midwest wedding, Middle of the Map Weddings

When looking for a spot to have a wedding there are so many things for a couple to consider.  Go for a spot with sentimental meaning, or something that’s just plain gorgeous?  Whether it’s in the backyard, an amazing downtown loft, or a historical location , the options are endless.  However some of my favorite spots are the ones that have a story, and a special place in the couples hearts.  For Amanda and James that was Belvoir Winery.  Not only is it right next door to her mom’s house, but it’s got so much history.  Also called “The Odd Fellow’s Home, over the years it’s served every purpose under the sun including a school, orphanage, hospital, and boarding home for migrant workers during the depression.  Amanda says it’s also rumored to be haunted.  It’s easy to see that this spot has so much character, and since the couple wanted their wedding to have a vintage feel it was perfect.  Amanda is also an Etsy bride, utilizing the hand made website to find tons of goods for her wedding including linens, her garter, and much more (see “Who, What, Where” for complete list).  A big thank you to Amanda for sharing all the details of the day, and to Heather Brulez Photography for her lovely images.

Who, What, Where ~ Ceremony/Reception: Belvoir Winery.  Photography: Heather Brulez.  Flowers: D’Agee Flowers.  Catering: Affordable Catering.  Cake Flowers: Sweet Petal Bakery.  Paper Goods: CDK Designs.  Garter: Rosebuds Lips.  Veil: Teri Huang.  Dress: Teresa’s Bridal Boutique.  Bridesmaids Dresses: The Elegant Bride.  Linens: PetitExtra.  Bridal bracelet: Lola M Designs.  Guest Book Box: Cut the Cake Designs.

From the bride…

James and I met while in college. I was at a party for my sorority, and he was introduced to me by a friend. During college James worked in a bar. The night before our anniversary he ended up hurting his back moving kegs. He had plans of doing the traditional proposal and getting down on one knee, but was not able to do so due to his back.  So he put the ring under my bed so that he could sneak into my bedroom in the morning. He woke me up really early and proposed. My mom knew that he was going to do it so she was up waiting for me to come show her my ring.

I love billy balls and picked the color yellow based on that. The centerpieces at reception had a mix of black and white flowers at some tables, and others had yellow flowers, incorporating wine bottles with custom labels as table numbers. For DIY projects we made candles for favors, and we also cut wine corks to hold the place cards. James made some really cute signs to put on the highway.

My something borrow/blue/new/old was from my garter I got on Etsy. The lace is borrowed from a dress, the silk is blue, the antique brooch is old, and the silk is brand new. The money spent on the garter also went to help women who were victims of human trafficking. It was really beautiful.

I was very close to my grandpa but he passed away sometime ago. We had our first dance to “Fly me to the moon”. It was my grandpa’s favorite song. It made me feel like he was a part of the wedding. My favorite part of the wedding was right after the ceremony while we were taking pictures. It really seemed like all of the stress and nervousness was gone for both of us.