Rachel and Zeb first met in 2021, when Rachel took a night off from studying for her nursing degree to attend her brother Mark’s 3-on-3 basketball league game. He played alongside two friends, including Zeb. While Zeb was immediately interested in Rachel, they only spoke a few times over the next year, until he finally became bold enough to ask Rachel to play basketball.
That first date was the start of many more, and Rachel and Zeb often found themselves going to dinner or the gym, playing pickleball, and having many game nights together. Though the couple had brief periods of long-distance while Rachel returned home over summer breaks, they persevered and kept their bond strong, even while apart. After a few years of dating, Rachel and Zeb decided to close the distance permanently by getting married and building their future side by side.
A Garden Barn Wedding
Located in Holmen, Wisconsin, Valley Creek Weddings & Events is a peaceful wedding and event venue surrounded by stunning natural landscapes. Scenery was a must for Rachel and Zeb, as they both love the beauty of La Crosse and the surrounding areas. They centered their dream around a soft color palette of sage green, blush, and taupe.
Details & Preparation
Rachel & Zeb’s summer wedding day started with a little rain. They prepared in individual suites, exchanging sweet letters, and choosing an intimate first look set against a naturally textured backdrop of wood and stone.
Alilou Events provided signage and rental pieces for every scene, from the welcome to the seating chart. The couple purchased their florals from Festival Foods and Sam’s Club and chose to create their own arrangements for the day. Prominent florals and greenery included white and peach ranunculus, pink peonies, blue delphinium, daisies, and green fern.
Wedding Party & Portraits
Rachel wore a minimalist, elegant gown from Azazie, with unexpected modern details. The A-line dress featured a V-neck, thin straps, and a softly draping skirt (with a modern leg slit!) that tapered into a lace-edged train. The back of the bodice included whimsical, sheer fabric detailed with lace appliqués.
Hair & Makeup by Chelsea Luebke kept the beauty soft and natural. Rachel’s hair was loosely curled and separated down the middle into a French-braided half-updo bun with artful pearl accessories. She wore a fingertip-length, pearl-edge, tulle veil for the ceremony and portraits, later removing it for the reception.
Zeb and his groomsmen wore matching tan suits from The Black Tux with white dress shirts, brown dress shoes, floral boutonnieres pinned to their lapels, and sage green bowties that coordinated with the bridesmaids’ dresses.
Abigail Peters Photography captured Rachel and Zeb’s portraits and wedding day with a thoughtful, storytelling approach, preserving both the big moments and the meaningful details in between.
Outdoor Woodland Ceremony
Despite the rain earlier in the day, Rachel & Zeb were still able to exchange vows in a fresh-air ceremony and woodland backdrop. The skies cleared shortly before Rachel walked down the aisle, and the sun made an appearance to help dry the grass—and add a soft glow to their portraits!
The Sweetest Barn Reception
Valley Creek Weddings & Events offers a beautiful indoor barn reception space. After the ceremony, the couple and their guests enjoyed catering from L & M Cafe, followed by delicious donuts from Linda’s Bakery. Instead of a traditional cake cutting, Rachel & Zeb opted for an adorable “donut-cutting” to celebrate their big day!
For couples currently in the wedding planning process, the couple advised, “Use a checklist and spreadsheets for everything! If you don’t have a wedding planner, assign someone who can organize details and handle questions on the day of for you.”
Our official WedPlan Planning Guide is a great place to start—wink wink! Click the profiles below to learn more about the vendors that brought Rachel & Zeb’s wedding to life, then visit our full vendor directory to start building your dream team of trusted professionals.
