1. Real Weddings

A Rustic Spring Wedding at the Fishermen's Inn in Elburn, Illinois

Inspired by the rustic feel of Fishermen’s Inn in Elburn, Illinois, Shannon Kelly (32 and a teacher) and Tom Korder (31 and a brewmaster) planned a ru

Inspired by the rustic feel of Fishermen’s Inn in Elburn, Illinois, Shannon Kelly (32 and a teacher) and Tom Korder (31 and a brewmaster) planned a rustic-chic affair with plenty of fun touches. After a quick visit to Fishermen’s Inn, the couple were instantly taken by the landmark’s innate charm and picturesque natural setting. “From the quaint watermill to the ponds and barn wall, the setting was something out of a magazine,” Shannon says. To complement the rustic flair of the venue and the early-spring backdrop, Shannon and Tom chose a color palette of navy, apple green and white with hints of taupe that captured the Inn’s charming country feel. DIY details, like the eye-catching chevron table runners made by Shannon’s mother, a customized ceremony officiated by a close family friend, and a post-ceremony selfie with all their guests reflected the couple’s fun, family-oriented personalities. “We wanted to keep a light and welcoming environment,” Shannon says. “To do this, our rings were warmed and blessed by the entire crows, our friends read an Irish blessing and Pablo Neruda poem and the ceremony was capped off with a selfie to help commemorate the merriment.” Florist Wild Orchid brought the Fishermen’s Inn to life with inspired arrangements of curly willow, tulips, hydrangeas and pussy willows, and lit up the ceremony with beautiful bouquets of full ivory, white and fresh green blooms. After the ceremony, the newlyweds and their guests danced to an energetic sound track supplied by MDM Entertainment and dined on a mouthwatering menu of filet mignon, stuffed chicken and an assortment of specialty cupcakes from Courageous Cupcakes in Elmhurst, Illinois. As a final personal touch, Tom provided a special wedding beer that he brewed for the occasion at his new brewery, Penrose Brewing in Geneva, Illinois. A tip from Shannon: “Be yourself on your wedding day and every day after. Don't worry about convention and don't be afraid to take the road less traveled. It can bring amazing memories.”

As fate would have it, the musical-theater-loving (Shannon) met the athletic enthusiast (Tom) in a singles' softball league. Their first date was a pumpkin-carving contest at a bar in Chicago, Illinois. Five years later, on a rainy Halloween night, Tom carved his proposal into a display of pumpkins, each letter in a new pumpkin. He led Shannon out to see them. As she read them, he pulled a ring out of a pumpkin that he had carved into a sparkling solitaire.
Rustic Spring Welcome Table
To go with the spring season, Shannon and Tom brightened up Fishermen’s Inn with a vibrant color palette of green apple, navy and white. Wild Orchid created fresh arrangements of tulips, curly willow, green hydrangeas and pussy willow to bring the room to life, while Shannon’s mother handcrafted all of the table runners with eye-catching chevron prints and rustic burlap fabric, a detail that reflected the wedding’s contemporary and rustic undertones.
Bright Green Bridesmaid Bouquets
When it came to all the wedding’s flowers, Shannon and Tom enlisted the help of the florists at Wild Orchid to bring their vision to life. The talented designers whipped up a beautiful spring-inspired arrangement of ranunculus, gerber daisies, hydrangeas and curly willows for Shannon to carry down the aisle.
Instead of a traditional guest book, Shannon and Tom had their guests write their well wishes and advice on Jenga blocks.
Gray Suits With Striped Green Ties
Since two of her bridesmaids were pregnant, Shannon let her bridesmaids choose their own gown, requesting only that they be long and in a shade of navy blue. Three of the women donned matching one-shoulder gowns with empire waist silhouettes, while the remaining two went with a strapless empire-style gown and a classic A-line style with a V-shaped neckline.
Shannon went in a romantic, whimsical direction when it came to her bridal look, donning a statement-making mermaid gown from Allure. For her hair and makeup, Antonette White struck the perfect balance of elegance and romance, styling Shannon’s hair into a curled half updo and playing up her eyes with a subtle swipe of eyeliner.
Before hitting the dance floor, Shannon and Tom treated their guests to an assortment of decadent specialty cupcakes from Courageous Cupcakes in Elmhurst, Illinois, reserving a single-tier geometric confection for the traditional cake cutting. “The bakery uses part of the proceeds for cancer research, so were the treats a delight and they allowed us to support a charity that is close to our hearts,” Shannon says.
Whimsical Tulle Flower Girl Dress
To ensure the day was as reflective of their relationship and their respective personalities, Shannon and Tom decided to write their ceremony and vows themselves. They asked a family friend to officiate and had two close friends read an Irish blessing and a Pablo Neruda poem. “We wanted to keep a light and welcoming environment,” Shannon says. “To do this, our rings were warmed and blessed by the entire crowd and the ceremony was capped off with a group selfie to help commemorate the merriment.”
On their first visit to Fishermen’s Inn in Elburn, Illinois, Shannon and Tom knew that the historic landmark was the perfect fit for their wedding. “It had come under new ownership and when we walked in during renovation, we fell in love with their vision. The staff was so kind and shared in the creation of our dream wedding,” Shannon says. “From the quaint watermill, bridges, and ponds outdoors to the picturesque barn wood wall and spiral staircase, the setting was something out of a magazine.”