From the moment they were engaged this Wisconsin couple worked together to plan the barn wedding of their rustic-elegant themed dreams. Taking full advantage of every episode of Say Yes To The Dress and bookmarking their favorite bridal blogs, April and Blake DIY’ed their special day to perfection. The groom built the chuppah they were married under and together April and Blake made all of their programs, invitations, and centerpieces…that’s not just resourceful, that’s downright romantic! Other delightful details not to miss: country-chic outfits for the wedding party complete with suspenders for the gents and cowboy boots for the gals; a lush peony and daisy bouquet; and bridal photography taken by none other: the groom!
April + Blake | August 19, 2011 | Orchard Ridge Farms Pavilion, Rockton Illinois
Ceremony and Reception Description
The day after Blake proposed to me, I immediately hit the bridal blogs for ideas for what would be the most amazing day of my life. I knew we didn’t have the largest wedding budget but I also knew that Blake’s handiness and my love for DIY projects would be a HUGE asset to us. Blake and I love the outdoors and after gawking over countless photos of barn weddings, we decided on a theme of rustic elegance. This theme really fit our personalities perfectly. We’re both a bit rough around the edges (with hobbies like hiking, biking and rock climbing) but we still enjoy the finer things in life. We live in Wisconsin and thought it would be simple to find a barn somewhere to suit our needs…HA! After nights of searching for barn venues in Wisconsin, I ran across a fairly new venue called the Pavilion at Orchard Ridge Farms in Rockton, IL. Once I saw a picture of the Pavilion I just couldn’t see Blake and I getting married anywhere else. From the majestic chandeliers hanging from barn rafters, to the rolling hills of young apple trees, we knew this place was perfect for us. From then on, Blake and I spent a lot of time putting together all of our wedding details. We did almost everything by hand. Blake built the chuppah that we were married under and together we made all of our programs, invitations, and centerpieces. Though it was a lot of work, we wouldn’t have done it any other way. We got to spend time together working on fun projects, and on the day of the wedding, when we got to see it all put together, we got the satisfaction of knowing we had done it all ourselves! It was really special.
Both our reception and ceremony were held at the lovely Pavilion at Orchard Ridge Farms. I didn’t sleep at all the night before the wedding due to nerves and excitement, but when I looked out the window that morning I knew we had been blessed with the PERFECT weather. The ceremony was held outdoors under two stately oak trees, and the reception was held in the Pavilion. The day went by without a hitch and Blake and I were able to share the most magical day with each other and our loved ones.
April’s Wedding Dress Search
Choosing my dress was pretty easy actually. Blake and I had watched episode upon episode of ‘Say Yes to the Dress’ together. It was fun (and helpful) to talk about different elements of the dresses that we liked or didn’t like. It became apparent to me that Blake was a fan of princess ball gowns. He loved all the poof and fussiness. I, on the other hand preferred simplistic but elegant lace dresses. Though I knew it was ultimately my choice, I wanted Blake to love the dress too. When I saw Lazaro 3955 on an episode of ‘Say Yes to the Dress’, I knew it was the perfect combination of both of our styles. The entire bodice was covered with the most beautiful alencon lace, and the skirt was made of layers of tulle. It had the pop of the ballroom gowns that Blake loved so much with the beautiful lace details that I adored.
How April Felt in Her Wedding Dress
In my dress I felt brilliant, ethereal and whimsical.
Why April Decided to Sell Her Wedding Dress
Though I considered other dresses, I never could get the image of this dress out of my mind. It was the most beautiful dress that I had ever seen. I feel so lucky to have been able to wear the dress of my dreams, and I would love to be able to make that dream happen for someone else!
April’s Wedding Dress | Lazaro 3955
Wedding Photography | Mandy Blair Photography
Bridal Photography | Burlap and Lace Photography: burlapandlacephoto@gmail.com
Bridal session photos were taken after the wedding by Blake – today’s featured groom!
I have fallen head over (high) heels in love with Shani’s chic, high fashion style! With a background in fashion design, she had a clear vision of what she wanted her wedding dress to look like. And with the help of the amazing dress designer Ines Di Santo, Shani made her dream dress a reality! Details like the crystal adorned bodice and fabulous feathers on the skirt, make this dress is nothing less than exquisite and unforgettable….enjoy!
Shani + Gary | September 17, 2011 | Old Westbury, New York
The ceremony
The ceremony was held at the de Seversky Mansion in Old Westbury, on the picturesque blue stone patio overlooking the great north lawn and du Pont Lake. The de Seversky Mansion is a “diamond in the rough” – the exquisite venue is unfamiliar to many and is the best kept secret as the estate is inconspicuously nestled on the campus of New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) on Long Island’s Gold Coast. My husband is an NYIT graduate and was never even aware of the mansion – that’s how tucked away it is!
The reception
We had a European style wedding as my guests were able to explore the mansion as the evening progressed. The ceremony on the “Patio” illustrated the mansion’s beautifully manicured landscape which was great for pictures. Cocktail hour took place in the “Library” and the “Terrace Room.” Each room displayed characteristics of refined elegance and an inviting ambiance to our guests. Dinner was held in “The Garden Room” and the “Dining Room” each room displaying a unique dining experience to our guest. Dancing, the cake cutting ceremony and the throwing of the bouquet took place in the grandiose “Ballroom” with views of the east lawn.
How Shani found her dream wedding gown
I knew exactly what I was looking for in the search for my dream wedding dress. Hence, it was quite challenging locating a bridal salon that carried gowns that matched my vision. I went to many New York City couture bridal salons. Bridal Reflections on Fifth Avenue was the only salon that carried the designer that I was hopelessly searching for without knowing so… and so I was introduced to designer Ines Di Santo. Ines Di Santo and I collaboratively created my gown based on my vision and design. We used the corset bodice of an original gown of the designer but made significant changes to the pattern with respect to design. Additionally, the skirt of the dress was completely re-designed to silk satin organza ruffles with feathers and strategically placed hand sewn Swarovski crystals. In the end, Ines Di Santo delivered my dream dress as it mirrors my personal style and exudes vintage glamour.
How Shani felt in her wedding dress
My wedding dress made me feel absolutely dazzling, ultra feminine and charmingly alluring.
Why Shani decided to sell her wedding dress
I heavily debated about selling my gown as it holds much sentimental value to me due to it being my wedding dress and my creative design. However, I would love to share my dress with another woman who appreciates the masterful construction of haute couture and is looking for that avant-garde gown for their special day.
Shani’s wedding dress: Ines Di Santo
Photography: Duet Wedding Photography
Calling all lovers of lace and Spanish vintage – this wedding from La Jolla, California is wedding heaven! Exposed wooden beams and warm vibrant colors throughout their catholic ceremony…stunning black lace dresses for the bridal party…and oh my goodness the decor…I am such a fan of decor details and textures that perfectly compliment the bride’s dress – so lets count the ways, shall we? Candles, wood accents, ivory lace, golds and coppers, vintage table pieces, crosses, Spanish tiles, greenery, succulents, and ivory flowers…if only every day could be as divine as this!
Hayley + Greg | September 10, 2011 | Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church + La Jolla Country Club, La Jolla, California
The Ceremony
Mary Star of the Sea is a beautiful, historic catholic chapel in downtown La Jolla. The interior of the church is absolutely gorgeous and quaint at the same time. I’ve wanted to get married there every since I was a little girl. It also fit perfectly with the Spanish Vintage theme for our wedding.
The Reception
The La Jolla Country Club is located on a hill, with breathtaking views of the ocean. We used two of the rooms, which allowed us to separate the “lounge” area from the dining area. In line with our Spanish Vintage theme, we flooded the place with candles, chunky wood accents, ivory lace, golds, vintage table pieces, crosses, tile pieces, greenery, succulents, ivory flowers, and copper Milagros as napkin treatments to name a few.
Hayley’s Dress Search
I knew I wanted the Monique Lhuillier Scarlet dress before I even met my husband. While living in San Francisco, I saw it in the front window of a bridal boutique. It’s exactly what I had always envisioned as my wedding dress. Once I was engaged, I called around and found it at M Bride in La Jolla. I didn’t try or look at any other dresses….it was a perfect fit.
How Hayley Felt in Her Wedding Dress
Sophisticated, Sexy, Classic
Why Hayley Decided to Sell Her Wedding Dress
I decided to sell my wedding dress because I feel that letting another bride wear and enjoy it is much more productive than sticking it in a closet for years to come.
Hayley’s Dress | Monique Lhuillier Scarlet
Photography | Joielala Photographie
Wedding Planner | Canvas and Canopy Events by Cortnie
Tiffany’s fairy tale wedding began with a sentimental Catholic church ceremony and ended with a lavish celebration at the striking Milwaukee Art Museum. Don’t miss the amazing Sweets Table – it was a showstopper, two years in the making! Thirty-eight feet of the most delicious looking desserts you have ever seen, created an over-the-top centerpiece at the reception. But, the true centerpiece of this elegant affair was Tiffany’s custom made Pnina Tornai gown. The perfect fit, custom lace bolero and Swarovski crystal adorned bodice made this regal dress truly one-of-a-kind!
Tiffany + Robert | September 3, 2011 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin
The ceremony
We were married at the Basillica of St. Josaphat. The ceremony was the most important part of the wedding for us. It was so important that I had decided to convert to be Catholic. It was always a dream of mine to get married in a beautiful church and be a part of a religion that made me feel closer to God and my husband. We also includeded our family in the ceremony by having them walk at the beginning of the ceremony. The colors that we choose for the bridesmaid dresses were Ice Blue and Cotton Candy Pink. The girls then went to a local fabric store and sewed on rhinestone trim. They were one of a kind. The flower girls wore pink sparkle dresses.
The reception
Our reception site was at the famous Milwaukee Art Museum. We wanted to do things a little differently, so we did not have a traditional cocktail hour. When our guests arrived they were escorted to the place card table to find their seats and then told drinks were available at the bar. Once they got their drinks they were seated with their own personal plate of hors d’oevres. We had a good family friend sing Frank Sinatra songs during our cocktails and dinner. She has the voice of an angle. By doing this it gave us a chance to get our first dance in before dinner, and something for our guests to watch while enjoying hor doevres. For our décor we wanted a modern, but classic and timeless look. Our flower centerpieces were all white with an ivory rhinestone base, our linens were white with ivory design and crystals. We had silver rhinestone crystal charger plates and even a rhinestone buckle on our napkins. Our cake was very modern with sparkle trim.
We had Sweet Table that we wanted to be our centerpiece of the room. The decor that you see on the Sweet Table was something Rob and I put together over a two-year period. It all started with one cupcake stand, and it just grew from there. The Sweet Table ended up being a 38 foot long table, all of which we had to fill with sweets. The sweets ended up also being our guests’ gifts. At the end of the night we set out pretty take home boxes for guests to take home whatever they wanted. The whole evening was a dream come true…our guests were even commenting “This is a true fairly tale wedding.”
How Tiffany found her dream wedding dress
I had my eye on a certain dress from the moment I was engaged. This dress was only available at Kleinfeld as it was a Pnina Tornai. I love New York, so I had no problem traveling to try on my dream dress. Once I arrived at Kleinfeld I had to try THE dress on first. Once I had it on I felt stunning, amazing, and like a real bride. This dress was totally me, with a few alterations. I had wanted my dress to be unique something that would make jaws drop. So Pnina and I had altered the dress a little to make it a one of a kind. I did end up trying on other dresses, I always knew which dress was mine!
Since we were having a traditional Catholic ceremony I wanted a little jacket made of the same lace to match the lace on the bodice of the dress. I was not sure how it would look especially since the dress was already very dramatic with the rhinestones and ruffles. Once I put on the little jacket I cried. I, at that point realized that was my best idea yet.
Why Tiffany decided to sell her wedding dress
At first I didn’t want to sell the dress. This dress is one of a kind. Then I thought about my own experience wanting to find a beautiful one of a kind dress on PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com. So I decided to sell the dress in hopes that I would help another Bride with a similar vision find a good deal on such an amazing dress. I love this dress. I hope this dress finds a good home and puts smiles on another bride’s face on her special day.
Tiffany’s dress: Pnina Tornai
Photography: OutVision Wedding Photography