Bridal Barn Dance

By Lisa Arnett
March 2023 View more Better Together

This couple channeled their relaxed vibes into a rustic wedding

To his family, Jeff Jones was known as a perpetual bachelor. “[They’d say], ‘Oh, Jeff, he’s never gonna get married,’ ” says the 50-year-old owner of Hanover Park trucking company Hytech Transport Services. “They all had it all wrong, though. I wasn’t just going to get married because it’s the thing to do.”

He decided to sign up for Match.com and in 2018 connected with Carrie Stiefvater, a now-52-year-old registered nurse raised in Roselle. On their first date at Chicago Loop Sports Bar in Streamwood, they hit it off right away. “We were both in our late 40s at the time,” she says. “I was already married once and divorced for several years. He was sincere, he was upfront, he was honest—and there was no game-playing.” Their relationship blossomed, and Jones couldn’t wait to introduce her to his family. “I told my mom and my sister, ‘Just wait until you meet Carrie. You will realize why I’ve never been married.’ And when they met her, my sister cried [with happiness].”

Hosting a wedding that felt comfortable and fun was their goal, so after Jones proposed in February 2022, they decided on Hoosier Grove Barn in Streamwood. The bride’s children—Chloe, 22, and Kyle, 17—walked her down the aisle on September 25. As a nod to their respective careers, the couple planned for their rings to be delivered on the arm of a Barbie dressed as a nurse atop a remote-control truck. In an unfortunate snafu, the rings didn’t make it onto the truck in time for its ride down the aisle; however, the memorable stunt did still elicit plenty of laughs. (When the rings were recovered, they had a separate ring-warming ceremony. “Our close family members passed our rings around. and everybody got to say a little blessing,” the bride says.) They kept the reception vibe casual with cowboy boots, a barbecue spread from Uncle Bub’s in Westmont, and some hard rock for good measure, right down to their entrance song, “Welcome to the Jungle” by Guns N’ Roses.

Wedding Vendors

Venue
Hoosier Grove Barn, Streamwood

Bride’s attire
Dress from Lulus.com; Badgley Mischka heels and cowboy boots from Amazon.com

Bride’s hair and makeup
Chloe Stiefvater, daughter of the bride

Groom’s attire
Jeans, shirt, and tie from Men’s Wearhouse, Bloomingdale; vest from Hockerty.com; boots from Ariat.com

Rings
Jared, the Galleria of Jewelry, Aurora

Invitations
Vine Wedding at Etsy.com

Florist
Town & Country Gardens, Elgin

Catering
Uncle Bub’s BBQ & Catering, Westmont

Dessert
Cake, pies, and cookies from DeEtta’s Bakery, Naperville

Photography
Julie Riddle, Riddle Road Photography, Geneva

Photos courtesy of Riddle Road Photography