We finally made it. After 5 years and 1.5 months of dating/engagement, we were finally going to become husband and wife. At the time, those 5 years felt like forever, but looking back, we’ve been married longer than we were together before we got married…and that’s CRAZY to think about.

The wedding details:

Venue: Rounton Farm

Photographer: Blessed Beginnings Photography

Season: fall

Bridal party: 13

Colors: Maroon and coral

Indoor or outdoor?: outdoor ceremony, barn reception

Weather: WINDY AS HECK. Hurricane matthew came through the day before

My Favorite part: having all of our favorite people together all at once!!

Our wedding weekend was one of my favorite weekends ever. Having all of our favorite people all in one place hanging out together was just awesome.

We had our rehearsal on Friday since there was a wedding at the farm on Saturday also. Which was fine because that meant we got to spend more time with our fav people! Rehearsal went fine besides it being chilly and drizzly (the front part of the hurricane). Ryan’s parents had rented a house on the lake, which wasn’t far from the venue. So we did a big cook out for the rehearsal dinner. Burgers and dogs, sides, dessert, all the good stuff. We hung out, talked, played cornhole, played volleyball, and just generally had fun with everyone. It was our bridal party plus all of our out of town family and friends. Friday night i went back to my parents’ house cuz, ya know, i still had some stuff to pack and most of my essentials were still there, not at our new house.

Saturday morning me, my sister, and one of my bridesmaids who stayed with us friday night went to get our nails done. Me and my bridesmaids were staying at my grandparents’ neighbors’ house Saturday night so after me, amber, and hannah got our nails done, we grabbed my last essentials and headed to mine and ryan’s house to drop the stuff off, and then went on to grandma and grandpa’s house for dinner. After dinner, we pierced one of my bridesmaid’s ear with a needle (She said she would get it done before the wedding but she hadn’t so we did it for her…it’s still pierced to this day!!). Then once that excitement was over, my bridesmaids were bored and somehow some of the bridesmaids got some of the groomesmen’s phone numbers so they were like okay, we’re going over to hang out with them. We all piled in my aunt’s van and she drove us over there. WE shot pool, threw darts, and just generally hung out. It was a lot of fun. Just before midnight my aunt rounded us up (couldn’t see Ryan on our wedding day, duh). We kissed goodnight and said see ya at the altar!!

I slept surprisingly well that night but woke up at 7am and couldn’t go back to sleep. Seemed like everyone else was pretty much awake too so we decided to get up, eat breakfast, and start doing hair and makeup. We were doing each other’s hair and our own makeup (well, one of my bridesmaids did mine because I don’t do makeup usually lol). It was fun morning. We also piled everyone in one bed and tried to get one of those cute pictures but it was nearly impossible to get 8 girls in one bed and take a selfie.

Then once the girls were pretty much ready, we headed to the venue where amber did my hair and cheri did my makeup. We had subway for lunch (because truthfully we didn’t think about it so my uncle stopped and got it for all of us) and before I knew it, it was time to get in my wedding dress!! Once i had my dress on, we took some family pictures and some bridesmaid pictures and then it was time to head over to the ceremony.

I honestly didn’t get nervous until we were walking over to the ceremony site. I don’t think it hit me until then. The trees walking to the ceremony site were a little see through so my bridesmaids made a little shield around me to make sure ryan didn’t see me until i was about to walk down the aisle (it’s funny the details you do remember about your wedding day). Next thing I know, it was mine and dad’s turn to walk down the aisle. Once i saw Ryan, I don’t think I looked away once. He was so handsome. He didn’t cry but came THISCLOSE during his vows which made the waterworks start for me. It was windy but perfect.

Then we did all of our pictures since we didn’t do a first look. I don’t regret not doing a first look, but if i were to change anything about our wedding day, it would be that. We were more on the traditional side and didn’t want to see each other until I was walking down the aisle toward him, I just wish we had been able to enjoy our cocktail hour a little bit! But the photos were worth it!!

The reception was great. we actually ate our dinner, got to say hi to everyone, and partied with our best friends! It was so perfect! as part of the budget for our wedding, we hired a driver to take us home so we could have a few drinks during the reception. 10/10 recommend that, it was super nice not having to drive home.

Ryan carried me over the threshold and the rest is history! I love looking back on our wedding photos and video and reminiscing on such a perfect day (which is part of the reason i cherish being a wedding photographer! I know how awesome it is to look back on photos and remember moments you had forgotten)

Adventures in ParaDyess: The Wedding

Miss Bailey’s Birth Story

Adventures in ParaDyess: Engagement