A Woodland Fairytale in Indiana: The Real Wedding of Destina and Zachary Rekeweg

While working at a hospital in the trying year of 2020, Destina and Zachary began their relationship with rushed comments that quickly turned into excuses to stop and talk any time they saw each other. Their coworkers joked about them getting together, as everything flowed so easily. After dating for a few years, Zachary suggested a trip to Gatlinburg. On a hike to Mount LeConte, Zachary asked Destina to marry him. "It was quiet, still and felt completely removed from everything else. Surrounded by the open sky and panoramic views, he asked me to marry him. It was simple, private and incredibly meaningful, a moment that felt very true to us and the way our relationship has always been," Destina shares.
 

Dress shopping was the part of planning that was both exciting and a little nerve-wracking for Destina. She found a bridal shop and tried on a few dresses, but just didn't feel quite right about any of them. Destina admits, "I tried on many different styles and was surprised by what I liked and didn’t like. I left feeling encouraged but not quite like I had found 'the one.'" She ended up going home after her initial fitting and finding styles she liked online. There was one she kept coming back to so she asked the bridal shop if they could order it. When she tried it on, she knew instantly that she had found her dress!
 

To begin their wedding planning, Destina and Zachary started with a blank slate. "We started from scratch and didn’t have a clear vision at first," Destina explains. "Instead of focusing on a specific theme or look, we focused on how we wanted the day to feel warm, relaxed and true to us." They kept that feeling as a foremost thought in all their planning. They utilized online searching for vendors close to Indianapolis—with a focus on small businesses—in hopes of finding vendors that could bring that feeling to life on their big day. With the help of recommendations and reviews, we think they chose the perfect team!
 

Since their engagement started in nature and their theme was relaxed and comfortable, Destina and Zachary decided on a soft, neutral color palette centered with natural shades of green. "We were inspired by the setting of the venue and wanted everything to feel cohesive with the outdoor surroundings," Destina gushes. With the help of some candles and additional greenery, they were able to create the woodland fairytale wedding that they wanted! We love their choice to not use a linen on their wooden tables. The unique texture and deep color of the wood blends so beautifully with the delicate details they placed on their tablescapes!
 

 

What We Love

Keeping comfort and relaxation at the heart of their wedding planning, Destina and Zachary had a very laid-back wedding day without anything feeling rushed or chaotic. They also proved you do not need to serve a gourmet meal to impress your guests. They opted for pizza for their reception meal, which fit so well with their theme, and their guests loved it! "The vows were incredibly meaningful, the weather was beautiful and the entire day felt joyful and easy," Destina raves. "Most of all, it was special because we were two best friends finally getting married, surrounded by so many smiles and people who felt like family."
 

 

Advice from the Couple

Destina and Zachary advise, "Focus more on how you want the day to feel than on how you want it to look. Once we started making decisions based on the atmosphere we wanted to create (relaxed, intimate and meaningful), planning became much more enjoyable and much less overwhelming. It’s wonderful to think about your guests, but don’t lose sight of the fact that the day is ultimately about you and your partner and the commitment you’re making to each other. Trust your instincts, choose vendors you genuinely connect with and be intentional about building in moments to pause and take it all in together. The day goes by quickly, and those quiet, shared moments end up meaning the most."
 

 

 

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