A Romantic, Rustic Barn Wedding at Mapleside Farms in Strongsville, Ohio

A rustic-meets-elegant barn set the scene for Megan Fortney (27 and a marketing manager) and Benjamin Smith’s (26 and a student) flower-filled affair that included nearly 300 guests and dinner under a 28-foot-long floral installation comprised of peonies and astilbe. “I knew it would leave our guests speechless,” Megan says. Antique wine barrels and garlands spruced up the barn’s exterior, and roses, delphinium and hypericum berries came together to create a show-stopping ceremony arch. Gold-rimmed glassware and textured blush linens lent a sense of refined romance to the reception. Signature Moscow mules were a hit during cocktail hour, where guests sipped and mingled while overlooking the surrounding apple orchards and Cleveland Metroparks. “Peonies are my favorite flower, so our florist surprised me by incorporating imported coral charm peonies into my bouquet,” Megan says. As a nod to the fall season, the couple chose a palette of navy, blush and gold, and an autumnal menu that included a tiered, maple-cinnamon cake and caramel-dipped apples as favors.