Lord - Barn Weddings

Barn Weddings

Maggie Lord

Barn Weddings

Digital Edition 1.0

Text 2013 Maggie Lord

Photographs 2013 as noted

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced by any means whatsoever without written permission from the publisher, except brief portions quoted for purpose of review.

Gibbs Smith

P.O. Box 667

Layton, Utah 84041

Orders: 1.800.835.4993

www.gibbs-smith.com

ISBN: 978-1-4236-3166-8

No matter the location, size, budget or style, all weddings are dependent on the support of family, friends and loved ones. This book is inspired by all the couples who call upon their families and friends to help make their wedding experience a meaningful journey. No wedding has ever come off successfully without a little elbow grease and determination, much of which is done by the support team around the bride and groom. This book, much like a wedding, is the culmination of both hard work and passion and is made possible by the amazing support team I am surrounded with both personally and professionally.

To Kate McKenna and Maggie Carson Romano for being wonderful style gurus who provide endless amounts of inspiration in a wide variety of forms. To my East Coast freelancers in The 504 who are always ready to help.

Once again, to the team at Gibbs Smith Books, especially my editor, Hollie Keith, who makes the process of creating a book an enjoyable and exciting one.

Thank you to all the wedding vendors and wedding professionals who added their knowledge, artistic abilities and skills to this book. I cannot thank you enough.

To my close friends and family, for all the support they provide.

To my husband, Jon, and our son, Jack, who make my life complete.

And lastly, to my family, who without you, none of this would be possible or worthwhile.

A barn is a magical place for a wedding. Steeped in history and evoking the simplicity of a place that time has forgotten, the classic American barn has been a subject irresistible to artists, poets, and city folk alike for its stoic visage and endearing presence. Hosting a rustic barn wedding not only allows the betrothed couple the space to gather amongst their nearest and dearest together under one roof, but the pure, utilitarian framework is the basis for a fully customizable wedding aesthetic. Whether a simple celebration of the good life in the countryside or an elegant, sophisticated affair, a barn is the perfect backdrop for a singularly gorgeous wedding day.

Underscored by the history and romance of life on the farm, the barn is an essential part of the American landscape. Straightforward in its construction yet sturdy enough to last for generations, the barn has always been a shelter and gathering place. Set on majestic and peaceful countryside away from the hectic bustle of the city, the barn cant help but suggest a feeling of sanctuary and shelter to all who enter into its warm embrace. The rich history of the structure extends back to European and North American farming families who lived in homes that were attached or integrated into barns. Vermont, in particular, is famous for its farmhouses that connect to the adjacent barns, enabling farm families to care for their livestock during the brutal winter months without ever leaving the protection of the indoors.

Despite the storybook image of the small red barn with white trim perched atop a rolling hill, barn design and architecture varies depending on the traditions of the people the barns served, the conditions to which they had to adapt, and the specific functions for which they were used. The round barns of New England nod to the regions Shaker past, while the large dairy barns of the Midwest maintain the age-old tradition of the red-colored barn. The color stems from the traditional orange-red stain left by linseed oil, often mixed with rust, that farmers once used to treat and seal the wood of a new barn.

Barns were, for many communities, the only venue outside the local church that could house all the townspeople for special events and celebrations. Dances, lectures, and meetings were all centered around the barn. For a modern couple, a barn wedding harkens back to the old-fashioned tradition of a barn raising. In order to build such an important structure, neighbors and community members rallied together to help build the barn and, in so doing, embodied the maxim that many hands make light work. For a couple vowing to build a strong and loving marriage, how better to start off married life than with the support of your friends and family to help you rise to the challenge.

Inherent in the choice to have a barn wedding offers a great deal of flexibility and ample room for imagination. Your ceremony and reception can use the barn as a backdrop for a lovely day in the fresh country air. It can serve as the perfect canvas for an indoor reception, draped by twinkling lights hung from the rafters and the glow of candles from tables full of loved ones. A barn works equally well as a backup for inclement weather or as the centerpiece of a weddings design. Part indoor, part outdoor, but all beautiful, historic and romantic, barn weddings are as practical as they are ripe with opportunity for chic charm and creativity.

After writing Rustic Wedding Chic I was inspired to explore another style of rustic weddings and showcase the best of what barn weddings have to offer. I hope you find this book as inspiring and magical as it was for me to write.

Barns have a personality and style all their own due to their natural beauty, country charisma, and effortless charm. The right barn can provide the backdrop for a wedding that is sure to stand out from the crowd and be remembered for years to come. From majestic barns in the Northeast to Midwestern diary barns to the quaint backyard barns in the Deep South, each barn is 100 percent unique.

A long and narrow barn is the setting for a wedding cocktail hour. Strands of lights are hung above to add an element of elegance.