Step Inside Chelsea and Cole DeBoer's Intimate Nebraska Wedding Reception

The Down Home Fab hosts celebrated their love with a simple ceremony. A year later, they hosted a reception with close friends and family.

July 06, 2023

By: Maude Campbell

Show: Down Home Fab

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Photo By: Tyler Jacobsen-Blow

Life as the DeBoers

We know all about Chelsea and Cole DeBoer's unexpected meet cute. The Down Home Fab hosts met in 2014 at a gas station, but their love eventually led them to a much more romantic setting: a valley in Crofton, Nebraska, where they held a reception with around 120 guests to celebrate a year of marriage. "[Crofton is] where my family’s cabin is," says Chelsea. "I spent a lot of time there growing up, and it is a very meaningful place to me and Cole now, too."

see more: Down Home Fab

Double the Love, Double the Celebrations

A year before the reception, the couple formally tied the knot in an intimate ceremony on a hill overlooking the nearby lake with less than 20 guests. Cole’s brother, Brock DeBoer, officiated the nuptials — a beautiful start to life as the DeBoers. "I'm so glad we did the reception and ceremony separately," Chelsea says. "We had no decorations [at the ceremony] besides one special wooden board Cole put together."

see more: Chelsea and Cole DeBoer Recount Their Sweet and Hilarious Meet-Cute

Here Comes the Bride

The groom's outfit for the reception was all about the gingham compared to the darker tone it took for the ceremony. Bouquets remained a constant, though Chelsea chose a more subtle look for the reception: a braid with a simple bud in the back.

see more: Chelsea DeBoer Answers Fans' Most-Asked Questions

Welcome With Open Arms

Chelsea’s daughter Aubree, from a previous relationship, was 7 years old at the time of the ceremony, so her participation was almost as important as her mother’s. Cole had been in her life for two years at that point, so to make the big day all the more special, Cole gave Aubree her own ring.

see more: Here's How Chelsea DeBoer Landed a Show on HGTV

Dancing on Air

For their first dance as husband and wife, Chelsea and Cole chose You Are My Sunshine by Morgane and Chris Stapleton. The lullaby with Southern flair set a sweet tone and shined a spotlight on their close connection. "It was perfect," remembers Chelsea.

see more: Chelsea DeBoer's Starbucks Drink is Just Like Her

Eat, Drink and Be Married

Chelsea’s father, Randy Houska, known as "Papa Randy" to her fans, has always loomed large in her life, so her wedding was no different. For the father-daughter dance, Chelsea chose Dream Big by Ryan Shupe & the RubberBand. "He sent it to me years ago, and it always makes me think of him," says Chelsea.

see more: Chelsea and Cole DeBoer's Boldest Designs From Down Home Fab

A Mom-Ent Like This

A bond between a mother and a daughter is irreplaceable — and Chelsea and Aubree are living proof of that sentiment. Chelsea and Cole made sure she was involved in every part of the wedding, both the ceremony and the reception.

see more: This is the One Kitchen Trend Chelsea DeBoer Stays Away From

Vow About That

Chelsea’s favorite part of the process was Cole seeing her in her dress for the first time. Not many brides and grooms have the chance to experience this twice, so the DeBoers are not only lucky in love but rich in memories.

see more: Watch: Cole DeBoer Stars in HGTV's First ASMR Video

Lasting Love

Chelsea and Cole have come a long way since getting married. Three kids later — with a farm full of animals and a television show on HGTV — the couple is thriving. What's even sweeter: "We ended up buying the cabin [in Nebraska] from my dad this last year," says Chelsea. "I cannot wait for our family to create memories there."

more HGTV weddings: 10 Adorable Throwback Photos From Dave and Jenny Marrs' Wedding Day

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