Current trends were influenced by the British interest in fairy gardens.
Flowers, aloft, provide color and at the same time soften barn rafters. Suspended wire hearts lit with tiny bulbs sprinkle light across wooden floors. Moss provides a nest for votive candles on rustic tables. If you’re attending a wedding this year, chances are you’re going elegant country.
“England is really the trendsetter,” says Nicki East of Enhancements in Dodgeville. There, the style shows a reverence for the past as well as the rougher edges of the landscape — and a fascination with fairy gardens.
East, a wedding florist for more than 10 years, says these elements morphed into the current wedding passion for all things timeless and earthy. Tree branches, especially birch, are popular as part of the décor, as are actual tree stumps, used as accents. Moss may hang from light fixtures. You might even see deer antlers.
Pinterest, the product-photo sharing site, has led the way in spreading the look, says East. Barn weddings, for instance, are still popular, with the number of rentable rural event sites in southern Wisconsin continuing to grow.
“It’s not so country cute, but vintage with a rustic edge,” East says. Her shop showcases the trend with balls of moss under domed glass lids for table ornamentation, for instance.
East says the earthy influence is seen in the flowers carried by brides and bridesmaids as well.
“They want the flowers loose and flowing, like they were just picked from Grandma’s garden,” says East.
If brides want a bit of swank, she suggests adding goblets and candelabras to the dinner table.
East’s biggest challenge right now is sorting out how to hang and power chandeliers in outdoor tents and still make it look vintage and earthy.
The woodsy look has redefined the setting, the aisle, the bouquets and the wedding dress itself.
Brandi Nehmer of Brandi’s Bridal Galleria in New Glarus says that the old preference of satin for church weddings, with chiffon relegated to the beach, has been left behind. Chiffon now makes up about 70% of the bridesmaid dresses she sells.
As for bridal wear, “The gown drives the atmosphere, and this year brides are coming in looking for the whimsical, soft and earthy,” she says. The preferred fabrics are lighter-weight, even sheer tulle. Sleeves may have a see-through effect, with lace that looks tattooed. Beading is popular for outdoor weddings, says Nehmer, because “outside the dress will ‘pop’ in the sunshine.”
Enhancements 225 N. Iowa St., Dodgeville, 608-935-9787, enhancementsflowers.com
Brandi’s Bridal Galleria 12 14th Ave., New Glarus, brandisbridal.com
Where to wed
Paradise Park.
Paradise Park in Cottage Grove is one of several area destinations at which to hold a rustic celebration.
Michelle Hauge and her husband, Kerry, bought his family’s 20-acre farm more than two decades ago and transformed the woods and cropland into lush gardens for outdoor wedding celebrations.
“There are lots of ferns,” says Hauge. Paradise Park features a rustic wooden bridge over a small ravine connecting to a woodland trail, ponds and other water features. The bridge is covered in moss, she adds, and is a much-sought-after spot for the ceremony and photos.
Hauge says Paradise Park bookings for 2016 are down slightly. “It’s competitive,” she says of the growing demand for outside rural wedding venues.
East says two-thirds of her brides come from Madison, seeking a setting that’s comfortable and unfussy. Her barn venue bookings are up this year for one simple reason: “There are more barns available.”
Paradise Park 3109 Oak St., Cottage Grove., 608-873-4084, paradiseparkweddings.com
Other nearby spots for country weddings
The Sugarland barn.
Sugarland
40 acres, barn, 1850s Colonial revival farmhouse
8637 Linley Rd., Arena; 608-795-4909, sugarland-weddings.com
The Barn at Harvest Moon Pond
ADA-compliant, 150-year-old barn, grounds
N3540 Hwy. 22, Poynette; 608-635-4344, barnharvestmoon.com
MJ’s Farm
75-acre working farm
Marshall, 608-358-3626, mjsfarm.com/index.html
Over the Vines
barn and vineyard
1242 Hwy. 73, Edgerton; 608-884-1023, overthevines.com
Century Barn
100-year-old barn, 200 acres; equine center
2505 Hwy 78, Mout Horeb; 608-845-1502, ext. 2234, www.centurybarn.com
Bridle Barns and Gardens
1870s horse barn, 14 acres
9736 Blue Valley Rd., Mount Horeb; 608-220-7500, bridlebarnandgardens.com
Mary Koh
The Barn at Windy Pine.
The Barn at Windy Pine
updated 19th-century dairy barn
W11747 Buss Lane, Waterloo; 920-623-3984, barnwindypine.com
Farmin’ Betty’s
100-year-old barn
Columbus; 414-899-5311, farminbettys.com
