Modern Bohemian Outdoor Wedding | Southern Illinois Wedding

THE COUPLE

Garen McConnell from Goreville.
Bailey Farthing from Marion.

HOW THEY MET

Our families were friends, but we officially met through a church plant with The Journey Church. 

Garen and I were friends for years before we dated. I actually had a crush on him all throughout middle school. I wasn’t allowed to date until I was 16. We went on our first date less than 2 months after my 16th birthday. The night of our first date, my dad was waiting for us to come home with the lights off, sitting on our front porch with a massive gun sitting in front of him. He called it a test. While we were talking, a super sweet little tree frog crawled onto the gun, and my nickname has been Tree Toad ever since.

THE PROPOSAL

The morning of our proposal, Garen nearly severed his thumb! We spent hours in the ER having it reattached. Our plan was to go antiquing that afternoon in Paducah, and he was adamant that we still go even though he was in SEVERE pain. He took me to the riverwalk, where he first asked me to be his girlfriend. There was an event happening and music was playing. He asked me to dance and spun me. When I completed my spin, he was on one knee with the ring. The waterworks started immediately. I told him if we ever got engaged I didn’t need a special ring or even a diamond. So the shock factor was high!

WEDDING VENUE

My wedding ceremony was on my parents’ front lawn. I have wanted it there since my family moved in. Our reception was at The Pavilion in Marion, which was the only place that could hold 550 people in the area.

WEDDING INSPIRATION

I have a hippie heart, so we had components of bohemian with a modernesque twist. 

I bought three different wedding dresses. I returned the first. I had felt so defeated by the dress shopping process. I tried on hundreds of dresses. I resold the second and finally found the third dress six months before we got married. I bought it online, and when it came in the mail, it fit like a glove. .

I had purchased all the bridesmaids and myself pairs of gorgeous pearled sandals to wear on the wedding day. However, the shoes kept catching on the lace of my dress!  I didn’t have any shoes to wear and ended up going barefoot, which totally melted my hippie spirit!

FAVORITE PART

My childhood pets and my dog were in the ceremony. It was so special having them be a part of the day.

MEMORABLE MOMENT

My dad hugged my husband when he gave me away and it was precious.

LITTLE DETAILS

Our wedding day fell on Garen’s beloved Grandma’s birthday. His mom gifted me a beautiful pearl bracelet that was his grandma’s.

I love bumble bees! I wore huge gorgeous Loren Hope bumblebee earrings, and there were small little bumblebee decorations hidden throughout the day.

My mom prayed over my husband before the wedding. The photographer just happened to peak out the window and captured it. Breathtaking!

ADVICE

It is YOUR day! Opinions are great until they hinder you from doing what you truly want. I had a horrible dress experience. Plus, the bridesmaids dresses didn’t arrive on time, and we had to get new dresses a month before the wedding. Just roll with it and soak up every second.

Wedding Vendors

Photographer: Jenn Fortune Photography // Caterer: Sherry Christman Catering // Bouquet and Floral Headpieces: Jordan Sparks of Lily Design Company // Hair and Makeup: Kayla Hudgens of The Beauty Room // Bridesmaid Dresses: BCBGeneration from Eccentrics Boutique // Venue: The Pavilion