Morning and welcome to this ‘Wedstock’ themed woodland barn wedding, brought to us all the way from North Carolina. Anja and Nate planned a super laid-back festival themed wedding and it was a blast! Despite the rain, they danced the night away to live music and camped out in tents right outside the barn reception. And please note, not just any old barn – authentic and deeply sentimental, this place (and I mean the entire venue) has been in the Wickerville family for decades, passed on by Anja’s much loved Grandfather. Previously his working woodshed, the barn was restored by the family and played the perfect host to an incredible celebration of love and life.

Anja walked barefoot down the aisle in a gorgeous two-piece gown from Wildflower Bridal with a seriously gorgeous feather bouquet and the couple married under a bursting arch of greenery and wildflowers. They went ahead in full festival fashion from the get-go, sending out Woodstock ticket mock ‘Save the Dates’ and picking up old wood pallets for signage from the side of the road. So cool! The amazing Amanda Sutton Photography captured this wild, naturally whimsical and bohemian wedding and we just love it….DIY décor at it’s absolute best. Oh, and if you love a pooch at a wedding, then this one’s for you!

Here’s beautiful Anja to tell you more….

We love festivals and have gone to several throughout our relationship.  The way people come together in harmony in order to have fun and let go of their everyday stresses is incredible and you can often get to know a person in that environment better than anywhere else.

Christmas Proposal in North Carolina

We both love live music and theatre in a multitude of settings, so Nate took me to a performance of The Nutcracker and then on a walk through Charlotte, North Carolina and proposed in front of the newly lit Christmas tree. Cliché, but so sweet!

Sentimental Venue: Married at Grandparent’s Barn

We were married at ‘The Shop’ at Wickerville in Sanford, NC. Wickerville is a plot of land that my grandparents owned. My Grandfather had a woodworking shop referred to as “The Shop” which hosted pig pickin’s and celebrations of all kinds over the years. This place holds a lot of sentimental value – I tried to imagine getting married at another venue but felt that no other place would justify. When it was decided that we were to get married out at The Shop, my Dad worked endlessly for months converting the pole barn into a full fledge barn. Today, it serves as a gathering place for family and friends.

Two-Piece Crop Top and Long Boho Skirt

I got my dress from Wildflower Bridal in Asheville NC; It was a two-piece crop top that was a lacy halter top and a flowy, light tool skirt bottom. I just wanted to be comfortable on the day and especially wanted to make sure that I could freely move, dance and jump around! I wore shoes by Dance of the Pearls barefoot sandals by Fulyak and wore small flower jewels place in my hair.

Nate wore a suit from Men’s Wearhouse and the bridesmaid’s wore dresses from Show Me Your Mumu. They wore whatever accessories they wanted!

Outdoor Ceremony with Backyard Flowers and Feathers

Decor was simple, organic and natural. We requested for a lot of greenery and wildflowers. My bouquet was a mixture of wild feathers and illeagnis. The bridesmaid’s bouquets were all illeagnis (all cut from our backyard). The Groomsmen sported boutonnieres that had little feathers, leather wrappings and just a sprig of greenery. The 3 flower girls wore dainty flower crowns made of wildflowers and small spotted feathers. I wanted natural, green and whimsical flowers – the florists did an incredible job of masterfully putting together multiple colours and different kinds of flowers making it all feel wild and natural.

The ceremony music was a mixture of tastes from instrumental to bluegrass to jam with heavy strings and we all danced out to “Send Me On My Way” by Rusted Root, followed by songs by ‘The Grateful Dead, The Steeldrivers, Phish and REM.

Styled ‘Wedding Set’ and Amazing Photography

We created a whiskey and cigar lounge in the woods adjacent to the barn and had oil lamps to light it up. The carpet and furniture were all antiques and the ambiance was completed with a boars head that I got while living in South Africa.

Amanda Sutton was an incredible choice of wedding photographer. She was patient and even though it was pouring with rain and really humid, she was so clever to get the right shots and make it all work. Her style is so unique and she is a joy to work with.

DIY Décor, Wildflowers and Bespoke Carpentry

Since the venue was on our property, everything was DIY. The barn was lightly decorated with a lot of greenery, wildflowers and woodland accents. The vases on each table were found by Linda at the Dollar Store and added so much colour to an autumn wedding. For several weekends, we helped Dad cut wood trivets that were used on all of the tables. He built the desert table and all the wood tiered trivets for the multitude of desserts. I painted the “Welcome To Wedstock” sign at the road which we made from a large wooden pallet. We also had a canoe filled with “serve yourself” beer!

Soul Food, Homemade Sides and 800 Cookies!

The meal was southern soul food and included macaroni and cheese, chicken quarters, green beans, baked beans, and slaw. Desert was made by multiple family members and friends and the wedding cake was made by my sorority sister, Lauren Smurr ( Red Velvet Bottom with cream cheese filling, the middle layer was German chocolate with chocolate ganache, and the top layer was confetti with cream cheese frosting). To incorporate Nate’s Italian and family heritage, we had a table full of homemade cookies made by Nathan’s mum, grandmother, aunts, and cousins. There were at least 800 assorted cookies!

First Dance

We danced to Sade – ‘By Your Side’ – growing up as a kid, I always listened to Sade and find her to be an incredibly powerful artist. It’s an incredible song about being by the side of a loved one when they are at their lowest parts.

Favourite Moment

We loved all of it of course; the energy, the freedom, the love that was being spread from guest to guest. But our favourite moment was when all the guests had left and there were only the few stragglers left. We walked outside into the humid air and soaking wet grass barefoot and looked upon the glowing barn, the lit shadows of the whiskey bar in the woods and then up into the sky.

Any Advice?

Relax and remember its not about the wedding, it’s about the marriage. If your marriage is beautiful, it won’t matter what your wedding looks like.

The Line Up

Photographer: Amanda Sutton Photography
Hair: Cassie at Loft Salon
Bride’s Dress: Wildflower Bridal
Brides Shoes: Fulyak
Groom’s Outfit: Men’s Wearhouse
BridesmaId’s Dresses: Show Me Your Mumu
Band: Port City Shakedown
Invitations: Canva, printed by John Beverly
Catering: Fat Juniors Grill Catering