Today on the blog, we are sharing something a little different. We wanted to feature a real wedding couple – Abby and Caleb – and celebrate large weddings happening again! After a year of postponements and micro weddings (beautiful, but not our expertise!), we were thrilled to jump into the action again. This is definitely the work we were meant to be doing. We started building their country wedding design from the ground up, and incorporated so many sentimental and unique touches to every aspect of the day.
Before we dive too far into the details, if you are looking for a wedding planner and designer to execute YOUR wedding day vision, we would love to hear from you. We have been planning weddings in Hudson Valley (and beyond!) for almost a decade now and we never turn down a challenge to make each wedding completely unique to our incredible couples. Ballrooms aren’t our thing – but if you are looking for an untraditional wedding venue (or are using a private property – like Abby and Caleb!), you can learn more about our services here, or connect directly with us here.
Real Wedding Inspiration
Not only were Abby and Caleb naturally attracted to rustic wedding decor, it actually fits well into their love story. The two connected through their love for agriculture. They are a genuinely outdoorsy and relaxed couple, who like to spend their time off together hunting, boating, listening to country music, and being outside. It was also important to them that their religious beliefs be incorporated. When I asked what they wanted their guests to remember most at the end of the night, they both agreed it was the fellowship between them and just a great night with family and friends.
Rustic Country Wedding Design
When we started to talk about their wedding day design, a lot of the inspiration we had was pulled from a real ranch wedding that the bride had found online. She loved old woods, modern country home styles, and minimal colors. We knew she would be wearing cowboy boots and even though she wanted to keep things simple, she wanted them to be beautiful, with light colors and an overall airy feel. She had also attended many weddings recently so the pressure was on to create something unique and stunning that she would just love.
Adding Personal Touches to your Wedding Decor
Although some of the wedding inspiration was pulled from a more traditional rustic barn wedding, we wanted ways to draw out their unique personality and story and make their wedding look and feel like them. Both Abby and Caleb show cattle so we brought in cow tags as escort cards as a fun personal touch! They also weren’t afraid to invest some sweat equity into making their wedding their own – they built the backdrop that the tags were hung on and then hired a calligrapher to customize the tags with names and table numbers.
Abby and Caleb made a lot of the wedding decor personally and had help from their friends and family which made it all the more meaningful! The gorgeous ceremony backdrop was provided by a family member. In lieu of a guest book, they chose to have guests sign and circle their favorite bible verse. Both of the bars were built by the groom’s uncle, and one of the bars had a corn crib backdrop which the groom had set up.
Choosing a Barn Wedding Venue
Abby and Caleb were fortunate enough to have the perfect wedding venue already to make their vision come to life – the groom’s uncle’s family farm in New Jersey! If you have started planning a wedding for 2022, you already know that space for some of the most popular wedding venues’ are filling up fast (and some are completely booked until 2023). Although a private estate wedding can be a bit more logistically challenging, with a little effort (and some expert wedding planning!), it can be well worth the effort.
Creating their Wedding Day Timeline
Abby and Caleb did not want to feel stressed on their wedding day so we prioritized a more relaxed timeline. We always love a first look, but they wanted to keep things more traditional and not see each other until the ceremony (which we also love – of course!). Even though they didn’t want to see each other before the aisle, they did want a moment to connect so we created a time for them to have a “first touch” and pray together on the porch before the ceremony. This way, they could get ready with their wedding party and still share an intimate moment between them. It was such a special way for them to start their wedding day.
Planning your Large Home Wedding
We hope you loved reliving Abby and Caleb’s dream barn wedding as much as we did. Nothing is more rewarding in our line of work than seeing every single detail all come together. And who doesn’t love to witness a big celebration between a wedding couple and all of their family and friends? Every moment was full of joy.
Whether you are dreaming of a rustic country wedding or not, if you have a large guest list and are quickly becoming overwhelmed with the details, we would love to hear from you. You can learn more about our services here, or connect directly with us here. In the meantime, we are always sharing behind the scenes and wedding planning tips on Instagram so make sure to follow along! We are kicking off our large wedding planning series and would love for you to come along (and ask us any questions!).
Wedding Planning & Design: Elite Wedding and Event Planning | Photography: Courtney Dueppengiesser Photography | Catering: Clove Brook Market | Cinema: Whole Heart Studios | Entertainment: Elegant Music Group | Photobooth: Wanderbus Photo Booth | Florist: Blairstown Country Florist | Rentals & Decor: Stortz Lighting, & Events Unlimited Party Rentals | Bathrooms: Septicare | Transportation: JTR Transportation
