They danced to the lyrics of Boyce Avenue’s “Heaven” as the cafe lights twinkled above them. Family and friends looked on with large smiles and we watched them mouth the words to each other before embracing even tighter. Chelsea + Matt’s vision of a soft, romantic wedding came to fruition at the Celebration Farm in Iowa City last fall and The Modern Lovebird was on the scene to capture it.
While threats of flooding happened elsewhere that week and the rain kept coming, the photo team watched a relaxed wedding party of confident, supportive bridesmaids and groomsmen rally to explain they’d do whatever necessary to ensure the day was perfect. “We’ve got umbrellas… we’ll run back + forth from the car… whatever! What do you need us to do?!” It was no surprise that Chelsea + Matt surrounded themselves with people like that, either. They’ve found their counterpart in one another — laughing that they’re the same kind of “quirky” and, all the while, so very kind.
While the team was ready, the umbrellas + extra efforts were unnecessary. The rain held off just in time for a heartfelt first look and portraits at Wilson’s Orchard just up the road from the farm. As if to smile on the couple’s intimate nuptials, the sun also popped out from the clouds as they anticipated their outdoor ceremony under the farm’s stone arches. One particularly special moment was when both mothers helped the couple add dirt to a potted plant during their ceremony. The plant was a lily from one of their family farms and the dirt added was from all the family farms combined so that the couple could plant a piece of their family history in their future home’s yard.
Blush tones, custom lace table runners, an ivory cathedral veil + gown from Brides by Jessa, stationery by Zephyr Weddings, a lovely buttercream cake by Jules Bakery, and to top it all off – gorgeous florals, design, lighting, + music by the Unique Events team brought it all together that day. The couple even worked with The Modern Lovebird team to ensure they had time for sunset portraits of the two of them around the property that evening. This was a seriously gorgeous day!
All images by Robyn + Anna with The Modern Lovebird:
