1. Real Weddings

Kirsten & Bill: A Fall Wedding in Polk City, IA

After setting a date just six months after they were engaged, Kirsten Aschim and Bill Williamson pulled off a fall theme wedding infused with rich war

After setting a date just six months after they were engaged, Kirsten Aschim and Bill Williamson pulled off a fall theme wedding infused with rich warm hues of burnt orange, red, and ivory. The Bride Kirsten Aschim, 26, elementary art teacher The Groom Bill Williamson, 26, car salesman The Date September 24 After dating for seven years, Kirsten was ready to get engaged to her longtime boyfriend Bill. Thankfully, Bill was on the same page and during a trip to Las Vegas, he got down on knee in the lush garden atrium of the Bellagio hotel. Kirsten and Bill planned and elegant wedding in just six months, with many handmade, personal elements. I knew that I wanted rich warm colors to complement the autumn date of the wedding, says Kirsten, so I picked out paper for the invitations in burnt orange, deep red, and ivory.

In keeping with the fall color palette, Kirsten carried a bouquet of orange and red roses, green orchids, mango calla lilies, hypericum berries, and seeded eucalyptus. The maid of honor’s bouquet was made up entirely of mango calla lilies, while the groom wore a large orchid as a boutonniere. As the couple exited the church, guests showered them with rose petals. It was a beautiful moment, Kirsten remembers, the feeling of hundreds of petals hitting our skin and seeing everyone’s smiling faces was amazing.
Kirsten and Bill exchanged vows at the bride's family church. The only decoration needed was two large wreaths made of branches and red berries on the entryway doors. The wreaths were handmade by a guest who gave them to the couple as a wedding gift.
For the favors, I wanted to give the guests something that they could eat and enjoy instead of a trinket that would either get thrown away or lost, says Kirsten. So she asked the chef at the Tournament Club of Iowa to make heart-shape sugar cookies with lemon frosting.
In additional to the traditional wedding cake that was wrapped in orange and red fondant ribbon, the bride offered her guests a kransekage in honor of her Norwegian heritage. This layered almond macaroon cookie cake was decorated with small red and orange flowers and tiny Norwegian flags. Rather than being sliced, the kransekage is broken off into small pieces by those who want a taste.
Kirsten, Bill, and about 100 guests celebrated with a cocktail and hors d'oeuvres reception in the Oak Room at the Tournament Club of Iowa. In a room already accented by purples, oranges, and browns, the Arts and Crafts style architecture spoke for itself and didn't need much decoration. Kirsten used the same burnt orange and red papers from the invitations to make place cards for the immediate family table. Branches with red berries were strewn loosely around the tables, with more than 100 votives lighting up the space. Glass hurricane vases with tall candles were wrapped with red glass beads for centerpieces. And above the dance floor, the couple hung paper lanterns in various shapes, sizes, and colors that coordinated with their warm color scheme.
Kirsten wore a strapless, ivory satin ball gown by Schaffer's. The gown was adorned with bugle beading and delicate, platinum embroidery. She complemented the gown with a fingertip-length, two-layer veil made of tulle and embellished with crystals.
As an artist, Kirsten had been looking forward to making her own wedding invitations for years. This was one of my favorite parts of preparing for the wedding, she says. She chose burnt-orange card stock and deep red papers to complete the seasonal look, along with a hand-drawn map of Des Moines. The papers were held together with a striped paper belt in various warm colors. The ceremony programs, also made by the bride, used the same color papers and unfolded to reveal a small accordion of ivory paper with all the pertinent information.