Now this is what wedded bliss looks like. Bliss in the form of greenery chandeliers (hand-made by the bridal party!), hand-stamped favors, and romance all the way. It’s exactly what you’ll find in this elegant Quivey’s Grove affair from m three studio, and the full gallery is something truly special, right here!
From m three studio… Where to start with this gorgeous day? I think with the ribbons. It was the breeze and the ribbons that first captivated me. (Every bouquet should have trailing ribbons!) This wedding is like a barely cool breeze on a warm summer day – the kind you tilt your head to take in, close your eyes to enjoy the sunshine on your face and take a deep breath of the sweet air. That is this day. Quivey’s Grove was a perfect host to this beautiful and laid-back wedding. Ashley & Mike’s easy style translated so well into tables draped in greenery and speckled with candles, flowing grey bridesmaid dresses, gorgeous all white florals, the greenery chandeliers (hand-made by the bridal party!), vintage chalkboards, nods to their Wisconsin heritage (craft beers!) and little sprigs of lavender to gently scent the day.
From the beautiful Bride… Mike and I live in Boston, but we both grew up in Wisconsin and wanted to incorporate some of our Midwest favorites throughout the day. We served cheese curds, brandy old fashioneds (Mike’s favorite), WI beer, and requested that the DJ play a few polka songs during the reception. Our east coast friends still bring up the cheese curds. If only we could get those out in Boston. :)
I’m really lucky to have so many creative friends and family. Creative and generous. I flew into Wisconsin only a couple days before the wedding and my florist, bridesmaids, and family helped me bring all of my ideas to life. My brother, Ross, created a stamp in the shape of WI for our welcome bags and helped me stamp and stuff the bags for hours one night. My dear friend and bridesmaid, Katie, created all of the gorgeous design elements for my day. Whenever I had a new idea, she would just quickly whip something up and viola!
My other ‘DIY” favorite was the wreath we made for our dinner tent, and by we, I mean I had a vision of what I wanted, but I really have to thank my florist, cousins, and friends for making it all come together. After my bridesmaids and I were done getting ready, we took a walk around the property to help with the last minute details, and found a couple of my bridesmaids husbands in the dinner tent (already dressed in their suits for the party) hard at work hoisting the wreath up above the tables. I remember stopping at that moment and feeling so blessed.
My friend’s mom, Mary, was our amazing florist. I did most of my planning over the internet and had to sort of hope for the best, but Mary made me 100% confident right from the beginning. I told her I wanted everything to look earthy and imperfect, and sent her some pictures of flowers that I liked, but she really brought my vision to life. She made games for our cocktail hour, lent us furniture, decor and even grew her own herbs that she tucked into the greenery and our bouquets. It really surpassed my expectations, and it smelled amazing. :)
Again, without all of the help Mike and I received, we wouldn’t have been able to make everything come together.
If I could offer any advise to engaged couples: Don’t take on more than you can handle and ask for help! I’m a bit of a perfectionist and wanted to be involved in every detail. However, planning a wedding from across the country didn’t make that very easy. It was difficult for me to delegate, mainly because I felt like I was burdening my friends and family, but without them, I would have never been able to make everything possible.
Walking down the aisle with my dad was a moment I’ll never forget. He told me that he was so proud of me, but I started to get emotional and didn’t want to cry, so as we turned the corner, I asked him to talk about the least emotional topic he could think of. He chose the new vegetables he added to his garden that season. “Well Ashley, I added sweet corn, sweet potatoes…” Haha.
But, my favorite moment of the day was when Mike caught me off guard and made a speech during our dinner. He started by thanking my parents for hosting our beautiful day, and then he turned and put all of the attention on me (eek!) and thanked me for being his rock and for always supporting him throughout our relationship. Mike was in school in WI when I met him, and we eventually moved across the country together, started new jobs, and really depended on each other to get through all of the changes in our lives. It’s one thing to have your partner say sweet things to just you, but to have them spoken to all of your friends and family, that really takes it to another level. The entire bridal party was in tears, myself included!
Photography: m three studio | Floral Design: Mary Bilgo | Cake: Chris' Confections | Stationery: Little Ivy Design | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Wtoo | Makeup: Michelle Mraz | Bride's Gown: Christos | Ceremony & Reception: Quivey's Grove | Chalkboards: A La Crate Vintage Rentals