1. Real Weddings

A Rustic-Chic, Lavender Wedding at Maple Row Farm in Easton, Connecticut

Chelsea Edwards (27 and a finance analyst at Boeing) and Andrew Wohl (32 and a regional VP at AXA) returned to their hometown of Easton, Connecticut,

Chelsea Edwards (27 and a finance analyst at Boeing) and Andrew Wohl (32 and a regional VP at AXA) returned to their hometown of Easton, Connecticut, for their fall nuptials at Chelsea’s family's Christmas tree farm. “The farm has been in my family since the 1700s, and the house I grew up in is across the street. My parents were also married there, so it was a pretty easy choice,” Chelsea says. Playing off the farm’s warm country vibe, the couple opted for a rustic-chic aesthetic, complete with burlap, chalkboards, wine barrels and handcrafted details. After a first look on the farm, Chelsea and Andrew said their “I dos” under a tall oak tree situated atop a grassy knoll overlooking the expansive property. Lavender, purple and gray ribbons hung from the branches, providing a whimsical backdrop for the affair, while an archway made from the barn’s original doors helped transform the outdoor space into a romantic, natural chapel. The couple asked a close friend to officiate the ceremony, and they shared vows they’d written themselves. “It meant a lot to us to have someone marry us who really knows us as individuals and as a couple,” Chelsea says. “He did an amazing job and had everyone laughing or crying the whole time.” After the ceremony, the newlyweds and their guests enjoyed cocktail hour outdoors. Signature cocktails (such as cucumber-vodka lemonade and dark and stormy), flatbreads and passed appetizers were served alongside live music by Dexter Lake Club Band, which got guests in the mood to party. Guests were then ushered into a sailcloth tent for the reception. Birch logs bearing calligraphed escort cards led Chelsea and Andrew's friends and family members to their seats, where they enjoyed a traditional sit-down dinner and an assortment of cupcakes and homemade desserts. Carrie Wilcox Floral Design brought the spacious tent to life with three centerpieces, including fresh florals arranged in Longaberger baskets, clusters of jars displayed atop tree-trunk slices and birch vases filled with lush tree branches and surrounded small bouquets of bright flowers. Customized napkins were placed at each seat and shared the history of the farm with guests. After dinner, guests headed to the dance floor, where Dexter Lake Club Band kept the upbeat tunes pumping all night. A tip from Chelsea and Andrew: “Try to have as much fun planning the wedding as possible because your actual wedding day goes by in a flash. When making decisions, remember that it’s your day. Think about what will make you happy—not everyone else. People will be critiquing you and criticizing your wedding no matter what you do, so you might as well make it what you want it to be.” —Libby MacCarthy

Drawing on the wedding’s lavender, ivory, purple and gray palette, Chelsea had her bridesmaids don romantic lavender gowns. She had them choose their own dress styles from the Dessy Group, stipulating only that it be chiffon and in the soft purple hue. They paired the look with simple drop earrings and their own shoes.
For her walk down the aisle, Chelsea carried a bouquet of white and purple roses, dahlias, lavender and more. To tie in the rustic, natural theme, Carrie Wilcox Floral Design also added leaves and various greenery to the mix.
Andrew and his groomsmen kept things classic, donning light gray suits for the occasion, which they teamed with brown dress shoes and lavender ties. To distinguish his look from the group, Andrew opted instead for a pale mint tie.
After a first look on the farm, Chelsea and Andrew said their “I dos” under a tall oak tree situated atop a grassy knoll overlooking the expansive property. As they exchanged vows they’d written themselves, the couple stood before a backdrop of cascading ribbons in shades of lavender, purple and gray. A close friend officiated the affair, adding personal anecdotes that enlivened the proceedings.
Because the wedding took place on Chelsea family tree farm, Maple Row Farm in Easton, Connecticut, nature factored heavily into the wedding’s overall design. As guests arrived to the sailcloth tent for the reception, they were greeted by a rustic wooden table draped in moss, with birch logs bearing calligraphed cards guiding guests to their seats.
The reception took place under two sailcloth tents at Maple Row Farm in Easton, Connecticut. The first included a bar and a photo booth for guests to enjoy after dinner, while the other housed the reception tables. Round tables gave way to crisp white linens, napkins bearing the story of the historic tree farm and three centerpieces that reflected the locale's natural beauty of the locale.
Chelsea and Andrew gave Carrie Wilcox Floral Design free rein over the flowers. “I told her I wanted a rustic look and the colors I had in mind, showed her some photos of ideas I had and that was about it,” Chelsea says. “She is extremely creative and came up with ideas different from anything I had ever seen. She also used a lot of materials that she found on our property, including branches from the peach tree in my backyard.” The florist created three centerpieces for the reception, including a birch-tree-inspired arrangement featuring a birch vase base, lush leaf-trimmed branches and small bouquets of purple flowers.
Though the couple opted to serve cupcakes by Sweet Cupcasions and an assortment of homemade desserts made by Chelsea’s mother, Chelsea and Andrew had a small cake for a traditional cake cutting. The petite confection was frosted in white buttercream and adorned with olive branches and cheerful purple flowers that paid tribute to the wedding’s palette.