1. Real Weddings

A Romantic Wedding at Mildale Farm in Edgerton, Kansas

When planning their spring nuptials, Hope Ryan (24 and a first-grade teacher) and Nick Johnson (24 and an international logistics account manager) dit

When planning their spring nuptials, Hope Ryan (24 and a first-grade teacher) and Nick Johnson (24 and an international logistics account manager) ditched the idea of a theme, and focused instead on selecting details they loved. The result was an ethereal, rustic and romantic soiree that perfectly captured the spring season. “I love mixing colors, hues, patterns and texture in home design, so I continued in that vein throughout our wedding,” Hope says. “I never wanted everything to be matching, so with each I item I picked, I went less traditional. A little boho, a little classy, a little sassy. Luckily, my amazing planner kept it together with all my crazy ideas and love of color and texture.” Mildale Farm in Edgerton, Kansas, hosted the event, its charm, expansive green spaces and timeless elegance providing a picturesque backdrop for the ceremony and reception. The day kicked off with an intimate ceremony on the lawn, where Hope and Nick exchanged their own vows under a canopy of pale pink and white garden roses, stock, hydrangeas and lush vines, and where they planted an olive tree to symbolize their union. Postceremony, the newlyweds whisked their guests off to the main estate house, where they enjoyed giant lawn games, signature drinks and tapas from Hope and Nick’s favorite food truck, Pigtails and Olives. After indulging in a piece of traditional wedding cake, the newlyweds and their guests hit the dance floor—and the sequin-studded photo booth—where they celebrated late into the night. A tip from Hope and Nick: “Tradition is only tradition: Go with what makes you happy instead. Pick things that will make you smile and feel excited, and it will all come together.” —Libby MacCarthy

Hope and Nick enlisted Yellow Brick Graphics to create a standout set of stationery that truly captured the essence of the day. Each piece in the suite boasted a different design, with floral detailing, curly calligraphy-inspired fonts and a personalized portrait belly band lending a whimsical feel to the overall design. “The theme of the wedding was my unorganized thoughts and adjectives I rambled about—I didn’t even understand what I wanted—but somehow, each vendor, especially Mikenzie, knew exactly what to do,” Hope says.
Continuing the elegantly eclectic theme that popped up throughout the day, Hope allowed her bridesmaids to choose their own long pastel gowns to create a striking mismatched aesthetic. “I let them pick their own dresses because I wanted them to feel beautiful, comfortable and happy,” Hope says. “I mentioned neutral or pink tones, and they took it from there. My sister went with a floral blue-toned dress, which ended up so much better than I imagined.”
To create a cohesive feel from start to finish, wooden signs bearing the same whimsical calligraphy found on the couple’s stationery was woven throughout the day. Draped in garlands of eucalyptus, the signs guided guests to each event and displayed meaningful quotes and lyrics from Hope and Nick’s favorite songs.
"Nick liked himself best in a black tux and I knew I didn't want vests," Hope says of styling her dapper groom. "I never actually saw him in the tux until the wedding day, which made me that much more excited to see him."
The festivities kicked off with an intimate ceremony on the lawn, in which Hope and Nick exchanged their own vows under a canopy of pale pink and white garden roses, stock, hydrangeas and lush vines, and planted an olive tree to symbolize their union. “It was short and sweet and represented us as a couple,” Hope says. “Both of my parents walked me down the aisle, since both have played such an integral part in my life. I couldn't walk without them both.”
Instead sitting solely with their wedding party during dinner, Hope and Nick opted for a large head table, where they wined and dined with their closest family members and friends. “We covet family dinners and feel like that was such an important part of our upbringing,” Hope says. “We always had sit-down family dinners, so we wanted that at our wedding too.” Barbecue restaurant Q39 catered the event, and dinner was served family style to create a warm, inviting atmosphere.
Midway through the planning process, Hope decided that the decor was in need of a few modern touches. “Our seating signage was a random idea of mine that I really didn’t think would become a reality, but with Ultra Pom and Jonnelle of Events by Elle, it did,” Hope says. “I’m still obsessed.” The names of guests were hand lettered onto squares of clear acrylic material, which were then draped in garlands of greenery and suspended from the rafters of the barn.
The rest of Hope and Nick’s guests were seated throughout the barn at classic round tables topped with regal white and navy linens. Varying high and low centerpieces filled with lush greenery and blooms in shades of pink, white and blue added texture and drama to the decor.
With a large head table filled with their closest family members and friends, Hope and Nick incorporated name cards into each place setting. Fox and Sparrow hand-lettered the names of each guest in gold ink onto blue agate stones, which were then placed atop each custom-designed menu for an elegant, organic look.
Hope and Nick’s cake baker, 3 Women and an Oven, whipped up the perfect four-tier naked cake for the reception. A light layer of buttercream gave the confection a rustic yet elegant appeal, while a cascade of roses in shades of gold, peach, red and white exuded romance. “We never got a piece, because guests loved it so much,” Hope says. “The look was exactly what I dreamed of.”