• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Day's Journal

Finding beauty in the everyday pieces of life

  • Weddings
  • Lifestyle
  • The Day’s Design
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

rustic wedding

Real Weddings :: Ryan & Jessica’s Equestrian Celebration

1 · Feb 21, 2018 ·

Country weddings can be low key and elegant, simple, rustic and still beautiful all at once.  Bright white spaces can be filled with color and smelly old horse barns can make the most stunny reception venues.  This wedding proves all of that.

Jessica has freelanced with me for the past 3 wedding seasons, and last year it was her turn.  She chose to get married in March, which made me so happy because late winter and early spring are amazing times for flowers.  Obviously we weren’t utilizing many local options but the Japanese and speciality flower markets are out of this world.  The ranunculus in her bouquets, where nearly as large as peonies.

Her family owns a horse farm and spent the months leading up to Jessica and Ryan’s nuptials renovating the upper level, white washing the walls and making over the space to be the most perfect “at home” wedding possible.  Jewel tones and greenery popped against the muted canvas and soft shades of smokey blue were the perfect accent.  Plus we can’t forget about the church, which was filled with more flowers than I’ve ever put in one santuary before – and I want to recreate this scene again and again.

Vintage Engagement Ring | The Day's Design | Katie Grace PhotographyVintage Engagement Ring | The Day's Design | Katie Grace PhotographyBurgundy & Navy Wedding | The Day's Design | Katie Grace PhotographyMinted Wedding Invitations | The Day's Design | Katie Grace PhotographyMarch Wedding Flowers | The Day's Design | Katie Grace PhotographyDusty Blue Bridesmaids | The Day's Design | Katie Grace PhotographyHolland Michigan Wedding | The Day's Design | Katie Grace PhotographyChurch Ceremony Decor | The Day's Design | Katie Grace PhotographyMarch Wedding Flowers | The Day's Design | Katie Grace PhotographyChurch Wedding Ceremony Decor | The Day's Design | Katie Grace PhotographyChurch Wedding Ceremony Decor | The Day's Design | Katie Grace PhotographyWedding get away car | The Day's Design | Katie Grace PhotographyBlush Bridal Bouquet | The Day's Design | Katie Grace PhotographyMarch Wedding Flowers | The Day's Design | Katie Grace PhotographyRomantic Antike Garden Rose | The Day's Design | Katie Grace PhotographyRanunculus Bouquet | The Day's Design | Katie Grace PhotographyVintage Engagement Ring | The Day's Design | Katie Grace PhotographyRustic Wedding Ideas | The Day's Design | Katie Grace PhotographyRustic Wedding Ideas | The Day's Design | Katie Grace PhotographyWhite Barn Wedding | The Day's Design | Katie Grace PhotographyWhite Barn Wedding | The Day's Design | Katie Grace PhotographyNavy & Marsala Wedding | The Day's Design | Katie Grace PhotographyNavy & Marsala Wedding | The Day's Design | Katie Grace PhotographyHead Table Wedding | The Day's Design | Katie Grace PhotographyBurgundy & Blush WRustic Wedding Cake | The Day's Design | Katie Grace PhotographyRustic Wedding Ideas | The Day's Design | Katie Grace PhotographyBurgundy & Blush Wedding | The Day's Design | Katie Grace PhotographyMarch Wedding Flowers | The Day's Design | Katie Grace PhotographyRustic Wedding Ideas | The Day's Design | Katie Grace Photography

Photography: Katie Grace Photography & Videography | Ceremony & Personal Floral Design: The Day’s Design | Ceremony Venue: Central Avenue Christian Reformed Church in Holland, Michigan | Reception Venue: Rusty Spurs Equestrian Center | Invitations: The Woolberry Press | Cake: Pastry Chef Dana Wilmer Lucas

I also wanted to note, because Jessica is so fabulous, she designed the entire space herself as well as tackled arranging all of her own centerpieces.  I simply jumped in for a little designing consult and to tackled the ceremony florals and the personal arrangements… plus hauling all of the ceremony arrangments to the reception site to repurpose (which was not an easy task!)

Congratulations on almost 1 year of marriage!  I wish you both all the love and happiness.

 

Celebrations, Flowers flowers, Holland Michigan wedding, Katie Grace Photography, Real Weddings, rustic wedding, Winter Wedding

Real Weddings :: Hallie & Eric

0 · Jan 21, 2016 ·

I love the planning and designing, the dreaming and getting to know each and every one of my brides.  Often there are day trips to distant destinations, drinks over design plans and yummy bakery treats (I know, I have a rough job!).  I’m always so eager for the wedding day to actually arrive and then see the fruits of my labors and watch a bride’s dreams come true.  Seeing flower recipes on paper is nothing compared to holding the blooms in your hands and gingerly adding yards of flowing lace to a finished bouquet.  And yet it’s always a little bittersweet as this will be the end of scheming, late night emails and vintage treasure hunts.

On a balmy day in mid July, my journey with one such bride ended – only so she could begin a new one with the love of her life.  From the moment I met Hallie, I knew that her wedding day would be fabulous.  She had chosen a horse farm in Ludington to host both her ceremony and reception and she hoped to bring along lots of vintage, rustic and girly touches.  Dusty blue was the primary color inspiration, allowing shades of pink to naturally introduce itself through the floral palette and patterns on the vintage china.  We aimed for softness, without being too pastel and added rustic details alongside timeless touches of silver and lace.  You may remember their dusty and vintage inspiration board which I wrote about last week.

Her roses were flown in from California and paired with some goodies naturally found in our back yards.  Sweet pea added just the perfectly subtle pop of pink and the carnations I used stole my heart.  Please trust me and let me use carnations – sometimes they hold the most unusual and glorious hues.  Not to mention, they’re a completely sturdy flower that humidity barely takes a toll on.

Photography: Bradley James Photography  |  Wedding & Floral Design, Day of Coordination: The Day’s Design |  Venue: Iris Hills Weddings & Occasion |  Rentals:  Grand Rental Station  |  Catering: Rykes |  Cake: Julie Sheehan  |  DJ: Complete MVP  |  Officiant: Keith Littlepage of Forever I Do  |  Vintage China: Debby Does Dishes  |  Late Night Snacks: Lakeside Weiner Wagon

Dear Hallie & Eric – I hope what they say is true and rain is good luck on your wedding day, the heavens let down some nasty storms that morning, as we all weathered through it.  You two deserve so much happiness and it was an absolute pleasure being a part of your wedding day.

Shelby signature

Celebrations barn wedding, Bradley James Photography, Debby Does Dishes, dusty blue wedding, Iris Hills, Ludington Wedding, pink and blue, pink flowers, rustic wedding, Sweet Peas, Vintage china

Inspiration Board :: Dusty & Rustic

0 · Jan 13, 2016 ·

Dusty and rustic, that sounds like quite the combination, doesn’t it?  But I promise it was gorgeous – just like dear Hallie.  Hallie and I schemed about all things vintage, wooden and full of charm.  She adored dusty blue tones and luscious pops of pink.  We aimed for softness, without being too pastel.  She loves bows, lace and lots of girly enchantments which contrasted nicely with the rustic vibe of her barn venue.

Before bringing the day to life, we of course plotted and schemed and dreamt up an amazing mood board to help us define exact what their celebration would look like.  I know some people find it somewhat pointless, but to me I think it’s an invaluable tool.  Hallie (like most brides) had 169 pins on her Pinterest board and while they were all beautiful, there was such a range and plethora of ideas that it really needed to be focused and narrowed.  You can read more about why I insist on creating an inspiration board here.

We sought to combine her favorite things, making sure that the design remained balanced between glamorous and aged elements, old and new and fit perfectly with her something blue.

Dusty Blue & Rustic Mood Board | The Day's Design

Image credit (top row left to right): Photography: Paper Antler via Ruffled Blog  | Dusty Miller stock image  |  Photography: Greer G Photography, Floral Design: Kim Starr Wise via Snippet & Ink  |  Photography: Weddings by Nicola and Glen, Floral Design: Euphoric Flowers

(middle row left to right): Invitation via Wedding Paper Divas  |  Romantic Antike Garden Rose stock image | Wood boxes via Accent Decor

(bottom row left to right): Photography: Lauren Kinsey, Floral Design: Bloom Floral Design  |  Queen Anne’s Lace stock image  | Linen via La Tavola  |  White Majolica Spray Rose stock image

 

 I’ve been hording the gorgeous results of Hallie and Eric’s beautiful celebration but will be sure to share them very very soon.

Shelby signature

 

Celebrations, Wedding Planning & Advice dusty blue wedding ideas, Hallie and Eric, inspiration board, mood board, real wedding, rustic wedding

Primary Sidebar

Featured Posts

Yellow poppy centerepice for spring wedding flowers

Mauve & Yellow Flowers for the Month of March

5 Flowers for the Month of March

5 Flowers for the Month of February

The Day’s Design’s Valentine’s Flowers

round table with blush and blue decor

Blush & Blue Winter Tabletop

More

As Seen On

EveryLastDetail

BurnettsBoard

Footer

Instagram

Instagram has returned invalid data.

Follow along with our adventures

  • Projects & Tutorials

Copyright © 2026 · Cravings Pro