Kristin Bauer may be known for her killer style as sexy vampire Pam on the hit television show True Blood, but when it came time to plan her August wedding to South African singer Abri van Straten , the actress knew that she wanted to have a rustic, laidback celebration. “I wanted to do a wedding that was simple and easy. I just want it to be no stress and fun for everyone,” Kristin says of the August 1st celebration at her family farm in Racine, Wisconsin. —Kathryn Papanek
Photography by Ari David Rosenthal, arirosenthalphotography.com.
Abri, who wore a white linen suit, broke out his guitar at the celebration. The first meeting of the far-flung pair (Abri grew up in South Africa and Kristin was raised in Wisconsin) was definitely serendipitous. Last December, Kristin came across a CD from the band The Lemmings in the waiting room of her Los Angeles nutritionist’s office and was instantly intrigued by their music—and by their cute vocalist Abri van Straten. She contacted the band online and asked to be put in touch with their vocalist.
The pair met for coffee a month later and instantly connected. Abri drank “pots of coffee” as their initial meeting stretched out to twelve hours. “And that was it,” Kristin says. “We pretty much haven’t been apart since.”
To select a wedding dress, Kristin turned to True Blood wardrobe stylist Aubrey Fisher, who helped the actress find a silk chiffon Grecian-style gown by Alberta Ferretti. “My dress was easy,” the bride says. “I tried on one dress and it was perfect.”
Staying true to her roots, Kristin said “I do” in a wheat field at her family's 40-acre farm in Racine, Wisconsin. “I wanted the wedding to be as much in nature as we could get,” she says. Adding to the bucolic charm of the ceremony, bales of wheat added as seating for the guests and sunflowers decorated the site.
Kristin’s wedding was a true family affair: the pair wed during her family reunion, taking advantage of the fact that all of the bride’s relatives were gathered in one place. Kristin’s sister-in-law, who is a judge, preformed the ceremony. Incorporating Abri’s family, the ceremony included an a passage written by the groom’s mother, who is a children’s book author.
Kristin’s nieces, wearing dresses from Anthropologie, acted as her bridesmaids. In keeping with the relaxed style of the celebration, the bride asked them to choose their own dresses. “I told them that they don’t have to match,” she said. “I just asked them to choose the dress they liked and to stay with tan and neutral colors.”
Kristin channels her True Blood alter ego Pam as she strikes a pose for the wedding photographer. The bride’s hair was also inspired by her character: Kristin says she asked the True Blood hairstylist for advice before choosing a bridal hairdo.
For the reception, the party moved up the hill to a tent outside of the farm's main house. The rustic theme continued, with red- and white-checkered tablecloths and a menu inspired by foods that Kristin enjoyed as a child at previous family reunions. “We’re having beans, corn on the con and pie instead of wedding cake,” she says. “And Kringle, a Racine specialty pastry that’s sprinkled with this frosting from heaven.”
