Michelle & Christopher

Real Weddings

Michelle & Christopher

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For Michelle LaRue and Christopher Buyarski, “organic” isn’t just a grocery store label or hip trend: it’s a way of living. The like-minded couple met on an ecology field trip while at Minnesota State University Mankato in 2004, and Chris dropped to one knee while on a walk with Michelle, just after she returned from two months of field work in Antarctica. Their wedding was just as green, both in color and intent. Michelle and Chris married under pine trees in her parent’s back yard in front of 26 close friends and family members. Michelle wrote the ceremony (which included an eclectic mix of a Mr. Rogers reading, an Adam Sandler song and the Apache Marriage Blessing), while a good friend of the couple who was also on that ecology field trip, performed it.
     The organic details continued from the ceremony to the larger reception, as whatever Michelle and Chris couldn’t do themselves, a local vendor could. Michelle wore a dress by a local designer and nixed shoes in favor of bare feet. She also partnered with her grandmother to create the ceremony invitations; the leftover paper was transformed into programs. Centerpieces included pine tree saplings, lettuce and pansies, which were all potted and intended to take home and plant. As for jewelry, rather than diamonds and gold, Michelle’s ring was created by using earth-friendlier turquoise and recycled silver. Her engagement ring, which doubles as her wedding ring, was designed with a cast of fan coral to make the band and turquoise (from a closed mine in Nevada!) for the stone. And instead of cut flowers as decorations, Michelle asked the florist to use local and in-season potted plants and flowers, which included wisteria plants and a “wishing tree”–really an apple tree–that welcomed guests. The couple asked guests to sign the guest book, created by one of Michelle’s colleagues, write a wish for them and hang it on the tree. The newlyweds now reside with that tree, which they planted–wishes and all–in their back yard.

Ceremony site: Family farm in Hudson | Reception site: Hudson Golf Course | Honeymoon: Hawaii | Gown: Michele Kielsa | Flowers: Vine Street Florist | Music: Instant Request DJ Entertainment | Jewelry: Jane Dreis | Dessert: Cheesecake from Key's Cafe

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