A Backyard Fourth of July Wedding at a Private Residence in Bonne Terre, Missouri

Considering their Fourth of July date and the groom's career in the Army, a patriotic red, white and blue color scheme was an easy choice for Emily Hurley (26 and a physical therapy student) and Scott Geers (31 and an Army officer) wedding day. When it came to picking a location for their nuptials, Scott's family's property in Bonne Terre, Missouri—with its lush grass and towering trees—was another easy decision. After a touching ceremony under two tall trees, Emily and Scott joined their guests for a fuss-free barbecue dinner and dancing under the stars. Inspired by their love for travel, a postcard theme evolved organically during the planning process. "We did table names instead of numbers and chose American cities that we had both been to," Emily says. "We love to travel, so choosing cities fit our love to travel and incorporated our patriotic theme." From the invitations to the s'mores favors and lawn games, Emily and Scott planned a personalized and patriotic day full of sweet, homey touches. —Meghan Overdeep