1. Real Weddings

A Playful Barn Wedding at a Private Residence in Merrill, Wisconsin

For Julie Harvey (28 and an anesthesiologist) and Aaron Hanson (29 and a pediatrics physician), who met in high school, creating a wedding that was un

For Julie Harvey (28 and an anesthesiologist) and Aaron Hanson (29 and a pediatrics physician), who met in high school, creating a wedding that was uniquely their own was essential. “Our day was personal in so many ways,” Julie says. “Most significantly, the venue was extremely personal. The family friends who own the property have been an important part of Aaron's life since he was a kid, and it was such an honor to be married there.”
After reading vows they wrote themselves at a ceremony led by Aaron’s sister, the couple and their 175 guests walked to the Wisconsin property’s barn, which was decorated with handcrafted signs, white floral centerpieces and wreaths made with greenery. “I chose crisp white for most of the elements—tablecloths, chairs, flowers, etc.—to create a contrast against the rustic elements of the barn,” Julie says of opting for a modern aesthetic. “I never wanted a rustic or country-themed wedding, since that doesn't really match with our personalities, so I chose elegant pieces and tried to stay away from shabby-chic elements like burlap and mason jars.” Julie advises other couples to listen to their own hearts, instead of other people’s opinions. “Whenever we expressed an idea about the wedding, I feel like someone was opposed to it,” the bride notes. “I heard things like, ‘You can't have white bridesmaid dresses,’ but there was a lot of thought behind those decisions, and Aaron and I have continually said that we are so happy we did things our own way and made it all very personal. In the end, we got the day we wanted, and all our guests had a wonderful time.” —Carolyn Meers

Julie coordinated her wedding day shoes and dress to complement her rose-gold engagement ring.
In another nontraditional touch, Aaron wore a powder-blue suit that stood apart from his side of the wedding party. "We chose a soft blue which was different than the gray suits of the groomsmen but in a subtle way," Julie says. "Much like my dress was different than the bridesmaids, but not starkly contrasting."
"I chose some beautiful blush-colored shoes that matched the color of my skirt and rose-gold earrings to match my rose-gold engagement ring," Julie says.
"I love, love, love white—and all neutral colors really. I wanted the (bridesmaid) dresses to look crisp and clean, and I didn't want to stand out too much, so white was the best choice," Julie says. She also opted for silk flower bouquets, a move that cushioned the day's budget.
Aaron's sister led the ceremony, in which Julie and Aaron read vows they had written themselves.
Julie's dress presented another opportunity for personalization. "The bodice of my dress belonged to my aunt, whom I'm very close to. She wore the dress in 1995 to her wedding," Julie says. "I had the very poofy, taffeta skirt removed from her gown. I found a Jenny Yoo skirt on clearance at a department store, and I took that and the bodice to Mignonette Bridal in Chicago for alterations."
Chic, handcrafted details were used throughout the reception, including wreaths and custom signage that spelled out the couple's wedding hashtag.
Chic, handcrafted details were used throughout the reception, including wreaths and custom signage. Tables were topped with white linens and white flower centerpieces.
At the barn reception, décor adhered to a metallic color palette—primarily silvers and golds.
Homey, handcrafted details were used throughout the reception, including wreaths and custom signage. Tables were topped with white linens and white flower centerpieces.
"We didn't have a cake, so we didn't have a cake topper, but we did have cute cocktail napkins that said 'Til Death Do Us Party' and our wedding hashtag," Julie says.
Handcrafted details were used throughout the reception, including wreaths and custom signage.