Through the morning and into the afternoon, Café Fresco was just like any other coffee house. Customers reviewed the list of menu choices before deciding on a latte or espresso. Some worked on laptops while others waited to meet friends. But, Café Fresco is not your typical coffee house and this was not a typical day. Within hours, this small café was transformed into the ideal setting for the wedding of Nathan and Edwina Barnette.
Nathan and Edwina chose Café Fresco as this is where Nathan proposed to his future bride last November. The couple met in June, 2010, through a mutual friend. They hung out in the same circle of friends for several years until Nathan confessed to Edwina that his feelings for her extended beyond friendship.
“They both have a strong Christian faith so I think that helped them both a lot,” explains Nathan’s brother, Jordan Barnette. “They have also been each other’s support in times of need. Nathan’s roommate died and Edwina lost her brother. Helping each other through those tragedies really helped them form a solid relationship.”
Nathan and Edwina dated for a year and Edwina knew that Nathan was the one for her.
“She was getting frustrated waiting for him to ask,” Jordan relates with a smile. “Nathan did his best to make the day he proposed like any other day. They went for lunch and saw a movie and then finished their day at Café Fresco. While sitting on the couch, my brother told Edwina how much he loved her and how much joy and happiness she brought to his life. He then got down on one knee and asked her to marry him.” Edwina said, “Yes!”
Katrina Freedman flew in from California to act as the wedding planner for her brother’s wedding.
“I have never done anything like this before. I have planned the occasional wedding shower or bachelorette party, but never a wedding,” says Katrina. “The fact that the café is so small and we had so many guests coming really made this a challenge.”
Around 2:00 pm on a sunny Friday afternoon, and under Katrina’s guidance, the setting inside Café Fresco began to change. Tables and stools were cleared out. An arch adorned with flowers was brought to the back of the café. Pictures on the walls were flipped over and inspirational quotes about love were written on their backs. Less than thirty minutes before the event, folding chairs from a local church were brought in and a center aisle was formed. Ministers Emmit Willis and his wife from Dove Ministries arrived and, just after 3:00 pm, Edwina stepped from the car and through the doors of the café.
“The café had previously been measured by our friend Tom to ensure that we could fit enough chairs for all forty guests,” explains Katrina. “I was most nervous about transforming the space into a reception area after the ceremony. It worked out perfectly as most people stepped outside to take photos of the bride and groom. While they were taking photos, we brought out banquet tables, set up the food and we were ready for the wedding reception in maybe 10 minutes,” Katrina says with a laugh. A wedding ceremony at a coffee house was a first time experience for everyone in attendance. Mother of the groom, Karen Barnette, was thrilled with the results.
“I guess I always pictured my kids getting married at a church. But, when Nathan told me about getting married at Café Fresco, I was all for it.”
The new bride, Edwina Barnette, thinks this may be a new trend.
“So many weddings are over the top and so expensive. This was low key, relatively inexpensive and everyone just had the best time. I think there is value in keeping it all simple.”
Breanne Zolfo, the owner of Café Fresco, was most pleased by the community support.
“When people found out we were doing a wedding in the café, everyone wanted to help. Rosemary’s Heritage Flowers donated their wedding arch and decorations. Goodman’s Sweets donated all the desserts. Employees from Safe House Bar & Grill and Sigma Energy volunteered to help move the furniture. The First United Methodist Church donated folding chairs. It really became a community effort.”
The newly married couple left Café Fresco to spend the night in Chicago. They are spending the first days of their new life together fixing up their place and making it a home. They plan to head to Orlando, Florida in the fall for their honeymoon. One thing is for certain, they left their friends and family with a memory to last a lifetime.
To schedule your own wedding at Café Fresco, you may contact Breanne Zolfo at (219) 663-1100.