A Rustic Winter Wedding at The Sanctuary at Penn in Indianapolis, Indiana

Rustic, cozy and inviting are just some of the many ways to describe Jamie Le Sesne (28 and an educator) and Cory Spears’s (27 and a recruiter) January wedding. After Cory popped the question before Jamie headed to Mexico for a graduate study abroad opportunity, the couple got to planning their ideal affair, a simple, yet elegant gathering of their family and friends with lots of personal touches to reflect their individual personalities and who they are as a couple. Choosing The Sanctuary at Penn as their venue was the first step, the “unfinished,” homey feel capturing the essence of their rustic, vintage vision. “I wanted the wedding to have the warm, cozy feel of wintertime, but without any nod to the holiday season,” says Jamie. The couple achieved this by turning to a soft color palette rich in neutral tones and organic elements like tree slices, burnt wood table numbers, pinecones and dried flowers to dress up both the ceremony and reception spaces. Eclectic candlesticks, antique books, gold accent pieces, lanterns and ceramic birds introduced a vintage note to the décor. Handmade and unique touches like the hand-stamped stationery, a donation to the Mission to Ukraine (a cause close to the couple’s hearts) instead of favors and a unity ceremony where the couple mixed lavender and pine scents added a personalized element to the day.