Bride and Groom Turn 'Damaged and Unsellable' Novels into Book-Themed Wedding: All the Photos (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Hannah and Omar Lohr’s wedding.Photo:Alex Gil Photo

Alex Gil Photo

A couple created their own love story with a book-themed wedding.

Bookworms Hannah and Omar Lohr got married on Dec. 7, 2024, at Parque La Ruina in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. As an avid reader andbook influencerwith nearly 40,000 followers onTikTokand 25,000 followers onInstagram— the bride wanted to weave library chic details into her wedding.

“I’ve been a book lover for as long as I can remember, and reading 100+ books a year has only deepened that passion. My husband also reads — though he’s more of an online reader (we’re working on that, sigh),” Hannah tells PEOPLE. “But he was more than happy to embrace a literary-inspired design to celebrate our own ‘happily ever after.’ "

Hannah and Omar Lohr’s wedding ceremony.Alex Gil Photo

One DIY wedding decoration wasa book archthat the bride and groom walked down the aisle to, which later became the backdrop for their sweetheart table. Another showstopping piece wasa photo backdrop wallthat featured open books intertwined with greenery.

Within the tablescapes, books were seamlessly woven alongside florals, dried flowers, terracotta and glass pottery, and wooden elements.

“Between the warm, industrial charm of our venue and the bookish details woven throughout, everything came together beautifully to reflect both of our visions — mine for a storybook-inspired setting and his for a space that felt modern and timeless,” Hannah says.

Omar and Hannah Lohr’s book photo backdrop.Omar and Hannah Lohr’s wedding table details.Omar and Hannah Lohr’s book photo backdrop.PHOTO:Alex Gil PhotoOmar and Hannah Lohr’s wedding table details.PHOTO:Alex Gil Photo

Omar and Hannah Lohr’s book photo backdrop.Omar and Hannah Lohr’s wedding table details.

Omar and Hannah Lohr’s book photo backdrop.

Omar and Hannah Lohr’s wedding table details.

Omar and Hannah Lohr’s book photo backdrop.PHOTO:Alex Gil PhotoOmar and Hannah Lohr’s wedding table details.PHOTO:Alex Gil Photo

The bride shared her vision with her wedding decorator,Eventos Elite, and planner,Jose Luis Quintero, who helped bring her designs to life using countless paperbacks and hardcovers. Each “carefully crafted” design took the team several weeks to execute. Although they “sourced inspiration online,” they made sure to put their “own spin” on every element.

“The entire design embraced warm, sunset tones that complemented both the desert landscape and the brick and cement details of our venue, making the space feel both timeless and personal,” says Hannah, who creates bookish social media content such as reviewing books, working with publishers to promote upcoming releases, interviewing authors and attending literary events.

Hannah and Omar Lohr.Alex Gil Photo

The newlyweds' “bookish” wedding decor quickly went viral online. While the majority of commenters were in awe of the thoughtful details, some people were concerned about the books now being unusable or ruined.

“Books were at the heart of our wedding decor, but rather than crafting everything myself, I sourced damaged and unsellable books to give them new life in a meaningful way,” clarified Hannah, who got an entire carload of rejected Goodwill books that weren’t selling or were damaged from a man off of Facebook Marketplace.

Before the wedding ended, each guest signed a custom “Library Themed Wedding Guestbook Alternative” poster fromSaraAart on Etsy.

“Guests signed their names inside little books on the design, creating a meaningful keepsake,” Hannah explains. “Now we have a giant poster with everyone’s names from our special day, which we framed and proudly hang in our home library.”

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Hannah Lohr.Alex Gil Photo

“When he handed it to me, I initially thought—just for a second—that he had finally read a physical book like I always pester him to,” Hannah recalls. “Instead, he had tucked the ring box inside, proposing in the most intimate, thoughtful way, and officially starting our next chapter together.”

The couple of nine and a half yearsvisit bookstores and librariesaround the world during their travels. Two years ago, they moved into a new home where Omar commissioned a local closet and kitchen company to build Hannah’sdream library nook, which contains her ever-growing collection of more than 1,800 books.

source: people.com