Maddie & Justyn | A Laid-Back, Love-Filled Rustic Wedding at The Red Barn of Bushnell

Maddie and Justyn’s wedding at The Red Barn of Bushnell was a natural fit for their style, relaxed and rustic. The day began with a Florida drizzle, the kind that has guests reaching for umbrellas but doesn’t slow anything down. And by the time the ceremony began, the skies had cleared like they were on the same schedule.

There was a little bit of rain before the ceremony got started, but nothing an umbrella couldn’t help with. Once Maddie and Justyn entered the area, all the drizzle was done.

The overall style of the wedding was a country-western feel. The groom and groomsmen wore jeans and button-down shirts, with Justyn adding a cowboy hat to complete the look. Both Maddie and Justyn wore cowboy boots, and many of their guests followed suit. 

From the start, the energy of the day felt easy. People were relaxed, happy, and fully present. There was a lot of hugging, a lot of laughing, and, as it turns out… a lot of tears.

Happy tears, to be clear. Plenty of them.

Their ceremony and speeches were especially emotional. The groom cried. The best man cried.

The bride’s father cried. At one point, it felt like there was a ripple effect happening through the crowd. And through it all, Maddie smiled, took it all in, and occasionally rolled her eyes (lovingly).

Maddie and Justyn both work as firefighters in Marion County, and that part of their lives was thoughtfully on display. They had a firefighter helmet and jacket out as decor, and their “guest book” was  a firehose that guests signed throughout the evening. (so cool!)

Speeches are started off with the bridal party. Not done with those tears yet!

The father of the bride gives his speech with a wad of tissues in his hand, just in case.

Maddie was open about not loving being in front of the camera, which is something I hear often, and something I take seriously.

My approach that day was to stay as low-key as possible, letting moments unfold, and giving a nudge and guidance during portraits so nothing felt stiff or forced.

The goal is always the same: for people to feel like themselves, and for their photos to reflect that. 

And that’s exactly what happened here.

By the end of the night, the dance floor was full, people were still laughing (and yes, still tearing up a bit), and the whole day felt like a true reflection of Maddie and Justyn — genuine, emotional, playful, and surrounded by a whole lot of love.

Kind Words

“Love Michelle and Photo Moxie! She did a great job capturing my wedding and the photos came out great! As a person who hates photos taken of me and normally hate looking at myself in the photos, I did not feel this way after getting my photos back! I loved everything she sent me and so does my whole family!”
— Madison Henges