A Country-Themed Wedding at the Barn on Belmont in Athens, Georgia

“For our wedding day, we wanted to incorporate my vision of simple Southern elegance,” says Kaelan Duncan (25 and a nurse). Both she and her husband-to-be, Chad Schultz (25 and a firefighter), made it a point to put as much of their personalities as possible into the rustic, country-themed ceremony at the Barn on Belmont in Athens, Georgia. Using elements from their jobs, families and traditions, the two created a beautiful day surrounded by the people who mean the most to them. “A tradition we followed on our wedding day was including a small white lace Bible in the ceremony that has actually been in the weddings of four generations of women in the family,” Kaelan says. Under a beautiful tree in the great, wide open, the two declared their love for each other. The reception, which took place in a barn, was filled with rustic details, like mismatched chairs, a mantel, lace runners and vintage dishes. “We had several small DIY projects. I made a chalkboard sign for the bar, using a thin slice of wood from a tree that fell down during the ice storm and chalkboard paint. I also painted our guest book sign that was made from reclaimed barn wood by a friend. I made the flower girls’ basket from supplies gathered from Goodwill,” Kaelan says. As for advice, she offers this: “Don't let the little things upset you on your wedding day. Prepare yourself for not being able to make everyone happy, and be genuinely OK with it. Make yourself happy.” That's what she and Chad did as they exited the barn into their new life together, with sparklers lighting the way. —Ginger Harris