Cassandra + Riley: Rainy Day Vows at the Bride's Family Home

Wedding: May 20, 2017

Ceremony & reception: Family property, Ripon

Honeymoon: St. Lucia

The same things that brought Cassandra Pedigo and Riley Schoonover together keep them together: A love of travel and exploration. Their sense of adventure came in handy on their wedding day, a celebration at the bride’s family spread, where she grew up riding a four-wheeler, hiking and playing in the creek. In the nine months prior to the wedding, Riley and Cassandra’s father made the property, called Meadow Brook, into what the family now jokingly calls a “state park,” complete with a stone staircase, lush green lawn and a boardwalk. Riley, a graphic designer, did extra duty creating all the invites, table activities and menu cards. Cassandra offered her talents as well, finding church pews for guests to sit in for the ceremony, designing chalkboards and creating table numbers that showcased where the couple has traveled. While Mother Nature made her presence felt with a little rain, by no means did it ruin the day. Under the shelter of a tent, a string quartet created a romantic upbeat vibe as the drops fell. As the couple prepared to make their grand exit, they pulled off the sparkler departure they’d planned. Surrounded by what looked like miniature fireworks dancing in the air, the couple jumped into their getaway car, an old Model A restored by the bride’s grandfather, and drove off into the horizon.