A Whimsical, Casual DIY Wedding in a Barn in Idaho

Nichole and Matthew

Heading home after a long day of work, Matthew Schoener decided to pop into a restaurant for a beer. As serendipity would have it, Nichole Rowley was his server that evening. "Out of some wild hair, I decided to leave my phone number on his receipt –- the rest is history," said Nichole. Three years later, on September 23, 2012, they tied the knot with a ceremony and celebration as playful as the first night they met.

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The Location

The bride envisioned a wedding day full of whimsy and sentiment. As soon as she went on a site visit of the Community Barn at Hidden Springs, she couldn't picture her and Matthew's special day anywhere else.

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The Invitation

The bride, a stationery designer for Dear Ampersand, designed the entire stationery suite herself.

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Her Look

Nichole accessorized her J.Crew gown with teal Seychelles shoes found at Anthropologie.

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The Accessories

For the ceremony, Nichole donned a headpiece by BHLDN, a beaded necklace from Anthropologie, and stud earrings from Cost Plus World Market to match her necklace and shoes. She also wore a gold belt from Old Navy that she later swapped out for a blue Fossil cincher post-ceremony.

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The Bouquet

All floral arrangements, including Matthew's boutonniere and the centerpieces, were handmade with paper by the bride and her mother. Nichole received so many compliments that she opened her own Etsy shop.

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His Look

The groom sported a suit by J.Crew including a Bella Grace Creations handmade tie.

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Family Love

Though the bride and groom didn't technically a bridal party, their four nieces and four nephews had roles as flower girls and ring bearers. The girls' dresses were custom made by Bella Grace Creations, as were the boys' ties.

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The Portraits

Nichole changed her accessories and hair before the reception. Ampersand Studios took portraits of the bride in both ensembles.

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DIY Style

To incorporate their fun-loving flair and creative talent, the couple made nearly every detail themselves, including signage guiding guests to the various parts of the celebration.

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Handcrafted Touches

A collage of windowpanes restored by the bride's grandfather and constructed by the groom served as a backdrop for the ceremony.

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A Convenient Collection

The bride's longstanding tradition of collecting vintage doorknobs came in handy -- they were repurposed as cabinet pulls creating a fairytale-like feel.

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The Programs

The bride added a festive touch to her programs by using washi tape to attach little bags of paper streamers for the guests to toss as they walked up the aisle.

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Festive Accents

The program add-ons made guests feel like an important part of the ceremony -- and provided for a great photo opportunity!

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The Vows

Traditional vows were read, followed by personal vows written by the bride and groom. The vows were then sealed in a wine box to be opened on their first anniversary.

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A Special Blessing

One of the most memorable moments of the evening happened just after the ceremony, when a brilliant rainbow stretched across the sky. "Matt's mother passed away when he was a little boy and on her gravestone reads: 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow.' Although I never had the joy of knowing her, something in me thinks that maybe that was her way of showing she was there with us that day," said Nichole.

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Creative Genes

The bride's sister wore a handmade dress and wrist corsage that matched the color palette.

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Special Sips

No detail was left unpersonalized. The bride attached mini paper flags onto barbershop style straws reading the couple's initials and "Oh Joy!" exclamations.

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Photobooth Fun

Snapshots of guests were later turned into a stop-motion film.

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Guest Libs

To keep guests entertained during cocktail hour, the bride made custom Mad Libs-style cards.

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Custom Cornhole

As a nod to their favorite game, the groom made a custom cornhole board for their "Super Day", which the bride painted.

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A Big Impact

Oversized pinwheels were placed around the venue.

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Unique Escort Cards

As a way to incorporate their guests into the wedding theme, mini pinwheels served as escort cards, matching the five-foot tall versions scattered across the property.

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