WeddingDay Exclusive Style Shoot: Lakeside Occasions

Photos ByArielle Peters Photography

Written By

Date

December 12, 2017

Gorgeous, natural grounds, airy, outdoor spaces and all the unique amenities that will set your wedding day apart are just some of the many things that draw so many brides to the special place that is Lakeside Occasions.

“Our number one draw is our property,” says Kara Byers, Manager and Event Coordinator at Lakeside Occasions. “Our barn overlooks Emma Lake, and the grounds are gorgeous. We have indoor and outdoor spaces for the ceremony. We have unique amenities, such as a 50's diner with a pool table for the guys’ changing room and a silo for the ladies, a grain bin bar, and a little ‘general store,’ which makes for the perfect photo op. We also have heating and air conditioning, which you won’t find at many rustic barn venues. And we’re planning to add some new features in our off-season, including an outdoor fireplace.”

The allure of the barn, with its rich charm and detail and all the surrounding amenities means it doesn’t need much in terms of décor. It also maintains a blank slate appeal that can take on different aesthetics. In this case, the team opted for rustic chic.

Kara explains, “We really wanted to focus on the natural beauty of the venue–the original woodwork in the barn is fabulous alone, so we chose to keep the décor rather simple and almost blend the color accents with their surroundings. We want our clients to know that you don’t have to go crazy with décor to ‘dress up’ the barn.” In order to achieve the desired look, the venue partnered with Cami Geiger of Cambria Custom Events.

The vintage-inspired dress from Stephenson’s of Elkhart was a perfect fit for the overall look and feel. Kara says, “I requested lace because I love it, and the salon definitely delivered! We played off the lace detail of the dress with lace overlays on the tables. The understated elegance of the dress is exactly the look we were going for.”

In order to seamlessly blend the hardwood tones inside the barn with the florals, Kara wanted to include pops of complementing colors, like deep reds and oranges. She says, “We used a lot of bittersweet and raw branches and twigs floating in hurricane glass.”

Lakeside Occasions included their own rustic items, such as a barrel for the cake and a large wooden spool for the bride and groom’s sweetheart table in the shoot. “Dutch Blessing provided the fairy-lit trees, painted bottles and jars, copper vases, and floral décor,” says Kara. “Cambria Custom Events provided the tea-stained lace overlays and some additional copper colored accents. We also used our old '48 Ford for a few photos, which blended beautifully with the fall colors in the shoot.”