An Intimate Rustic Wedding at Yew Dell Botanical Gardens in Crestwood, Kentucky

Artists Erin Wiser (30 and a production manager) and Chris Bivens (30 and a carpenter) left their home in New York for a wedding near Erin’s hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. “We wanted to get married in Louisville so my grandparents could attend,” Erin says. “We put a lot of thought into our ceremony and really just wanted to be surrounded by our family and friends for an intimate and special day.” At Yew Dell Botanical Gardens in Crestwood, Kentucky, the couple said their “I dos” in the venue’s rustic barn, where Erin’s uncle officiated and Chris’s uncle did the readings. The cozy ceremony was followed by dinner and dancing in an open-air pavilion. “Since most of our guests came from out of state, we didn't want them to have to travel between ceremony and reception,” Erin says of their destination wedding. “It was easy for everyone, and they could further enjoy Yew Dell's grounds for the night.” During cocktail hour, guests sipped on Dark and Stormy mixers and Kentucky Bourbon Barrel beer while snacking on egg rolls and panini. Since the newlyweds are both Southerners, the menu included Southern staples such as shrimp and grits, fried chicken and green beans. For their fall nuptials, Erin and Chris blended fall colors of deep red, lilac and peach with classic wedding colors: white, black and gold. “We chose dahlias, roses and thistle to keep within the season of our wedding,” Erin says. “We really liked that color scheme, and we wanted a lot of flowers.” Friends and family celebrated with dancing and captured their feelings at the photo booth. “We love our family and friends and are so happy to be family together,” Erin says. —Marissa Hermanson