a True Iowa Wedding

 My cousin Sara got married last weekend.  It was a great wedding and we are so happy for Sara and Colby.  I had the privilege to help out with the decor for the wedding. Colby worked at the Iowa State Fair grounds so he was able to rent the Agriculture building that is one of the biggest and oldest buildings on the grounds.
We went down and looked at the building in the middle of summer to see what we were in for.......

I must say it was a bit overwhelming. And really I wasn't there to help decorate, at least not yet.  I was very careful to even put my ideas out there because I knew that weddings were a special time for mothers and daughters and planning them together.  But as I was listening to Sara and how she wanted this place to feel, my mind started painting.  She mentioned that she wanted it to feel like home, like a wife had made a nice romantic meal for her husband with the table set with linens and candle light.  She wanted it not to feel country (as country as that girl is) but romantic and vintage.  So again my mind started painting....

 I went home printed out these before pictures and put my thoughts on paper.  This may sound really spiritual but I did whisper a prayer of help, for God to collect my thoughts and give me vision....keep in mind that I wasn't even asked to help with this wedding. This is something as an artist, 1st of all is fun for me, and this project was like a a big jigsaw puzzle that I had to put together. I think the size of the building really challenged and motivated me! Even though I had the understanding that this may not be what Sara wants at all and she may just want her and her mom to do it. But for me I just had to birth these ideas and get them OUT with no expectations of what people may think!  I didn't even know if I was going to show Sara and my Aunt the drawings....
So I literally I started drawing curtains and drapery on the photos and kept thinking we need to bring this ceiling down and everything we do must be big to do this building justice....then I thought, how about a big chandelier, and how romantic is that.....
Then I thought I should show this to Kim and Sara before I get too involved.  Boy was I ever nervous! I think as an artist I struggle with doubt even though I was completely confident in my design, I just didn't want to put myself out there.  And this is family why would I be nervous?!  Again I think it was the mother daughter thing.  I am a believer in nerves, I think they are healthy and good whenever you use your gift or talent, in some way that gave me confidence that I was on to something good..... and really I believe this idea was given to me as a gift,  it wasn't just me saying look at what I did! I believe it was something I had to share!  This keeps me grounded. So when Kim and Sara was happy with the design I was relieved, 1st of all that I didn't step on toes and that I got to see this vision played out / birthed!

When I 1st saw this building a fell in love with the wood ceilings and the beams.  I thought how manly and industrial.  But I wanted to bring it down, make this open room intimate/romantic and it needed a feminine touch, it needed Sara.   So like I said everything had to be big.....so we made a 6 foot chandelier!

With hundreds and hundreds of flowers!

 We started building the bones of the chandelier with PVC pipe.  I wanted this thing to be as light as we could make it.
I think  there is a side of me that wasn't always there before,  the logical side of my brain.  I had these big ideas but how in reality do you make this happen. Through this whole process I went through a lot of thinking and figuring from the chandelier to the drapes, .....but I wont' go into it, since it is a bit boring.....but tapping into that side of my brain has grown me as an artist and a person.

 Then we added the lights.....

 Then we added grape vine.  We found grapevine in peoples yards. Then we added fencing  for the flowers to go in.  The bones of the piece reminded me of a float you might see at a parade.

 We tried to use what we had.  We got flowers from other peoples weddings and then we made these paper flowers.  Hundreds of them.....

 They started out white and then we dipped them in coffee,tea and pink water.

 It was a family affair and my dad thought he would twirl the flowers with a drill, but by hand worked the best!

 Here is our bride at work.  This was the last of the Vanderpool girls to get married.  We were all so excited and it was such a celebration!

 We made sections of flowers and then attached it to the chandelier/ wreath.

 then it was time to put that baby up....it took 2 lifts. I love how classy the chandelier looked it gave it a Kentucky Derby feel!

 then we started draping fabric.  It was like frosting a cake.  I had my drawing in hand.  Even with my plan I doubted....but it started to look just like the drawing and I was amazed.  It was a gift to see it come together!

 We made 30 foot drapes.  Our good friend La Neysa who is an upholsterer (who taught me alot) helped us make them.  We used wire and turn buckles to hang them...

 It was starting to come together and have that warm feel.....the drapes did it!

 Here's a picture at the dress rehearsal.......my baby in the middle.  The room felt so warm and intimate yet cathedral like!

 Here's the other side of the room where the head table is with another set of drapes.  They really brought the room in....

 The bride walking down.....

 Sara designed the tables.  They collected bottles all summer and got boards to go as runners.  She had several long tables for people to sit and have dinner.

 So after much hard work and making it a beautiful place for the Allen wedding we just got to enjoy.....here's the outside the Agriculture Building.....

Sara and Colby with there flower children.....William and Fish on the right hand side.

 Our littlest one....Precious Lanie!

 Waiting to go down the isle.....

 My sister holding this sweet girl!

 It was a beautiful ceremony...

Great food.....

 and dancing.....

I didn't get a picture of Sara and Colby together.....but it was a beautiful day.  I can't think of a better place for them to get married it was so them!  The building was rustic and strong like Colby that needed a touch of Sara to make it a home!  Congrats to the both of you!