A Romantic Garden Wedding: The Wedding of Samantha Barczak and Richard Layton

Samantha and Richard met while attending college. Samantha says, “We met because he used to come into the bar I worked at quite often and eventually got the nerve to ask me out. I definitely was not looking at the time, but as soon as we met I knew it was perfect.” The couple was enamored from the start and soon Richard knew that he had to ask the big question.
 

Richard planned to ask Samantha to marry him on a trip to Iceland. “We were there for a trip before we moved to Australia for a year,” says Samantha. “We spent a week traveling around the country, and one of the last days we were on a hike along the continental divide and I turned around and he was kneeling. It was magic!”
 

Samantha was not exactly sure what she wanted to do for their wedding. The couple wanted to combine their love for exploration with modern style. “I knew I wanted a more bohemian look, adds Samantha. “We wanted to create something that felt like us.”
 

The first thing the couple did was decide on their venue. It was an easy choice since Samantha’s family owned Blumen Gardens in Sycamore, Illinois. Samantha says, “We renovated part of it into a wedding venue in 2005. I grew up across the street from Blumen Gardens my whole life and there is nowhere else I could imagine getting married.” Blumen Gardens was close to the couple's hearts and there was no other place for them to celebrate getting married.

Samantha’s chic and stylish dress was found at Bella Bianca Bridal in Oak Brook. She says, “My dress was actually the very last dress I tried on! I went to probably six shops and loved a lot of dresses but when I tried on mine I instantly knew it was the one.” She selected the Bernie by Rita Vinieris. Its delicate and flowy style was the perfect complement for the boho wedding.

 

What we love

We love that Samantha and Richard exchanged personal vows at their ceremony. The couple had not shared what they were going to say with one another, so the moment was unforgettable. Samantha adds, “The best part was just having everyone we love in one place celebrating and dancing.”

 

Advice from the bride

Samantha says, “Don’t stress too much about it!! Obviously, there is so much that needs to be planned and it is easy for it to be overwhelming but try to enjoy the process. We were engaged for two years and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. We took the time to enjoy being engaged and take time to plan the wedding in the exact way that we wanted it.”
 

 

 

 

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