These Grooms Planned an Intimate Backyard Wedding in Springfield, Missouri

It took moving to Chicago for Brent Waters (31 and works in marketing) and Chadwick Calkins (32 and a hairstylist) to discover their shared Springfield roots. “A mutual friend introduced us,” Brent says. “We’d both lived in Springfield for the majority of our lives.” After a Windy City proposal, the couple headed home for a backyard ceremony at Brent’s parents’ house. The rustic-chic affair included homegrown touches, like a framed backdrop made by Brent’s father, which now houses wedding photos. While Brent opted for a classic tux and a dapper bow tie, Chadwick switched things up with a gray jacket and a necktie. Though they originally wrote their vows, the pair ended up saying a common vow to calm their nerves.