1. Real Weddings

A Colorful Bohemian Wedding at the Stonehaven Barn in De Soto, Iowa

Bohemian bride Lisa Schneider and her groom, Shay Acheson, rented one unexpected element for their special day...a bright orange Volkswagen bus. "Shay

Bohemian bride Lisa Schneider and her groom, Shay Acheson, rented one unexpected element for their special day...a bright orange Volkswagen bus. "Shay owned a 1974 VW bus back in high school, so we borrowed one for our wedding day," Lisa explains. The two planned a colorful, DIY wedding at the Stonehaven Barn that borrowed bold elements from Shay's former ride, including orange wildflowers and printed gingham ties. "We did all of the planning ourselves with lots of help from our family and friends," Lisa explains. "But to be honest, I wasn't crazy about doing all of the planning -- I just wanted to be married." The Iowa-based couple tied the knot in an outdoor ceremony shaded by a purple and green floral altar in front of 80 family members and friends. Guests celebrated in the barn at a reception that was filled with dozens of sentimental items, including antique dishes at the desert tables that were borrowed from the bride and groom's respective families. "In the end, the hard work totally paid off and every moment was really perfect for us," Lisa says.

DIY Wood Welcome Sign with Heart Detail
The rustic venue was exactly what the couple was searching for -- a great outdoor space with even better character.
Orange Volkswagen Bus
Lisa and Shay Wedding Rings
White Strapless Dress at Altar
The bride wore her hair in long, loose waves along with a delicate crown of white daisies.
Purple and Pink Wildflower Bridal Bouquet
Lisa chose the flowers for her bridal bouquet by purchasing stems from a local farm. "A few days before I had a gal at the farm create my bouquet," she says. "I really wanted it to look like I had just gone out to my garden and picked what was blooming."
The groom wore a Ralph Lauren suit, Michael Kors shirt and gingham tie from Brooks Brothers.
After visiting the venue in late fall and again in early spring, the bride was still surprised on the day of the wedding. "I was pleasantly surprised on the day we showed up to decorate that a purple Clematis 'Jackmanii' was in full bloom right at our altar," Lisa says.
The bride purchased all of the flowers at a local farm and created the arrangements herself. "I did all of the table arrangements and altar the day before the wedding and had so much fun with it," she says. "It really didn't take a lot of time and turned out better than I expected."
Lisa and Shay Wedding Day
Lisa and Shay Family Photo
The couple's dogs each wore tie collars from the Etsy store, Silly Buddy.
With no set color scheme in mind, the bride instead was influenced from bohemian styles and the wide array of colors associated with said style.
Lisa and Shay Wedding Photos
Eat Drink DIY Wood Sign
DIY Rustic Paper Table Numbers
An outdoor kitchen area adjacent to the courtyard served as the bar.
Succulent and Wildflower Centerpiece
Orange and Pink Wildflower Centerpiece
Rustic Card Holder with Succulents
DIY Wildflower Floral Centerpiece
A tiered "naked" wedding cake was decorated with fresh, summer berries.
The couple held both the ceremony and reception in the same location. "It gave the whole day a really easy going vibe -- just like us!" Lisa explains.
Lisa and Shay First Dance