The wedding I never dreamed of (and will never forget)

I was never the girl who dreamed about her wedding day, so when it finally arrived, the magic of it all took me completely by surprise. In just eight months, we pulled everything together. I kept things simple, promised myself I wouldn’t stress over it, and let the day unfold naturally. If anything went off the rails, I was determined to laugh it off and let it become part of our story. Looking back, that relaxed approach made it all the more enchanting; each moment only added to the joy of the day. Aside from this being the hottest day of the year, I can say the day was absolutely perfect. Better than I could have imagined.

It all truly began with the search for our venue. We had no elaborate list or grand plan, just an open mind and the hope of finding a place that felt right. Amazingly, it happened with the very first venue we visited. The moment we drove onto the grounds of 3 Fat Labs Wedding & Event Barn in Greencastle, Indiana, we knew it was it. Surrounded by trees and rolling hills, the barn was a stunning blend of rustic and modern elegance, tucked away in its own little world. The space was so naturally beautiful that we hardly needed to decorate.

Our day began with a double rainbow—a beautiful sign from the universe that we were exactly where we were meant to be. The vibrant arcs stretched across the sky just as we started getting ready, filling everyone with awe and excitement. It felt like a blessing, setting the tone for a day filled with joy, love, and a touch of magic that carried through every moment.

Since I wanted a timeless, traditional look, we kept our palette strictly neutral with classic blacks and whites. Instead of using a traditional florist, we took on the challenge of DIY-ing the flowers we pre-ordered from Costco. On the morning of the wedding, we transformed 105 bunches of greenery and flowers into our table settings, arch, aisle decor, bouquets, and boutonnieres. We used a mix of Baby’s Breath, Green Hypericum, Leatherleaf Fern, Ruscus, Silver Dollar Eucalyptus, and both Baby Green and White Hydrangeas. It was a massive undertaking, but seeing us all work together to bring my vision to life is now a great memory, very rewarding, and made it all that much more special.

Our ceremony felt incredibly intimate and meaningful, with just 55 of our closest family and friends in attendance. There was something truly special about having a smaller guest list; it allowed us to connect with everyone there, making each moment feel deeper and more personal. The setting was beautiful, guests gathered on the back patio beneath a canopy of string lights, looking out over the woods that surrounded the venue. The atmosphere was both cozy and enchanting, the perfect backdrop for such a special celebration.

Despite only rehearsing the procession three times on the morning of, everything went perfectly. We walked down the aisle to “To Build a Home” by The Cinematic Orchestra. Christian cried when I walked down the aisle with my Dad, so I’d say it was a success lol, and I’ve never seen the man cry.

We really wanted the ceremony to feel like us, giving our guests a true sense of our journey and how our story began. To achieve that, we worked with Love Story Weddings; having a professional officiant write a personalized ceremony made all the difference. I highly recommend this if you're looking for something unique and non-traditional. We also wrote and read our own vows. As someone who usually avoids public speaking, being that vulnerable was a bit daunting, but in the moment, it turned out to be a total breeze. To make our unity ceremony truly memorable, we added a playful twist: our officiant mixed a margarita and poured us each a shot to share at the altar. It was such a fun, light-hearted moment that perfectly captured our personalities and brought our guests lots of laughter.

As if the double rainbows weren’t enough, two butterflies arrived as if on cue when our ceremony started. A Comma butterfly rested on the hydrangeas right above me, while a smaller blue and black butterfly fluttered around us as we exchanged our vows. It felt as though the universe was sending us messengers from beyond, a subtle reassurance that we were surrounded by love, both seen and unseen.

One thing I’ve always dreaded at weddings is when guests are left waiting for ages while the newlyweds disappear for endless photos. We were determined to keep our celebration lively and enjoyable for everyone, so we made sure our photo session after the ceremony was quick, no more than 30 to 45 minutes. Honestly, I’m not a fan of being in front of the camera, so speeding things up was a win for me, too! Our guests could head straight to cocktail hour, relax, and enjoy themselves without any long pauses. Because let’s be real, people come for the food, the fun, and the good company.

For catering, we chose The Juniper Spoon, a local farm-to-table service that brought our dinner to life with the freshest ingredients. All the vegetables for our meal were harvested right from their own gardens, while their meats and dairy products were sourced from nearby Indiana farms. Cocktail hour featured a stunning grazing board with artisan cheeses, fresh fruit, breads, and crackers. Dinner itself felt like a celebration of the season: a vibrant salad with sunflower seeds, dried cranberries, and a sweet strawberry dressing, followed by basil pesto cream chicken, ratatouille bursting with garden flavors, and roasted potatoes. Juniper Spoon also made our cutting cake and cupcakes, including the most incredible red velvet cake I’ve ever tasted. Truly unforgettable.

We wanted the evening to feel relaxed and vibrant, so we made sure there was always something to enjoy, and guests didn’t feel stuck in their seats. From heartfelt and hilarious toasts to cornhole, a cozy outdoor fire pit for making s’mores, and lively dancing, there was never a dull moment. As the night wore on, everyone intermingled, laughed, and joined in the fun. The energy on the dance floor was contagious. At one point, the whole party was up, dancing together in a dance-off. Our family and friends brought so much enthusiasm, making it easy to keep the celebration alive and unforgettable.

As the evening drew to a close, I found myself reflecting on how incredibly grateful I was, not just for how beautifully the day unfolded, but for the love and laughter that filled every moment. The little surprises, the heartfelt connections, and the joyful energy surrounding us created a celebration I’ll forever cherish. If there’s one thing I learned, it’s that the real beauty lies in the imperfect moments, the ones you never plan for, but end up cherishing the most. I wouldn’t trade a single second for anything.

We’re so grateful to Tori Clifford Photography for beautifully documenting our day. She didn’t just take photos, she preserved our laughter, happy tears, and all the genuine moments that made our wedding unforgettable.