Sarah + Roberto | Backyard Farm
THE PLANNING
Sarah and Roberto had a lot of big, wonderful ideas for their wedding day, so they decided to bring Rustic Elegance on board and included our Elegance Package. This gave them exclusive access to ALL our rental decor for their date as well as delivery, pick up, and an on-site consultation of the venue site. That being said, the couple definitely broke a record for the amount of decor rented from us - basically all the decor on their wedding day was from Rustic Elegance!
Both Sarah and Roberto were very detailed and precise about how they wanted their wedding to be. Sarah was particular on the decor/setup and small details, while Roberto was focused on catering, table set up, and the food/presentation being served throughout their 5 course meal! Needless to say, they truly completed each other throughout the planning process!
Since the couple lives in VA, we did a lot of planning meetings from afar. This made it especially important that the RE team was involved to keep everything organized and on track. When S + R did fly to MN, we made sure to do the initial touring of the property with them to figure out the layout of the property and rental items needed. We then used the layout we drew up to work with Apres to figure out what items would be needed from them.
Due to their being so many moving parts and intricate details, it was incredibly helpful to work with the couple in our planning program called Aisle Planner. It made planning from afar seamless and was so nice to keep all the details in one spot. This program has a month to month checklist, budget tracker, guest list tracker, assigned seating layout, and all our day-of forms. It is truly a one stop shop for all things planning with Rustic Elegance!
We also had many chats with the couple and their caterer, A’BriTin, to make sure this elaborate dinner would go just perfectly. All the flatware, dinnerware, and glassware was rented from Apres as we wanted to ensure we had exactly what was needed to pair with each dinner course.
As the wedding approached, the venue, which was the farm property that the bride’s dad grew up on was getting prepped. The Wednesday prior to the wedding, Kellie was on-site when Apres set up the main dinner sailcloth tent (we love these)! The following day Kellie, Amy, and Rachel traveled to the site to unload all the furniture and rental items that the couple reserved via the Elegance Package. All the items had to be put into a 24 ft truck - we weren’t kidding when we said they set a record! We got all the furniture out to the appropriate tents and set them safely inside for the 2 nights because it was expected to rain a little in the morning. Adam, the bride’s son, was there to help move things with a utility cart which was super helpful! While we were there, Apres was busy setting up the second tent for the ceremony which was a clear top tent. Then they draped both tents with twinkle lights and fabric. It was already looking amazing!
THE MORNING
On the day of the wedding the RE crew arrived at 10am and got busy moving the furniture we had tucked under the tents on Thursday. Then we put linens and runners on the table to get prepped for catering and decor. Around 11am two people who were hired by Roberto, Joel and JoHanna, arrived to help drive the golf carts to and from the neighboring farm where everyone parked. When they weren’t busy with their main job, they were assigned to help Rustic Elegance. They were a huge help! We had them help us roll up the tent walls from the previous night, light candles, drive the utility cart, and so much more. Huge shoutout to them for all their assistance on this busy morning!
While we were busy with all our tasks and greeting vendors, the wedding party was getting ready. Sisters Salon did the bride's hair and Milena Hannan perfected the glam. The ladies were looking absolutely stunning!
Once everyone was ready, Jeannine Marie Photography took the bride out for her first looks. She shared a special moment with her son, father, and of course her groom! Each of them were truly so sweet!
THE CEREMONY
Before guests arrived for the ceremony we did a day of rehearsal to ensure that everyone knew their cues and where to go. It went smoothly and everyone was ready for the real thing! The ceremony took place in front of the barn’s silos. It was important to Sarah that this was visible, so we used a clear top tent to get a full view of the rustic backdrop.
Fun fact: the bride told Amy from our team that her vision from the wedding was literally “rustic elegance”, so when she found Kellie she knew right away that she found the perfect partner to plan the day. Needless to say, the day turned out perfect with a wonderful balance of rustic and elegance! The couple rented our arch which was beautifully decorated by Studio B Floral. Our shepherd hooks and jars lined the aisle and the florist filled them with fun flowers. The front row was reserved for the parents where they got special seating - our sofas! Near the entrance we placed a table for gifts and cards, our wheelbarrow filled with water bottles, and our welcome sign.
Once the guests were seated, it was time for the ceremony. The maid of honor and best man took their spots by walking in from the sides. Roberto escorted his parents in and the bride’s son escorted the bride’s parents before walking back to be with his mom. Freya, the bride’s granddaughter, was the flower girl and her grandson, Leo, was the ringbearer. When it came time to walk down the aisle Leo wasn’t feeling it, so Freya rocked it solo and did a wonderful job (with a little help from Rachel from the RE team)! The bride’s son had dropped flower petals down the aisle, and Freya picked them up as she made her way down. It was precious! Once she made her way down the aisle, we opened our ceremony doors to reveal the beautiful bride as she was escorted by her son, Adam.
The ceremony was officiated by the bride’s uncle, so every moment was filled with family and love! There were 2 readings and the couple presented roses to their children. After exchanging many sweet words, the rings, and a kiss - they were officially husband and wife!
THE RECEPTION
Guests made their way to cocktail hour to lounge, play our yard games, and socialize. They enjoyed drinks from Liquid Motion and passed appetizers from A’BriTin as well. We created many soft seating areas with our furniture inside the tent and in the meadow for guests to stay comfortable. Liquid Motion used our bars, one inside the tent and one outside, to serve drinks from. During this time, the RE team got busy repurposing ceremony decor in the reception tent. We also made sure to relocate the shepherd hook jars to the cocktail tables. The groom’s mom was really impressed and expressed how thankful she was to have Rustic Elegance present.
As dinner time rolled around, the RE team handed bells to the kids to ring to notify guests. The entrance to the reception tent was decorated with our barrels, signs, and more. The couple used our farm tables as the head table and round tables with full length navy linens from Apres as the guest tables. The various heights of floral arrangements from Studio B Floral were the perfect touch of elegance to the space!
Once everyone had taken their seats the couple made their way to the head table while everyone cheered. The energy was already high! As we mentioned before, the couple chose to serve a 5 course meal in the backyard of the farm (again, both very rustic and elegant)! There would also be a champagne pour and a wine pour to pair with the dinner courses, which Liquid Motion handled beautifully.
Dinner kicked off with a salad and lasted quite a while as there were 5 courses to get through. Guests were wow’d with all the delicious food from A’BriTin they were able to enjoy! Desserts were from Sweet Kneads and A’BriTin. The treats were placed on our display hutch and consisted of petit fours, macarons, mini cheesecakes, and of course the wedding cake!
After dessert and the cake cutting, the bride’s son played a heartfelt slideshow for the couple. He said he spent months on it to ensure that it was perfect - and it was! Everyone sat down and enjoyed the lovely video before the couple did their first dance to Perfect by Ed Sheeran. Their dance was so well choreographed with each move right on beat. The sunset was perfectly shining on them during this moment. It was truly beautiful! Following the first dance the couple also danced with their children. The groom with his two daughters and the bride with her son.
Then it was time for the dance party to begin! Adagio kept the energy up so well that even though they were supposed to leave at 11:30, the couple had them stay past midnight because everyone was having such a great time! The string lights in the tent illuminated the night making the environment cozy and romantic.
As the night came to a close, Rustic Elegance, A’BriTin, and Liquid Motion did a final clean up before heading home. The RE team returned on Sunday to pack up all the rentals again and do any final clean up. Our team ended up being on site Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday to pull this wedding off!
Sarah + Roberto, we absolutely loved pulling together your rustic, elegant wedding. It was nothing short of amazing! We hope your marriage has been filled with just as much love and happiness as this day!
One final BIG shoutout to the vendor team. This was a big production and you all rocked it. We could not have done it without you! And of course, thank you to Jeannine Marie Photography for sharing these beautiful photos of the couples day for us to use in this post.
VENDORS
Venue: Backyard Farm Property
Caterer: A’BriTin
Bar Service: Liquid Motion
Rentals: Apres
DJ: Adagio
Florist: Studio B Floral
Officiant: Bride’s Uncle
Photographer: Jeannine Marie Photography
Dessert: Sweet Kneads - Farmington / A’BriTin
Hair: Sisters Salon
Makeup: Milena Hannan
Coordination/Decor: Rustic Elegance
Creatively written by: Hope Konkol