Kaelan + Jarret | Backyard
THE PLANNING
Kaelan and Jarret’s wedding was unique in so many ways, which made it extra fun to plan! The festivities took place at the bride's parents house in Maple Lake, Minnesota. We knew this called for a tent, so RE arranged the tent rental through Apres and helped figure out where the reception and ceremony would take place. This took some extra thinking because the RE team had assisted with the bride’s brother's wedding on the same property a couple years prior! The goal was for the ceremony and reception to be in a different location on the property than her brother's wedding, which we were able to accomplish and it turned out amazing! Kellie loved having the opportunity to work with this family again and see one of our past couples and even got to meet their new baby, Lincoln!
The bride and groom live in Florida, so our planning meetings were limited to Zoom and when they were in town to visit. This meant relying on family and the RE team to pull together the physical details here in MN. A lot of the table decor was provided by the couple and family, with the bride’s aunt being a huge part of the decorating process. They also rented many decor items from Rustic Elegance. This was great for them as we were able to deliver the items and pick them up since we were on site at the wedding!
The Thursday before the wedding, the RE team was on site with Apres to manage the tent set up. We also delivered our decor and set/prepped as much as possible. This gave us plenty of time to touch up and handle the last details the morning of the wedding!
THE MORNING
The couple chose to limit the guest list to just their closest friends and family members, so the guest count was around 65. We love the intimate vibes a smaller wedding brings! In addition to their fav people supporting them, the couple also had quite a few animals cheering them on! Chickens, dogs, and Tom the turkey (our personal favorite).
The RE team arrived at the property at 10am, and prepared the grounds for the forecasted storm by putting up the tent sidewalls with family members (which is always a great backup plan for a tent wedding) and we secured all the decor. The bride was set on an outdoor ceremony, rain or shine, so we got the umbrellas out just in case they were needed, and anxiously watched the radar.
Despite the bride’s nervousness, her getting ready team kept her spirits up and her glam on point! Natural Roots mastered the ladies hair, while Amy Rachael perfected everyone’s makeup. Once the bride and groom were both ready, it was time for the first looks! Kaelan did a first look with her dad, then her groom. Both were so sweet! We especially loved the groom’s suit coat that had photos printed of the two of them inside the lining!
While it was cloudy with a gentle mist, the couple continued to take photos with Tessa June Photography. They were getting some fun pictures with our clear umbrellas when the storm decided to come in full force. The couple then moved inside the tent to continue taking photos. This crazy weather didn’t stop Tom the turkey from following everyone around all day long. Keep an eye out in the upcoming photos and you may spot Tom wandering about!
Soon after, the sky (thankfully) cleared and we were able to head out to the ceremony site to start prepping it for guest arrival. We set out decor and collectively dried the benches off via towels and a leaf blower! Midwest Marigold provided beautiful florals that added the perfect touch of elegance to the backyard venue. While we were prepping everything, the couple stepped aside to privately read their vows prior to the ceremony. They also got a few pictures with their dogs who played a big part in the day! When they were finished, we ran through a quick day of rehearsal to ensure everyone knew what to expect during the ceremony.
THE CEREMONY
At this point I’m sure you’re wondering if the ceremony took place outside, got pushed back on the timeline, or had to be moved into the tent. Well, we can confirm that the ceremony took place… exactly as planned!! The ceremony site was stunning, with an arch made by the family, benches borrowed from a friend, and the lake in the background. We placed our unplugged ceremony sign at the entrance on one of our black easels. The couple didn’t have a wedding party, but they were surrounded by loved ones in every way! Kaelan had her brother’s baby, Lincoln, be the honorary ring bearer, but since he’s so little he was pushed down in the cutest bassinet stroller! The groom was walked down the aisle by both of his parents, and the bride was escorted by her father. Kaelan’s father and godfather officiated the ceremony which made every word so sentimental! The couple also had a memorial photo of the bride’s brother on a bench which was so special.
During the ceremony, vendors were busy at work. Just North of Memphis was setting up appetizers in the reception tent for social hour right after the ceremony. Elite Espresso had some delays due to the storm, but they set up quietly and were ready to serve delish coffee drinks in time for social hour!
The ceremony itself could not have been more perfect! And it definitely wouldn’t have been complete without an appearance from Tom the turkey who wanted to take a turn walking down the aisle! The couple finished off with a rope tying unity symbol before sharing a sweet kiss and driving off in a cute old truck for their grand exit!
THE RECEPTION
After the couple rode off for some alone time as husband and wife, guests made their way to cocktail hour. Guests enjoyed refreshers, appetizers, and the wonderful coffee cart (which was a huge hit). Our beverage tubs that the couple rented came in very handy for this setup!
Kellie and Rachel, the RE duo for the day, rounded up the guests into the tent for dinner at 7:00pm. They were met by a beautifully decorated tent with items from the RE decor inventory and the couple. The couple provided cheese cloth runners, plates, chargers, candle holders, candle sticks, and silverware. We used our sweetheart table for the couple, which we love since it has an option to use with shorter legs, which pairs perfectly with a sofa for the bride and groom seating. The couple decided on our Rosie Sofa and it was the perfect mix of elegance and comfort! As guests entered, they checked the seating chart for their assigned table, which correlated with the table numbers the couple rented from us and then took a seat at the wood tables we provided (along with our wood chairs).
Once the guests were seated, the couple made their grand entrance. They wanted it to be just as grand as their exit, but instead of a truck they rode in on a dirt bike! It was so fun and definitely caught everyone’s attention! Then it was time to get a delicious meal from the buffet provided by Just North of Memphis. While everyone was eating, the RE team set out desserts which consisted of a couple’s cake, cake pops, bundt cakes, and bread pudding (provided by the Just North of Memphis). We placed them on our barrels with a door on top to make a rustic dessert table.
After everyone finished their meals, the couple did their first dance outside of the tent. It was mid-sunset, which made for stunning photos! Harmony DJ then opened up the dance floor for informal dancing and kept the laid back party vibes going all night. Guests spent lots of time mingling and taking in the lake side views.
When dusk hit, it was time for fireworks! The family bought a barge to electronically set them off on the lake and it was truly magical. Alma films was able to capture stunning clips for their wedding film and Tessa June Photography snapped amazing photos of the couple in pure bliss.
Kaelan + Jarret, this day was truly perfect even with the morning rain storm! We absolutely loved working with you, your families, and of course Tom. ;) Cheers to many amazing years to come!
Big thank you to Tessa June Photography for sharing these truly amazing photos with us!
VENDORS
Venue: Bride’s Parents Backyard
Caterer / Dessert: Just North of Memphis
Rentals: Apres
DJ: Harmony
Florist: Midwest Marigold
Photographer: Tessa June Photography
Videographer: Alma Films
Hair: Natural Roots
Makeup: Amy Rachael
Coffee Cart: Elite Espresso
Coordinator and Decor: Rustic Elegance
Creatively written by: Hope Konkol