Jolene + Travis | Almquist Farm
THE PLANNING
Jolene and Travis spiced up our week with the desire to plan a Wednesday wedding - so fun! They started out with the goal of having a backyard wedding, which we were totally on board to help plan. However, after the couple toured Almquist Farm, they fell in love with the venue! The RE team worked with the couple to move plans to Almquist and get all of the details in place.
Not only did J + T give us the opportunity to work at one of our favorite venues, they also booked with one of our favorite photographers, Jeannine Marie Photography. This sweet couple was truly forming a dream team and they were so much fun to work with!
THE MORNING
The morning of the big day, the ladies gathered in the bridal sweet to get their hair and makeup done with Ziel Bridal. The groom stopped by to drop off decor, then came back later to get ready. We helped pin on boutonnieres and ensured the ladies didn’t need anything from us. During this time we got a glimpse at Jolene in her dress by Justin Alexander. She looked stunning!
Jeannine Marie Photography then set the couple up for their first look outside. It was a beautiful moment filled with love and emotion, which Jeannine captured perfectly! While the couple made their way around the venue for portraits, the RE team was busy setting up decor and greeting vendors. We also made sure to chat with the DJ and officiant instead of a rehearsal since the couple opted to not have a wedding party.
THE CEREMONY
The ceremony site with open prairie surrounded by trees at Almquist truly never gets old! Jolene and Travis made the triangular arch, which Rustic Floral Boutique decorated with timeless floral installments. Once all of the guests were seated, we sent the groom down the aisle with his parents, followed by the couple’s two daughters. Jolene then made her grand entrance with her parents to Cannon in D. She looked absolutely gorgeous with her long veil trailing behind her!
Tanya O’Brien officiated a sweet ceremony for the couple as they were surrounded by 80 of their loved ones! After the I do’s and the kiss, Jolene and Travis dismissed each row so they got a chance to say hello to each of their guests. The couple then made their way to the bridal suite with their daughters to sign their marriage license.
Meanwhile, the RE team directed guests to cocktail hour, cleaned up the ceremony site, and repurposed the arch flowers to the head table.
THE RECEPTION
Cocktail hour at Almquist is always a great time! The venue has goats on the farm, which the kids absolutely loved! The couple also provided bean bags, ax throwing, and bocce ball for guests to use during this time. There was also a beautiful appetizer charcuterie display from That Girl Brie, which guests enjoyed.
Guests were also encouraged to sign the polaroid guest book during this time. Pro tip: be sure to provide a mini trash can or basket to dispose of used film!
Inside the barn, the guest tables were decorated with loose greens, simple bud vases, and wood slices with battery candles. As guests entered the space, they found their assigned table and took their seats.
The couple made their grand entrance to their sweetheart table, where Travis said a quick welcome speech. The father of the bride then stepped in to say a prayer before dinner was served. River Valley Catering served guests a delicious plated meal, which was followed by bunditinis from Nothing Bundt Cakes for dessert.
The couple also included a two-tiered wedding cake from Dorothy Ann Bakery. They added a cute cake topper to represent their family and Rustic Floral Boutique added flowers to each tier. We loved how timeless every detail of this wedding was!
Jeannine Marie Photography then pulled the couple aside for a few sunset photos. We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful Minnesota day!
The RE team then moved the sweetheart table off of the dance floor so that the couple could have their first dance to “You” by Dan + Shay. They opted to not have any parent dances, so Minnesota Wedding Party went straight into getting the party started when their special first dance wrapped up!
The RE team took this opportunity to straighten out the chairs and make the tables look pretty again. Almquist got a fire started, which guests happily gathered around to socialize while enjoying the nice evening weather.
Later in the night, the RE team set out prepacked snacks that the couple provided for the late night snack. Jeannine Marie Photography also found time to sneak the couple out in the evening for her iconic night photo. We love seeing how creative she gets with her shots!
The RE team wrapped up the night by packing the trailer back up with the couple’s items (per our clean up package that the couple opted to add on). It was an amazing day celebrating these two!
Jolene + Travis, thank you for having Rustic Elegance on your team! We loved having the opportunity to work with the two of you.
Huge thank you to Jeannine Marie Photography for sharing these photos with us!
VENDORS
Venue: Almquist Farm
Appetizers: That Girl Brie
Caterer: River Valley Catering
DJ: Minnesota Wedding Party
Florist: Rustic Floral Boutique
Officiant: Tanya O’Brien
Photographer: Jeannine Marie Photography
Dessert: Dorothy Ann Bakery / Nothing Bundt Cakes
Hair/Makeup: Ziel Bridal
Bridal Gown: Justin Alexander
Coordinator: Rustic Elegance - Kellie + Kierra
Creatively written by: Hope Konkol