Victoria + Clay’s Wedding Day Pros

Photographer Gigi Boucher Photography | Videographer Andrew Ferren Photography | Ceremony & Reception Venue Walker Homestead | Caterer Chef Chris Grebner, Walker Homestead | Cake Take the Cake Desserts | Floral Shelly Sarver Designs | Hair Salon Ludic | Tanning Tanique | Nails Oscar Nail Bar | Wedding Dress Modern Dress, designer, Matthew Christopher | Suits Skeffinton’s Formalwear | Stationery Ephemera | Calligraphy Bride's Mother | Jewelry Hellberg Jeweler | Ceremony & Reception Music Riley Mullane | Reception Music STE Event Group | Transportation Fueled Party Bus | Officiant Pastor Mark Brandt

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When sparks fly.

Since high school, Victoria and Clay were always near each other, but never truly had a chance to connect. It wasn’t until Victoria came back to Iowa after her graduate work that they started to make that connection. One evening, the two happened to run into one another in Grinnell, and after an evening of catching up, the two were inseparable. “It was truly an instant connection and sparks that we had never experienced before!” Victoria told us.”

A harvest sytle wedding.

Harvest time was the inspiration for the wedding. So the couple chose a fall celebration with a focus on food and drink. Clay grew up on a farm and both are passionate about cooking and cuisine, so the menu incorporated seasonal produce, venison they hunted, locally grown produce, and wine made by their venue, Walker Homestead. Each guest got to take home a little bit of harvest time, with home-harvested honey from Victoria’s grandpa, complete with the colors of fall in the ribbon and a wax seal.

Gorgeous details and family traditions.

Victoria’s gown was absolutely stunning and fit the tone of the wedding perfectly. She wore an elegant A-line dress with a long, flowing train from Modern Dress. “They made me feel like an absolute star, and pumped me up as I tried on all the beautiful dresses,” she says. Designed by Matthew Christopher, her dress had lace details trickling down from her shoulders.

Family traditions added a special touch to Victoria’s wedding day glow. She wore her grandma’s opal ring – which had been worn by three generations on their wedding days – and paired her mother’s veil and wedding day clutch to complete her look.

The ceremony was a lovely outdoor affair at Walker Homestead in Iowa City, which was the perfect setting for their harvest feel. Victoria’s brother played Amazing Grace on his bagpipes and Clay’s sister recited a special verse. One of the most perfect moments that could not have been planned, was when a flock of birds flew over the couple after they said “I do.” Victoria told us it was truly breathtaking.

Planning with the perfect pros.

Victoria was her own wedding planner, owning V. Darling Events, she created their special day with her top picks for the BEST vendors in Iowa, including Shelly Sarver Designs. “Shelly was so much fun to work with and truly made the floral arrangements stunning,” Victoria says. Blooming peonies, roses, daisies, and so many magnificent greens were show-stopping, from the bouquets to the arrangement over the aisle. But Victoria’s favorite part of the process was planning it with Clay. “We had so much fun cake tasting, planning our menu, and getting to know one another on a deeper level during the process.”

Weddings are all about the celebration, and the reception was truly a celebration! The two popped open the champagne, gifted to them by Modern Dress, to celebrate their big day with friends and family. It was the special touches paired with their love and happiness that made the wedding spectacular.

“Have fun with it and enjoy every moment,” Victoria says. “You end up making beautiful memories that will last a lifetime.”