Love Comes Full Circle
A particular barn in Dickinson County holds special memories for Jac and Sydney Radcliffe. The couple first laid eyes on each other during a fun night of line dancing at The Okoboji Barn and Grill. From that summer night in 2019 till now, these two farm kids gradually fell in love and were married where they first danced the Charlston.
“Growing up, I always wanted to get married in a barn! Both Jac and I grew up on a farm, and we met at the very same barn we got married in,” Sydney shared. “This was a special moment on November 23, as it all came full circle, from meeting to marrying the love of my life.”
Another Special Memory
Deadwood, South Dakota, is another spot that holds a special place in the couple’s hearts. For the past three years, Jac and Sydney have been traveling to the Black Hills with Jac's parents, John and Carla, to bring in the New Year. In 2023, Jac extended the trip to include Sydney’s parents, as well as a few of their closest friends, so they could be part of the special proposal. Among the group was their friend Emily Feller, a talented photographer, who was there to capture the unforgettable moment.
On their first night in Deadwood, on December 29, 2023, the whole group went downtown for some food. On their walk, Jac tugged Sydney out into the middle of Main Street and got down on one knee, completely surprising his future bride.
“I was so surprised and of course I said ‘Yes,’” she added. “And to my surprise, he had been keeping the ring a secret for almost six months.”
Planning Their Dream Wedding
Sydney was thankful for all the help she received while wedding planning. Whether it was her mom or Jac’s mom, they researched to find what Jac and Sydney wanted to make their day extra special. “We tried to do a lot of things ourselves to also save some money,” she said.
However, one thing the couple was especially certain about was the ceremony needed to be at the Okoboji Barn, which they booked for Nov. 23, 2024. Because of the size of their guest list, they reserved the Dickinson County Expo Building for their reception.
On a girls’ trip to West Des Moines, Sydney went dress shopping with her mom, two sisters Morgan and Katie, and her best friend Brooke Skoglund. She wasn’t planning on getting a dress, but she found her dream dress at their second stop, Schaffer’s Bridal in West Des Moines.
“I tried on many dresses and really wasn’t planning on getting a dress on our trip, but I found my dream wedding dress—a style I’ve always wanted!” Sydney shared. “The style and lace are something I’ve dreamt about since I was a little girl—it was a dream come true.”
The wedding gown Sydney chose was a Maggie Sottero, a fit and flare elegant lace dress with detachable long lace sleeves—a dress especially perfect for an early winter wedding. They picked out the boys’ tuxes from the Squire Shoppe in Spencer.
“We found the perfect color to coordinate with the theme and the bridesmaid dresses,” she added. The bridesmaid dresses were from Birdy Grey and were in a beautiful cabernet color, while the groomsmen’s tuxes were a cinnamon color.
These same beautiful colors were a part of the overall rustic wedding theme, as Sydney used dusty rose, dusty blue and cabernet as her main colors. Katie Lange of Broadway Market Place in Paullina, IA then used the colors throughout the stunning floral arrangements, showcasing deep red garden roses that included accents of dusty pink roses, eucalyptus, blue thistle and a mixture of greenery. Pompas grass and wooden decorations were displayed throughout the room, especially highlighting a wooden doorway Sydney’s father Mark crafted for the special day.
Full Circle
It was the day! A beautiful fall day in late November and time for Jac and Sydney to tie the knot. The ladies got ready at the Farmhouse, a smaller renovated building near The Okoboji Bar and Grill. The men hung out and got ready at Jac's house. “The Farmhouse is a gorgeous building that allowed for a lot of light and was perfect for getting ready,” Sydney said.
Throughout the day, she used Wedding Coordinator Emma Wolf to keep everything organized and running smoothly. “Emma was much needed, and I was so thankful for her, as it helped me to relax and the day ran so smooth,” she shared.
Sydney’s lifetime hair stylist Natasha Welch from Estherville styled her hair, while Brooke Vermeys, Natasha’s sister, did all the girls’ makeup.
“Tasha has been doing my hair since I was a little girl; it made it so special,” Sydney added. “I had such an amazing group of girls doing our hair and makeup to make us look our best for the most amazing day of my life.”
Stephanie V Photography out of Sioux Falls captured every detail throughout the day, from getting ready to the dances late that night. “Stephanie VenOsdel and Sydney Brower are amazing photographers that really captured every single special moment,” Sydney said. “They were with us for everything. Plus, they fixed dresses, hair and positioned you just right.”
Most of the couple’s wedding photos took place after the ceremony as Jac didn’t want to see Sydney until she walked down the aisle. Beforehand, the couple read personal written vows back-to-back without seeing each other. “This was a really tender, special moment for us,” she said.
Pastor Greg Jorgensen officiated the wedding, while the night’s music was from All in One Bridal from Brandon. A special moment took place when Pastor Jorgensen read from the Bible Sydney’s dad Mark had carried to the front—a Bible also read from by Sydney’s grandfather Robert Hoffman at her mother Jennifer’s wedding and at her grandmother Sandy’s wedding by her great-grandpa William Gathman. “It was really special as the Bible was given to my Grandma Sandy to carry on her wedding day by her oldest sister Billie. Grandma carried it, my mom carried it and then me,” Sydney reflected.
After the ceremony, Jac and Sydney, as well as the wedding party and close family members, took pictures and captured lifetime special moments. The wedding party then rode in a livestock trailer to the reception.
El Mariachi catered for the wedding and served street tacos and chicken tacos and had a Queso Fountain. “Mexican food is our very favorite, so we thought it would be perfect for the day,” Sydney added.
Jac’s mom Carla made a beautiful vanilla cake for the couple, while Sydney’s mom made scrumptious cheesecakes for the night.
The reception was a hit, and the dance floor was busy all night long. A special moment was when Jac and Sydney danced to “I’m Gonna Love You” by Cody Johnson.
Once the special day ended, the couple grew especially appreciative of all their family and friends who celebrated their story. They went on a honeymoon to Cancun, Mexico for a week around January 12. Jac is a farmer and works for Prentice Customs/Red Barn Ag, while Sydney is an emergency room nurse at Lakes Regional Healthcare in Spirit Lake.
Sydney’s biggest takeaway from the memorable experience is that all the little details really don’t matter. “If something doesn’t go right the day of, no one will ever know,” she explained. “At the end of the day, all that matters is that you are married to the love of your life!”