Claire and Allan met at the Junior Farmers’ Association of Ontario, an organization that the two were both really involved in got to spend time together at many events that the organization held throughout the year. It wasn’t long before the two became inseparable. Allan proposed on Thanksgiving weekend at his grandparent’s farm in Coboconk, Ontario. The couple was walking in the farm fields on a beautiful fall afternoon when Allan popped the question. “Allan knows fall is my favourite season and few things are more beautiful than when the leaves change colour, so it was the perfect proposal,” says the bride.
One of the couple’s favourite wedding moments included their grand entrance into their reception. The groom carried the bride into the barn in a large wheelbarrow that she lined with a red quilt and had painted the farm name on it. “The crowd loved it and cheered so loudly, as it was something most of them had never seen before,” says Claire. “The rest of the wedding party entered playing old fashioned games, such as three legged races, and sack races, and it was really fun.”
The couple’s big day was filled with fall-themed décor, including on of their favourite details, handkerchiefs. Claire and Allan used red handkerchiefs as napkins and stuffed them in mason jars with cutlery for each person. “People could keep the handkerchief and the mason jar at the end of the night as a thank-you,” says the bride. They also used handkerchiefs around the bottom of the some of the bouquets, and for boutonnieres for the groomsmen, combined with strands of wheat and burlap.
Photographer: The father of one of the bridesmaids
Ceremony and reception location: Birch Bark Farm in Pefferlaw, Ontario
Reception décor: DIY
Bridal gown: Champagne-coloured bridesmaid dress from Vera Wang
Bridesmaid gowns: Alfred Angelo
Bridal/ bridesmaid accessorie: DIY by the bride
Hair: Betty Demjen
Makeup: DIY
Cake: Desserts made by various family members and the groom’s sister Liz Francis
Favours: Mason jars with handkerchiefs and seed packets with gardening gloves; DIY by the bride.
Flowers: DIY by the bride and her mother
Invitations: DIY
