Table Of ContentPRAIRIE-STYLE WEDDINGS
RUSTIC AND ROMANTIC FARM, WOODLAND, AND GARDEN CELEBRATIONS
FIFI O’NEILL
PHOTOGRAPHS BY MARK LOHMAN
CHRONICLE BOOKS
SAN FRANCISCO
Text copyright © 2014 by Fifi O’Neill.
Photographs copyright © 2014 by Mark Lohman.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form
without written permission from the publisher.
ISBN 978-1-4521-3345-4 (epub, mobi)
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available.
ISBN 978-1-4521-2796-5 (hc)
Styling by Fifi O’Neill
Designed by Vivien Sung Design
The photographer thanks his talented wife, Janet Lohman, for putting up
with a crazy schedule of cross-country shoots in order to photograph the
many projects and locations featured in Prairie-Style Weddings.
Chronicle Books LLC
680 Second Street
San Francisco, California 94107
www.chroniclebooks.com
CONTENTS
9 INTRODUCTION 25 RUFFLES AND RUST
PASTEL FABRICS AND ROUGH-AND-RUGGED
ACCENTS ARE PROOF THAT OPPOSITES ATTRACT
12 CHAPTER ONE: BRIDAL SHOWERS 33 ROMANTIC NOTIONS
FRILLS, LACE, AND FLOWERS SET A SWEET,
15 RECLAIMED STYLE FEMININE TONE
UPCYCLING GIVES STORYBOOK CHARM
TO A SIMPLE GARDEN SHED 41 FANCY FREE
THE GARDEN PARTY GOES PART BOHO CHIC,
PART ECLECTIC GLAM
48 CHAPTER TWO: REHEARSAL DINNERS 86 CHAPTER THREE:
CEREMONIES AND RECEPTIONS
51 RUSTIC REVIVAL
AN UNEXPECTED JUXTAPOSITION OF ELEMENTS 88 CEREMONY STYLING IDEAS
ADDS INTRIGUE TO A VINTAGE BARN SETTING
105 BARN BLISS
57 NATURAL INCLINATION A TOUCH OF GLAMOUR ELEVATES A RUSTIC
AN ALFRESCO DINNER SERVES UP STYLE BARN TO THE HEIGHT OF PRAIRIE-STYLE
WITH NATURE-INSPIRED ACCENTS ELEGANCE
63 HERITAGE HOEDOWN 117 HANDMADE HARMONY
HOMESPUN TOUCHES TRANSFORM A HISTORIC HANDCRAFTED DETAILS BRING A HERITAGE VIBE
CORNCRIB INTO A PICTURESQUE VENUE TO A UTILITARIAN ILLINOIS OUTBUILDING
73 WILD AT HEART 129 WESTERN UNION
SET IN A TENT, AN INTIMATE DINNER BECOMES THE COWBOY-CHIC THEME OF A MISSOURI
AN OUTDOOR ADVENTURE HORSE BARN CAPTURES THE SPIRIT OF
THE OLD WEST
79 RANGE REVELRY
AN OPEN-AIR FEAST EMBODIES PRAIRIE STYLE’S 137 FARMHOUSE FETE
EFFORTLESS CHARMS A MAKE-DO ATTITUDE TAKES ON A FESTIVE
FLAIR AT A MICHIGAN HOMESTEAD
147 LOVE BY DESIGN
A SYMPHONY OF COLORS BRINGS THE EARTHY
SIDE OF PRAIRIE STYLE TO AN OUTDOOR PARTY
156 PRAIRIE-STYLE PROJECTS
179 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
180 CREDITS
182 INDEX
8 PRAIRIE-STYLE WEDDINGS
INTRODUCTION
A WEDDING IS ONE OF LIFE’S most joyful events— spirits the lovers away to live happily ever after. A dream
one to dream about for many years, often long before come true, indeed.
any wedding plans are even begun.
The romance and excitement of an upcoming wedding
As a fairy-tale wedding goes, the event crescendos to build for days, or even months, beginning with a fun-
the couple’s first kiss as newlyweds, surrounded by filled bridal shower. The rehearsal dinner—often casual
cheering guests. At just the right moment, white doves and intimate—is next, followed by that glorious, momentous
take flight into azure skies, and a horse-drawn coach walk down the aisle. And finally, the joyous reception.
INTRODUCTION 9
Each gathering is a chance to celebrate the start of a IF YOU ARE HOLDING THIS BOOK, no doubt you
new life with family, friends, and loved ones. are intrigued by prairie style, share the vision, or are
simply curious to discover how to define and plan your
own wedding, or that of your child, close relative, or best
friend. Know that you can transform fantastic dreams
into reality without lavish financial resources. That is the
WHAT IS A PRAIRIE-STYLE WEDDING? It is a perfect beauty of prairie style. The more extravagant approach
blending of romance and pragmatism, of simplicity and to a traditional wedding is supplanted by drawing on
embellishment. It counts on nature to provide a beauti- the riches of nature. In these pages, you’ll see proof that
ful setting, and then adds personal touches with decor beautiful and magical events—bridal showers, rehearsal
and details. It relies on invention, encourages resource- dinners, wedding ceremonies, and receptions—are
fulness, and finds beauty in imperfection. In a prairie- attainable.
style wedding, handmade, sustainable, and accessible
Simplicity and effortless grace are hallmarks of prairie-
elements set a casual, welcoming, and celebratory tone
style celebrations, but individuality is just as important.
that will be memorable and meaningful for all guests
With prairie style, you might choose to celebrate out-
and especially for the marrying couple.
doors under sunny skies or in an outbuilding decorated
Living on the prairie, in this and many other countries, for your special day. You might set your tables with
necessitated the ability to live off the land. In order to vintage lace and china finery passed down through the
thrive, homesteaders had to become inventive when generations, or with rustic burlap runners and hand-
harvesting, cooking, sewing, building, entertaining, and thrown pottery. Your seating options might be hay bales,
handcrafting. Today’s prairie-style weddings take their garden chairs, or plump secondhand sofas, and your
cue with pride from this do-it-yourself approach. flowers might be displayed in crystal vases, tin cans, jam
jars, or galvanized buckets—or all of the above! Whether
For us in the twenty-first century, the word prairie
your theme is rough and rugged or decidedly feminine,
conjures up sun-dappled country lanes, fragrant meadows,
a touch of opulence, a little glamour, a hint of vintage,
beautiful weathered barns, fields of wildflowers—all
and a generous sprinkling of playfulness are among the
places that evoke a primal and organic feel. Prairie-Style
many features that define prairie style. Keep in mind
Weddings takes you to charming affairs in such earthy
the goal is not to achieve the kind of flawlessness one
settings, including the bucolic landscape of a working
expects at a traditional affair. Your prairie-style wed-
horse ranch, the luminous backdrop of a white barn,
ding revels in the perfection of quirky exuberance and
and a homegrown celebration at a family farm, to name
endearing details that conspire to make it a memorable
just a few.
celebration. Prairie-Style Weddings encourages you to
be you!
10 PRAIRIE-STYLE WEDDINGS
