It has been cold and snowy all over the midwest lately, so today’s Real Wedding is the perfect thing to warm us right up! With an apple orchard proposal and a May wedding – we can’t help but think warm thoughts centered on fall and spring. The couple, Lindsay and Michael, wanted to personalize every detail of their day. With the event taking place at Michael’s family meadow and adorable apple jam favors made by Lindsay and her mom, they put their mark on every aspect of this celebration. With Karen Feder Photography there to capture all the festivities, you can really feel the warmth this couple shares and you can see the love they have for their family and closest of friends. We love the great lengths they went to in order to DIY their day. Everything from the candle lit mason jars to the hand painted signs showcases just how important it was to make this celebration all about their love and personalities. A true team effort and a celebration of love and family are up ahead.
Who, What, Where ~ Ceremony/Reception: Groom’s Family Residence, Photography: Karen Feder Photography. Bride’s Dress: OnceWed.com (Maggie Sottero, Grace). Bridesmaid Dresses: The Wedding Shoppe. Bridesmaid Jewelry: Premier Designs. Food: Annabell’s Catering. Cupcakes: Rivertown Cakes, LLC. Flower Girls Dresses: JC Penney. Flowers: Something Blue Designs, LLC. Furniture: Posh Wedding Rentals. Groomsmen Suits: Men’s Warehouse. Men’s & Boys’ Ties: Dessey.com.
From the bride, Lindsay…
After about nine months of dating the sweetest, kindest, most disciplined man I have ever met, Michael proposed to me on my 30th birthday. He took me to an apple orchard (which I love) and got down on one knee in the middle of the orchard! We quickly set a date for 8 months out – May 19th, 2012. I always have thought it would be fun to have an outdoor wedding and since we both love being outside, it made sense. Michael’s parents live in Red Wing, MN and have a beautiful property with a meadow surrounded by big, ancient trees, complete with a rippling brook right next to it. Someone made a joke about the wedding being there, but that got me thinking-and planning. Soon enough, the joke wasn’t a joke anymore! We tried to do as much of the decorating ourselves as we could. My mom, Michael, and bridesmaids were incredibly helpful with everything, and I rounded them up several times for what I called our “Assembly for Assembling”. My mom and I made apple jelly as the favor for all the guests, so the bridesmaids and I tied a poem about our engagement in the orchard to them, as well as put a circle on the lid that had our names and date of the wedding. We put invitations and programs together, put a wire around mason jars so we could hang them around the property with a candle in it, and did an insane amount of spray painting. Since we were not at an official venue, we had to bring everything down to the meadow and set it up ourselves. The day or two before, and the day of the wedding, friends and family were incredibly helpful in getting the tables and chairs set up, chandeliers hung, and all the little details put into place. The day was beautiful because of all the gracious help we had. The ceremony and reception were both held in the meadow and I wouldn’t have had it any other way! Visiting his parents’ house is always a fun occasion that makes us re-live the memories of our special day. I have always said that all the people you love and care about the most are gathered together for you twice; once is at your wedding, and the other is at your funeral. You’re only able to participate in one of those events, so you might as well make it what you want it if you’re able to! It was a wonderful day!
