A Romantic DIY Wedding at Bieker Farms in Ada, Michigan

Sherri Vander Kolk (23 and a nurse and event coordinator) and Anthony Vander Kolk (24 and in marketing) first met on a church retreat but were both relocating to different countries soon after. Despite this, they remained in touch and, with a stroke of luck, found themselves back in their hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan, at the same time. Even though each of them was about to leave for a separate state, Sherri and Anthony quickly connected and decided to stay in contact throughout their summer apart. Once they returned again, they started dating and thus began a romance spanning several continents. While both were vacationing with their families on Lake Michigan, Anthony asked Sherri to join him on a walk, surprising her with a romantic pathway of Proverbs that led to him down on one knee with a ring. While Anthony was finishing school and studying abroad in Honduras, Sherri took charge of the wedding planning. She found Bieker Farms and knew it would be perfect for their location. "We both love simple greenery, and the hundred acres of green pasture, ponds, trees and an orchard provided many opportunities for outdoor photography," she says. They wanted a "calm, romantic and inviting wedding" and chose a neutral color palette of white, tan and blush. For the ceremony, they draped lace throughout the orchard's trees and had mason jars of stock and baby's breath line the aisle. The reception was decorated with vintage pieces and centerpieces of rose, stock and baby's breath in mismatched vases. "The decorations were simple yet romantic," Sherri says. By designing a personal ceremony and creating much of the decor, Sherri and Anthony put together a wedding that was a true reflection of them.