I absolutely love when couples choose a sentimental venue for their wedding. The ambience provided by a venue with significance is priceless. Today’s bride and groom, Stephanie and Brandon, chose Stephanie’s family farm for their ceremony and reception. They did a marvelous job of tying together their event with rustic, farm-centric details to make their event cohesive and beautiful. Enjoy this beautiful rustic farm wedding! xoxo, Jessica

Stephanie + Brandon

August 1, 2015

Scio, Ohio | Gundy Ridge Farms

What was your budget?

Our budget was $13k.

Bride’s dress, boots, reception dress: $1200

Bridesmaids’ dresses, boots: $750

Tuxedo rental: $475

Hair, nails, make-up(for bridal party): $500

Caterer: $2530

Appetizers/Drinks: $500

Flowers: $1200

Music (violinist and DJ): $550

Table/Chair/Linen Rental: $1500

Stationary: $500

Favors: $200

Photography: $2400

Cake: $350

Decorations/Misc.: $625

How many guests did you have?

230

What creative or personal aspects did you include in your wedding?

*The date was significant because it was the bride’s grandparents’ wedding anniversary.

*The site was the family farm. We planned the layout of crops planted so the hay meadows and corn fields could be used as the ceremony site and backdrop.

*The reception site was a new barn had been built on the farm. It’s agricultural use was restricted until after the wedding so we would have a nice clean barn for the party.

*Favors were handheld fans with the wedding couple’s picture and wedding program printed on them. They were given out to guests as they arrived at the hay meadow for the wedding. Guests used them to keep cool in the afternoon sunshine.

*Transportation of guests to the wedding site was made possible by the community. We borrowed “people mover” wagons from a nearby FFA camp to give our guests a wagon ride out to the meadow.

*The guest book was created by the mother of the bride who stitched and hand-quilted an autograph quilt to be signed by the guests.

*The ceremony backdrop was an arch made from barn beams recovered from a 100-year-old barn on the farm.

What was the biggest thing you did to save money?

All the work involved in planning, setting up, decorating and cleaning up was done by the bride and groom and their family and friends. No wedding planner!

We also used bales of straw for the seating in the hay meadow.

What’s the best advice you have for planning your wedding now that you’re on the other side?

Plan early, know what you want, but be willing to be flexible.

What was your biggest splurge?

We paid for the bridal party’s wardrobe: dresses, cowboy boots, salon time and tuxedoes. The bride made the decisions about what would be worn, so it only seemed fair not to make others pay for those decisions.

What was your favorite detail?

The site of the wedding ceremony. We used the bride’s family farm. We chose a hay meadow bordered by a beautiful green cornfield in a natural amphitheater on the farm. It was a beautiful setting with special significance to the family. We were also blessed with a perfect day…sunshine, blue sky, comfortable temperatures.

What is the most memorable moment of your day?

The wedding ceremony. The minister did a great job even though he had to be reminded about the first kiss! Also, at the end of the evening, there was a beautiful sunset. Our photographer caught some great shots with it as background!

VENDORS

Photography: Bee Mine Photography • Catering: Kathy Stotzer Catering • Cakes: Camelot Cakes • Rentals: Centre Party Rental • Tux: Robert’s Uniform and Embroidery • Attire: Universe Bride at the Unusual Junction • Salon: Mark’s Place Spa and Hair Salon • Florist: Lady of the Lake Florist