Autumnal Charm for Niki & Nick’s The Barn At Cottonwood Wedding
Niki and Nick’s wedding was a splendid autumnal affair, effortlessly blending modern aesthetics with rustic charm.
After making a list of over 30 venues and scouting several locations it was Niki’s dad that suggested his backyard, Niki’s childhood home, as a venue. Sure, this may have been an excuse for Niki’s dad to build a new fence and invest a little more than usual into plants and backyard florals, but for Nick and Niki, it just felt right. This was the slogan Niki and Nick told themselves when designing the wedding: don’t stop designing until it just feels right.
Set against the picturesque backdrop of Niki’s childhood backyard, the couple’s ceremony was a heartwarming homage to love, family and the couple’s shared passion for hosting memorable events. The autumn season inspired the wedding’s color palette, incorporating rich tones of burnt oranges, rusts and earthy hues that perfectly complemented this outdoor setting. Even with unexpected rain showers and having to move the ceremony into a tent, nothing put a damper on the magic of this ceremony.
For their reception, the couple transitioned festivities to The Barn at Cottonwood, a beautiful Amish-built barn wedding venue. As guests arrived, they were greeted with a live-edge wood welcome sign, a wood-stained seating chart card wall featuring personalized notes for each guest, a champagne wall and live guitar music, with songs hand-picked by the couple. These handmade elements not only highlighted the couple’s creativity but also added a personal touch to the festivities.
In a surprise twist, Niki and Nick wowed their guests with a personalized dance routine that seamlessly combined solos, bachata, waltz and a dramatic dip twirl ending in a perfect kiss. This special performance set the stage for an evening of revelry, with the DJ spinning tunes that kept the dance floor buzzing. Guests were given glowsticks, adding a vibrant glow to the already electric atmosphere. To keep the energy high, guests enjoyed wedding cake from Fleckenstein’s, s’more stations on the back patio and a late-night snack of pulled pork and Nashville hot sliders.
From the personalized details to the rustic setting, every element was designed to create an unforgettable experience. Their journey from venue hunting to the magical day itself embodied their motto: “Don’t stop designing until it just feels right.” And indeed, everything about Niki and Nick’s wedding felt perfectly right.
Vendors
PHOTOGRAPHER Claudia Jo Photography
VIDEOGRAPHER Swift Weddings & MindFlix Films
CEREMONY VENUE Private Residence
RECEPTION VENUE The Barn at Cottonwood
PLANNER Kristina Jones Events
FLORAL Ordinary Seed
HAIR Lik Salon
MAKEUP Appease Inc.
BRIDE’S GOWN Anthropologie Weddings
GROOM’S FORMALWEAR Indochino
STATIONERY Mite Printing
CALLIGRAPHY Gertie’s Calligraphy
LINENS BBJ La Tavola
DRINKWARE Dish and Décor Vintage Rental
CHAIR RENTALS Well Dressed Tables
TENT Elegant Presentations
CATERING Beyond Catering Events
CAKE Fleckenstein’s Bakery
GUITARIST Sarah Coco
ENTERTAINMENT Midwest Best DJs
AUDIO GUEST BOOK FêteFone
PARTY BUS Emperor Limousine & Party Bus
PHOTO BOOTH Focal Point Photo Booths
CHOREOGRAPHER Amy Jesionowski
