What a gorgeous day it was for Matthew and Jamie to commitment themselves to one another! The gentle breeze blowing only enhanced the unseasonably cool day at Freedom Point Venue where their wedding ceremony took place. From the second floor window our eyes were rewarded with a lovely view of the river below. During the ceremony, which was outdoor, under the pavilion a boat came down the river and it was really loud and I mean obnoxiously loud, and everyone had a giggle, including the bride and soon it passed.
Jamie was one of my brides that elected to include a “first look” moment with her daddy, and what a special moment it was! You could obviously tell by the way her daddy teared up when he first saw her that they had a very close relationship. The bride and groom also wanted a “first look” moment between them as well, which, from the photos you can see that they are so excited and very much in love. She was absolutely gorgeous. Here are some of her and Matthew’s thoughts from the day.
What ended up being your favorite part of the day?
Bride - My favorite part of the day (beyond the obvious of getting married to Matthew) was being able to see the vision I had in my mind come to life and having my friends and family there to celebrate with us.
Groom - You becoming my wife.
What advice would you give to future couples for their wedding?
Bride - Don't sweat the small stuff. There are going to be things that seem like a big deal, things that mess up or don't turn out the way you wanted it to. If you're DIY, there will probably be things and little details that you originally planned that you forget. You have to be willing to delegate, give up control (for us OCD types that's a challenge), and establish the relationships and trust with your vendors. The professional vendors can help easy any worries or stresses you may have. Trust their experience to lead you. At the end of the day, if you are able to call each other husband/wife, the goal has been met.
Groom - Don't stress over it. Everything will work out.
Were you nervous? How did you squash the nerves?
Bride - Surprisingly, I was not. I felt confident that everyone knew what to do so I wasn't worried about something not happening correctly. I was more emotional than nervous.
Groom - Yes. Looking at you (bride).
What was the biggest surprise on your wedding day?
Bride - For me, the biggest surprise was the lack or nerves and the lovely powerboat that decided to grace us with their presence. Getting to peek at the photographers camera and see just how gorgeous the pictures were going to turn out was another great surprise. I don't think I was expecting them to look that good - not because of the photographer and skills but because they were even beyond my expectations.
Groom - The jetboat was definitely an unexpected surprise.
What was your wedding inspiration?
I have always loved sunflowers so I knew that I wanted to incorporate those types of flowers. Most people use a rustic theme with them but I thought with a waterfront/stone type of venue, the rustic theme didn't exactly fit us or the venue. I love contrasting colors, simple decor, and glitter.
What song played for your first dance?
Our first dance was Stand By Me covered by Boyce Avenue. We had the hardest time coming up with a song that we both agreed on. He likes older country, I like more modern. We figured going with a classic that was a little more updated was a good compromise.
Tell me about some of your favorite wedding details and how you came up with them!
Bride - for me my favorite wedding detail was our dessert/cake table. I love things that are different and unique. I knew from experience that I didn't want a big cake that didn't get ate (those suckers are expensive). We both love Little Debbie's cakes. When he proposed, he had hid the ring box in a Nutty Buddy Box. I thought that having a Little Debbie's treat table instead of cupcakes or a big cake would be more in tune with "us". I did still want the look of the traditional "centerpiece wedding cake". After looking on Pinterest and talking with one of my friends, I decided to attempt a glitter Ombre dummy cake. I absolutely love the way it turned out and bonus it was super cheap and easy to make!
Groom - the grooms cake
Any advice for those couples planning their wedding now?
Bride - Do your research. Read reviews on vendors good and bad. Don't be afraid to speak up and specify what you're looking for. Be honest with your budget and live within in. Cheaper is not always better and the most expensive doesn't guarantee the best fit for you and your needs. Make a priority list of what's most important to you and what's not as important. That will help you see what you'd rather spend money on and what you don't really care about. Remember that this is one day - there is no need to break the bank. People truly do not care about or notice all of the little details that you do. Plan for some wiggle room and be flexible for things that may need to be changed. It will get stressful or seem overwhelming at some point - especially the week or few days before with all of the last minute details, no matter how prepared you feel. Remember to breathe, eat, sleep, pray and remember that this will quickly pass so enjoy the process. Hopefully, you'll only do it once!
Groom - Don't stress about it.
What are you most looking forward to as a married couple?
Bride - I think I'm simply looking forward to all of the future experiences we're going to have. Marriages take work as do all relationships and knowing that I have a lifelong partner who will be there to support me helps me to see and feel comfortable with accepting whatever future and experiences may come our way.
Groom - A lifetime with you (bride)
