The Wilds, an Indiana barn wedding venue, is proof that rural is not synonymous with rustic.
Emily and Michael, Indiana University alumni, hosted an elegant summer wedding at The Wilds wedding venue in Bloomington, IN. This wedding proved that an Indiana barn wedding venue can be modern and luxurious. The colorful wildflower palette and bright, joyful aesthetic was both casual and refined. Learn more about the many ideas and wedding vendors that brought their dream wedding together below!
The Wilds, a Barn Wedding Venue that Broke the Mold
To host their epic day, Emily and Michael chose Bloomington, Indiana’s most sought after wedding venue, The Wilds wedding venue. The Wilds is perched atop the rolling hills of Brown County, IN on a breathtaking 125 acre stretch of farmland surrounded by forest, providing guests with unobstructed views for miles and the ultimate privacy.
Inspired by timeless, luxury farmhouses, The Wilds Wedding & Event Venue is truly unlike anything in the Midwest. It has all of the comforting elements we love about a barn wedding venue, such exposed timber beams and soaring ceilings, yet it takes on a more modern, elegant feel. Think comfortable, yet very sophisticated. High-end, modern farmhouse design. Think JoAnna Gaines!
Though the venue design and the great location are undeniably alluring, Emily and Michael were equally drawn to The Wilds individualized customer care, transparent pricing and all-inclusive approach!
Wedding Day Fashion with Meaning
Though some may consider The Wilds to be a premier Indiana barn wedding venue, Emily’s fashion sense was far from rustic. She steered clear of cowgirl boots and opted for timeless, baby blue Sam Edelman’s. Her elegant wedding gown, found at Marie Gabriel Couture Bridal, was designed by Pronovias and the bridesmaids dresses by Jenny Yoo. Michael and the groomsmen found their sleek blue Calvin Klein suits and J.S. Blank & Co. ties at Men’s Wearhouse.
To hold true to her natural, classic look, Emily did her own makeup and had Refeyeance style her hair with loose curls, gently pulled back and finished with some dainty daisies.
As with every detail of this wedding, the couples’ jewelry held significance and deep sentiment. The day Emily said, “yes!” to Michael, he slipped his grandmother’s ring on her finger. The little pearl drop earrings were made by Michael’s aunt. And as for the wedding bands, they worked with Argentum Jewelers, Bloomington’s fine jewelry staple since 1973.
Chic, Custom Wedding Stationary and Designer Signage
For their creative concept and design needs, Emily and Michael worked with no other than Creative in Bloom. You can learn more about preferred vendor, Creative In Bloom, in this vendor spotlight post! We asked Christine Wilson, the owner, to tell us how she made this couples vision a reality. She responded, “Emily was the kind of girl you felt you knew all of your life, so brainstorming with her was a dream. My jaw dropped and my brain when on creative overdrive when I saw her inspiration photo. I remember stopping her in mid-sentence, apologizing, and saying two words ‘SEED. PAPER.’ By the time our initial consultation was over, we had dreamed up so many exciting things that we were both giddy.”
Christine added, “I started the invitation design with watercolor paintings inspired by an Pinterest inspiration photo of the most beautiful spring bouquet. We printed everything on seed paper that could be planted to sprout ‘wild’ flowers. Each seed paper invitation and response card was hand fed through a digital printer, wrapped in vellum and sealed with wax. Then all 150 envelopes were hand-lettered in gold ink.”
The last step was to pull together all of the details for the day of the wedding. Creative in Bloom created table menus out of the seed paper, transportation cards for each hotel, moss table numbers, the welcome sign, bar sign, directional signs and the incredible moss wall seating concept in conjunction with Pomp & Bloom. Christine said, “Emily wanted a major WOW factor, and we delivered just that!”
Bright and Bold Wedding Flowers
Emily and Michael’s florist, Pomp & Bloom, was integral in bringing this elegant Indiana barn wedding venue vision to fruition. Their style is unique, unrestrained and organic, creating just the alluring look this couple was hoping for. From the grand moss escort card wall to the stunning ceremony pergola and mantle installments, and every table and corner in between, Pomp & Bloom’s floral artistry was striking. In fact, guests had to touch the flowers to see if they were real!
Classic Cake with a Modern Twist
Choosing Icing on the Cake by Kristina was a ‘cake-walk’, pun-intended. This three tier wedding cake was an absolute show-stopper. The white, buttercream cake was framed by a modern gold hoop and accented with bright florals from Pomp & Bloom, making for the perfect combination of classic and modern. One search for ‘white wedding cake’ on Pinterest, and you’re sure to find this popular pin on boards from coast to coast.
Keeping the Focus Local
As a couple who is settling down in the same town that brought them together, Emily and Michael wanted to share their love and support of Bloomington, IN with their wedding guests. They started by inviting guests to stay at the Graduate Bloomington and hosting their rehearsal dinner at DeAngelo’s, a go-to for Italian fare, made from scratch. They also organized an Indiana University campus tour for their guests on wedding day.
For those that couldn’t make the tour, Emily and Michael’s IU campus engagement session by Christa Hitchcock Photography was crafted into a beautiful guest book from Artifact Uprising.
Though, their show of support for Bloomington based businesses didn’t stop there. They opted to shop locally for their adorable favors as well. Guests were welcomed to enjoy a taste of Bloomington with bags of Honeymoon Blend Hopscotch Coffee and the smell of luxury with Rosmarino Candles to-go. They were also wed by officiant Amber Kent of Hoosier Officiant!
Fine Art Photography
Fine art photographer, Christa Hitchcock, was the perfect match for this renowned wedding at The Wilds modern, Indiana barn wedding venue. Christa’s timeless, romantic, and elegant style perfectly complemented the bright, joyous aesthetic of this farmhouse wedding.
You can learn more about preferred vendor, Christa Hitchcock Photography, in this vendor spotlight post!
Dine, Have Wine and Dance at This Premier Indiana Barn Wedding Venue
DJ Unique, the official DJ of Indiana University Athletics, kept the party on their feet, while local favorite, Upland Brewing Co. served up its signature Summer Champagne Punch and specialty craft beers.
Professional Vendor Team:
Wedding Ceremony & Reception Venue – The Wilds
Wedding Coordination – The Wilds
Photographer – Christa Hitchcock Photography
Custom Design, Invitations & Signage – Creative In Bloom
Florist – Pomp & Bloom
Wedding Cake – Icing on the Cake by Kristina
DJ – DJ Unique
Caterer – First Class Catering
Bartender – Upland Brewing Company
Officiant – Hoosier Officiant
Hair & Makeup – Best Wedding Hair & Makeup
Bridal Gown Designer – Pronovias
Bridal Gown Boutique – Marie Gabriel Couture
Bridesmaids Dresses – Jenny Yoo
Groom & Groomsmen Attire – Men’s Wearhouse
Rings – Argentum Jewelry
Rehearsal Dinner – DeAngelo’s Bloomington
Accommodations – Graduate Hotel
