Hello beautiful people—it’s Rhonda here! I’m so excited to finally share the story of Alea and Dean’s wedding with you. It was a labor of love, filled with meaningful moments, intentional details, and so many helping hands. In this post, I’ll walk you through the heart behind the design, why we chose what we did, and how it all came together. We’ve also got a ton of beautiful photos to share!

This was our first daughter’s wedding, and after helping with the weddings of our two sons, I was thrilled (and honored) to be hands-on with this one too. From baking dozens of cakes to setting tables and steaming linens, it was truly a family affair.

We’ll be breaking things up into a few separate posts to give you all the good stuff: How we made the cakes (yes, all 66 of them!). The story behind Alea’s custom-made Audrey Hepburn-inspired dress. A flower breakdown: where to buy, how to care for them, and DIY costs.

Let’s start with the big day

Alea, our oldest daughter, wasn’t always the ruffles-and-bows kind of girl—she was more of a joggers-and-hoodies tomboy growing up, always keeping up with the boys (and sometimes outdoing them). But as time went on, she embraced her feminine side, and when it came time to plan her wedding, she envisioned something classy, colorful, and vintage—like an Audrey Hepburn-inspired tea party.

Her dress, which we’ll share more about later, was custom-made to reflect that elegant, timeless vibe. The tea-length design showed off her shoes and gave her that soft, princess-like silhouette. She and Dean looked like absolute dreams the morning of the wedding.

Hosting the wedding party

We hosted everything right here at our farmhouse, and let me tell you, the magic started early. The girls got ready upstairs while we kept the day flowing downstairs. Pro tip: if you’re a mother or mother-in-law helping with a wedding, get ready first thing in the morning—you’ll be pulled in every direction, and you’ll be glad you did!

Another big tip

Have food delivered to the house the day of the wedding. My best friend Debbie and her daughter Hannah brought in a full spread—chicken pasta salad, crockpot meatballs, fresh fruit, and more. Guests started nibbling around noon, but we didn’t officially serve the food until after family pictures at 5:30. (The ceremony was at 7:30 PM.)

Setting the tables

Rather than a buffet, I decided to pre-set the tables with food, which created a warm, inclusive sit-down experience. It made all the difference. Guests weren’t stuck standing in line or wondering where to sit. Everyone felt welcome—and I still get compliments about how lovely that was.

Each table had a cake and simple sandwiches. No filler food like chips and candy—just meaningful, beautiful simplicity. And we made sure everyone had the same meal—including the bride and groom’s table—because everyone should feel equally valued.

Of course, we had gluten-free options too, with a list in hand for my kitchen team to reference. I had eight amazing women helping with drinks, coffee, and service, including our signature punch made with 7-Up and white peach syrup.

Setup

The setup took a few days, and steaming tablecloths was no small feat. Alea’s friends and mine came out to help, and having everyone pitch in was part of the magic. We had Costco sandwiches on hand to keep our helpers happy, and spent about 4–5 hours each day preparing. Putting together all the cakes and flowers (more on that soon!) was a full but joyful effort.

Clean up

Now, let’s be real—the takedown was a lot. I didn’t plan that part out as well as I should have. But Dean’s family stepped in, and with a little chaos and a lot of grace, we got everything packed up, from candleholders to vases and table linens. My husband Vic even created a system for organizing the cleanup—and it saved us!

Rest

Saturday was for rest. Vic brought me food, and I stayed in full recovery mode. No people, no pressure. Just peace.

By Sunday, I was back at the store (thanks to spring break staffing challenges), but honestly, it was comforting to see familiar faces and feel the connection that makes retail so meaningful.

This wedding wasn’t flashy. No drinking or dancing—just the simple union of two beautiful people, surrounded by those who love them most. That’s what made it special.

Thank you for being here, and I can’t wait to dive deeper into all the behind-the-scenes details in upcoming posts. Don’t forget to check out our last blog post on How to Make Stabilized Whipped Cream.

With love,
Rhonda

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