1. Real Weddings

A Rustic, Fall Wedding at Cotton Market Venue in Pearl, Mississippi

Candice Stocker (30 and an occupational therapist) and Nathan Barber (27 and in property management) centere

Candice Stocker (30 and an occupational therapist) and Nathan Barber (27 and in property management) centered their entire wedding on the Cotton Market Venue in Pearl, Mississippi, and even took on a specific theme to accentuate its charm. “We used a lot of fall decor—pumpkins, apples, etc.—and went with a rustic style to match the barn,” Candice says.  Pumpkins and hay accented the aisle and decorated the front of the barn for their outdoor ceremony.  At the reception, Candice and Nathan set up a video station fit for a message (or photo op!) that was covered with the same materials. Another detail we loved was the authentic wooden dessert cart. The wheels alone looked like it was brought out of the 18th century. On top of that, it was covered with burlap and navy fabric to match the wedding colors. There were pies nestled on top of pumpkins and a three-tier buttercream wedding cake set on a wooden stand. Bridget Sharp Photography caught these down-home details and more, below.

Taking a cue from Pinterest, Candice and Nathan marked the entrance to their ceremony with these large twin jars filled with candles, potpourri and mini pumpkins. They tied in the navy wedding color with a sheer bow around each lid.
Candice and Nathan wanted a barn backdrop for their outdoor wedding and an on-site indoor reception venue. They found just that at the Cotton Market Venue in Pearl, Mississippi. Their ceremony highlighted the space, with pumpkin aisle decor, navy tulle along the wedding arch and neutral curtains by the barn entrance.
With pumpkins, tulle, hay bales and burlap surrounding their wedding, Candice and Nathan took a step back with the stationery design. They went with a classic navy and white program and had their names sectioned-off along the top.
The bridesmaids wore long chiffon Alfred Angelo dresses with different necklines and hairstyles. The best part: They picked the dresses themselves! Taking the Mississippi heat into account, the groomsmen were dressed in light gray suits and navy ties.
The rustic vibe even extended to their guest book. Friends and family signed a wood-inspired board with well wishes during the reception. A navy ribbon was also draped over the top to match their wedding colors.
Candice and Nathan knew their guests would want to snag a few pictures with the down-home decor, so they set up a rustic fall backdrop for video messages and pictures.
This took their theme to a new level. Their three-tier cake and a few pies were placed on this long wooden cart covered with burlap, greenery and pumpkins.
Cakes By Iris baked a three-tier buttercream cake that grabbed onto the theme with a little color. Navy ribbon wrapped around the ivory confection. Red roses and green hydrangeas also cascaded down the front.
“Nathan built a lot of the things we used, because he is such a handy man,” Candice says. Their backdrop was a cool shabby-chic rusted board and matching silver banner. For another personal accent, they tied in her love of books by setting a few along the table.