Featured Wedding: Raquel & Tyler
We love a good summer wedding.
(especially when it comes with an adorable love story!)
Raquel & Tyler’s beautiful August 2019 wedding fell on a bright and warm summer day at the Farm.
Their dreamy day was complimented so perfectly by their warm color palette, and (of course!) by their love for each other! Captured by Megan Ruf, Raquel & Tyler celebrated their love story surrounded by their closest friends and family from their hometowns of Pittsburgh and Connecticut.
We love a good summer wedding.
(especially when it comes with an adorable love story!)
Raquel & Tyler’s beautiful August 2019 wedding fell on a bright and warm summer day at the Farm.
Their dreamy day was complimented so perfectly by their warm color palette, and (of course!) by their love for each other! Captured by Megan Ruf, Raquel & Tyler celebrated their love story surrounded by their closest friends and family from their hometowns of Pittsburgh and Connecticut.
Raquel & Tyler made the day their own by bringing in a combination of local vendors and vendors from their hometown! The catering teams from local Diana’s Cafe and the Pizza Wagon teamed up with Connecticut vendors such as Alpha Imagery and One Plug Entertainment, The full list of vendors are listed at the bottom of the blog!
Raquel & Tyler, we are so thankful that you found us and are absolutely thrilled to have been able to serve you on your wedding day!
The Engagement Story
“We had taken a trip to Pittsburgh for Christmas (we alternate holidays with our families), so my family did a Secret Santa that year and the plan was to wait until New Years Eve to open gifts. This way we were able to celebrate Christmas with both families. Well, we were on our way home from Pittsburgh the day before New Years Eve and Tyler was acting very strange. He barely spoke the entire ride home and when he did speak, he acted very awkward, haha. I asked him numerous times what was wrong, but he kept saying he was fine and that nothing was wrong. I obviously wasn’t buying it, so I asked him once more what was wrong, to which he replied with “You’ll see, don’t worry”. When he said that, half of me was confused at his response, but the other half started suspecting a proposal was coming because he had been infamous for acting very strange before he made a big gesture. Fast forward to the next day at my sibling’s house! We were all having so much fun, except Tyler. For hours he stood in the kitchen with his hand in his pocket, silent. He barely spoke to anyone, which again was so odd! I was actually starting to get annoyed with him, haha. Well, it finally came time to do our Secret Santa and open gifts. The entire family sat in a circle and one-by-one the gifts were dispersed and opened. I just so happened to be the last one in the circle to open their gift. My brother came from the other room to hand me a gift bag. When I opened it, there was a photo of Tyler and I at one of his baseball games. Both of our backs were turned towards the camera, showing his last name on his jersey and his last name on the back of my T-shirt (Obviously I wanted to be his biggest cheerleader). Tyler then told me to flip the picture over. On the back he had written ‘I want to start the New Year off right by knowing you’ll wear my last name, permanently’. He then got down on one knee and asked me to marry him!! I actually didn’t even hear him ask me because my brother-in-law had yelled out ‘oh my god!’, but I still said yes!”
Finding the Farm:
“Since Tyler’s family is from Pittsburgh and mine from Connecticut, we wanted a location that was somewhat in the middle. We knew we wanted a rustic, farm venue, however when we googled ‘farm wedding venues in eastern PA’, every venue that popped up was out of our budget. So, I decided to take a chance and google just ‘farms in eastern PA’ and check to see if any also hosted weddings! I felt like it was a shot in the dark, but we ended up coming across The Farm and when we saw their gorgeous property also hosted weddings, we fell head over heels in LOVE! They were the first and last venue we toured!”
Raquel & Tyler’s Wedding Day:
“Honestly, I don’t even know where to start! From the very first tour, to the day after our wedding, we had nothing but the most perfect experience. Not only did we love that it was a family business, but Becca and her husband showed so much hospitality every step of the way. It really made us feel like we were a part of the family and that meant more to us than anything else. I also cannot say enough great things about our coordinator, Caris, and neither could our guests!”
“I think my favorite aspect of The Farm is that it is a venue AND a bakery. The desserts are to die for, and they allow us to reminisce on our big day by being able to purchase desserts from them! Although we don’t live close, Tyler and I made a promise to each other to make a trip out to The Farm each year to buy a cake to enjoy for our anniversary!“
“My favorite part of our day was exchanging vows! I am the romantic in our relationship, so hearing him pour his heart out to me made me fall in love with him all over again.”
Raquel and Tyler, we are so thankful for the opportunity to celebrate your marriage with you both on your wedding day! We wish you a lifetime of happiness together - and we can’t wait to see you again on your anniversary.
Meet the vendors who made Raquel & Tyler’s wedding day so special!
Venue: the Farm Bakery and Events
Dessert: the Farm Bakery and Events
Coordinating: the Farm Bakery and Events
Photographer: Megan Ruf Photography
Videographer: Alpha Imagery
Cocktail Hour Catering: Diana’s Cafe
Reception Catering: the Pizza Wagon
Rustic Details Provided by the Farm Bakery and Events
Wedding Cake
Wedding Cake Stand
Rustic Wooden Ceremony Arch
Folding White Ceremony Chairs
Featured Wedding: Sarah & Scott's Indoor Ceremony!
“It’s like rain on your wedding day” - Alanis Morissette
That might sound like a bad thing - but believe it or not, rain on your wedding day is actually widely considered to be good luck!
Most couples (but not all!) who book with us are looking to hold their ceremony at our outdoor ceremony site, complete with a beautiful wooden arbor and surrounded by tall fields blowing in the breeze.
“It’s like rain on your wedding day” - Alanis Morissette
That might sound like a bad thing - but believe it or not, rain on your wedding day is actually widely considered to be good luck!
Most couples (but not all!) who book with us are looking to hold their ceremony at our outdoor ceremony site, complete with a beautiful wooden arbor and surrounded by tall fields blowing in the breeze.
Alanis Morissette said it best, but one of the biggest factors when planning for an outdoor ceremony is making sure that you have a good backup plan in case the weather is less than perfect. No matter where you are having your wedding, it is so important to have a rain plan thought out ahead of time, just in case. This is one of the biggest questions we are asked when couples first come to tour with us, and one that we are thankful to say we have an amazing system for! Ultimately, we are able to offer a lot of options that depend on a lot of different factors (such as your guest count, the severity of the weather, and your personal preference!). We are able to accommodate bringing in tents to cover the ceremony space, and also have two potential indoor ceremony options depending on your guest count!
So, what happens when (for one reason or another) we host your ceremony indoors?
We wanted to give you the inside scoop by walking you through the wedding of one of our October 2018 couples who held their wedding ceremony and reception in our Seed Barn. Sarah & Scott had a beautiful day full of love and laughter, surrounded by their dearest friends and family. One of the other reasons we adore this wedding is because Sarah & Scott are related to one of our Wedding Coordinators, Caris Green! Caris was Sarah’s Matron of Honor and we are so immensely thankful to have met Caris through this wedding!
The process of creating a rain plan begins long before the wedding day. Each of our couples is assigned a wedding coordinator included through the Farm who will be their point person of contact throughout their planning process. They meet with the couples to discuss the details of the wedding day, including putting together a rain plan. We confirm the details of this plan well ahead of time so that, in the event of rain, we are ready to execute it perfectly without having to work through any nitty-gritty details during your wedding day. We’ll handle the moving parts of your big day so that you and the love of your life can enjoy this amazing time with your loved ones (and with each other) without having to manage any of these details yourselves.
Sarah and Scott held their ceremony inside our Seed Barn. It wasn’t rainy on their wedding day, but it was chilly and windy, so they elected to have their ceremony indoors.
We have a couple of different options to move a ceremony indoors. The Seed Barn is able to accommodate up to 200 guests ceremony-style, utilizing our rustic wooden cross-back chairs. The newest addition to our property, the Harvest Barn, can host more intimate ceremonies as well. Stay tuned for another blog post to see what a ceremony in the Harvest Barn looks like in the coming months!
Sarah & Scott’s processional was greeted with a grand entrance through the Seed Barn Doors, before making their way down the aisle for their beautiful ceremony.
The beams in the Seed Barn serve the purpose of an arbor to frame your ceremony, hang floral installments, and hold the special details and decorations of your ceremony. Whether your initial plan was to hold your ceremony outdoors or you planned for an indoor ceremony from the beginning, rest assured that we can accommodate the personalizations you want to include in your ceremony!
After the ceremony, we usher the bridal party and all your guests down to our open-air, fully covered patio for cocktail hour. If there is inclement weather on your wedding day, we are well equipped with plenty of umbrellas to help your guests and bridal party around our property.
While you and your new spouse enjoy your cocktail hour spending time with your guests, taking a moment to yourselves, or taking dreamy portraits with your photographer, our Farm staff teams up with your catering staff to transform the Seed Barn for your reception! Before the ceremony, we ensure that your tables are fully set up, complete with linen and your centerpieces, and moved to line the walls of the Seed Barn during your ceremony. After your ceremony, while you and your guests enjoy cocktail hour, we transform the Seed Barn and set up the floor plan for your reception. We refresh the tables and complete any additional set-up that might be needed, allowing for a grand reveal of the space when your guests enter for the reception.
When your guests return to the Seed Barn for your reception, they are greeted by a fully refreshed space complete with all of the special details that make the space your own! When you make your grand entrance to the Barn, every detail will have been accounted for so you are able to simply enjoy your wedding day with all your favorite people.
We work with incredible teams of vendors who are all there to ensuring that, rain or shine, your wedding day is even more special than you dreamed. The vendors on our preferred list are people who we trust to give our couples the highest level of service, especially on occasions where we may have to resort to a rain plan.
Sarah & Scott enjoyed a beautiful reception catered by 2 Little Piggys with Chris Marx Events as their DJ, captured beautifully by Stacy Salvatori. This was a fantastic showcase of the vendors on our preferred list, and we can’t recommend them enough!
The Farm Bakery and Events supplied their wedding cake and rustic dessert table.
Sarah and Scott, we are so thankful that you chose us to host your wedding! Your indoor ceremony was so beautiful, and we are truly blessed to have been able to serve you and celebrate with you on your wedding day! We wish you a long and happy life together!
See below for the full list of Sarah & Scott’s amazing team of vendors!
Venue: the Farm Bakery and Events
Desserts: the Farm Bakery and Events
Coordinating: Susanna, the Farm Bakery and Events
Photography: Stacy Salvatori Photography
Catering: 2 Little Piggys
Florals: Froggy’s Garden Flowers
See below for the full list of items in this gallery supplied by the Farm Bakery and Events:
Rustic Wooden Dessert Tables
String lights in the Seed Barn
8ft. Tables for Reception
Wooden Cross-Back Chairs for Ceremony and Reception
Rustic Wooden Sweetheart Table
Wine Barrels with Glass Table Top
Wedding Cake Stand
All Dessert Table Stands and Signs
Featured Wedding: Brittany & Joey
Brittany and Joey held their wedding day on a gorgeous and warm day in June of 2019. The Farm in June is alive with blooms and the trees have been reborn with leaves for the season. The wheat fields are tall and green, and the sun hangs in the sky long into the evening (making for some incredible golden hour images!). We were so honored to host Brittany & Joey’s day on this beautiful summer day!
If you’re anything like us, life (and all your plans) have been flipped upside down in the past month.
Being primarily in the event industry, we feel you. It’s hard. But by the grace of God, we are going to get through this together!
Whether you find us here as a bride, a vendor, a friend, or just someone who loves weddings (no shame), we invite you to join us as we chose to look forward with hope and excitement for the weddings to come by reminiscing on some of the beautiful weddings we were blessed to host in 2019.
Brittany & Joey, here’s to you!
Brittany and Joey held their wedding day on a gorgeous and warm day in June of 2019. The Farm in June is alive with blooms and the trees have been reborn with leaves for the season. The wheat fields are tall and green, and the sun hangs in the sky long into the evening (making for some incredible golden hour images!). We were so honored to host Brittany & Joey’s day on this beautiful summer day!
The Love Story:
“15 years. That’s how long Joey and I knew one another before our ‘first date’. Here’s the backstory…
“Joey and I went to different high schools- he went to Saucon Valley and I was a Nazareth girl. However, we shared a best friend- Melissa Henry (who was a proud bridesmaid!) Mel and I played tournament softball together for years. We traveled up and down the east coast with our team and truly had the time of our lives. Although Melissa went to Saucon, we continued playing together on our tournament team throughout high school and became the best of friends. When we weren’t on the field, we were hanging out together- her with my Nazareth friends and me with the Saucon crew. And that’s where I first met Joey. Him and Melissa had been best friends since elementary school so whenever I was around, he was, too. Although we didn’t talk too much then, we knew who one another was and always gave one another a smile and a ‘hey there’. Life continued to move, and the years passed- we all went to college, got busy with our lives, and started planting roots for ourselves. Melissa ended up in D.C., and I spent a good portion of my 20’s living in Charleston, South Carolina. After enjoying my time down south, I decided it was time to ‘come home’ to PA, and back closer to family.
“A few months after moving back, I got a message online from Joey. He reached out to see if I was back in the area and to ask what I had been up to. I told him that I had recently moved back to the area and was trying to keep busy with work. After a few hours of talking online, we decided we would grab a drink to catch up. And that was that. I remember that night like it was yesterday. We met at a bar in downtown Bethlehem and have been inseparable ever since. I remember calling Melissa the moment I left and telling her that although it sounded crazy, I was going to marry him one day. And on June 14, 2019, I did just that.”
The Engagement Story:
“In June of 2018, Joey and I decided to take a trip to visit our best friend, Melissa, in D.C. We spent three days touring D.C. with Melissa and her now fiancé, Brendan, and had the time of our lives. We toured the city, ate more than we should have, and enjoyed every second. As we headed back to PA that Sunday morning, Joey told me he wanted to make a quick pit-stop to check something out that we hadn’t gotten to see. He wouldn’t tell me where we were going, and I would have never guessed where we ended up- the National Cathedral. It was beyond beautiful and we spent some time walking around the grounds together. After a bit, we found a bench under a beautiful blossom tree and that is where he asked me to be his wife. To this day, it remains one of the best moments in my life.”
the Planning Story:
“When we began planning our wedding, I wasn’t exactly sure what it was that I wanted. I did know, however, what I did not want- I didn’t want the country club, patterned, business-style wedding. I wanted something that felt personal and spoke to who we were as a couple. After going to a handful of locations, my dad’s secretary mentioned The Farm. She had been to an event there earlier that year and gushed over how gorgeous it was. A few days later, we made an appointment to view The Farm and meet with the staff. From the moment we walked onto the grounds, I knew it was where I wanted to be married. My mother and mother-in-law were with me and simply gasped when they saw The Farm. It was everything I ever wanted- a beautiful location, a relaxed setting, and the most incredible staff you could ever imagine. I called Joey, who was still at work, and told him that I finally found ‘the one’. He trusted my judgement, and we booked The Farm that evening. It was truly the best decision, besides saying yes to my husband, that we’ve ever made.”
The Wedding Day:
“The best part about The Farm, besides the staff, is its stand-alone charm. It truly is a location that doesn’t need much to enhance its beauty. From the rustic details of the barn, to the bright and blooming flowers, the barn takes your breath away. Our vendors were able to highlight that beauty and charm and make The Farm even more gorgeous than I could have imagined.
“I could go on and on about every detail that made our wedding day such a dream. But if I’m being honest, the best part of our wedding was the fact that we were able to celebrate at The Farm. From the moment I met Becca and her team (Caris was our wedding coordinator and she is truly a gem of a human), I felt so relaxed and at ease. At The Farm, you’re not just ‘another bride’- you are their family and they treat you as such. It is an indescribable feeling, and one I wish for every bride- present and future!”
the Vendors:
“Without a doubt, our vendors made our day a dream! Emily Dilcherd from Elle Studios and 2 Little Piggys BBQ and Catering were truly gifts from God! Without a doubt, Emily provided us with images that will truly last a lifetime. She captured every detail, every smile, and every shot that a bride could ever want. She especially made my day when she told me she wanted to come to my grandparents’ house before the wedding to capture some images of him and I. He was too ill to attend the wedding, something that absolutely broke my heart. She knew how close he and I were, so she went out of her way, giving up her own, unpaid time, to take some shots of him and I. Those pictures are some of my favorite of the day and memories I will always hold close to my heart. She is an incredible photographer, an even better person, and one of the hardest working women I’ve ever met!
To this day, Joey and I still dream about Julie’s food from 2 Little Piggys! When we met with Julie, we instantly felt comfortable. She was so relaxed, easy-going and ready to answer any question you shot at her! I told her that I didn’t want a typical sit-down meal but was looking to incorporate stations with some of our favorite foods. Instantly she started writing down ideas and offering suggestions as to how to make it work. The food was absolutely unbelievable, and we had guests telling us all night how much they appreciated the variety (and deliciousness) of each station! We had a taco bar, a mashed potato bar, a slider bar, a cheesesteak bar, and a mac-and-cheese bar- just to name a few. If the food wasn’t enough, Julie also took care of our flowers, our linens, and our table settings. She truly is the whole package and made it so easy for Joey and I. Julie and her team are absolutely incredible and any bride who works with them can consider herself the luckiest girl in the world!”
Brittany and Joey, we are so immensely honored to have been able to serve you on your wedding day last June! Thank you for sharing your special day with us. We wish you nothing but the best as you embark on your journey of marriage together!
“Whether your celebration is big or small, it's worth being captured in a way that brings back all the feels for years to come. I want you to look back at these images for decades and remember exactly how you felt on that day. For all the memories to come rushing back. I want them to be meaningful to you. To speak your truth and tell your story. Because that's really what all of this is about. My style is heavily focused on real moments. Nothing is staged or forced. All the real, good stuff. Connection is super important to me and I want to feel like a trusted friend from the very start so that you're completely comfortable and at ease. I always make sure the way I’m shooting and interacting with you is reflective of your personalities and your chemistry as a couple. We create together.”
~ Emily Dilcherd, Elle Studios
See below for the rest of the amazing vendors that helped Brittany & Joey to hold the wedding day of their dreams!
Venue: the Farm Bakery and Events
Dessert & Wedding Cake: the Farm Bakery and Events
Coordinator: Caris Green, the Farm Bakery and Events
Catering: Julie of 2 Little Piggys
Florals: Julie of 2 Little Piggys
Photography: Emily Dilcherd of Elle Studios
Fashion: David’s Bridal & Men’s Wearhouse
Hair: Trina Sullivan of Parlor Hair and Make-Up Studio
Makeup: Shennon Kayal of Makeup by Shennon
Details Provided by the Farm Bakery and Events:
Rustic Wooden Arbor
White Folding Ceremony Chairs
Rustic Wedding Cake Stand
Wine Barrels w/ Glass Table Tops
Written by: Anna Robinson (Event Operations Manager)
Featured Wedding: Lexi & Brandon
We asked one of our 2019 couples Lexi & Brandon to tell us their love story and some of their most memorable moments from their wedding day, and they certainly did not disappoint. Everything from their first look to their ceremony to their reception was full of meaning, and their amazing love for each other was so evident throughout the entire day.
Wedding season is coming, and as much as we love a good wedding, we also love a good love story.
As we prepare to host more amazing weddings in 2021, we have thoroughly been enjoying revisiting our fond memories of these beautiful weddings from years past and sharing the love stories of our amazing couples!
We asked one of our 2019 couples Lexi & Brandon to tell us their love story and some of their most memorable moments from their wedding day, and they certainly did not disappoint. Everything from their first look to their ceremony to their reception was full of meaning, and their amazing love for each other was so evident throughout the entire day.
I mean, just look at their first look!
Lexi & Brandon’s June 2019 wedding was a truly perfect day. They had the dream weather for a June wedding and they took advantage of every second of it! Lexi & Brandon truly made the space in our Seed Barn their own by bringing in so many special touches and beautiful rustic chic decor. We loved how creative they got with the space and the meaningful accents they brought in! Every detail from the greenery on the chandeliers to the lace draped across their antique trunk (a family heirloom!) was a perfect ingredient in bringing their special day to life and making it entirely their own. This dreamy gallery, courtesy of Denise Marie Photography, perfectly encompasses Lexi & Brandon’s amazing wedding day.
Thank you, Lexi & Brandon, for sharing your love story with us and for celebrating your wedding day at the Farm! We are truly honored and blessed for the opportunity to serve you!
The Love Story:
“Brandon is from Quakertown, PA and I am from Medford, NJ. We were long distance for our whole relationship, not being closer than 2 hours apart for the better part of 4 ½ years. We met through my sister and her now-husband. Both my sister’s husband and Brandon played baseball at Lehigh University. I would go with my sister to visit and watch the baseball games. Brandon and I got to know each other because I kept coming back to see his games. Eventually I invited Brandon to go on a double date with my sister and her boyfriend to New York City near Christmas time which is when our relationship really began.”
The Engagement Story:
“We went on a road trip to Tennessee to explore Knoxville, Pigeon Forge and Nashville. The first day of the trip we went on an 8 mile hike up the Smoky Mountains. Brandon was so sweet and had researched a specific summit that had a great view but once we got to the top there was actually no view because the fog was so dense that day. He still proposed and I was completely shocked mostly because we were on a hike and I had no clue how he held the ring with him. After we finished our hike we spent the day walking around downtown Pigeon Forge exploring the area.”
Wedding Planning:
“It was before we were even engaged and I knew that I wanted a barn wedding and happened to see that the Farm was just opening while daydreaming about our wedding. I asked Brandon to drive past the barn before we were even engaged and told him about it and he was shocked that there was something like the Farm in his hometown. Once we got engaged we went and toured the Farm with his parents and knew it was meant to be! Brandon’s parents even recognized the name when we went from the previous restaurant that was in town. The Farm fit both Brandon and my personalities well because of its outdoor feel with the fields all around and how simple the barn was that we were able to add our own special touches. The trunks we put out for gifts were found in my great aunt’s basement and the table cloth over them was from my grandmother. In the front row of the ceremony we had all the pictures of our loved ones who are no longer with us. Brandon’s Dad also built us barn doors from scratch to walk through down the aisle that we are currently hoarding in their shed so we can put them in our first home!”
Lexi & Brandon’s Wedding Day:
“The Farm was the most perfect venue for us! Every single person we met that worked for the Farm were so nice and helpful. We were mostly in contact with Becca and Susanna and they both answered all of our questions so fast. They knew exactly what they were doing and were just so nice and helpful the whole planning processes. The day went so smoothly and everything happened right on time with the help of Susanna!
“We loved the fields and trees all around the barn and the rustic feel of the barn that we were able to add our own touch to. We also loved the new deck where we were able to have more outdoor space during the wedding. The tree lined driveway was also perfect for pictures. Everything about the Farm was perfect for the wedding.”
“Our favorite part of the day was the golden hour photos because the more stressful part of the day was over and it was time to have fun. We were able to just spend time with just the two of us and capture sweet photos. Writing our own vows was one of the most meaningful parts of the day but we really just loved the whole day just being with our family and friends and having a fun time together.”
Lexi & Brandon, thank you so much for sharing your love story with us - and thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve you on your wedding day! It was a blessing to celebrate with you on that beautiful day, and we wish you many long and happy years of marriage together!
Scroll down to see the amazing team of vendors who helped pull off Lexi & Brandon’s special day!
Venue: the Farm Bakery and Events
Desserts & Wedding Cake: the Farm Bakery and Events
Coordinator: Susanna O’Hara (the Farm Bakery and Events)
Catering: Sage Catering
Photography: Denise Marie Photography
Videography: Jeremiah & Rachel of Super 8 Wedding Films
Florals: Always Beautiful Florals
Rustic Details Included at the Farm Bakery and Events
Rustic Wooden Dessert Table
8ft Tables (Reception)
Wooden Cross Back Chairs (Reception)
Blue Distressed Potting Bench
Rustic Wooden Decorative Crates
String Lights
Rustic Wooden Sweetheart Table
Rustic Wooden Arbor
White Folding Ceremony Chairs
Dessert Table & Wedding Cake Stands and Signs
Written by Anna Robinson (Event Operations Manager at the Farm Bakery and Events)
Planning a Wedding During COVID-19 - Cara & Jason
It’s no secret that the global pandemic of COVID-19 has had a significant impact on important gatherings and special events. This has been especially true for weddings. With such short notice, couples are having to make the difficult decision of postponing their wedding date. This is no small feat, and brings with it an intense and unique wave of emotions and challenges associated with essentially having to re-plan their wedding day. With this daunting task facing many couples whose weddings were initially planned for the coming weeks and months in 2020, one of our couples at the Farm graciously shared their story of what postponing their wedding date has looked like for them. Inspired by an article published on Pennsylvania Weddings, we hope it is able to offer some light in these unprecedented times, and some hope in the midst of an uncertain future.
Tori Repp Photography at the Farm Bakery and Events
It’s no secret that the global pandemic of COVID-19 has had a significant impact on important gatherings and special events. This has been especially true for weddings. With such short notice, couples are having to make the difficult decision of postponing their wedding date. This is no small feat, and brings with it an intense and unique wave of emotions and challenges associated with essentially having to re-plan their wedding day. With this daunting task facing many couples whose weddings were initially planned for the coming weeks and months in 2020, one of our couples at the Farm graciously shared their story of what postponing their wedding date has looked like for them. Inspired by an article published on Pennsylvania Weddings, we hope it is able to offer some light in these unprecedented times, and some hope in the midst of an uncertain future.
Thank you, Cara & Jason, for sharing your experience with us!
We cannot wait to celebrate with you on August 23!
First of all, we can not express the immense respect we have for both Cara & Jason as educators transitioning their students and their curriculum to online learning at the drop of a hat - while simultaneously postponing their wedding day. These two are truly incredible and we can not thank them enough for taking the time to share their experience with us, and for being so gracious as they work through these difficult changes.
Cara & Jason’s wedding was originally one of two weddings scheduled for our opening weekend of the 2020 season on April 18, 2020. They elected to postpone their wedding date to August 23, 2020.
How did you meet?
“Even though we both moved to the same town around 1st grade, and we both went trick-or-treating on the same block, and we only lived about 5 minutes from one another for a decade, we did not meet until our senior year. This was primarily because Cara took all the smart classes and Jason took all the shop classes. But eventually we met in Gym class and Jason promptly annoyed Cara as first impressions were never his thing. But Jason won Cara over by getting her out of class with fake hall passes, helping her with her car, work, or just general life drama, and Cara helped Jason pass math class and learn to take a break every now and then. Really not sure if we would have finished our senior year if it wasn’t for one another.”
Tell us your engagement story!
“We got engaged Christmas Morning of 2018. Just the two of us. Jason dressed our dog up as a reindeer, with bells and antlers. He (our dog Charlie) wore a present on his back that contained the hand made ring box and custom designed wedding ring. Jason did not do a practice run however, and he discovered morning of that Charlie was terrified of the bells and behaved like a lunatic. After Cara and Jason got the bells off of Charlie (while laughing hysterically), Jason told Cara to open the box that Charlie brought her and she didn’t realize it was a real gift. Inside, she found the ring box and the ring. While Jason was saying nice pretty things, Charlie promptly ate the handmade ring box, sans ring thank goodness! It was chaotic, and a little messy, and very perfect.”
How did you find the Farm?
“We started planning Spring of 2019. We knew we did not want a very traditional wedding from the beginning. We first thought we might want a destination wedding; Cape May is a sentimental vacation spot so we looked there. While in all of these beach themed venues we realized that it just wasn’t us. The gold and ornate halls, or the fancy meals. So we thought about us and were reminded of the farm / country areas we used to drive through in PA, times spent in parks outdoors, and our absolutely favorite food venues - food trucks. We quickly landed on Meyers Farm and Bakery after seeing the location and started to put it all together.”
Are you able to use the same vendors for your new date as your original date?
“We are able to use pretty much all the same vendors. They were extremely accommodating and understanding. We were very nervous about having so many separate vendors when we realized we had to move our date, but it all came together very quickly. Jason really took care of this. We got the news on my first day of digital instruction as a third grade teacher, and I was overwhelmed by 23 eight year olds attempting to navigate Chromebooks and emails. By the end of the day, Jason had contacted all of our vendors, secured a new wedding date, and created/ordered a new invitation. I planned the first wedding, but he planned the second.”
How are you handling the additional time leading up to your wedding?
“A little sad about it, of course. It took us both a couple of days for it to really sink in. We went from 32 days ‘til our wedding to 162 days.
“We are both doing alright. There isn’t much for us to organize at this point, and we are both NJ teachers trying to digitally instruct our students. We have enough on our plates to keep us busy. Jason was actually a little relieved because he has been procrastinating making all of our center pieces and signs and now he has more time to work on it (not that he will get started anytime soon of course). We weren’t particularly attached to our original wedding date, it didn’t have any deeper purpose for us. We were just ready to be married. We discussed getting married on the 18th anyway, with just a witness or two. But we decided, since we were going to pay for this party, it might be nice to actually get married then too.”
Has anything helped to offered you hope in this situation?
“Yes. First, all of our vendors (Meyers Farm and Bakery included) have been incredible in maintaining our original expectations and contracts. Our families have been overwhelmingly supportive and positive about the change. They have done their best to find any and every tiny bright side to our new date, even the idea that now we can have a nice tan for our big day! Plus, our wedding isn’t canceled. We still get to marry each other. We still get to celebrate with our family and friends. And even better, we still get the same wedding we have been planning. This will always make a fantastic anniversary story for years to come!”
How have your guests reacted to the new date?
“Extremely understanding, and to be honest, very relieved. A handful were going to be unable to attend, or frightened to attend. It wouldn’t have been the celebration that we had hoped.”
Did you have many guests traveling from out of town?
“Not MANY. I would say we had around 10-15 guests traveling from out of town. Flights were booked, but we couldn’t do much about it. We are happy to say that everyone who reserved rooms in our hotel block were not penalized for their cancelations and many airlines are being accommodating as well.”
How did you let everyone know?
“For long distance guests/relatives, we gave phone calls very quickly, to be considerate of travel plans. We enlisted our families in help with this. Then, we created and sent our a revised wedding invitation, with the new date and time, asking our guest to RSVP once more. Jason was proud with his new invite design, he made a parody of the original “uninviting” guests from the first date and “inviting” them to the new one instead. He also bought a new domain, the original was www.jasonlovescara.com and the new one is www.jasonstilllovescara.com, our guests found it funny too.”
What advice do you have for other couples in the same situation?
“Try to make the best of the situation. This is a terrible set of circumstances, but with the right person by your side you can handle it.”
Cara & Jason, we are so thankful for the opportunity to celebrate with you. While we are (extremely) bummed not to be able to celebrate with you on April 18, we know that August 23 is going to be an incredible day and we can’t wait to be a part of it.
See below for the list of incredible vendors working with Cara & Jason to deliver them the perfect wedding day, no matter what:
Venue: the Farm Bakery and Events
Desserts: the Farm Bakery and Events
Coordinator: Jess Roth, the Farm Bakery and Events
Catering: the Munchie Machine
Catering: Dos Hermanos Tacos
Beverage: PJ's Bartending Service
Wedding Photography: Tori Repp Photography
DJ: the Pros