind Pilot
There’s Too Much Love – Belle & Sebastian
Golden State – Delta Spirit
Sweet Jane – The Velvet Underground
Wagon Wheel – Old Crow Medicine Show
Knotty Pine – Dirty Projectors & David Byrne
Someday – The Strokes
Ragged Wood – Fleet Foxes
Gimme Three Steps – Lynyrd Skynyrd
Memphis, Tennessee – Mason Jennings
Burning Love – Elvis Presley
The Ruminant Band – Fruit Bats
Old Old Fashioned – Frightened Rabbit
Hey Hey What Can I Do – Led Zeppelin
Hotel Yorba – The White Stripes
I Was Born (A Unicorn) – The Unicorns
Banging Camp – The Hold Steady
TAOS – Menomena
Bad Reputation – Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
Paper Thin Walls – Modest Mouse
The Underdog – Spoon
Debaser – Pixies
Wild Mountain Nation – Blitzen Trapper
Things You Go Through – Apollo Ghosts
Heart To Tell – The Love Language
Wild One – Those Darlins
Moi Je Joue – Brigitte Bardot
Jackson (With June Carter) – Johnny Cash
My Sunken Treasure – The Duke Spirit
Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard – Paul Simon
In the Sun – She & Him
The Old Days – Dr. Dog
When That Evening Sun Goes Down – Van Morrison
Rio – Hey Marseilles
Paris – Kate Nash
Ooh La La – The Faces
True Love Will Find You In The End (Daniel Johnston) – Wilco
Cool Yourself – Thao & The Get Down Stay Down
(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding – Elvis Costello
Sing Me Spanish Techno – The New Pornographers
Carpetbaggers – Jenny Lewis
Pop Lie – Okkervil River
Revolution Blues – Neil Young
Let it Die – The Shaky Hands
Rose City – Viva Voce
Fighting In A Sack – The Shins
Could You Be Loved – Bob Marley & The Wailers

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Photos: Boro Creative Visions Photography