A DIY Orchard-Themed Wedding at Ya Ya Farm and Orchard in Longmont, Colorado

Kelsey McWhirter (26 and an assistant) and Tyler Bennett (27 and an account manager) met through a church committee that sends college students abroad for summer missions. He proposed on New Year’s Eve at a jazz bar. Kelsey and Tyler wanted to have a shabby chic wedding that perfectly reflected who they are. “All Tyler and I really cared about was that we had an awesome time and our guests had an awesome time and that at the end of the day we were married and celebrating,” Kelsey says. They cut costs by doing a lot of DIY details such and the handpicked wildflowers from Ya Ya Farm’s property and the stationery that Tyler made himself. They rented some vintage dinnerware and other details from Acorn and Oakleaf to tie it all together. “Tyler and I aren’t super into all of the extras at a wedding,” she says. “So we didn’t do a bouquet toss, cutting the cake, money dance, etc. Sounds boring, but it was amazing. We danced, ate apple cider donuts and danced the night away.” The first dance was to “Wagon Wheel” by Darius Rucker. One of the best parts of the wedding was the delicious menu and cocktails. The bartender, Garnish, is known for their fun drinks, so they made spiked strawberry lemonade. For dinner, they had Georgia Boys BB. “The best BBQ ever,” Kelsey says. From the Bride: “The day reflected us because it was filled with joy,” she says. “The whole day was filled with fun and laughter and was strew free because we made it stress free. Did things go wrong? Absolutely. But who cares? You get to wear a pretty dress and hang out with your best friends all day and commit your life to somebody worthy of that commitment. My favorite part of the night was when my bridesmaids and I danced and I rapped to ‘Whatta Man’ by Salt and Peppa. It got the crowd going like crazy! Plus, Tyler and his friend are in a cover band called Tailored Swift (they sing only Taylor Swift songs and wear suits) and they played at our rehearsal, so it was fun to give him a run for his money at the wedding!”