Pastel pink and mauve hues, a sleek modern gown, and a rustic chic venue at Ashton Hill Farm in Iowa are just a few details from this adorable wedding.
Emily and Devonte’s original 2020 wedding plans never came to be due to COVID; however, the pandemic couldn’t stop their love! They officially said “I Do” on October 3, 2020, and planned an actual wedding celebration one year later on their first anniversary.
On October 3, 2021, they gathered friends and family together at Ashton Hill Farm in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to exchange vows once more. The day was filled with intimate moments celebrating their first year together including a joyful first look, a unity candle ceremony, and a special first dance.
Other highlights included florals by Studio Bloom (some of which were picked straight from owner Tiffany’s garden!), the bridesmaid bouquets doubling as centerpieces, and a sparkler send-off. Every moment was beautifully captured by Bethany McNeill.
More sweet details on their love story below!
- Couple: Devonte & Emily Everett
- Occupations: Fourth Grade Teacher, Insurance Sales Manager
Quick Facts:
- Wedding date: October 3, 2021
- Wedding location: Ashton Hill Farm, Cedar Rapids, IA
- Bridesmaids & groomsmen gifts: Bridesmaids received Robes to wear the morning of earrings, lotion, and tinted lip balms. Groomsmen received speakers.
- Ceremony entrance song: “All of the Lights” by Kanye West
- First dance song: “XO” by John Mayer
How they met…
In an Intro to Literature class at the University of Iowa during our freshman year of college.
The proposal…
He proposed in Cocoa Beach, Florida during one of our first big trips together. We drove from Orlando to Cocoa Beach for the day and we took a walk on the beach after dinner. It was just him and I there, and then all of the sudden he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him and of course I said yes.
Wedding style, attire, & wedding shopping experience…
The dress:
My dress was modern and simple. It had a super long train with buttons all the way down the back. I tried on tons of dresses before I found “the one.” I probably tried on at least ten dresses at four different stores. Because I can be a little bit indecisive, I wanted to make sure I loved my dress. I had another dress picked out that I was leaning towards for a long time. It looks a lot like the dresses that are very popular right now, with lots of sparkles and lace.
Shopping experience
Because of Covid, we ended up having to reschedule our wedding, and I kept seeing pictures of these super simple, super modern dresses and something told me that I needed to try on a dress like that.
So the next time I went in to try on the dress I had previously picked out, I showed the woman helping me a picture of the dress I had in mind and she said “I think I have something like that.” When she brought it in and I tried it on, and immediately I knew that way my dress. When I look back now, I’m so happy I made that decision. I love how timeless the dress is.
The suit:
The one thing that I knew I wanted was a dark gray suit and I wanted to keep it clean with a black tie or bow tie. I chose a Joseph Abboud tux from Men’s Warehouse. My groomsmen also wore the same tux, with mauve ties to match the bridesmaid dresses.
Cultural elements…
One of the ways that we tried to incorporate culture into our wedding is by playing music throughout the day that we love and that represents who we are. We played a lot of music that we grew up with that we knew our family would enjoy, and then when it was time for the dancing portion of the night we played predominantly hiphop and rap music from some of our favorite artists.
A scenic ceremony…
Reception space & decor…
The cake…
Best wedding day memory…
My best memory from our wedding was our first dance. It was one of the first moments of the day when it felt like things finally slowed down and I was able to enjoy a really special moment with my husband. I was really able to soak it all in during that moment.
Advice for other engaged couples…
My best advice is to make sure to find little moments during the day to soak it all in and enjoy yourselves. The day really does go by so fast and you may not get the chance to talk to every single person and that is okay. It is your wedding too and at some point it’s okay for you to be a little bit selfish about your time and go enjoy yourself. Give people a quick hug and then get to the dance floor and have fun.
Looking for more weddings like this one at Ashton Hill Farm?
Click here for more rustic chic inspiration!
Vendors:
- Wedding dress designer: Stella York
- Wedding dress salon: I Do Bridal (Galena, IL)
- Bridesmaids dresses: Azazie
- Hair/makeup: Lindsey Michelle Rolling
- Hair/makeup: Moods Salon + Spa
- Shoes: Badgley Mischka
- Ceremony & reception location: Ashton Hill Farm
- Photography: Bethany McNeill
- Florist: Studio Bloom
- Cake: Take the Cake Desserts
- Stationery: Allegra Iowa City
- Groom’s attire: Men’s Warehouse
- Groomsmen attire: Men’s Warehouse
- Officiant: Scherie Gates
- Popcorn: Almost Famous Popcorn
- Catering: Perrin Catering
- Rentals: Borrow My Vintage
- DJ: Marcos Gonzalez
- Wedding Submission Services: Published + Pretty
Leave a Reply