Throwback Thursday DIY Bride from 2009

NJ photographer and childbirth doula Astin Benedetto shared her "TBT Wedding Day" pictures from 2009 with us. Frugal in every way, this November bride kept her wedding budget under $10K, made her own bridesmaid and bride bouquets, and designed/produced the wedding programs and all the decorations on her own.

When asked about her approach to wedding planning, she said: "I tried to be as non-cliche as possible. We had a very music-centric wedding!" This included a Grateful Dead tribute band, choreographed dancing, and a musical score that Astin designed herself!

A creative through and through, Astin offers a special photography package for NJ brides who are thinking about giving their husband-to-be a unique gift for the wedding. Her idea: boudoir photography sessions to local NJ brides. Now that's a wedding-day present for him to cherish for always. :)

Make-at-home wedding arch with a fall foliage theme. Love those colors!

DIY wedding curls... she doesn't even look stressed at all!

Really cute "perspective shot" with the bridesmaids! Beautiful, homemade bouquets. Curls holding up nicely!

Congrats, to the newlyweds. Now let's get on with the party!

Astin Benedetto works out of Warren County, NJ as a doula and freelance photographer. Learn more about her wedding-day boudoir photography sessions at the Scarlet Fox Boudoir. Discover her loving, caring natural childbirth support at MajesticMotherhood.com.

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Married in a Graveyard on Halloween... Masquerade Wedding Fun

Ever wanted to just buck all the stuffy old wedding traditions and go all-out with a masquerade wedding? Hypnotherapist Becka Bossons and her husband Kevin did just that! Here are some throwback 90s wedding-day pics of their graveside nuptials held on Halloween. From the blushing Medieval bride and her Knight in shining armor, to an array of costume-clad kids dressed as Spiderman, fairy-princesses and other assorted heroes, to the wizardly father-of-the-bride... there was no limit to the creativity and fun had by this happy couple on their wedding day. To make it extra spooky, they even included traditional Pagan wedding rituals such as hand-tying and "jumping the broom." (I'll be heading to Google later on to find out more about that one!)

Check out Becka and Kevin for Throwback Thursday's Halloween Masquerade post. A fresh, fun twist to make a wedding to remember.

Submitted by Becka Bossons of TenderEmpowerment.com. Becka offers HypnoCoaching and hypnotherapy services to clients in Northestwest NJ (Hunterdon, Warren Counties) and NEPA (Bethlehem, Allentown, Easton areas). Her husband, Kevin Bossons, designs websites for a living at KevinBoss.com

Wedding Day Throwback Thursday

How much do you love looking at old photos? From the serious and even surly expressions captured at a time when the camera was a newfangled and unfamiliar contraption, to extreme fashion trends through the decades... old family pictures, no matter whose family, never cease to amuse and delight me. I thought it would be fun to have a Throwback Thursday of vintage wedding shots. Thanks to the folks on Facebook who helped me gather up these gems!

Anticipatory moment at a wedding in Queens, NJ - maybe 1950s? Submitted by Laura Donatelli of Flemington, NJ.

Love that mini veil with the dainty daisies! And what a fine looking goatee. Donna and Frank tie the knot in NY, 1970.

'70s bride shares a sweet moment with her girlfriends. Could it be the bouquet catch? Submitted by Tara Olsen of Washington, NJ.

Amy Jo Garner sends news of her parents' 1937 engagement. What a good looking couple!

'70s groom and best man, resplendent in ruffles and bowties. Grooovy, baby! Submitted by Tara Olsen.

A New York bride and groom from possibly the '30s? She is intense. He knows it. Submitted by Donna Miglionico of Oyster Bay, NY.

'80s bride displays her floppy hat and fingerless gloves as she and her bearded groom pose with a cake knife. Submitted by Amy Jo Garner of OK.

Saving the best for last... take a look at this crew from 1925! In festive headpieces, they are serious about marriage for sure. Submitted by Tara Olsen.

Special thanks to my Facebook peeps for this classic collection! If you'd like to submit a vintage wedding photo for future publication here, please PM us on Facebook. Thanks, and we hope you enjoyed this trip down memory lane.