Welcome to Our DIY Wedding Journey

FUTURE

MRS. FINCH

2028

Hi, I'm Jalynn! If you've found your way here, you probably know me as the girl with the paintbrush in the corner of the reception, painting someone else's big day as it happens. I've spent a lot of time watching couples say "I do" from behind my easel. Now it's my turn.

Austin and I are getting married, and I'm bringing you along for every step of the planning: the wins, the budget math, the DIY experiments that work, and the ones that definitely don't.

A Look Ahead

  • The tours, the price tags, the ones we ruled out, and why our own backyard is a serious contender

  • Starring my grandma's famous chicken spaghetti

  • Beer, wine and creating our own signature cocktails (taste-testing is a hard job, but someone has to do it)

  • My attempts at wildflower arrangements, successes and fails included

  • Including how I traded paintings to help cover our photographer

  • Simple, cozy and handmade

Starting from scratch

Here's the honest truth: we're starting over. After some twists and turns, we wiped the slate clean, and right now the only thing checked off my list is my dress. (It cost $50, and yes, I'm very proud of that.)

We're planning an October wedding on a $10,000 budget MAX, with help from family who are generously pitching in. We're expecting around 148 guests, it'll be an adults-only celebration, and we want it to feel like one big, colorful, happy party.

Why

DIY?

Part of it is the budget, of course. But mostly, I'm an artist, and I can't imagine our wedding without my own hands all over it. I'm dreaming of a wildflower garden look in cactus green, dark mauve, berry, apricot and sky blue, and I want every detail to feel personal.

Come along for the ride!

Whether you're planning your own wedding on a budget, love a good DIY project, or just want to see how a wedding painter handles being the bride, I'd love for you to follow along. I'll share what we spend, what we learn, and the little moments in between.

Have a question or a planning tip? Leave a comment. I read every one. And if you're dreaming up your own big day, you can learn more about live wedding painting with Jaylukaart Studios here: Jaylukaart Booking Page.

Here we go!

With love (and paint on my hands),

Jalynn