1. Real Weddings

A Whimsical Backyard Wedding at a Private Residence in Trevor, Wisconsin

Shelby Farinosi (26 and a restaurant owner) and Nathan “Nate” Jonas (27 and a restaurant owner) got married on the groom’s parents' property—35 heavil

Shelby Farinosi (26 and a restaurant owner) and Nathan “Nate” Jonas (27 and a restaurant owner) got married on the groom’s parents' property—35 heavily wooded acres in the small town of Trevor, Wisconsin. “We had no limits on what we wanted to do,” says Shelby, who plans events for Fire Pitt Restaurant and was excited to use her knowledge and creativity to plan her own wedding. She decided on a theme of “whimsical garden chic,” with a palette of blush and ivory. Guests sat on wooden benches and church pews during the “short and sweet” outdoor ceremony, where Shelby and Nate exchanged heartfelt vows in front of a simple arbor decorated in flowers. A butterfly release—set to the song “Bloom” by the Paper Kites—honored those who have died. After the ceremony, a cocktail hour included his and hers cocktails: an Irish Mule for Nate and the Blushing Bride for Shelby, served with ice cubes of edible flowers for an added touch. Guests dined on smoked beef brisket, pulled pork, barbecue chicken, smoked turkey collard greens, apple slaw and baked mac and cheese catered by the family-owned restaurant. An elaborate tent was decorated in ivory linens and a ruscus garland, “Jonas” was spelled out in moss letters on the head table, and twinkling twine balls hung from the ceiling for a soft glow. Tall hedges, vintage elements and a black-and-white dance floor, complete with a vintage chandelier overhead, helped create a garden-chic vibe in the tent. During the couple's first dance to “I Don’t Dance” by Lee Brice, guests waved sparklers around the perimeter of the dance floor, and at the end of the evening, the groom’s brother surprised them with a fireworks show. Says Shelby, “It really was the cherry on top of our beautiful day.” —Chrissy Sorenson

Invitations set the tone for a simple yet elegant backyard garden party in Trevor, Wisconsin.
A newsboy hat, suspenders and a bow tie gave the ring bearer a vintage look.
Seating for 275 guests consisted of church pews and wooden benches.
The ceremony arbor was placed in front of a group of trees. The aisle was decorated with white rose petals and lanterns.
“I love anything vintage looking,” Shelby says of her style. She knew she wanted a lace gown with a mermaid-style fit and fell in love with the first dress she tried on. “I tried on many dresses after it but nothing compared,” she says. “I loved the sweetheart neckline, the keyhole in the back and the scalloped trim on the bottom.” She paired her look with a beautiful lace veil. Because of the exceptionally hot weather, she changed into a short white dress for the reception. Nate wore navy pants and vest, a white dress shirt with gray polka dots, a floral-patterned tie and a pocket watch with the chain exposed.
Bridesmaids wore BCBG chiffon blush pink dresses with a caged top, crowns of handmade greenery and light pink pointed-toe lace-up flats; groomsmen wore navy pants and white shirts with gray polka dots and suspenders. The bouquets—white peonies, pink dahlias, white anemones, pink berries and green amaranthus—were wrapped in lace (the bride’s) and leather string (the bridesmaids').
Simple chalkboard signs helped direct guests to the wedding site—35 heavily wooded acres of property owned by Nate's parents.
Shelby took a vintage door, covered the center in moss, then hung escort cards on twine.
When guests found their escort card, they had their photo taken with a Polaroid camera, then replaced their escort card with their photo. "It was a great way to get photos of everyone who attended," Shelby says.
The ceiling of the tent was decorated with handmade floral chandeliers and brown twine balls with twinkling lights inside.
The meal was catered by the couple's restaurant, Fire Pitt, and consisted of smoked beef brisket, pulled pork, barbecue chicken, baked mac and cheese, smoked turkey collard greens, tangy apple slaw and cornbread.
The DIY favors—canned dilly beans—were displayed on a vintage hutch.
Favors were homemade canned dilly beans in canning jars, complete with custom labels.
An assortment of small flavored cupcakes were topped with dried edible flowers to differentiate the flavors.
The cannoli wedding cake was decorated in cascading blush and ivory flowers and a gold "Happily ever after" cake topper.
The couple's first dance was to "I Don't Dance" by Lee Brice. Guests waved sparklers around the perimeter of the dance floor.
The tent was transformed with candles, twinkling lights and a black-and-white dance floor with a vintage chandelier.