The Farmhouse Rowdy Rustic Elegance | H&J 2023
Before Hannah and Justin met the BW Studio team, they didn’t know where to start with their planning process. They knew they had a big rowdy crowd of family and friends that would appreciate their homey rustic aesthetic somewhere near their roots… but where to start?! We quickly settled in on a beautiful venue in Plainfield called The Farmhouse as the ideal backdrop for their wedding day. And that’s when the fun really got started!
As self-proclaimed workaholics, both Hannah and Justin knew they would need lots of help guiding them through the planning process and the BW Studio team loved every minute of it!! We broke down their planning process into three simple phases for them to follow:
Phase One | Planning
Kick Off Meeting, Budget Mapping, Key Vendor Sourcing
Phase Two | Design
Concept Design and Development, Remaining Vendor Sourcing
Phase Three | Logistics
Timeline Creation, Vendor Coordination, and Décor Planning
With these phases in mind, we tackled their key vendor team members (such as the venue, catering team, photographers, and the entertainment), and then dove head first into their design concept. We made a mood board and kept making tweaks to it as the planning process developed. But Hannah wanted a modern twist on the typical rustic barn wedding, and stuck to her vision. The Farmhouse in Plainfield was absolutely perfect for that! With its multiple outdoor locations for ceremonies, bright white interior walls, beautiful open truss ceilings, and stunning chandeliers, we didn’t have to work too hard to bring Hannah’s vision to life!
On the big day, the bride’s wedding party kicked off their day with a personal chef making them a full spread breakfast treats while they got their hair and makeup done on site. (If you’re looking for a personal chef day-of, let me know!! The Gourmet Goddess is the best, I’ll connect you.) The gentlemen joined later for lunch and had their own private suite upstairs.
Photo sessions started in the venue's many beautiful gardens, and they were surprised with a tiny wedding day sprinkle. But we know that’s good luck, so we didn’t let it get us down! The couple enjoyed a private first look and then took their wedding party all over the grounds enjoying the versatility of The Farmhouse scenery!
Once guests started to arrive, we quickly wiped down all of the damp chairs, and welcomed them into the main garden for the ceremony. Their altar was a stunning stone fireplace covered in florals with an elevated level to give them a perfect view of all their guests and favorite people. The Local Petaler outdid themselves bringing the garden florals into the ceremony space, I can still smell these photos in my memory.
Cocktail hour was held across two smaller barns and all of the gardens. One barn housed a lively cigar lounge and cocktail bar. The other showcased our ring photo booth brought by the photography team. Guests could also mingle throughout the main gardens and grab a drink from the back of the largest barn through a fun passage door.
Once we were ready to greet guests into the reception hall, we took them on a lovely walk around the front of the building to queue them into the space and give them the best possible view of The Farmhouse and the reception hall. This also allowed the couple and parents to greet people as they entered. Guests quickly found their tables and the party kicked off.
Introductions, musical toasts, and a live band kicked off the evening that was sure to remain a favorite of everyone that attended! The dance floor never emptied out. A large spread of different flavored cheesecakes were on display in the lounge area. And we also moved the photo booth into that space so guests could stay inside once the storm officially rolled in.
A huge thank you to the creative team that pulled of this gorgeous wedding day:
Venue: The Farmhouse Plainfield // Photo: This is Feeling // Florist: The Local Petaler // Catering: True Cuisine // Cheesecakes: Stewarts' Cheesecakes // Entertainment: Bluewater Kings Band // Hair & Makeup: Patty McGuire Hair and Makeup Artists // Dress: Wolsfel’s Bridal // Bridesmaids: Azazie // Suits: SuitShop // Hotel: Holiday Inn Express & Suites // Day Of Brunch: The Gourmet Goddess // Alcohol: Prestige Wine & Spirits // Bartending: 11th Hour Bartending // Transportation: Naperville Limousine // Rentals: Tablescapes Event Rentals // Rehearsal Dinner: Hopscotch & Vine // Planning: BW Studio + Events