Forage | A Late Summer Wedding
There would be Tansy, Queen Anne’s Lace, and fern of some kind. Beyond that, the wildflower market in northern Idaho would surprise me when I arrived.
Early morning the day before my sister’s wedding, I drove out along the St. Joe river, scouting, noting what I saw where, planning the stops for gathering. Moss, pinecones, wild grass, ferns and greenery, and, of course, the bright yellow tansy and delicate Queen Anne’s Lace. Perfect compliments to the bundles of mums, alstroemeria, and sunflowers that had been ordered from the local florist. A few hours later, my helpful crew and I had filled over a dozen buckets with wildflowers and wild greenery and were slowly driving our treasure back to the farm.
While we’d been away foraging, more helpers at the barn had set out and grid-taped a hundred canning jars of all sizes and filled them with water. We came in with our overflowing buckets of flowers and greenery, and got to work. I set up stations along the tables, passed out pocket knives to willing hands, then showed them how to fill the jars with greenery, wildflowers, and grass. In the center of each cloth-draped dining table, we created centerpieces comprised of a log slice topped with three flower-filled jars, and a scattering of pinecones. Simple, yet beautiful, reflective of the lifestyle, the people, and the economy found in this hidden valley.
By early afternoon on wedding day, the boutonnieres and bridal bouquets were finished, and the venue was dressed and ready. Giant floral designs in burlap-covered buckets graced the ceremony site and flanked the entrance to the barn. A galvanized tub spilled with blooms at the head table. Everywhere inside the barn there were candles (battery operated), lanterns, and jars filled with flowers. Copper strands of fairy lights draped from post to post around the dance floor. As the music played and people filled the room, the evening sun cast beams between the gaps in the barn’s board walls. It was moody and glittery and magical.
What an honor it was to help create beautiful memories for my sister and her husband on their wedding day! My gracious, heartfelt applause to the friends and family who worked alongside me to pull off this foraged, late summer wedding.
More wedding photos here.