Handmade Summer Backyard Wedding

Is there anything sweeter than getting married in the backyard of the home you build together? This summer backyard wedding from Ayres Photography has the perfect blend of romantic elegance and rustic charm that you can’t help but fall for. 

Our home that we built together sits on a beautiful piece of property that we own and it was important for us to have our reception here. Our property is personal to us; it’s where we started out our lives and hope to grow old together here. We have cute rocking chairs on our porch, a house and barn, and a view of a beautiful field that we try and walk to everyday together.

handmade summer backyard wedding | Ayres Photography | Glamour & Grace

handmade summer backyard wedding | Ayres Photography | Glamour & Grace

The comb I wore in my hair was my mother’s that she wore on her wedding day. My father had passed away not long before our wedding and my husband wore the tie tack that my father wore on his wedding day. I know we all had my dad in our hearts that day.

handmade summer backyard wedding | Ayres Photography | Glamour & Grace

handmade summer backyard wedding | Ayres Photography | Glamour & Grace

handmade summer backyard wedding | Ayres Photography | Glamour & Grace

handmade summer backyard wedding | Ayres Photography | Glamour & Grace

handmade summer backyard wedding | Ayres Photography | Glamour & Grace

For our wedding, we let the groomsmen and bridesmaids chose their own outfits, with some guidance (cream/off white for the ladies, gray suits for the guys). We had a very small bridal party, only consisting of our siblings (we each have one brother and one sister).

handmade summer backyard wedding | Ayres Photography | Glamour & Grace

handmade summer backyard wedding | Ayres Photography | Glamour & Grace

handmade summer backyard wedding | Ayres Photography | Glamour & Grace

handmade summer backyard wedding | Ayres Photography | Glamour & Grace

The most important thing was staying sane! There are so many details that if you can get caught up in. Weddings are meant to be fun, joyful occasions that celebrate two family’s coming together. But all that can be overlooked when one becomes overwhelmed.

handmade summer backyard wedding | Ayres Photography | Glamour & Grace

handmade summer backyard wedding | Ayres Photography | Glamour & Grace

handmade summer backyard wedding | Ayres Photography | Glamour & Grace

handmade summer backyard wedding | Ayres Photography | Glamour & Grace

handmade summer backyard wedding | Ayres Photography | Glamour & Grace

The flowers were mainly done by Maureen’s Wholesale, but my mom had several of her local friends all cut fresh flowers from their backyard and create these beautiful arrangements for the tables! I think they really added color and cheer to the day. The signs (on where to park, the wedding, bathrooms, etc.) were made by Eric’s Aunt and Grandmother. While we had The Elm St. bakery make all the desserts, my mom made us a beautiful, simple white cake with flowers on top for us to cut. My sister was basically our entire wedding planner!! She did a TON of work for us.

handmade summer backyard wedding | Ayres Photography | Glamour & Grace

handmade summer backyard wedding | Ayres Photography | Glamour & Grace

handmade summer backyard wedding | Ayres Photography | Glamour & Grace

handmade summer backyard wedding | Ayres Photography | Glamour & Grace

handmade summer backyard wedding | Ayres Photography | Glamour & Grace

handmade summer backyard wedding | Ayres Photography | Glamour & Grace

handmade summer backyard wedding | Ayres Photography | Glamour & Grace

handmade summer backyard wedding | Ayres Photography | Glamour & Grace

handmade summer backyard wedding | Ayres Photography | Glamour & Grace

handmade summer backyard wedding | Ayres Photography | Glamour & Grace

There were so many great memories from our day, but one stands out: At dusk our photographers took us to our field that we so love and we had a moment alone during the “golden hour” of sunset. We embraced for a few photos and reflected on how lucky we are to have our supportive families, the great land that we live on, and of course, each-other.

handmade summer backyard wedding | Ayres Photography | Glamour & Grace

handmade summer backyard wedding | Ayres Photography | Glamour & Grace

Photography | Ayres Photography | Ceremony | St. George Roman Catholic Church | Reception | Private Home | Planning | Meghan Gebhardt | Florals | Maureen’s Wholesale Flower Market | Desserts | The Elm Street Bakery | Catering | Apple Wood Cafe & Catering | Rentals | McCarthy Events | Paper Goods | Minted | Band | Doug Yeomans and Bluegrass Band | Dress | BHLDN | Hair & Makeup | Groom Service | Cake Topper | BHLDN