Amy, Jason and their DIY family farm wedding

Bride and groom drinking from shot ski during their wedding

+ DIY family farm wedding in Middleton, WI

Original one-of-a-kind wedding full of good vibe come to those who work their asses off while planning DIY family farm wedding in Madison, Wisconsin. That hard work includes deep sea fishing in Florida for mahi-mahi and king mackerel, carefully selected wines and cheese, hand making sausages for the wedding reception, putting all decorations together, and, of course, endless hours of planning.
Amy and Jason both been in the restaurant industry for well over a decade; he has been primarily back of house cooking and baking, while she has been solely front of house service. When couple got engaged, they knew right away they didn’t want the typical tradition wedding. That meant no caterer, no bartenders, no cake, no assigned seating and so on. That also meant that it was going to be largely DIY family farm wedding. Or as Amy calls it “do it (y)ourselves”.

Location: this was first Amy and Jason’s task. After a few hiccups (losing their first venue 4 months before the wedding) couple wound up using a friend of a friend’s parent’s backyard. Filled with trees, gardens, wetlands, location had heaps of space for guests and kids to run around. That was a good start.
Food: once the location was settled, it really became all about the food and beverage. During that DIY family farm wedding Wisconsin planning stage Amy and Jason were dedicated in sourcing all of their protein and vegetables from areas around Madison Wisconsin. The idea behind it was to support local farmers. And it was easy task due of the strong relationship with local vendors that Amy and Jason have built throughout many years via shopping Dane county farmer’s market on Saturday. As far as wedding menu creativity went, from the very beginning Amy and Jason wanted their friends to have as much as possible while helping pout the wedding together. So while they offered guidance in terms of likes and dislikes, they ultimately left the decisions and flexibility to those up for those cooking (Neil from Stalzy’s, Patrick from Oliver’s public house, etc).
Beverage: Amy and Jason ordered variety of wines from in vino veritas wine distributors as well bunch of different beers from local breweries.
Decorations/lights: Amy and Jason asked proprietor of the venue to put away some square hay bales (that he harvested before their wedding) so they could use them as seating. For covers they used burlap sacks. And for burlap sacks couple reached out to barriques, a local coffee roaster. Jason’s father brought a few hundred mason jars that later were filled with candles and placed all over the garden to illuminate the paths in the darkness. Couple also bought some battery powered led light strings that they strung in trees around the area.
Tent/ furniture: after all above was taken care of it was a matter of renting a tent and some tables with chairs for the wedding reception.

And it would nice to say that just like that a DIY family farm wedding venue was born, but there were plenty more moments where Amy and Jason’s DIY attitude came into play. They won’t be listed here, but let’s just say that popcorn was popped, lights were strung, grasses were mown, firewood was chopped, and the crowd was fed. Many of its thanks to the lovely help and support that they had from their friends and family.
And while Amy agrees that DIY family farm wedding Wisconsin is certainly more work than your average wedding, all DIY customization also means, that your family farm wedding day will be unique and exactly the way you wanted it.

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To see full gallery from Amy’s and Jason’s DIY family farm wedding in Middleton, Wisconsin, please see click >>HERE<<.

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 See full gallery from Amy’s and Jason’s DIY family farm wedding >>HERE<<.

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Thanks a bunch for checking out wedding pictures from Amy’s and Jason’s outdoorsy DIY Labor Day weekend wedding! If you’re planning your simple yet elegant outdoors wedding, like to celebrate like there’s no tomorrow, have a creative and adventurous soul, shoot me a message! I would love to be part of your adventure!

I am documentary wedding photographer based in Madison, Wisconsin and specialize in moment driven wedding photojournalism. See here about common wedding photography styles.

During this type of wedding photography I will stay out of your way and I will let you be true you.

FARM’S BACKYARD WEDDING VENDORS:

Ceremony/Reception: Friends Backyard in Middleton, WI
Bride’s Sandals: Toms
Bridesmaid Dresses: Bhldn
Groom’s Suit: Men’s Wearhouse
Catering Company: Stalzy’s Deli
Catering Company: Oliver’s Public House
Catering Company: Jordandal Cookhouse
Wine: In Vino Veritas
Craft Punch: Death’s Door Spirits
Rentals: Event Essentials
Transportation: Badger Bus
Hotel: Hilton Monona Terrace
Wedding Date: 9.4.2016

How Jackie and James turned their dreams of rural Wisconsin family farm wedding into reality

a story about Jackie, James and their perfect rural Wisconsin family farm wedding

True story: I have a really bad memory. My wife says it’s not true, but it really is. Certain memories stay, but certain memories just go straight to the dark abyss.

That’s why when talking to wedding couples, I normally take notes. Lots of them. And later store it all in a secret file. So, when the wedding day comes, I can refresh my memory with all the details and small facts about the couple and their wedding day.

Here’s an original excerpt from my initial notes I took during Jackie and James Skype chat:

“Jackie and James wedding will happen in Jackie’s family farm. Land around the family farm has been sold out for developers. Family’s farm is the last man standing in the area. Family takes a pride in it. Jackie’s dad retired about one year ago and lives in that family farm. Farm is a big deal for him. He is fixing it all up. Growing produce. About 50 acres of land. Garden, corn fields, woods. Certain patches in those woods has no growth. Magic woods? (first look/ pre-ceremony pictures there?)”

There were more notes from our initial chat: about the brother who was going to officiate the wedding ceremony, about uncle who would roast the pig, about another uncle who would make booyah (stew). James’s dad was going to make beer, family friend was going to make wine, another family friend who would help with music, etc. And the list goes on.

I remember going thought my notes when it suddenly struck me: Wisconsin family farm wedding they were putting together was exactly how weddings would happen centuries ago. Two families would come together and people would contribute their knowledge, craftsmanship and skills to make one helluva wedding in one of the family’s backyard. It would be family team work and there rarely would be an outsider involved.
Isn’t it amazing?

And when I arrived Jackie’s and James wedding day, I saw it all come together just perfectly. Amazing couple with their families getting ready in their family house, 300 wedding guests, pig roast and stew preparation, coolers loaded with handmade beer and wine, and the sunset skies that you remember for a long time. Yet another example of how it’s not about how much you spend, but how you feel.

It was yet another perfect DIY family farm wedding!

Right before the sunset, by a special order, bypassing storm painted the sky and the clouds in truly most amazing colors. With some amazing lightnings in the distance. Boom! I was done. Everybody else was not. The party was just starting.

See full Jackie’s and James’s Wisconsin family farm wedding gallery on Paulius Musteikis Pixieset.

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WISCONSIN FAMILY FARM WEDDING VENDORS:

Wedding Date: July 22, 2017
Wedding Location: Family farm near Green Bay
Photography assistant: Lina Soblyte from SoBeIt Creations
Catering: Family members (Bernie, uncle Kevin, Grandma Oryall) and Spork Café and Catering