landlocked bride® | midwest + mountain west wedding inspiration

This wedding is truly one of a kind, and the photography is just as amazing as the day that was captured. The way that the pre-ceremony details are captured are truly amazing – these are the details I would encourage every bride to have their photographer document. The details that happen behind the scenes can be just as beautiful as the moments that happen before your eyes. This is a stunning couple, who had a lovely, emotional, gorgeous outdoor and barn wedding. 

From the Photographer:

The best thing about Greg and Gretchen’s wedding is something you can’t necessarily capture in pictures. The entire day was filled with a sense of the community coming together to celebrate these two people joining their lives together. It’s there in the scenes of Greg and a family friend working to set up the ceremony site. It’s there in the crowded bathroom, packed with close friends, where Gretchen got ready. It’s there in the quiet moments we stole with the couple. It’s clearly there at the ceremony in the round, in which multiple family members and friends took their turn on the small stage, singing songs and speaking words about love. It’s there in the handmade details, like the corn filled box holding the escort cards. And, it’s most definitely there, in the turkey barn: in the basement where succulent roasted pig and tender farro were served family style to guests and upstairs, where white lights strung on the rafters provided the perfect ambiance for indulging in pie and dancing. The pictures get close, but if I could bottle up that feeling and send it to you, I absolutely would.

Spring and summer seasons are upon us and I am enjoying the sunshine and soaking up as much Vitamin D as I can! For brides planning their nuptials during these months a fantastic color to start with is sunshine inspired yellow. It goes great with a variety of other bright and neutral colors and it is a great eye-catcher for florals and accessories. We’ve collected some yellow inspiration below to get you started:

How would you incorporate yellow into your big day? What’s your favorite yellow pairing? My personal favorite is yellow and navy blue!

I love how the images below really capture so much of the bride and groom. There are some beautiful detail shots, of the bride’s dress and bouquet, the adorable cupcakes, and the pops of color on the tables, but the photos of Carolyn and Bryan around Bryan’s family property are just stunning. And then there’s the groom serenading his bride during the reception, and I’m just done. So wonderful.

From the Photographer:

The couple currently lives in the Washington DC area and traveled home to Lawrence, Kansas for their wedding. The groom’s father is the late Dr. Bob Frederick who played and coached basketball at the University of Kansas and served as athletic director for 14 years. The morning of the wedding the groom ran in the 5K Dr. Bob run. The wedding ceremony was held at the Danforth chapel and the reception was at the Adams Alumni Center, both on the University of Kansas campus. The mothers of the bride and groom helped in the planning of the wedding since the couple lives in DC. The weather on the day was actually quite chilly, barely making the 50′s, but the bride and groom were excited for outdoor pictures and the groom’s family home. Much of the home and rock walls were constructed by the late Bob Frederick.

Although you may be having a rustic, whimsical or vintage themed wedding this year, it’s no surprise that women and brides alike still enjoy a little sparkle from time to time. Below are 5 ways in which you can incorporate sparkle into your big day!

1) The Linens

Brooke Mayo Photography via Southern Weddings

2) Your Bridal Party

Jen & Chis Creed Photographers

3) Your Invitation Suite

Jupiter + Juno

4) Your Cake

B.Loved Weddings

5) The Table Decor (Table Numbers)

Ruffled Blooms on ETSY

How do you plan on adding some sparkle to your big day?

Kerri wanted her wedding to have a modern vintage vibe, but with some flair. I’d say she nailed it. This purple and red extravaganza is classic, yet funky, traditional, yet personalized. The DIY details form the the scarves, to the centerpieces, the cake topper to the candy bar – each element is unique and adds so much personality to this wonderful affair. Throw in a hot pink jacket, tea-length dress and 2 pairs of wedding shoes in the mix, and prepare to be blown away.

From the bride:

One might ask, how do you write a short story about the best day of your life? I’m still pondering…

My vision was clear – A modern vintage vibe with flair. My wedding dress was the source, a Coffee Tulle Tea Length dress by Justin Alexander. Our favorite colors, red and purple made the vision perfectly pop. A lover of all things crafty, DIY projects were seen throughout the day. I crocheted scarves for the entire wedding party, made yarn pom pom cake topper and centerpieces, created a candy table display for the sweet tooth, wrapped ribbon head table chairs, and cupcake liner garland to show off of cupcake table display.

My favorite part of the day was the first dances, one with my husband and one with my dad. My husband, Jack, is well known for his pink jacket. It’s been around since college and makes an appearance at all major events, our wedding was no different.  Right before our first dance, I surprised him with a matching pink jacket for his wife!

Neither of us wanted to leave the dance floor, our world felt perfectly in place. On the other side, my dad, Rory, and I have spent the past few years bonding on the swing dance floor. It was only fitting that our father-daughter dance would be a swing dance. What a blast we had showing off our moves to our friends and family!

For those future brides, my advice is to slow down, relax, breathe, let it go, and enjoy….

There are two kinds of venues that I really love: ones that are a completely blank slate and allow for a couple to entirely make it their own, and ones that are already infused with a certain ambiance that the couple can play off of in multiple ways. The venue this couple chose is the latter, and being a historical society, it had all sorts of interesting installations that led the couple toward a vintage theme. It shone through beautifully, in their day that was crafted around making sure the bride and groom’s personalities were evident. I’d say they nailed it.

From the Bride:

Our aim during wedding planning was to keep it strictly us; to be sure that our personalities shown through in as many aspects of it as we could. We started the process by finding our incredible venue, the Indiana Historical Society in downtown Indianapolis, and a “vintage” theme just sort of fell into place from there. My mom (and matron of honor) and I did the bulk of the planning. We’re not terribly crafty, so we got ideas from friends who are and scoured Etsy on a regular basis.

We were dead set on an outdoor ceremony from the start, which the venue provided in its scenic patio on the canal that runs through the heart of the city. Our weather was perfect, despite the freak September hailstorm that hit our outdoor rehearsal dinner the night before. A priest and dear family friend served as our officiant and she did perfectly in upholding our wishes to make it strictly personal. We each wrote our own vows and picked one of the two readings. Paul read Shakespeare’s Sonnet 116 when he proposed to me, so it was the obvious choice. A friend provided piano accompaniment for the ceremony and I walked down the stairs “aisle” to an instrumental In My Life by The Beatles.

We had a cocktail hour in the cafe of the museum section of the venue immediately following the ceremony and then proceeded upstairs to the main hall for the reception. The centerpieces were a labor of love, the one thing I’d really insisted upon DIY-ing since seeing an idea online early in the planning stages. We assembled a collection of vases (some vintage, some not) from family and friends and filled them with various items like flowers, beans, birdseed, and candies to give it a natural feel. Our caterers provided an amazing dinner of fall-themed foods like carrot souffle and cous cous with butternut squash.

I was able to fulfill a lifelong dream of mine by Dj-ing my own wedding. I, with help from Paul, painstakingly created a playlist of Motown classics, 70′s funk, and 80′s one hit wonders for the reception and our coordinator plugged my iPod into the sound system. We had a ball! The icing on an already incredible day came when we played the last song of the evening, “With a Little Help From My Friends” by Joe Cocker, and all of our guests formed a circle around us as they all wailed the lyrics and we guitar solo-ed.

One way a bride can really get creative and add a small touch of personality to her reception decor is through table numbers. These numbers don’t have to be the dry, run-of-the-mill ways to merely get your guests to their table destination. Use your imagination, the sky is the limit in utilizing a number of objects and ideas to tie in your wedding theme in a unique way. We’ve collected a few of our favorites below to get your imagination flowing!

ZCreateDesign

UnityShoppe

ApplesModernArt

merriweathercouncil

TheVintageOrangeJar

stampshandmadeforyou

CathysCustomPrints

LetterBeOnEtsy

SimplyGlass

You don’t have to venture cross country or to a secluded beach a few plane rides away to enjoy a romantic honeymoon getaway after your big day. There are a number of quaint, romantic spots tucked into every corner of our landlocked region to enjoy. Here are a few of our favorites:

1. The Inn at Irwin Gardens (Columbus, Ind.)
This 1910 Edwardian mansion offers guests a rare opportunity to experience early 20th century luxury and culture. This Italianate-style home offers breathtakingly beautiful gardens to explore as well.

2. Hotel Blackhawk (Davenport, Iowa)
This historic hotel got a major facelift and is now part of Marriott’s exclusive Autograph Collection. How often can you put hip together with historic? Rooms have an Art Deco vibe, and amenities include a pool, sundeck and even a basement bowling alley.

3. The Castle Inn Riverside (Wichita, Kan.)
True to its name, the Castle Inn is built to model a real Scottish castle in 1888. It’s soaring ceilings, Grecian fireplace, rich architecture and gorgeous stained glass make it a perfect honeymoon locale.

4. French Lick Resort (French Lick, Ind.)
Don’t be fooled by its off-beat name, this resort offers a variety of luxurious amenities and a breathtaking 600-foot glass dome. Direct from Europe, The Spa at West Baden is perfect also perfect for a romantic couples massage. For the outdoor lovers, enjoy your time poolside, golfing or at the stables.

5. Spearfish Canyon Lodge (Lead, South Dakota)
This upscale resort is located in the heart of a beautiful canyon. Couples can enjoy picturesque views of lofty pines and cliffs at almost every turn. In the summer, you can even hike to waterfalls and enjoy numerous groomed trails.

I am a little biased, but I adore a love story that starts with Cardinals baseball. But even more than that, my favorite part of this wedding aside from all the gorgeousness-the reception space, the cake, the bride of course-is the fact that it took place on what could have been a sad day, but wasn’t. The bride’s grandmother had passed away two years ago to the day, and while they tried to pick a different date, it seemed that was the only date that their loved ones were available. The bride and groom then said they felt it was a “sign” to get married that day, and make it a joyful one. And the beautiful shawl the bride is wearing belonged to her grandmother-that definitely tugged at my heartstrings-what a lovely way to commemorate and include her.

From the Bride:

It all began April 17, 2010 at Hacienda restaurant. The Cardinals played the Mets in a 7 hour 20 inning game that did not end well for them. It sure ended well for us because that is the night we met. A year and a half later, we just cannot seem to remember what life was like without each other. We now know what it means to have found “The One” and most importantly, we share the kind of love that only comes once in a lifetime!

From the Photographer:

I am excited to share this wedding with you! A beautiful couple for sure. Kelly and Ryan’s wedding was beautifully coordinated by Simply Elegant Events, Sommer Barry. Kelly’s beautiful shawl was her grandmother’s who had passed away two years earlier that day. David Kodner Jeweler coordinated Kelly’s embellishments for her day. The earrings were particularly breathtaking! The AMAZING smash band was tremendous. The Quinn wedding was fantastic down to every last detail!

Brides past, present and future all seem know what the “4 C’s” are- and if not, this term is used to describe the characteristics of a diamond: Cut, Clarity, Color and Carat Weight. However, what you may not know that there are also (unofficially) “4 C’s” to consider when picking out your day-of footwear as well! Sometimes picking out your shoes can be more difficult than picking out your dress, but if you take time to consider the “4 C’s” of shoes – choosing the shoe style that best represents your style will be a walk in the park (no pun).

1) Classic

 Glint –  ’Radiance’ Pump | Enzo Angiolini – ‘Savoye’ Pump

Menbur – Slingback Pump | Kate Spade New York – ‘Shalyn’ Pump

2) Comfortable

Toms – ‘Classic’ Crochet Slip-On | Toms – ‘Classic-Glitter’ Slip On

Betsey Johnson – Blue by Betsey Johnson ‘Dance’ Flat | Ugg Australia - ‘Bailey Button – I do’ Boot

3) Color 

Nina – ‘Electra’ Sandal | Nine West – ‘Jusskippy’ Sandal

Nina – ‘Elizia’ Sandal  | Glint – ‘Devyn’ Sandal 

4) Contemporary

B Brian Atwood – ‘Cassiane’ High Sandal – BCBGMAXAXRIA – ‘Peacock’ Pump 

Jeffrey Campbell – ‘Koons’ Pump | Valentino – ‘Microstud’ Mary Jane Pump

Which shoe style is your favorite? Or better yet, who wants to go shopping?