And so it’s part two of the wedding, way back in June!
I am so excited to finally have the pictures uploaded and ready to show you!
It’s been something on my want-to-do list ever since the day after the wedding.
Three babies, a crazy summer, Zoe starting K-5, and numerous other things have almost brought blogging to stand-still for me.
But even if I never blog again,
I am determined to show pictures of one of the most beautiful weddings I’ve ever been to!
Let me introduce you to
The Wedding of Kenneth & Ervina
~ a garden reception ~
This wedding was so special. From the calmness of the bride the week of the wedding,
to the many people that helped set up the reception, to the fun bridal party ~ it was just beautiful in every way.
Ervina was a bride unlike almost any I’ve ever seen.
Her prayer was that her wedding and week of the wedding would not be a crazy and stressful time,
as weddings can often be, but that it would be a time of peace and joy.
And her prayer was answered.
Ervina was radiant, refreshed, and peaceful the whole week.
I’m her sister, and to say that I didn’t see her stressed for a moment is saying a lot.
Her peaceful spirit carried over into all areas of the wedding.
The morning of the wedding dawned clear, bright, and perfect as anyone could wish.
And really, the whole day was simply perfect.
The ceremony was like a worship experience,
and the sweet presence of Jesus was so clearly evident that day!
Because of how the day was planned with the photographer and everything else, it was such a relaxed morning.
The bride went running early in the morning, and returned for some quiet time with Jesus before the day began. ♥
Some of her friends brought her Starbucks coffee as she was getting ready,
and another brought souffles from Panera for the bridesmaids!
Goodness, it was fun.
Details
Shoes – purchased from Target.com
Embellished with flowers and feathers by yours truly
Dress Sash
Francesca’s provided part of the inspiration with the cream flowers,
and I filled in with the white, lace, and bird cage veil netting.
[goodness, not to draw attention to it or anything, but i’m rather in awe of her tiny waist!]
My grandmother helped me finish up the last stitches. These hands are precious…
Beautiful bride’s bouquet.
The Bridal Party went to a beautiful old train station for the pictures.
Most of the pictures I have from there are thanks to a friend of the bride who snapped a few for me.
Ervina had an assortment of flowers for the bridesmaids to make their own bouquets the morning of the wedding!
I thought it such a lovely idea. Each bouquet was so unique, and reflected the style and personality of each bridesmaid.
My sister Jana ended up making mine for me ~
in between helping the bride with hair, french manicure on her toes,
my two girls with curling irons for their hair and getting dressed, my own self to get ready, I didn’t have a moment to spare that morning!
I loved the bouquet she made for me. Peonies are one of my very favorite flowers, and I had several of them!
The bridesmaids were asked to wear lace, in shades of cream, ivory, or soft pink, and could make them any style.
Ervina’s dress was lace also, so the only thing she asked was that they be knee-length to set her own dress apart.
The dress I made from a sheet and a piece of lace from an antique shop turned out rather to my liking,
although making it in my two-week postpartum state for the wedding at 5 weeks postpartum was rather a challenge.
[can we say that crunches began in earnest two days after the baby’s birth, and other forms of exercise began much earlier than usual?]
The shoes were also our own choice.
Remember the shoe dilemma I posted about before the wedding? So many pretty shoes, and I can only pick one pair?
I went a bit more fun and choose the cream with polka dots. I’ve worn them quite a bit since, so I think it was a good choice.
So many darling shoes!
The Bride & Groom
The day of being a bride… it’s a day that is gloriously wonderful, a dream come true.
Ervina was radiant and gorgeous.
Kenny’s eyes said it all as he looked at her ~ this man adores his bride.
The Groom & Groomsmen
Bridesmaids
Bridal Party
This is the only picture I have of the whole bridal party, so forgive the blurry, not looking, etc. etc.
Bride & Sisters
These two are the best friends in the world.
A light-hearted moment.
Family
Father. Mother. Third Daughter. Third Son-in-law.
[except we don’t call them in-laws in our family. we just call them brothers.]
Mother. Daughter.
The Barkman siblings
Sister with Big Little Brothers.
Sisters again!
This may or may not be one of my very favorite sister pictures ever.
The Barkman Family, now with three married daughters!
Zoe
Olivia
[edit: HOW could I forget to add that this particular flower girl was found in the swimming pool by Rachel Beachy and husband,
during the reception?? Fully clothed in flower girl attire and all. Thank goodness for friends. :)]
Flower Girls and Program Attendent
The Yoder Family ~ Groom’s family
Again, the only picture I have of the whole family. Sorry you all!
[is it better to not show it at all or to show it with half the people hidden?]
Kenny and his four beautiful and sweet sisters.
I don’t know who is more lucky – Ervina, to have them for sisters-in-law, or they, to have Ervina for a sister-in-law.
The dashing Mr. & Mrs. Good
Kenny’s nieces
beautiful sisters~
Jillian, darling flower girl
The most darling little two-year old boy present [nephew of the groom]
The Reception was held on my parents’ beautiful property underneath a tent large enough to hold 350 people.
It was gorgeous, it was simple, it was breathtaking.
It had a feel of elegant and royalty, but with the ease and enjoyment of a garden party.
I think I especially enjoyed it because our very own wedding was set in this exact spot seven years ago.
A big white tent was set up in the meadow,
the grounds were meticulously prepared by mom and helpers for months before,
and it was just a magical feel about it ~ both our wedding, and Ervina & Kenny’s!
Being there in that place with a wedding brought back so many special memories!
Ervina & Co. (meaning friends, family, & relations) helped create an outdoor seating area.
It was Ervina’s brainchild, and we enjoyed helping far too much.
Part of my wedding gift was the ‘Mr.’ and ‘Mrs.’ and ‘happily ever after’ pillows I made for them, which they used at the seating area.
The sofas and chairs were picked up at yard sales and second-hand stores, with the exception of the white sofa.
This beautiful vintage sofa my mother found for free beside the road!
It was missing legs, but that was easily remedied for the occasion.
I gave my family strict instructions never to part with the sofa.
I will carry it upon my back, from Pennsylvania to Georgia, if need be,
before they are allowed to sell it! :)
That’s how much I love it.
The guest book signing area, complete with Claudia’s vintage record player
that was actually playing as guests walked through and signed.
My husband helped create a doorway going from the outdoor seating area to the tent reception,
from beautiful old doors from Kenny & Ervina’s actual house that they had bought and were remodeling.
The guestbook, ideas by Ervina, carried out by Jana.
During their nearly two years of dating, Kenny & Ervina wrote many letters to each other.
They chose to do this rather than emails, for the sake of old-fashioned communication,
the fun of getting real letters in the mailbox, and having the hand-written notes.
If you notice, the top letter went all the way to Cambodia,
and it was not the only one Kenny sent during Ervina’s 3 months there the summer of 2011.
There were a bundle of letters at the wedding, but securely tied with ribbon lest guests think they were free for the reading. :)
A chalkboard timeline of significant events of their relationship.
Refreshements before the meal included make-your-own yogurt parfaits,
and three kinds of drink: iced coffee, strawberry lemonade, and sweet tea.
I’m not sure if the drinks were the hot item or if the guests kept returning for refills or because of the adorable straws in blue vintage jars.
My husband Ben and daughter Olivia, with my brother James.
Table Arrangement Details
The guest tables were set up in long rows, with white tablecloths and linen runners placed on top of them.
The centerpieces were wildflowers and flowers from friends’ gardens,
snipped and set in glass vases of all kinds – Ervina found them all over at thrift stores and goodwills.
It created such a symmetry, and yet diversity, that was gorgeous!
Soon after Kenny & Ervina’s engagement in October, Ervina and Claudia began collecting plates and goblets for the wedding.
Not just for the bridal party, but for all 350 guests!
It created such an elegant atmosphere with the real china, and yet the uniqueness and diversity of the plates made it fun and relaxed.
As for favors, Ervina and some of her friends made strawberry jam and put it in small glass jars, embellished with lace and twine.
The Bridal Table was similar to the guest tables,
but with all white and green arrangements, chargers, selected plates & goblets, and cloth napkins.
There was a gentle beauty that was breathtaking about the day, and about the reception, and particularly this table.
It was such an honor to be seated there!
We made the lace hoops from lace Ervina collected throughout her engagement and from large embroidery hoops,
and hung them alternating with glass jars with candles.
Our own little family. ♥
And thus concludes the day of loveliness…
May their marriage be even more beautiful.
To see more images, visit the photographer’s website here.
Tori captured some beautiful exquisite pictures of the day, and her style of photography is so natural and creative!
If that post receives 25 comments, Ervina will be enter a drawing for a big enlargement, so comment away on there! :)
~clarita
Sigh. So much loveliness….
This has to be one of the most gorgeous weddings I have ever seen!! Really Clarita, it’s like a dream. I loved that Ervina made it a priority to be calm and peaceful. That shows such wisdom! The more I learn about your family the more I respect and admire them. I feel so honored to be an adopted Barkman girl ;) Evrina and Kenny were just radiant! Is it okay to describe a man as radiant? And your sweet little family… so beautiful!
WOW!! (you’re right!) That has got to be one of thee most beautiful wedding receptions I’ve ever seen. I swallowed a lump when I thought about the collecting of vintage china plates/centerpieces and old chairs for over 300 people.
Crazy-awesome!!
That must have been the most unique and beautiful wedding! Thanks for sharing the pictures.
mmmmmm….eye candy for my Tuesday
I love how differant and unique your sisters weddings where from each other. Looks like they were each able to pull off their own style quite nicely. 
anyway, thanks for sharing all the pretty.
I love how breezy and simple and effortless this wedding looks. I think it pretty much embodies what I would imagine as a dream wedding.
I must say, i get a little depressed thinking how cool brides have it nowdays with pintrest and all that, weddings seem to be so much cooler, for less money, then back when I got married. Not sure why that makes me depressed, I loved my wedding at the time
also. i love the embellishment that you created for her dress. it’s def. the finishing touch!
can I just say I’m pretty sure this is my dream wedding. Ervina is so beautiful! I don’t know how tall Kenny is but he look’s like a giant in your family :) (that actually sounds kinda strange but you know what I mean :) So many of my own dreams and things I want to do for my ‘some day’ she incorporated. I loved all the little touches and the furniture outside. (can’t beleive that couch was on the side of the road and in that good of shape!!!!) I want to get married on my parents land as well so it was fun seeing all her ideas. simply lovely
Oh and forgot to mention you and the dress…both look stunning. especially you…you don’t even look like you just had a baby!!
Love that last picture of y’all…it looks like y’all could b in a magazine. the perfect little family!
ps. the shoes r SO cute! where did u find them?
Just beautiful.
It’s just beautiful! I love every single detail. And sheez louise it’s the most good-looking family EVER!
Congrats to the beautiful bride and groom and I pray they have a lifetime of love and joy.
Wow! What an amazing wedding!! I LOVED looking through all of the pictures. Thanks for taking the time to share them with us.
Wow, this is seriously one beautiful wedding! It has gorgeous girly details without being overwhelmingly feminine. I love lacy things. So intimate and cozy looking, even though it was set up for well over 300 guests. How wonderful that your sister wanted everything to be calm yet joyful. Congrats on your sister’s marriage and your new addition to the family.
I’m not real sure how I ended up at your blog but it was awesomely delightful…what a gorgeous wedding and family ( inside and out)
it all so BEAUTIFUL!
My daughters have been anxiously awaiting for you to post more about the wedding! It is soooo beautiful! I absolutely love how the tables were decorated. You and your family have such a way with making this gorgeous!
Very Lovely!
so fun to see all of it again.
and, in more detail, since we had to skip out early.
they are such the stunning couple and their wedding day was beyond dreamy. everything. every.thing. about this post is gorgeousness defined!
Every single detail is just down right gorgeous! It looks so dreamy. You look great for being 5 weeks postpartum. I love the china and goblets detail it looks so elegant.
your family is so SO gorgeous!
and talented. oh my word!!
i’m always just in total awe.
i think someone should write a set of
fiction novels based on you four sisters!
i so love seeing you all together..
hearing of your closeness and seeing you work together to create such beauty!
that reception is just beyond anything.
it’s like my eyes can’t take in the details fast enough.
and an antique recorder actually playing.. slay me now!!!
i know i’m being all gushy and weird.. but seriously.
can’t help it. ;))
you look amazing too.
i wouldn’t have believed you really just had a baby –
had i not seen you pregnant for myself.
oh. and the timeline chalkboard. such a GREAT idea.
okay. i’ll stop now. :))
xoxo
I could just look and look at these photos, they’re all so beautiful and happy and dreamy….love it all~
So much beauty everywhere! Your sister looks like she has such a lovely, free spirit!
Oh. my. darling. sister. Such loveliness you put together… both here and on the wedding day. The Lord rested my spirit through you that wonderful week. So much unselfish giving and endless inspiration and late night decorating — all from a mother of three. I’m ridiculously grateful. And I love you.
This wedding post does funny things to me too! It’s so beautiful . . . it makes my heart ache! And I’m with Thelma ^^, it *does* make me a little depressed about my own wedding and lack of vision that I had for the reception . . . although like she said, I loved it at the time . . . and still DO, it’s just that it could have been MORE without spending so much.
Most of all, I love Ervina’s heart and life portrayed here and from what you’ve told me about her. Can I say that I just want to be more like her? {You two are really so much alike!} The peace, the joy, the kindness, the beauty of Jesus shining through!
Oh, and I’ve always thought that you four sisters are the loveliest set of four sisters EVER. But if there were such a thing as rivals, I think I’ve found them . . . Kenny’s sisters!! Wow, another set of four, looking radiant and gorgeous. {And I get to hang out with one of them about once a month, so I think the good hearts are there too.} :)} It’s simply too much to think about how K&E’s children will have allllll that beauty going for them, from each side of the family. :)
Alrighty, gotta run. Thanks for the inspiration and beauty on this Thursday morning! xoxo
Very Very beautiful!! I love outdoor weddings. Everything about it – love love love that couch!! :) You all look like amazing families.
Which wedding dj did you use?
thank you for sharing!!
i seriously think this might be the prettiest “real life” wedding i have ever (seen pictures of).
i love all the simple details that are so meaningful… perfectly done!
Wow, just really, really, really pretty. I love attention to detail. There was a lot of beauty and details added, but in a way that rests the eye–if you know what I mean. There are so many things I loved–the unique bouquets put together by each bridesmaid (how fun!!!), the chalkboard with the timeline, the love letters, the bride with a heart at rest (best of all!), the [adorable] flower girls, you looking so great, the wildflowers on the reception table, Hudson’s hat [dream-worthy], and your family picture. :)
@inanorchard – yes, kenny WAS radiant. i have rarely seen a man so openly adore his bride/wife as he does. i love him for loving my sister so well. :)
@redladybug18 – yes, kenny is rather tall. :) at 6’4″ he towers over any of the rest of us. :) the wedding came together so beautifully, and it was one of the most fun weeks of my life. i hope your “some day” is just as you wish it to be too! :) and i found the shoes at the shoe department, for around twenty bucks.
@fruitloops115 @FOREVERLANE – – yes, for real! i’ve thought of that with my wedding too. i was perfectly thrilled with my wedding, and i still look back and think it was lovely, but it was soo simple compared to weddings today. kind of a bummer that it would be so different if i’d do it all over again! there is just unbelieveable amounts of ideas and DIY stuff now with pinterest and blogs and myriads of other sources!
@babybug329 – thank you! yes, it was so comfortable and cozy, even with a large amount of guests. ervina has a vision of what she wanted that was carried out so perfectly!
@aretheyallyours – awww, that made my day to hear your daughters were looking forward to seeing wedding pictures. ;) and how’s that waiting going for that new little one???
@foreveranoatneygirl_n2Hisown – oh goodness, how could i forget about the pool episode and you and your husband as recuers of my swimming flower girl???
@LatteLuv – you are very kind! at 5 weeks i was definitely feeling the after-effects of pregnancy, and now at almost 4 months i’m still not “normal.” but you at least made me feel good. :)
@grace_to_be – i smiled as i read your comment. i love gush when i know it’s genuine! :) and the writing a novel on us four sisters – laughing at that one! not sure i’d want everyone to know the ins and outs of us, because, while loving each other so much, we have got our definitely weaknesses and issues too! perfect we are not, but love each other we do! :) and as for the post-pregnancy, well, you make me feel good, but there is more than meets the eye. :)
@wj3km – @jeanetteelliott – @chambray7 – thanks for stopping by! i can gush because it was my sister, but it was one of the most beautiful days i’ve ever been a part of! the wedding was just magical! it’s a forever kind of love. :)
@lifeisadance – o Clarita! This just made me laugh!! I can see it all in my mind now and it WAS some kinda cute!:)
O what a wonderful post. We have been without internet for a week and when it got hooked up again I found THIS:). I was so excited.I have been anxiously anticipating this beautiful post. You and your family are so talented and beautiful and the wedding looks like it was so dreamy. Sure wish that when I got married it would have been more like this. So simple, romantic and elegant. But that is life and I did have a lovely wedding. Thanks for sharing, I so enjoyed it.
yay for internet again! :) and i know, the wedding ideas have exploded since our weddings, right?! but at the time i just loved our wedding, and i still do. it’s just that, well, there are so many MORE ideas now. ;)
what to comment on first?!!! :)
i think…it’ll be the fact that your daughter was found in the swimming pool. in wedding attire. oh my. not sure if that was something she intended to do or not but i about had a heart attack reading that. i have kids that would totally do that—and get in over their head. corny pun intended. you busy momma of three and sister of the bride you!
i hope it’s okay, with your blog being public and all. but i pinned this to share with a friend. it is all so beautiful. and you, your dress, shoes, all of you :) are just lovely. i saw this post earlier and couldn’t wait to come back and soak in all of the details. my computer monitor was just replaced this morning *finally!* and i came here first thing.
hope that you’re having a great week… and that k for zoe is off to a good start too. love to you all.
Wow. I definitely just took lots of notes. So many great ideas!!!!
Apartment mailboxes are generally in common blocks. The block contains multiple mailboxes and there is a door that the letter carrier can open to access all the boxes at once. The locks on the individual mailboxes are a simple latch-type lock.