Blackwater Lodge Springtime Wedding

Q1: Tell us about your wedding! What was the inspiration behind your day? Did you have a specific theme, style or color palette? Did you incorporate any cultural or religious traditions in any part of your day?
A1: While I was planning our wedding, I wanted an elegant but simple look to it. I wanted it to be simple yet different from other weddings that I had been to before. Our colors for our wedding were Mauve and Grey and we tried to tie everything into those colors.  Our wedding was very traditional as we did our vows and exchanging of the rings. We also did the unity candle and the In remembrance candle in honor of my grandmother and Uncle who passed away in 2010.

Q2: Let’s talk wedding decor. How did you decorate your space for the ceremony and the reception? Was any part of the decor DIY?
A2: Thank goodness I did not have to do all of the wedding decor on my own! We had a wedding planner and family friend who followed my Pinterest and planned everything off of what I had saved on Pinterest. The ceremony had rows of brown chairs to match the venue space and then we put wooden benches behind the chairs. My husband built a cross for us to stand in front of and our family friend did white drapes hanging from the venue. Our family friend (who was also the florist) made beautiful arrangements that sat on wooden barrels to add a little bit of color.The reception space which was right beside the venue had large ferns and flowers as well. Under the dance floor, we had lights hanging to brighten it up a bit.

Q3: What were the florals like in your wedding? Did you use flowers in any of your design elements like the bridal bouquets, centerpieces or ceremony backdrop? Did they play an important part in the overall style of your wedding?
A3: The florals for the wedding and reception were mostly greenery. I wanted to keep it simple and elegant. My florist added color in my bouquet and bridesmaids bouquets and in the arrangements that were at the entrance at the wedding.  She also added some color in the cross that was behind us during the ceremony. The colors she added was a light pink and white. The colors that were added really made everything pop and added a little color to the greenery that we had!

Q4: Did you personalize the day in any way (food trucks, guest entertainment etc.)? What were some of your favorite parts of your wedding?
A4: The entire day was amazing. Our photographer gave us the option to do a first look but we decided not to because we wanted to keep it as traditional as possible. I had a lot of favorites as I look back to that special day. One of my favorites would have to be the moment when Dylan and I saw each other for the first time. That moment was so special to us and I wouldn’t have done it any other way. Another one of my favorites was doing a first look with my father. My father and I have had an indescribable relationship and I was his last daughter getting married so that moment is also one that I will never forget!One of my best friends from college, who was also a bridesmaid, gave me two lockets with my grandmother’s picture on it and I pinned those onto my bouquet.

Q5: Let’s talk fashion. How did you both choose your wedding day look? Describe the looks in detail.
A5: I wanted my wedding dress to be different than any wedding dress I had seen before. I wanted my style to be elegant but I also wanted some bling on it. My mother and I went to New York Bride and Groom and began looking at different dresses and when I saw this dress, it was very different. I told my mom I wanted to try it on along with the many others that I chose. I tried the dress on and I knew it was the one. I didn’t even want to try the other dresses on that I picked out but I did and they did not compare to the one that I chose!My husband on the other hand, did not care as much with what he wore. He let me pick out the colors and their tuxes. We went to his Uncle’s formal wear store and I showed him what I had in mind. He showed me a picture of one of the tuxes that he had that was similar and we both fell in love! I chose a light grey because the wedding was in April and it was outside. We are so happy with what we chose and how they turned out in our pictures!

Q6: How did you meet? Tell us about the proposal.
A6: Dylan and I met my junior year of high school at the lake. (been together for almost 7 years.) My best friend and I went to the lake to go to the rope swing and Dylan and his friend were also there. After we met, we contacted each other and the rest was history. December 25, 2019, a day that I thought would just be Christmas, was also the day that Dylan proposed. We were at my parents house and had just finished opening gifts and Dylan got down on one knee and asked me to marry him.

Q7: What was the most anticipated or special moment of your wedding day?
A7: The most special moment of our wedding day was definitely the moment I saw Dylan as I walked down the isle. It was a feeling that I cannot describe.

Q8: Do you have any wedding planning or marriage advice that you’d like to share with other couples planning their day?
A8: Some advice that I would give to other couples who are planning their day is to not rush it. I was so excited for the day to get here and when the day got here, it was over in a flash. Take in every possible moment you can and do what YOU both want to do. Many people will put in their input and that is fine, but do not let anyone change your mind about your wedding day. It is YOUR special day so make sure it is everything you want and dream of!