Alyssa & Jacob | The Kinsleeshop Farm | Statesville, NC

“Sweet, Helpful, and Responsive”

In June of 2019 Jacob and I matched on Bumble and really hit it off. We met for a Taco Tuesday lunch date. Jacob had a discount thanks to loyalty points, so our date cost 47 cents! I love a deal and found this pretty endearing. Easter weekend of 2022, Jacob planned a weekend away for us with a hike, Airbnb, and dinner reservations. We drove up early Saturday to hike Rainbow Falls. It was a gorgeous, sunny day and Jacob proposed at the top of the waterfall.

We visited many venues and were drawn to Kinsleeshop Farm. We were looking for an authentic, rustic vibe that would match our vision of nature-forward décor and lots of colorful flowers and greenery. We wanted a wonderful indoor space if weather did not permit an outdoor ceremony. The large meadows, woods, and pond on the property also provided many opportunities for outdoor photos. We used the Vintage Barn and Bro Barn for our rehearsal dinner.

I designed and illustrated our invitations as well as our programs and bar menu. My mother made the cake topper, a miniature National Parks sign, as a surprise for Jacob. My father built us many wooden pieces. All these contributions made the day even more personal.

The sun came out just in time for the ceremony. We had an acoustic guitarist at the ceremony to reflect our folksy taste in music. Before the ceremony, Jacob’s aunt gave us a personalized hooked rug she’d made that we stood on as we said our vows, which was so special. Our personal vows made us both laugh and cry. It was a sweet ceremony.

Due to threat of rain, we tented the back patio for cocktail hour, which provided great shade. Ray played acoustic guitar, which gave cocktail hour a casual feel. Our guests enjoyed passed hors d’oeuvres and two signature cocktails named after our cats, the Obi Fashioned and a Nola Paloma! Our reception was just as colorful as I’d hoped, with muted blue-green jute tablecloths and cheerful florals including peach, blush, blue, and various greenery.

We chose vintage-inspired table settings accented with natural textures, such as woven hyacinth chargers and wood rounds in the centerpieces. Recycled glass bottles, bud vases, and jars served as vessels for both flowers and cuttings from our houseplants for guests to take home. Guests commented on the stunning church windows and beautiful view of the property and sunset. Once the sun went down, we wanted everyone dancing.

For dinner, we had a buffet with favorites like salmon and macaroni & cheese. We also included some barbecue for a southern touch. Our cake included several tiers of flavors and was artfully decorated with buttercream flowers to match our florals, along with sugar cookies shaped like Ohio and North Carolina, our home states.