After years of friendship that transformed into love, Mandy Boyd and Mitch Strohm’s September 2014 wedding fell into place—thanks to a little help from their friends. One friend acted as the florist, a few others made desserts and served the food, and a mutual friend of the couple officiated at the wedding. And while some brides may prefer a black-tie ballroom and Vera Wang heels, Mandy and Mitch preferred a laid-back, barn-and-sneakers affair.
In the fall, Mandy and Mitch hosted an intimate wedding in Leiper’s Fork, TN, and for their special day, all their wishes came true. Surrounded by 50 of their closest friends and family, they spent the weekend dancing, laughing, eating and celebrating. And today, they share a look at their special day with our readers.
Leiper’s Fork, located just south of Nashville, is a historic village. By renting Leiper’s Fork Inn, which served as the location for both the pickin’ party on Friday night, the wedding on Saturday and the brunch on Sunday morning plus offered housing for some of the guests, Mandy and Mitch were able to stretch their dollars and get the biggest bang for their buck. The property features two 100-year-old houses rescued from Franklin, TN, and moved to Leiper’s Fork.
Mandy and Mitch met at a crowded concert in 2005, and their friendship was instantaneous. After six years of being just friends, with countless trips to burger joints and endless discussions about problems with the opposite sex, they finally gave in to the fact that they were, indeed, in love. At a different concert, in a different state, at a different stage in their lives, Mitch proposed to Mandy. He popped the question while they were visiting Louisville, KY, for the Forecastle Music Festival in 2013. Unbeknownst to Mandy, Mitch had been plotting and planning a surprise engagement party to take place immediately after the proposal. As they had always done and always will, they celebrated with music and friends.
Mandy, a sweet Southern girl from Prattville, AL, and Mitch, a creative gent from Chicago, IL, invited 50 guests to enjoy their fall wedding in Tennessee. With a little research, the help of their “volunteer crew” of family and friends, and a budget of less than $8,000, Mitch and Mandy pulled together their ideal weekend without a hefty price tag. The weekend kicked off with a pickin’ party and lip-sync competition on Friday night, followed by the ceremony and reception on Saturday and concluded with Sunday brunch. With a majority of the guests staying in nearby cottages and cabins, the party never stopped.
The bridal party got ready in one of the Leiper’s Fork Inn houses. The daughter of a work friend did all the hair and makeup. And she also doubled as a bartender!
Prior to the “first look,” the couple took playful pictures. Every detail speaks to how the couple celebrated in their own unique and personal way.
Something old: The sash on Mandy’s dress was crafted from her mother’s wedding veil and was held up by her grandmother’s brooch.
Something new: Mandy wore a set of three tiny, silver Judith Bright bands that represented the years they dated before getting married.
Something borrowed: Mandy’s friend Amy loaned her some jewelry for the day.
Something blue: The pair chose to wear blue sneakers, which fit their personalities and the venue perfectly.
Mandy and Mitch filled their day with sentimental touches like personalized vows they wrote themselves.
In an effort to do their wedding on the cheap, Mitch and Mandy left the idea of a wedding planner behind. They did their own research to find what fit their vision and their budget. Without the stress of planning a big shindig, Mandy and Mitch were able to focus on what matters most to them: close friends, family and the culmination of their love.
With a best friend of the couple officiating, they tied the knot on the front porch of the Artist Cottage, which later served as the photo booth and dessert house.
Mitch’s grandmother, pictured here with Mandy, is an 87-year-old spitfire. Like her grandson and and his new wife, she is packed with personality.
“My dad built a cedar porch swing for us, and Mitch and I decided to ask our guests for a ‘wedding favor,'” says Mandy. “Since we’d use that swing for years to come, we asked each guest to sign it and leave a message. It was awesome.”
How did Mandy and Mitch keep everything within their budget? Mitch told us, “The most cost-saving, irreplaceable and sentimental aspect of our wedding was the volunteer efforts of Mandy’s six co-worker friends (aka her ‘work BFFs’). They helped plan, coordinate, set up, cook, serve and clean for the entire weekend, so we give all the credit to them.”
In addition to this welcomed help, Mitch, a writer, and Mandy, a graphic designer, created and printed their own invitations. They also played a hand-picked playlist on rented speakers and did price-comparison shopping for food, alcohol and party rentals. “It all came down to sticking to the budget and staying true to our vision for this special day.”
Caroline Jones, a friend and neighbor of Mandy’s, is a Nashville-based floral designer. Caroline’s designs are characterized by their organic, natural beauty and the story they tell. She created arrangements that spoke to the couple and fit seamlessly into the event.
Mandy let Caroline take the reins on the floral designs. The variety of flowers and foliage highlighted the relaxed, country atmosphere of the venue. The pale pink flowers softened the rustic features of the barn. The arrangements – and the personalized touches that Caroline incorporated – brought Mandy to tears.
The natural elements set the tone for the event. Mandy and Mitch used the historic venue as a backdrop for their personal touches throughout the weekend. During the lip-sync party on Friday, the barn walls were decorated with some of their favorite vinyl record covers. During the wedding reception, the tables were covered with vintage quilts and floral arrangements. The minimal, but tasteful, decorations and lights created a rustic, intimate environment.
Instead of having a traditional wedding cake, the guests indulged in homemade desserts. They also handed out apple butter in little mini-mason jars, homemade by Mandy’s mom using her famous recipe, as wedding favors. Another personal touch? Ring Pops. Mandy told me, “Ever since Mitch and I were friends, we always joked about marrying each other with Ring Pops. He used one in his proposal, and we celebrated the engagement weekend with them. I illustrated one on our wedding invitation and gave them as favors the entire wedding weekend.”
Thanks to the volunteer crew, the wedding went off without a hitch. They helped Mandy and Mitch stick to their conservative budget and alleviated them of the stress of planning a wedding. The pair was touched by the efforts of their friends.
After guests enjoyed a perfectly Southern dinner of pulled pork, smoked turkey, baked beans, mac and cheese and collard greens followed by the homemade desserts, they took to the dance floor. Given that Mitch is a musician, it is no surprise that a hand-crafted Spotify playlist was the entertainment for the evening. The pair had their first dance to “40 Dogs” by Bob Schneider.
Not only did the sneakers perfectly represent the laid-back, fun personalities of the couple, they also made trekking through the outdoor venue much easier.
Cheers to the happy couple! Here’s to many more years of wedding bliss!
Want to learn more about details of Mitch and Mandy’s wedding? Check out the resources listed below:
- Venue: Leiper’s Fork Inn
- Floral design: Caroline Jones Floral Design
- Photographer: Courtney Zenner Photography
- Bridal gown: BHLDN.com
- Food: Martin’s Bar-b-que Joint and Leiper’s Fork Puckett’s Grocery
