Rustic Barn Wedding at Horizon View Farms: Ashley & Stefan

Today’s bride and groom love the outdoors. They feel right at home on a back country road, truck windows down, wind whipping through their hair, country music blasting on the radio. And since a wedding day should reflect what you love the most, a good ol’ fashioned rustic wedding made perfect sense. Ashley and Stefan wanted their big day to be casual, fun, and what the bride called a “come as you are, join us as you drive through a cornfield in the middle of the country to watch us say I do, spend the evening in a barn eating nothing but BBQ food, and enjoy your beverage out of a mason jar” kind of wedding. With that vibe in mind, the details were simple – mason jars, burlap, lace, antiques, fishing rods (a nod to a favorite pastime of theirs), lawn games, and DIY touches. But don’t think for one second that there wasn’t plenty to love. Keep your eyes peeled for…

His and her cowboy boots worn by the bride and groom. But there is one catch! Ashley and Stefan wrote a sweet message to each other on the bottom of the soles of the other person’s pair and exchanged boots the morning of the wedding. Aaaaand my heart is bursting!
A touching tribute. To honor their late fathers, Ashley and Stefan both pinned a small photo of their dad over their heart that day. What a sweet way to make sure both of them were honored and present in their own way! (Looking for other ways to honor lost loved ones? Check out this post!)
A KILLER ceremony location! The pair exchanged vows literally in the middle of the woods at Horizon View Farms and I’m totally dying over these photos. Some wooden benches, a floral arbor, a forest floor, and a canopy of trees…no church will EVER top this!
Incredible portraits! Dawn Derbyshire Photography knocked it out of the park with these images. To be fair though, she did have an insanely gorgeous backdrop to work with. Just want until you see those trees and that golden sunshine! Damn, nature is beautiful.

A laid back, barn wedding full of outdoor fun, BBQ, and rustic elements? Somebody sign me up. Keep scrolling and I bet you’ll want to put your name down too.

From the bride…

When and how did you two meet?
We both met at Dormont Pool through mutual friends. After meeting each other, we became really good friends and for the next year, we became nearly inseparable. A year later we made it official.

Juicy details on the proposal, please! Where, when, how?
Stefan played a video of him asking our families for approval for my hand in marriage. This man has done a lot of sweet things for me in the last few years, but this topped it! Hearing his dad’s reaction, “Welcome aboard, Ashley,” I felt tears instantly rolling down my face. His father was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer so the thought of him being there the day of our wedding meant a lot to the both of us. That video meant a lot to me that day and, with his dad’s passing, means more to me now. It’s truly the little things in life that mean the most…the important, significant moments in your life that are captured by video or photography. I cherish that amazing, thoughtful gesture he created for us.

Describe the wedding. The look, theme, style, colors, etc.
We are both very outdoorsy people so our wedding was nothing short of a country, rustic, casual, barn wedding

What inspired your vision?
Our lifestyle. We are constantly driving far out of the city to get away from this style of living. Both of our hearts are in the country side.

What made your wedding unique?
I think our wedding was unique because it was very casual. It was a “come as you are, join us as you drive through a cornfield in the middle of the country to watch us say I do, spend the evening in a barn eating nothing but BBQ food, and enjoy your beverage out of a mason jar” kind of wedding.

(From the photographer…I felt like Ashley and Stefan’s wedding was unique because of how intimate and emotional it was. Their personalities seeped into every moment of the day, from the sweet notes they wrote each other on the bottoms of their boots to the small details they incorporated to honor their fathers. Everything was special, from some vintage cameras [Ashley is a photographer], fishing rods, and nods to their love of hunting and the outdoors, their wedding really showcased their life together and what they love.)

What was your favorite moment of the day?
Riding an ATV in my wedding dress. I couldn’t stay clean for long!

Bride to Bride

What advice would you give to other Burgh Brides planning their big day?
Honestly, let the little things go. Don’t worry so much about the details that you lose sight of what you are celebrating. So many people can get lost in “over spending” because it’s their “dream wedding”. Just have fun! Know why you’re there and that you don’t need to over do it for your wedding day to be special. If you have a budget, it’s possible to stick to it! Also, take in every second you can. When they say it goes by so fast, they truly mean it. The day flies by, and before you know it…you’re married and on a plane to your honeymoon.

Any must haves, must dos, or can’t live withouts? Anything you would do differently?
Trust your vendors. Know their style. Know that you can trust them! I had the world’s faith in Dawn Derbyshire so I knew my wedding day photos would be amazing. Get to know your photographer! If they do a good job, send them a thank you card and a nice gift!

(From the photographer…Ashley and Stefan seriously were the best. A few weeks after delivering their images, I walked out my front door to a giant “Thank You” gift basket filled with my favorite thing [candy], beer, wine, and an AMAZING handmade photo album!)