How To Throw A Farm To Table Engagement Party

Couple kissing over watermelon slice by a big tree

We love going to the Farmers Market - all the fresh veggies, abundance of flowers and wonderful vibe it exudes. Jen Rios Design captured all those marvelous things that we love about Farmers Marketa into a Farm To Table engagement party. She created a unique and rustic set up that had a sweet, simple vibe. Utilizing mainly "freshly picked" produce and mother nature's beauty, highlighted by warm, autumnal colors and unique textures.
Lucky for us, Jen shares all the details on how this farm to table engagement party came together. Such fabulous ideas for the foodie in all of us that could easily translate into a backyard wedding or relaxed bridal shower. See all the photographs captured by Lightbox Photography in the gallery by clicking here.

Newly engaged couple holding hands on a rustic bench

Jackson and Daisy engagement with happy couple portrait

Rustic wedding reception decor with floral arrangements

From Jen Rios Design

I selected unique, rustic items to set the stage from Period Charm Rentals . A few of her pieces really stood out to me for this shoot and helped inspire me throughout my planning - the wooden chicken coup I filled with vegetables, the metal receipt book that held the super cute escort cards designed by Rebekah Disch Designs , and the tall stand perfect for holding wrapped bouquets of "flowers for sale". We brought The Vintage Dish on board and the china she selected couldn't have been more perfect - elegant but with rustic charm! This shoot is a great example that vintage china can be more versatile than your typical vintage wedding. It can go in other directions as well!

Jackson and Daisy engagement announcement and party food

Vintage farmers market display with bread and flowers

Fresh bread, flowers, and dips at an outdoor farmers market

We love how they designed the floral arrangements in vegetable baskets, such a great idea.

Instead of choosing a palette of 2-3 main colors I wanted a natural palette with pops of coordinating colors in warm, Fall hues. When Amanda at We + You came on board for florals she "got" my vision immediately. She picked the perfect floral stems and incorporated edible produce right into the arrangements.

To accent these florals I selected fresh produce full of vibrant colors and great texture - bold red radishes, deep plum eggplants, bright orange carrots with draping greenery still attached, sigh, it's incredible how beautiful the food we eat every day is!

Creative garden decor ideas using repurposed items

Rustic flower stand and ladder with fruits vegetables

Rustic flower display with wooden buckets and brown paper

Happy couple with flowers in rustic backyard setting

Four bouquets of flowers and herbs in brown paper wraps

Once the stage was set and the design was in place the other vendors really helped bring it all together, Couture Events by Lottie lined up the perfect vendors for the shoot and helped perfectly style "every radish and snow pea".

Fresh organic produce in a wooden crate with open book

Fresh produce carrots and radishes in wooden wheelbarrow

Woman holds a floral arrangement with peaches and roses

Rebekah was inspired by the rich hues in the opposite way - by designing the paper products on kraft paper to help them pop against all the produce and florals, her placemats were the perfect touch to our tablescape. Rayven with Beauty & the Blush Makeup & Styling and Life Is Pretty styled our models to the utmost perfection, the messy up-do on our "bride to be" gives true meaning to organic & effortless. Then there is Teresa, with Lightbox Photography . There couldn't have been a better women for the job! Her great eye for detail and beautiful photographic style told this story better than I could have ever imagined!

Rustic food display with menu and decor outdoors

Rustic barn wedding reception decor

Rustic wedding couple at table three, surrounded by flowers and vegetables

Rustic wedding table centerpiece with flowers and asparagus candle holder

Artichoke centerpiece on rustic place setting

While "farm-to-table" and "buy local" seems trendy these days my goal through this shoot was to show that there is beauty in simplicity and what comes directly from the earth. These ideas shouldn't be a "trend" we should be appreciate and find inspiration in all the beauty around us!

Rustic centerpiece: artichokes, peaches, flowers