Meet Their Wedding Pros
PREMIER VENDORS
Rehearsal Dinner Big Grove Brewery & Taproom
Cake Hy-Vee
ALL VENDORS
Photographer Claire Zellmer Photography | Videographer Torey Rhode | Ceremony Venue St. Patrick’s Catholic Church | Reception Venue Ashton Hill Farm | Caterer Peppercorn Food Company | Floral Ella Floral Design | Bride’s Attire Mira Couture, custom choker and veil, Prada ballerina flats | Groom’s attire Black Lapel | Hair Oasis Salon, Elevate Salon | Makeup Melissa Votroubek | Invites/Paper Products The bride | Officiant Jerry Hogan, bride’s uncle | Ceremony Music Molly and Tyler Hackman, bride’s cousins | Reception Music DJ Davin | Day of Coordinator MJ Colby, Ashton Hill Farm | Extra Rentals Borrow My Vintage | Photobooth Center Stage Productions | Transportation Ride Entour | Hotel Double Tree Hilton, Downtown Cedar Rapids
See all the vendors we LUST for, that can help you with your big day!
Vintage details, Italian-inspired touches, and plenty of personality came together to create a wedding day that perfectly reflected Anna and Brandon’s love story. Their joyful celebration delivered an eclectic garden aesthetic layered with meaningful traditions, colorful florals, and a whole lot of love.
Anna is a Cedar Rapids native and she first met Brandon at Iowa State University after he “hollered” at her across a tailgate (the start to any good love story if you ask us). What started as a fun college connection eventually grew into their forever.
Brandon proposed during a trip to Positano, Italy, in a moment Anna says she could see coming from a mile away. “I knew it was about to go down because I could see his heart beating through his shirt, but I was so excited,” she shares. “It was special because it was private, just us two on a balcony.”
That trip later inspired several details throughout the wedding day. Anna described the overall vision as a “vintage / eclectic garden party theme” with subtle Italian influences woven throughout the design. As a designer professionally, she especially loved the creative side of planning.
“I loved designing my wedding and incorporating so many personal details and meaningful touches throughout,” Anna shares. “As a designer in my day-to-day job, it wasn’t surprising that the creative process was my favorite part of planning!”
Anna spent months sourcing vintage décor, thrifting pieces, and working on DIY projects that were stored in her parents’ basement. She also partnered with Borrow My Vintage to help complete the layered, collected look she envisioned.
Photographer Claire Zellman captured detail photos on Anna’s grandpa’s ’56 Chevy, styled with her great-grandma’s floral plate and vintage Italian stamps from Positano where the couple got engaged. Brandon also wore a pin on his tailored suit in memory of his late grandparents.
Her stunning orchid bouquet was inspired by the bouquets her mom and grandmas carried on their own wedding days, and the floral details on her dreamy pink ballet shoes perfectly matched the bouquet colors.
The couple made sure family members played an important role throughout the ceremony at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Both of Anna’s parents walked her down the aisle, while her cousin and her husband performed during the church ceremony. Brandon’s aunt served as lector, their nieces were flower girls, and cousins participated in the processional.
The wedding party, close family, and friends kicked off the weekend with a rehearsal dinner at Big Grove Brewery before continuing the celebration at Ashton Hill Farm in Cedar Rapids the next day.
Surrounded by the Iowa countryside, the venue created a relaxed yet elevated atmosphere for the couple’s garden-inspired reception. Anna’s vision came to life through candlelit tables, colorful florals, cheering family and friends, and a classic heart-shaped wedding cake with cherries on top, beautifully decorated by Hy-Vee.
“Everyone we love in one room at once,” Anna says. “We live on the West Coast, so this felt like a very special homecoming.”
Join us in raising a glass for the happy couple! Congratulations to Anna and Brandon on their beautiful wedding day and lifetime of love ahead.
