A Rustic Botanical Garden Wedding at Mayowood Stone Barn in Rochester, Minnesota

Elizabeth “Elle” Walter (30 and an emergency medicine physician) and Bryce Fogelson (30 and a firefighter) met at the Rochester, Minnesota, fire station where Bryce worked when—as part of Elle’s first-year residency EMS rotation at the Mayo Clinic—she was required to do a ride along. The two bonded while responding to medical calls, and by the end of the day they knew there was a love connection. Bryce called her the next day. While dating, they traveled to Montana and Vancouver, British Columbia, to visit Elizabeth’s family—a true test of their relationship. A year later, they were engaged (with an aquamarine-and-diamond ring that Elle had designed with a custom jeweler, who works only with conflict-free diamonds and gems). They hired a planner to keep them on track with meetings and vendors and deadlines for their April wedding at Mayowood Stone Barn in Rochester, five minutes from the couple’s house. A beautiful rustic barn surrounded by fields, “it provided the perfect backdrop to our botanical-themed wedding.” The design motif was botanical, organic and rustic, with sea glass as the primary color and coral, blush and gold accents to “glam it up a little,” Elle says. Their ceremony took place in the barn's spacious loft—complete with exposed wooden beam rafters—and personalized with flowers, satin ribbons and a garland of greenery. A harpist played the Celtic harp, and a folk trio performed original compositions during the ceremony, incorporating bluegrass and traditional Irish music with a modern, fresh twist. During the reception, Mayowood's rustic feel was repeated with reclaimed barn-wood boxes filled with flowers, stunning centerpieces that left an impression on guests. Guests enjoyed signature drinks of a “Minnesota Mule” (Moscow Mule) and a “Missoula Mojito” (blackberry mojito), representing Bryce's and Elle's home states; an eclectic meal of Thai, Indian and American foods; a three-tier cake and a dessert bar; entertainment provided by a DJ; and a fun surprise performance by the “Byron Moms” (Bryce's mother and her friends)—who sang an original song about the couple's meeting at the fire station. At the end of the night, the couple received a romantic sparkler send-off, then interested guests took a trolley to the Doggery bar for after-party popcorn and cocktails. Looking back on her celebration, Elle’s advice is to let go when the day comes. “Everything will come together,” she says. And even if things don’t go exactly as planned, it will be all right. For example, she says, there was a thunderstorm on their wedding day, but “in the end, there was also a rainbow, so it worked out okay.” —Chrissy Sorenson