Photography by Jeremy Harwell. Event Planning & Design by Ashley Baber Weddings.

This Southern wedding held at the bride's family farm is so lovely, we're not sure which parts of the day are our favorite! From the handwritten invitations, the burlap covered hay bales, and vintage floral china, everything about this darling wedding is country charm at it's best. Be sure to check out the ceremony readings the couple shared with us, and the Southern tradition of burying bourbon to get good weather!

If you had it to do over again, is there anything you would do differently? Plan for a little more relaxation the day of. I was running around like a mad woman all morning!

The Ceremony

Why did you choose this location for your ceremony? We chose my family farm because it is special to both of us. It's where I grew up and Jay and I spent so much time fishing, hunting, swimming, and getting to know each other there. It's a happy place for us. We walked around the entire farm and settled on an open field full of golden rod. Jay built an arch out of old lumber that we got married under.

Are there any DIY details you'd like to tell us about? Jay and I wrapped 100 hay bales in burlap! And my dad, brothers, and bridesmaids set them up the morning of the wedding.

What was your ceremony music?My brother played the bagpipes to announce seating to the guests, then he switched over and played the sitar with a friend during the ceremony. It was magical.

Your ceremony in three words. Peaceful, moving, intimate.

What was your favorite thing about your wedding ceremony? The otherworldly calm that settled in when it began. I immediately felt transplanted to this beautiful state of peace. It felt magical.

Who officiated your ceremony? How did you choose him/her? A family friend who also happens to be a pastor at the local church officiated. He was wonderful. His readings were perfect and he was totally open to the non-denominational, spiritually eclectic ceremony we envisioned. He surpassed my expectations and created a beautiful, meaningful vibe for our ceremony.

How did you go about planning your ceremony? We met with our officiant a couple times and spoke about what was important to us and then left the rest to him. We got married in a field which gave the ceremony the unique and natural atmosphere we wanted. Our ceremony was simple, which we liked, just filled with lots of love. That was probably the easiest part to plan!

What were your ceremony readings? Our officiant included readings from Rumi and Mary Oliver. I didn't know what he was reading so it was a surprise. It was perfect. And we chose a passage out of For Whom the Bell Tolls by Hemingway for my mom to read. I was reading it when I met Jay, and he is one of our favorite authors. The readings really captured the essence of us and our love.

What were your vows like? We stuck with the traditional vows with one exception, we altered them to include Jay's daughter, Kayla, which was very important to both of us. She was my maid of honor and a big part of the wedding.

Did you include any traditions in your ceremony? My husband stomped the glass at the end of the ceremony, as is the Jewish tradition (I'm half-Jewish.)

Is there anything else that you'd like to share about your wedding ceremony? The ceremony was my favorite part, which I did not expect.

Did you include any other traditions in your wedding day? We buried a bottle of bourbon at the wedding site exactly a month before the wedding, which is meant to guarantee good weather. We dug it up right after the ceremony, and drank it with our friends and family. It worked!

The Reception

How would you describe your reception? Barn party, drinking and dancing

Did you have a signature cocktail? Bufala Negra and Ruby Slipper.

Why did you choose this location for your reception? The reception was in an old hay-barn next to a lake on the farm. We ate dinner under the trees strung with lights, then migrated into the barn where the band and stage were set up.

What was your wedding menu? We had a family style dinner of baby lettuces, oven roasted beets, chopped green onion, and crumbled feta cheese salad; pan-seared chicken with asiago cheese stuffing and a lemon thyme beurre blanc sauce; ratatouille over steamed long grain yellow rice; grilled pink snapper in harissa marinade; roasted new potatoes with garlic and fresh herbs; sautéed green beans with tobacco onions.

What inspired you when you were planning your wedding? I didn't have a theme per say, I just let the farm do most of the work.

What was the best advice you received as a bride? We had guests write down their best marriage advice and wishes for us on cards and leave them in a bowl at the reception - that was fun to read when we got back from our honeymoon!

What advice do you have for other couples in the midst of planning a wedding? Don't sweat the small stuff!