1. Real Weddings

A Fourth of July County-Fair-Inspired Wedding at Publick House Historic Inn in Sturbridge, Massachusetts

Marisa Hudson (28 and a director of administration) and Evan Hudson (27 and a sales consultant) got married on the Fourth of July, so they ran with th

Marisa Hudson (28 and a director of administration) and Evan Hudson (27 and a sales consultant) got married on the Fourth of July, so they ran with the day's built-in theme. Their wedding felt like an all-American country fair filled with DIY details (made with lots of help from family members). They went with a slanted patriotic palette with dark red, ivory and navy blue details, including a holiday-inspired hashtag: #redwhiteandyou. Carnival-ticket escort cards brought guests into a reception with a popcorn and cotton candy station, table numbers displayed on carnival pennant flags, games and homemade sauce, jam and jelly wedding favors that brought the theme to life. Michelle Bernard helped pull off a wildflower look with plenty of white daisies (the same flowers Marisa’s mother had at her own wedding) and mixed blooms in mason jars for a freshly picked style. The ultimate all-American detail? Instead of a traditional wedding cake, Marisa and Evan had apple pie. Publick House Historic Inn in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, was the perfect classic home to pull off the Independence Day wedding. See the details below, captured by Erika Follansbee Photography.

Marisa had a colorful, wildflower-inspired bouquet with daisies, garden roses and loose thistles and greenery to create a loose, hand-tied look. The bouquet was wrapped in burlap and lace from the hat Marisa's mother wore at her own wedding.
These navy, dark red and ivory vintage-style invitations couldn't have been more fitting for Marisa and Evan's Fourth of July old country wedding theme.
Evan's boutonniere felt like it had been swept up from a meadow on his way to the wedding. It had pink roses, a yellow daisy, a blue thistle, and pops of red flowers and greenery.
Marisa was able to dance the night away in her strapless ruched modified fit-and-flare dress with a tulle overlay and lace appliques. She added a handmade belt from Etsy for a vintage finish.
Evan and his groomsmen wanted their fashion choices to go along with the red, white and blue palette. They chose navy fitted suits with red- and blue-checkered shirts. The groomsmen wore blue ties, and Evan's was red.
Marisa and Evan's ceremony was extremely intimate and personal. They wrote their own vows, and their friend officiated. To make sure everyone could be with them in the moment, they asked their guests not to take pictures during the ceremony. "We thought it was the right thing to do, and I hope our friends and family felt the love and sincerity in the words we spoke to each other that rainy day," Marisa says.
Marisa and Evan's escort cards were DIY, printed to look like country fair tickets. These were a preview of their all-American vintage reception to follow.
Fourth of July-Inspired Popcorn Snacks
Fourth of July Wedding Hashtag
American-Inspired Cocktail Hour Sliders
Wildflower Centerpieces on Burlap Runner
Independence Day Card Box
Mason Jars and Wildflower Centerpieces
Vintage-inspired country fair pennant flags paired with mason jars filled with wildflowers served as the centerpiece on each dining table. Each table was named after a significant place or event in Marisa and Evan's life together, such as the college where they fell in love, their first apartment together and their honeymoon destination.
Marisa's mom made DIY wedding favors: jams, jellies, sauces and pickled things in mason jars. "I still have friends asking if we have any more," Marisa says. Each mason jar had a custom "M & E" vintage-inspired label, tied with hemp onto a lace jar topper.
The Publick House Historic Inn in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, was exactly the type of venue Marisa and Evan wanted. It felt like an old New England country house with a vintage vibe, and had space for both their ceremony and reception. Good thing, because it rained on their wedding day.