Samantha and Derek are a sweet-as-can-be couple who had a sweet-as-can-be wedding.
Held at The Hay Loft Barn in Watertown, Wisconsin, and photographed by Vital Image, their fall wedding was full of thoughtful DIY details.
Nearly all of the event’s decor was made by Samantha and Derek themselves, while family pitched in to lend their talents, too. Samantha’s dress was custom-made by Derek’s aunt—with an extra special touch, featuring the bride’s own mother’s wedding dress transformed into the gown’s lining (Samantha also wore her mother’s wedding veil, too). Samantha’s great-grandmother made the bride’s garter.
At the ceremony (full of movie quotes in a nod to the bride’s love of Disney) was another especially meaningful project: a bench handmade by Derek for Samantha to sit on—for a very important reason.
“I have Parkinson’s disease and cannot stand for long periods of time,” says Samantha. “Derek built me the bench to use if I could not stand any longer during the ceremony. I did end up using it during the readings and hymn so I could conserve my energy.”
At the reception, the couple skipped the traditional cake, serving instead four different kinds of pie: pumpkin, French silk, cookies and cream, and caramel apple.
During the father-daughter dance, the bride surprised her dad with a song that he himself had written years before.
“The song was called ‘Why Not Me?’ and was about me being diagnosed with Parkinson’s,” says Samantha. “It was about why I got Parkinson’s and not him. He had a friend (who was the piano player in our wedding band) compose the lyrics to music and played it for me shortly after my engagement. He had no clue I had planned this and started crying when it came on.”
Derek and Samantha, you are a special couple with an absolutely special wedding day―thanks so much for sharing it with us!
Vendor Credits
Venue: The Hay Loft
Photography and Videography: Vital Image
Florals: Jess Fluer Fun
Pies: Sweet Talkin’ Treats
Band: Kris Crow Band
DJ: Jake Durnil
Catering: Davians
Hair and Makeup: Brio Salon
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