This Fall marked my first time ever visiting an orchard for some good ol’ fashioned apple picking and I loved every.single.minute of it. The way the autumn light catches the crisp apples in their extraordinary powdery colors against the bright green leaves is breathtaking and unique to this autumn tradition. So when I see a wedding like this one at Harvest Time Orchards complete with all that apple orchard beauty and a downright adorable couple, I almost squeal with excitement. And I bet my bottom dollar that you will too when you see all of the images from Wright Photographs in our gallery right here.
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From the Bride… We decided pretty early on that we would get married at Harvest Time Orchard in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin. David told me quite a few times that as a kid some of his most memorable times were made on visits there to visit his grandpa and grandma Rawlins and his dad’s family (aunts, uncles and cousins). His grandparents started and ran the orchard for over 20 years. In 2006, his uncle and aunt, Jim and Sue Hughes, took over the orchard. It is a such a fun place! Thousands of people visit every fall for apple picking, apple cider, pumpkin picking, and memorable family time. Surprisingly, the apples are only the second most popular thing at the orchard – their top seller is their fresh donuts. On their busiest weekend last year, they sold a thousand dozen. :)
I was excited mostly about getting to marry Dave and making official in front of the people who mean the most to us. I was excited to spend the weekend celebrating with my best friends, most of whom I don’t get to see very often because so many of them live out of state. Dave and I were both very excited about the ceremony because we had been praying that God would use it as a reminder to couples of what a beautiful thing marriage is – and that people would be able to leave with a deeper understanding of God’s heart and love for us. We also wanted to honor our own family heritage of marriage passed down from our parents and grandparents. There were a couple more memorable parts of the day. My maid of honor planned a special time with all of the bridesmaids, moms and grandma in the hotel room. Each girl gave a toast that included a special memory or a blessing. I felt like everyone shared something very meaningful, and I felt so so blessed to have that special time with them. The next most memorable time for me was walking to see Dave for our first look/private ceremony. I will not forget him crying and me just being very excited to finally see him. The private ceremony was powerful and we both felt the presence of God there. Not to mention it was an absolutely gorgeous day! Prayer during the ceremony may be one of the most memorable things of my life. We both chose two couples that have been an encouragement and mentors to us in marriage and in our faith. We asked them to pray for us during the ceremony. The spirit of God was poured out over us.
We did do a lot of DIY projects, mostly because we were committed to sticking to our budget. Our family and friends were a huge part of allowing that to happen as well. Dave and I made a trip to Wisconsin two weeks before the wedding, and with the help of his aunt and uncle, we made the apple crate entrance. We spray painted and stenciled our names on a header board, nailed it across the stacked crates and attached the burlap curtains that I had made. Most of the burlap runners were borrowed, and I made a few of them as well. All of the doilies and white vases I found at garage sales and second-hand places. I cut and glued lace on all of the large centerpiece mason jars and tied jute around the aisle runner flower jars. A friend of mine made all of the burlap and lace silverware holders (I loved these!). Our invitations, the table name cards, seating chart and programs were all designed by David (with a little bit of my help).
Wedding Photography: Wright Photographs / Wedding Venue: Harvest Time Orchard in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin / Floral Design: Kristie Pence of KP Designs / Catering: Stowell’s Catering Service / Roasted Hog: Dave Flemming / Wedding Cake: Cheryl Hicks (An Aunt) / Wedding Invitations, Table Names, Seating Chart, Programs + Apple Crate Entrance: DIY by the Bride & Groom / DJ: John Massey + Caleb Kietzman, Friends of the Couple / Sound System: Loaned by iWorship Church in Springfield, Illinois / Tent Rental: AAA Tent Masters & Party Rentals / Wedding Dress: Blue by Enzoani via Bridal Elegance / Bride’s Shoes: Bridal Elegance / Bride’s Veil: Handmade by a Bridesmaid / Hair: Hannah Kietzman (The Maid of Honor) / Makeup: Katie Baker of Face First Makeup Artistry / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Ann Taylor LOFT / Men’s Attire: Tommy Hilfiger via Macy’s