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\nIn a sea of more than 20,000 students, incoming Ball State University freshmen Rachel Biasi and Kyle Callahan just happened to have not one, but two classes together. They seemed destined to become friends<\/a>, and in April 2014, they became more than that when Kyle asked Rachel out on a date<\/a> via a game of hangman. She filled in the blanks, then said, “Of course.”<\/p>\n \nFour years and a move to New York City<\/a> later, Kyle took Rachel on her dream vacation to Glacier National Park in Montana. Little did she know that the trip would include her dream proposal, too. At the top of a mountain<\/a>, he handed her a flip book he had drawn filled with all the reasons he loved her. And on the last page? A hangman drawing with blanks popping the question<\/a>. Her answer was the same.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n \nEven before Covid, Rachel knew she wanted a micro wedding<\/a> with \u201ca dinner party atmosphere straight out of Pinterest<\/a>,\u201d says Rachel. \u201cI imagined a lush garden setting with flowers as our main decor item to bring the outside in. I wanted it to have an organic and almost unplanned, natural<\/a> feeling.\u201d\u00a0\n<\/p>\n \nRachel searched for the perfect venue<\/a> for four years, during which time the couple moved to Denver and started a small business together. Her dream spot turned out to be right in their new backyard: the Victorian solarium at the Denver Botanic Gardens<\/a>. It was \u201cunique, charming, not exposed to the weather but not fully inside, [with] pretty surroundings,\u201d she says.\n<\/p>\n \nThe couple held their dinner-party reception at the botanic gardens in June 2021, when the surrounding Woodland Mosaic garden<\/a> was in bloom.\u00a0 The venue was the perfect spot for their party of 13. \u201cThe intimate<\/a> setting reflected who we are as a couple,\u201d says Rachel. \u201cWe love our families and wanted to be able to celebrate with them in a very low-key but still formal<\/a> setting.\u201d\u00a0\n<\/p>\n \nKeep reading to get all the details of their garden-inspired ceremony and dinner party, as planned by the bride with coordinator Kaitlin Shea of Kaitlin Shea Weddings<\/a> and photographed by Shelly Anderson Photography<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n Photo by Shelly Anderson Photography<\/p>\n <\/span> \nThe day\u2019s color palette<\/a>\u2014rust, soft pink, and neutrals\u2014was reflected in the day\u2019s florals and in their typography-driven, deckle-edged invitations, created by Jen Simpson Design<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n Photo by Shelly Anderson Photography<\/p>\n <\/span> \nDenver\u2019s Good Shepherd Catholic Church<\/a> was ideal for the ceremony \u201cbecause of the simple yet beautiful architecture and proximity to the reception venue,\u201d says Rachel.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n Photo by Shelly Anderson Photography<\/p>\n <\/span> At the end of the day, I chose the dress that I wanted, not the dress that everyone else wanted.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Photo by Shelly Anderson Photography<\/p>\n <\/span> \nRachel wanted her look to say \u201cclassic<\/a> simplicity.\u201d After going to 11 different dress appointments in New York City on her own\u2014\u201cI didn\u2019t want to waste everyone\u2019s time,\u201d she says\u2014the bride found the one at Sarah Seven<\/a>. \u201cI actually loved dress shopping alone,\u201d adds Rachel. \u201cAt the end of the day, I chose the dress that I wanted, not the dress that everyone else wanted.\u201d She had her seamstress add a high front slit<\/a> \u201cto give it more edge.\u201d She complemented the dress with shoes from Aldo<\/a>.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n Photo by Shelly Anderson Photography<\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by Shelly Anderson Photography<\/p>\n <\/span> \nFor his wedding day look, Kyle wore an Indochino<\/a> tuxedo with a watch and cufflinks that Rachel gave him, and a boutonniere<\/a> of ranunculus and olive sprigs.\n<\/p>\n Photo by Shelly Anderson Photography<\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by Shelly Anderson Photography<\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by Shelly Anderson Photography<\/p>\n <\/span> \nRachel\u2019s father, Tony, walked her down the aisle to live traditional<\/a> music. She intentionally kept her dress simple to make her cathedral-length veil, designed by Made with Love<\/a>, the \u201cstatement piece\u201d of her look. Her simple yet modern stud earrings are by Olive + Piper<\/a>, and her \u201corganic, free-flowing bouquet\u201d echoed the simple pedestal-style ceremony markers at the altar, which were transported to the botanic garden<\/a> afterward to frame the dinner table.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n Photo by Shelly Anderson Photography<\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by Shelly Anderson Photography<\/p>\n <\/span> \nHaving just their immediate family and best friends present personalized<\/a> the service. Rachel\u2019s sister was her only bridesmaid<\/a>, and Kyle\u2019s brother served as his best man.\n<\/p>\n Photo by Shelly Anderson Photography<\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by Shelly Anderson Photography<\/p>\n <\/span> We chose to have a traditional Catholic wedding because of the significant meaning it brings to our relationship.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Photo by Shelly Anderson Photography<\/p>\n <\/span> \n\u201cWe chose to have a traditional Catholic wedding<\/a> because of the significant meaning it brings to our relationship,\u201d says Rachel. The traditional mass and ceremony were officiated by Father James Fox of Good Shepherd Catholic Church<\/a>. The couple then took photos outside the church, including a few with their golden retriever, Penny. Neither the church nor their reception venue allowed dogs<\/a>, so Rachel\u2019s brother, Joe, picked Penny up after the ceremony so that the couple could get a few pictures with her outside. Then, the wedding party headed to the Denver Botanic Gardens<\/a> just a few blocks away.\n<\/p>\n Photo by Shelly Anderson Photography<\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by Shelly Anderson Photography<\/p>\n <\/span> \nFun fact: The Victorian-style solarium nestled amid the Denver Botanic Gardens\u2019<\/a> Woodland Mosaic Garden was originally designed for Euro Disney in the 1990s, not in the 1900s. Built of powder-coated wrought iron with romantic<\/a> tempered glass windows and scrollwork, it provided the perfect weather-proof indoor-outdoor setting for Rachel and Kyle\u2019s post-ceremony dinner party<\/a>.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n Photo by Shelly Anderson Photography<\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by Shelly Anderson Photography<\/p>\n <\/span> \nThe couple\u2019s 13 guests sat together at one long farm<\/a> table framed by the ceremony markers with blooms in the day\u2019s palette of soft pinks, rusts, and neutrals<\/a>. A large floral arrangement suspended overhead<\/a> completed the decor and complemented the already-lush setting.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n Photo by Shelly Anderson Photography<\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by Shelly Anderson Photography<\/p>\n <\/span> \nRose-filled bud vases scattered down the center of the table tied in the day\u2019s colors<\/a> without blocking conversation. The place settings consisted of simple knotted linen napkins<\/a> accented with olive sprigs, customized place cards and menus<\/a>, and mini bottles of champagne that the bride personalized with tulle.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n Photo by Shelly Anderson Photography<\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by Shelly Anderson Photography<\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by Shelly Anderson Photography<\/p>\n <\/span> \nSeeing all of their planning<\/a> come together was one of the most special things about their wedding day. Rachel adds, \u201cIt was a long road to get there!\u201d After several changes of plan due to the pandemic<\/a>, their \u201cintimate, garden-like\u201d dinner party turned out just as they envisioned.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n Photo by Shelly Anderson Photography<\/p>\n <\/span> For the reception, I wanted to remove the veil and add a topper that gave the dress a little more character.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Photo by Shelly Anderson Photography<\/p>\n <\/span> \nTo change up her Sarah Seven<\/a> dress for photos at the gardens and for dinner, Rachel added a diaphanous topper by Eva Lendel<\/a>. \u201cMy dress was minimalistic and simple, but it went beautifully with my long veil<\/a>,\u201d she says. \u201cFor the reception, I wanted to remove the veil and add a topper that gave the dress a little more character! I knew that the puffy sleeves<\/a> and length would do just that.\u201d\n<\/p>\n Photo by Shelly Anderson Photography<\/p>\n <\/span> \nSome wise words from Rachel? \u201cDon\u2019t be afraid to delegate some easy tasks to your future spouse<\/a>,\u201d she shares. Fun fact: Kyle made hand-squeezed lemonade for their meal<\/a> on the day of the ceremony.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n Photo by Shelly Anderson Photography<\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by Shelly Anderson Photography<\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by Shelly Anderson Photography<\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by Shelly Anderson Photography<\/p>\n <\/span> \nThe picnic-style meal came together during the week before the wedding, when the catering<\/a> had to change course due to new Covid restrictions. Guests<\/a> wandered down a garden path to grab a metal basket to fill with prepackaged gourmet sandwiches, individual servings of fresh fruit<\/a>, and bottles of Kyle\u2019s handmade lemonade finished with tags made by Rachel.\u00a0Wrapped cannolis referenced Rachel\u2019s family\u2019s Italian<\/a> heritage.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n Photo by Shelly Anderson Photography<\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by Shelly Anderson Photography<\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by Shelly Anderson Photography<\/p>\n <\/span> \nRachel had a local baker re-create her Slovakian grandmother\u2019s carrot cake, which was iced with buttercream<\/a> and topped with peonies, for the meal\u2019s finale. \u201cGrowing up, my dad would make her carrot cake on holidays<\/a>, so it was always very special to us,\u201d says Rachel. My dad was not aware that I was having the exact cake as my wedding cake, so when I told him he was almost in tears!\u201d\u00a0That special story, and being surrounded by the people who love them, are the memories<\/a> Rachel and Kyle treasure the most.\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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