A Sophisticated, Rustic-Chic Wedding at the Red Barn in Jefferson City, Missouri

With a background in fashion and graphic design and plenty of time on her side, Kate Rudder (24 and a graphic designer) knew that she and her finace, Tyler Zumwalt (25 and a police officer), were in good hands when it came to planning their wedding. “I am very much the kind of person who likes to do everything myself to satisfy my creativity and vision,” Kate says. “A wedding was something I had looked forward to and dreamed about since I was 10 years old, and while my tastes had definitely changed since then, my enthusiasm had not.” With two years to plan the event, the couple had ample time to do some thorough venue and vendor research, which ultimately made the whole process relatively stress free. “From there I started thinking more about the aesthetic and overall experience of our day,” Kate says. “There was never a point in the process where I felt overwhelmed because we allowed ourselves enough time to spread everything out.” The couple planned a rustic-chic affair with a subtle glam twist at the Red Barn in their hometown of Jefferson City, Missouri. Kate designed and hand-lettered all the stationery for the wedding herself, including the invitation suite, programs and menus. Instead of traditional place cards, Kate hand-lettered each guest's name in gold-leaf paint on a magnolia leaf, a whimsical touch that tied in perfectly with the day’s theme. Fusing the rustic vibe of their venue with a sophisticated design aesthetic, Kate and Tyler achieved the perfect balance of elegance and country charm. Lynette Honse, a close family friend, designed all the wedding’s flower arrangements. She relied heavily on full-white blooms like anemones, peonies, ranunculus and a healthy dose of ferns to infuse the Red Barn with a romantic, woodland feel. The tables were decorated with a lush fern garland, and warm candlelight was added throughout, infusing the room with undeniable ambiance. “Throughout the day it was beautiful and rewarding to see how everything came together and to know that I touched almost every piece of it,” Kate says. A tip from Kate: “I did extensive research to find all our vendors. The first things I always looked for was quality of work and whether their aesthetic fit with my vision for the wedding. Budget was also an important factor, but personality was just as important. This is one of the best, most important days of your life, and you don’t want to spend it with people who aren’t pleasant to be around.”