Chanley and Dakota hosted their festive maypole wedding at Wilson Farm in Boring, Oregon, with their closest friends and family. Just months before their wedding, their original venue actually canceled on them. So they were left scrambling for a new location for their celebration. Luckily, they found an even better venue in Wilson Farm that was the perfect fit for their personalities.
While Chanley and Dakota did most of the traditional wedding events, they found creative, off-the-wall ways to make their wedding unique and especially memorable. Their rings were hidden in mushrooms underneath the ceremony benches. Their guests were tasked with finding them before putting them on. Two lucky individuals also found Tarot cards under their seats, which marked them as responsible for helping carry the maypole. At the end of the night, many guests wore furry jackets to stay warm. And everyone danced barefoot on the lawn to festive live music.
But the maypole was the highlight. This was my first time attending a maypole wedding, and I had an amazing time photographing it. A duo playing renaissance faire-esque tunes provided musical accompaniment while everyone in attendance grabbed the end of a ribbon and proceeded to wind their way around the maypole.
Wilson Farm just so happens to specialize in maypole weddings. In fact, it’s not as easy to execute as you might guess. It requires every other person holding a ribbon to walk in different directions so the ribbons weave together. It requires good communication from folks with experience, and it’s no small task getting a bunch of wedding guests who may be drinking to pay attention. If you’re hoping to host a maypole wedding yourself and love the idea of saying your vows in front of a rustic stone hut, check out Wilson Farm in Boring, Oregon! — KC 🙂
