The Saturday Matinee isn’t just for videographers and filmmakers. When Heather of Hawes Photography sent me this sweet little stop-motion video they put together for Oliver and Amy’s day, I knew it had to be shared. Such a fun, and unique alternative to a film. Thanks so much for sending this my way Heather!
Ashley and Wil were both born and raised in Bloomington, and are only three years in age difference. It seems strange that their paths never crossed growing up. They knew about each other, and then one fateful night in 2009 they both ended up getting money from the same ATM machine. As Ashley tells it they hit it off that very night, talking for 2 hours at the cab stand. Soon after they went on their first date, and the rest is history. They wanted their wedding day to represent the things they love most, their hometown, the Hawaiian Islands (where Ashley attended college and Wil proposed), and food! They incorporated little details of these three things throughout their day. Ashley loved the experience of planning her wedding so much that soon after she started her own wedding planning business with her good friend, The Bird & The Bee Wedding Planning and Design. A big thank you to Ashley for sharing her big day, and to Jessika Feltz for the lovely images.
Who, What, Where~ Ceremony: Tree Suite Garden, IU Campus. Reception: Alumni Hall, IU Campus. Photography: Jessika Feltz Photography. Flowers: Artful Bloom. Event Design, and Invitations: The Bird & The Bee Wedding Planning and Design. Cake, and Sweets: Sugar Daddy’s Cakes and Catering. Brides Dress: Allure Bridals. Bridesmaids: Ann Taylor.
Wil and I are both from Bloomington, IN. Although we’re both from the same small college town, we went to separate schools (including high school – he is 3 years older than me) so we never crossed paths growing up. Fast forward to fall of 2009- about 6 months later on Halloween night. I was dressed as Sandy from and I was at an ATM downtown getting money out to take a cab home. Wil was also at the ATM getting money out to get some pizza. We hit it off immediately- we talked for over 2 hours at the cab stand. The next day, he asked me out and we had our first date, and have been together ever since. I like to think that it was fate that we happened to be at the same ATM at the same time that night.
The ceremony was held in a place called the Tree Suite Garden which is nestled within the student union on IU’s campus and is where Wil studied throughout his college days. It is a beautiful location and we knew that we just had to have our ceremony there. When we were dating we would go out to eat and then walk around campus in the evenings. We used the “A+W” symbol and a tree/leaf theme throughout the wedding since we were getting married in the tree suite garden.
Our wedding colors were green and black and we had orchids and hydrangea for flowers throughout. Orchids are extremely popular in Hawaii and are given as leis for celebrations and other important events-naturally this was something we had to have. We even had fresh leis flown in from Hawaii for the wedding reception that were given to the bridesmaids and Wil.
We especially love eating at restaurants here in town that feature locally grown food, so we chose foods that were in season- butternut squash soup, sweet potato fries, a mashed potato martini bar (YUM!), roasted vegetables, basil chicken and more. We offered donut holes in wax bags from our favorite late-night-snack shop (Cresent Donut) as our wedding favors.
I’m sure I’ve said it before, but one of my favorite things about writing Middle of the Map Weddings is getting a chance to be inspired by, and connect with so many talented vendors across the midwest. Ashley submitted her 10 year vow renewal ceremony to me, and I was blown away by her sweet event. I think that it’s wonderful, not only because the flowers and styling are right on point, but also because it’s a real ceremony, with real people, and real emotion. I’ve really enjoyed connecting with Ashley, and her love for all things beautiful, and local, and shared her work in a Featured Vendor post as well. So without further ado here’s her and her husband Tom’s lovely 10 Year Vowel Renewal:
Who, What, Where ~ Location: Tom and Ashley’s backyard. Photos: Red Bird Hills. Flowers: Ashley Fox Designs. Dress: Alexia Admor, NY. Shoes and coat: Thrift store/vintage. Tom’s suit: Joseph Abboud.
We were married at the Arboretum in 2001 in front of 150 friends and family, but we chose to have a vow renewal at our home in the gardens that was small and very personal. Our best man, Brian Harvey, created and officiated a heartwarming, nostalgic, and emotional ceremony. Leah Vestmark, my creative, beautiful, and funny college buddy designed a “commemorate the day” program. It capture the spirit of our family and the home, gardens, and backyard chicken coop Tom and I have built together.
My husband Tom, and excellent baker, made the “Perfect 10″ apple pie and everyone said it was the best pie ever. Our children Evelyn, and Lucas had a great time running around and enjoying the autumn day, and couldn’t wait to eat the pie of course. Tom surprised me earlier in August with a diamond anniversary band to celebrate our 10 years of marriage, “I couldn’t wait” he said.
We used our cake cutter, server, and the crystal champagne glasses from our wedding day, and a much more toned down drink of cider instead of champagne. Our wedding was beautiful and special 10 years ago, but the vows we spoke on our renewal meant so much more, and we had more fun with them too. ”Ashley, I promise to love you even though you drive too fast,” and “Tom, I promise to love you even though you cannot point direction North if your life depended on it.”
As lovers of all things vintage (just check out their adorable engagement shoot over on the Bride’s Cafe), it was a no brainer for Kayleigh and Mike to have a vintage, 1940′s themed wedding. Their location at the Commemorative Airforce Hanger in St.Paul is definitely unique. I love the aisle runner held down by the wheel chocks, and the paper airplanes that they used for their ceremony send off rather than bubbles, or rice. Plus Kayleigh designed their whole Western Union themed invitation sweet herself. A big thank you to her for sharing all the details of her and Mike’s day, and to Joan Brochman for submitting her lovely images.
Who, What, Where ~ Ceremony and Reception: Fleming Field Commemorative Air Force Hanger. Photos: Brochman Photography. Flowers: Simply Stated Elegance. Cakes: Farmington Bakery. Bride and Bridesmaids attire: The Weddings Shoppe.
Mike and I have known each other for over 10 years. We met when I was 14 and he was17. We quickly became friends. We both knew we had feelings for each other and hinted it several times but nothing ever came about. Mike went off to college and we saw each other less frequently. The summer after Mike graduated college, we started to hang out again. We spent almost everyday together for several months. One night, a mutual friend confronted Mike ( I had no knowledge of this until the next day) and told him that everyone that knows both of us is sick and tired of our little game and that something needed to be done. That same night, Mike came up to me and told me that he loved me and always has. We were then “officially” a couple.
I love Tiffany Blue. I think it is such a classy color so that was an obvious choice. We both really like history and Mike really likes airplanes so our wedding was held at Fleming Field Commemorative Air Force Hangar. It has a small WWII museum as well. Our whole ceremony incorporated songs from the Beatles, whose music we are both huge fans of.
The invitations were probably the most time consuming DIY project for our wedding, but I had a TON of help for them. I also made the escort cards and the programs. Instead of rice or bubbles we had paper airplanes for people to throw.
I wore my Grandmother’s earrings. There was also a hankie on one of the tables. It was given to me as a bonnet for my baptism, with a letter stating to take the stitches out and use it as a hankie on my wedding day.
It is so hard to choose just one moment as a favorite! If I had to choose, I would say the ceremony when we exchanged vows. Our Minister had asked us questions about each other without the other knowing what we said, so during the ceremony we were hearing them for the first time. Even though I was sobbing throughout that whole part, it would have to be my favorite.
As she describes them Kayla and Cory are very laid back, and they definitely wanted their day to reflect their personality. They settled on a fall event, and really let the season dictate their decor, utilizing the trees as a beautiful backdrop for photos, and embracing a rustic feel with lots of barn wood, and hand made birch trunk centerpieces and a cake stand. Beautiful dahlias, and lots of mason jar candle light set up a romantic ambiance for their reception. A big thank you to Kayla for sharing all the details of their day, and to Pamela at Leaves of Grass Photography for the lovely images.
Who, What, Where ~ Ceremony – Littlefork Lutheran Church. Reception Location-AmericInn. Photos: Leaves of Grass Photography. Catering: Leonards. Flowers-Gearharts Floral and Gifts. Cake – Supervalu. Wedding Gown and Bridesmaid Dresses – Formalities. Tux Rental – Mason’s on Main.
Cory and I met while in college through mutual friends, although the two of us still disagree as to the exact time and location of our meeting. We dated throughout college and after three and a half years Cory proposed. The plan was to propose to me on the lake at sunset, but I ruined his plans by showing up from work a little late. Instead of seeing my ring beneath the lowering sun, he got down on one knee under a street lamp in the park near the beach. Although things didn’t go exactly as planned, the proposal was perfect.
We decided to go the traditional route and have the ceremony in my hometown of Littlefork in Northern Minnesota. I wanted simple neutral colors that would reflect a fall wedding and woodsy theme, without using the typical fall decorations and color patterns. For a little extra color I added dark purple mums as accents throughout the decor.
I had a few small pieces that I included in my day that were extra special to me. Both sets of my grandparents have passed away, and I wanted to find a special way to include them in our day. I had a handkerchief that my great-grandmother had given to me, which was both old and blue. I also had a pin that was another grandma’s, it said her name on it and I pinned it to my bouquet, it was old, blue and borrowed.
It’s hard to pinpoint one exact part of our wedding day that was my favorite, I’ve said over and over that I wish I could do it all over again – I don’t think I would change one thing. We were blessed to share our day and celebrate with great family and friends and had an amazing group of professionals to work with. I can’t imagine a more perfect day, after all, I’m lucky enough to have married the man of my dreams!
