1. Real Weddings

A Rustic Backyard Wedding at a Private Residence in Kent, Ohio

Ashley Seymour (24, a pediatric registered nurse) and Drew Helmling (26, a fire fighter) met and started dating when they were high school. Several ye

Ashley Seymour (24, a pediatric registered nurse) and Drew Helmling (26, a fire fighter) met and started dating when they were high school. Several years later, the couple was going out with a group of friends to Cleveland to celebrate Ashley turning 23. Drew surprised Ashley that night with a diamond ring, and so their wedding planning began. The couple held their rustic wedding at Drew’s parent’s house in Kent, Ohio, where they had the ceremony near the poolside and rented a large white tent for an outdoor reception. During the ceremony, the couple was married and had their wine box ceremony on a wooden platform that Drew and his dad built. The tent was decorated with icicle lights strung from the ceiling with dining tables decorated in ivory and pink linens, which went along with the color palette of blush, rose, champagne and ivory. Hydrangeas that matched the linens were arranged in glass mason jars and positioned on top of slabs of wood in the middle of the dining tables. Guests took home wedding favors of homemade apple butter that Drew’s family loves to make every year, along with light pink cozies that had the couple’s name and wedding date customized on it.

Getting Ready with Bridal Updo
Ashley held an ivory or pink bouquet or roses, hydrangeas and succulents accented with baby's breath.
Ashley wore an ivory wedding dress with long train in the back. She wore a classic ivory veil.
"On Drew's boutonniere, I had my florist put pictures of two uncles that had passed away that Drew was very close to," says Ashley.
Couple Under Ivory Bridal Veil
The couple had their wedding ceremony in Drew's parent's backyard on a platform that Drew and his dad built.
White hydrangeas filled glass hanging mason jars to serve as aisle decorations.
Wine Box Ceremony at Wedding
Flower Girl and Ring Bearer
First Kiss on DIY Wood Platform
Cupcakes were arranged in a tower formation with large white letters that spelled out "Mr & Mrs."
A wooden frame with panels had seating assignments written for guests to find their seats.
Pink Koozie Wedding Favor with Sign
Pink and White Reception Table Decor
Pink and white hydrangeas were arranged in a mason jar alongside several others, positioned on a slab of wood.
Wedding Reception at Private Residence
"Our main favor was homemade apple butter," says Ashley. "Drew's family loves to get together every year to make apple butter, so we wanted to incorporaternthis tradition so our guests could enjoy it!"
At the tented reception, tables were dressed in ivory and pink linens with a centerpiece on a slab of wood. The centerpieces were made up of mason jars filled with hydrangeas.