When Tasida & Josh set out to plan their wedding, they envisioned an organic, colorful, and deeply personal celebration that reflected their love for nature, their home, and their lifestyle as a couple in their 40s. Held at their home in Siler City, NC, on Earth Day in April 2023, their intimate wedding of fewer than 50 guests was anything but ordinary. With a focus on sustainability, non-traditional wedding entertainment, and a relaxed family gathering vibe, their wedding was a perfect reflection of who they are as a couple.
Vendor Team
Venue: Private Property
Full Service Wedding Planner: Beauty & the Budget Events
Photographer: Windsor Grey Photography
Florist: Meg’s Flowers
Rentals: Curated Events
Ceremony Musician: Cellist Will Taylor, Longtime friend of couple
Officiant: Magical Weddings by Carly
Bartender and Staff: Carolina Party Partners
Baker: Captivate Cake Studio
Hair Stylist: Hair Color Xperts, Kassidy Case
Mobile Axe Throwing: The Flying Hatchet
Caricature Artist: Cartoon Jordan
Food Restaurant: The Broken Spit
Restroom Trailer: Elegant Johns
A Personalized Wedding Experience for a Couple in Their 40s
Tasida & Josh were high school sweethearts who went separate ways for college and found their way back to each other in their 40s, proving that love has its own timing. Tasida, a horse lover and self-proclaimed “sparkly science nerd,” owns a mobile tack shop and is a saddle fitter, while Josh, an IT professional and video game designer, brings humor and heart to every situation. As a couple in their 40s, they both knew that a conventional wedding wasn’t for them—so instead of a high-energy dance party, they opted for an experience-driven event featuring archery, axe throwing, and even a caricaturist! With a horse barn and track on their property, they happily hosted a backyard wedding with farm animals in attendance.
Before the ceremony, the couple shared a first look in their living room, a space filled with windows and lush greenery. The natural light and abundant plants created the perfect backdrop, beautifully complementing the bridal look, while the groom embraced a relaxed look with a white shirt, light green vest, and dark jeans. Tasida wore a sweetheart gown with a lace bodice and tulle skirt, and her light purple hair was styled in a half-up curled look with a floral headband. To match her style, she splurged on pink equestrian field boots—an unconventional but perfect choice for a horse lover’s wedding—adding a fun pop of color to her ensemble.
Overcoming the Challenges of Wedding Planning for Busy Couples
This couple booked Beauty & the Budget Events for full-service planning nine months before their wedding, referred by my friend Emily, a photographer who had previously captured Tasida’s horses. I love wedding planning for busy couples, and with their full schedules, they wanted to focus on the fun parts of wedding planning while leaving the logistics and stress in the hands of a trusted professional. In their words, “Neither of us have the time or mental capacity to devote to planning the wedding we deserve. Knowing we can decide on just the fun parts and hire out all the stress and hassle is a benefit of marrying when you’re financially stable.”
Since the bride was busy running her business, she had little time to focus on the finer details, so we worked around her schedule with phone calls where she’d answer questions while multitasking. This allowed me to make executive decisions that aligned with their vision without overwhelming them with details.
Tasida & Josh gave me full creative trust to bring their vision to life, and they happily took my vendor recommendations, allowing me to assemble a dream team of professionals. We helped them book nearly all their vendors, including their florist, baker, officiant, bartender, rentals, and entertainment. One of the most special details was the florist’s commitment to sustainability—all flowers were locally grown, centerpieces were designed to be repurposed around the couple’s home, and even their unity ceremony tree was carefully selected and nurtured before being planted on their property.
An Outdoor Wedding Rain Plan in Action
On the morning of the wedding, a heavy storm rolled in, knocking out power at their home. As the first vendor to arrive, I helped keep Tasida calm while she coordinated with the power company—not just to ensure the event could go on, but also so she could take a hot shower before getting ready! While the power was restored quickly, the outage caused a short circuit in the restroom trailer, requiring on-the-spot troubleshooting from our vendor team.
We always make alternative plans for bad weather, and an outdoor wedding rain plan is a must, so we were well prepared with a backup ceremony location and a tent for the reception. With rain affecting the original outdoor ceremony in a field, we moved the ceremony to their L-shaped barn. To make the most of the unpredictable weather, we coordinated with the photographer to capture stunning shots during breaks in the storm, including a magical moment when a rainbow appeared just after dinner.
Nature-inspired Wedding Design with Eco-Friendly Ideas
Every design element of this nature-inspired wedding was chosen with sustainability and intentionality in mind. The guest book was an acrylic box with a wooden tree, where guests wrote messages on wooden leaves to drop inside. As an eco-friendly wedding idea, instead of purchasing a traditional card box, they used a small travel case they already owned.
On dining tables, sustainable floral arrangements incorporated moss, bark, wood slices, and simple bud vases in the centerpieces. Biodegradable palm leaf plates and flatware reinforced the eco-friendly theme, and green linens tied together the nature-inspired aesthetic.
An Organic Earth Day Wedding Ceremony Rooted in Love
The couple originally planned to exchange vows under a large magnolia tree, with flowing fabric draped in the branches and geometric shapes adorned with air plants suspended above. However, the storm forced a last-minute change in location to their L-shaped barn, creating an intimate, cozy atmosphere. Guests were seated on either side of the L, with the couple in the corner, framed by the draped fabric and air plants hanging in the rafters, repurposed from the original design. Four potted ferns were placed on the ground at their ceremony, later doubling as decor for the sweetheart table.
A close friend, a concert cellist, provided live music as the couple and their wedding party walked down the aisle. The bride carried a whimsical garden-style bouquet in shades of pink, purple, white, and green—colors that perfectly complemented her light purple hair and the natural aesthetic. Bridal party members wore floral bangles, while the groom, groomsman, and fathers sported boutonnieres. Instead of a traditional unity ceremony, they planted a weeping cherry tree on their property, inviting all guests to take a post-ceremony walk to witness this meaningful moment.
Cocktail Hour with Unique Guest Experiences
After the ceremony, the rain let up, allowing guests to move freely around the property for cocktail hour. They enjoyed drinks under the tent and a covered carport, where the archery station was set up, and mingled around cocktail tables draped in green celadon linens.
The escort card display was a charming and eco-friendly touch—guests found their names on mini succulents with plant label tags that doubled as favors. Meanwhile, the couple took formal photos with their family, wedding party, and, of course, their beloved horses, including a special shoot with their miniature horse, Bebop.
A Backyard Wedding Reception Under the Stars
Their backyard wedding reception took place under a clear tent adorned with market lights, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere while it rained during dinner service—the tent was perfect for their outdoor wedding rain plan. Since the couple didn’t plan to dance, we used the space efficiently, ensuring room for guest tables and food service tables.
The sweetheart table, a square farm table, featured unique organic décor, including a butterfly in a cloche, a test tube-style glass and metal bud vase, and a vase for the bride’s bouquet. The ceremony ferns were repurposed here, making the most of every detail.
Guest tables featured ivory tablecloths, wooden table numbers, and nature-inspired centerpieces that went beyond traditional floral arrangements with their organic details. The place settings included light purple napkins folded into intricate origami flowers and biodegradable flatware, with palm leaf plates on the buffet.
The couple opted for pickup catering from a local restaurant, staying true to their laid-back approach. The dessert table, covered in a white linen with a greenery leaf pattern, featured a two-tier birch tree-inspired cake with their initials carved into it, along with a colorful macaron tower to accommodate gluten-intolerant guests.
An Unconventional Wedding Reception Focused on Fun, Not Formalities
With no DJ or dance floor, the couple’s unconventional wedding reception was a personalized experience centered around non-traditional wedding entertainment options that kept guests engaged. They provided a self-curated playlist on her dad’s sound system and brought in a mobile axe-throwing station, an archery setup with Tasida’s instructor, and a caricature artist. As the evening progressed, guests gathered around a bonfire, enjoying the relaxed atmosphere and engaging in conversations rather than a structured dance party. The celebration had a natural, organic flow, ending as guests slowly made their way home, while the couple retreated inside their house—exactly as they had envisioned.
Memorable Moments at a Horse Lover’s Wedding
For a backyard wedding with farm animals, we knew guests would love spending time with the couple’s equine friends. We even helped manage the couple’s getting-ready schedules earlier in the day, ensuring they had time to feed the horses before getting dressed.
Several moments stood out throughout the day, but a particularly magical one happened right after the ceremony; when guests erupted into applause, the couple’s horses all whinnied in unison, as if celebrating alongside them! Later in the night, their miniature horse, Bebop, was spotted happily munching on an entire watermelon during the reception.
An Unforgettable, Unconventional Wedding
Tasida and Josh’s organic Earth Day wedding with non-traditional wedding entertainment was a perfect example of how a wedding doesn’t have to follow traditions to be meaningful. By focusing on what mattered most to them—nature, personal connections, and a stress-free experience—they created a wedding day that felt entirely authentic to their relationship and created core memories for the guests. Their story is a reminder that love, like nature, has its own timing—and when it blooms, it’s always worth celebrating.
If you’re dreaming of a wedding that celebrates your personality and sustainability, we’d love to help bring your vision to life. Reach out to us today, and let’s start planning a celebration that’s uniquely yours!
