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After a serendipitous meeting on a cruise ship, Jeni and Adam knew there was something special between them. So special, in fact, that just three weeks after their vacations, Jeni flew to Oklahoma to see Adam, and they began a long-distance relationship. Over the next year, Jeni and Adam not only fell in love with each other, Jeni also fell in love with Oklahoma, so when given the opportunity, she decided to take a chance on what she and Adam had by moving cross country. A few years later, charming country details, a rustic venue, and plenty of hospitality gave Jeni’s family a lovely introduction to the Southern state Jeni and Adam had made their home, and the celebration couldn’t have been sweeter!

Thank you so much to our Blue Ribbon Vendor, Amanda Watson, for sharing this lovely wedding with us!

My mom flew out to Oklahoma City from San Diego to go dress shopping with me. We went to three different boutiques and had a great experience at each of them, complete with champagne and oversized mirrors, but by the end of the day, I become somewhat discouraged because no one dress seemed to be perfect for me. After I tried on the last dress that I had picked out, my stylist, Christina, said she had one more that may fit my desires. I wasn’t too impressed when I saw it on the hanger, but when I came out of the dressing room, we all knew it was the ONE!

What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they have any special significance to you? I wanted to give my family (who is mainly from California) the perfect Oklahoma experience. We wanted a venue that was country, but also clean and romantic. We searched for weeks and visited so many, but when we pulled up to the Tatanka Ranch, we knew it was perfect. My whole family was able to stay on the ranch for the entire weekend, which made it feel like a family reunion. It was in a perfect central location in Oklahoma too, so none of our local guests had to drive more than an hour.

Our entire wedding had a rustic, country theme that highlighted the natural beauty of Oklahoma. The field we got married in, the boots we all wore, the oversized barn doors draped in white fabric, the homestyle food we served, the horses all around us…all of it made for the perfect Southern wedding.

What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Enjoy every minute, because no matter how long your engagement seems, time goes by so quickly. Also, spoil your bridesmaids and your parents–they deserve it.

Don’t miss Jeni + Adam’s wedding highlights by Glorious Day Films!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. In May 2011, my mom and I took off for the California coast for a “girls trip” to Cabo San Lucas and Puerta Vallarta. Along with his parents and older brother, Adam also set out on a trip to visit Los Angeles and Hollywood. After seeing the sights of Southern California, we boarded the same Carnival cruise ship. We were introduced to one another on the cruise ship deck (the seas of Mexico are quite romantic!). We spent the rest of the trip together, and started making plans to see each other afterwards–I was finishing school in Tucson, Arizona, and Adam in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Three weeks later, I took my first trip to Oklahoma, and after a year of long distance, I moved to central Oklahoma to pursue graduate school and love.
Tell us all about the proposal! We made plans to attend our first OKC Redhawks game of the season together. The day of the game, we walked around Downtown OKC Bricktown and had lunch at a local taco shop. With sunny skies above, we finished lunch and made our way to the Redhawks stadium across the street, but first, we stopped at the fountain to take a photo. After asking my brother, Jake, to take the picture, we posed and Jake counted to three. On three, Adam dropped to one knee and asked for my hand in marriage. Jake caught the whole experience on video.
When did y’all get married? May 17, 2014
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 140
Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? We did do a first look because we wanted to maximize our time together on our special day. We don’t like hearing that first looks are “untraditional” because that time together really did ease our nerves out before the ceremony, and even more so, it gave us the most romantic time between the two of us, where our photographer captured some of our favorite photos. We were never rushed for time, we were able to enjoy each other all dressed up, and we were able to savor every minute.
If you are comfortable responding, what range did your wedding budget fall into? $25,000-$50,000
What was one way you saved money or cut costs at your wedding? We were honest with vendors about our budget from day one. Every single one of them worked with us and found a package that fit our budget and needs. We were very blessed in that regard.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? Growing closer to God, together. We are so excited about everything that comes along with being married and spending forever with one another–growing our family, setting and achieving goals, serving our communities, traveling, and making memories.

Photographer: Amanda Watson Photography / Videographer: Glorious Day Films / Venue, Catering, and Lighting: The Tatanka Ranch / Florist: Emerson Events / Cake Baker: Rosebeary Design / Rentals: Marianne’s Rentals / Music: Xcell Productions / Paper Products: Unhinged Designs / Makeup Artist: Regina Rodriguez / Bride’s Shoes: Old Gringo Boots / Men’s Attire: Perry Ellis

Amanda Watson is a delightful member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

lisa Written with love by Lisa
2 Comments
  1. avatar Jeni & Adam – Southern Weddings reply

    […] What better way to kick off the new blog than with a featured wedding?! We were so blessed to be a part of Jeni & Adam’s big day and are proud to have it featured over on Southern Weddings, see the feature here: https://southernweddings.com /2014/09/25/oklahoma-wedding-by-amanda-watson/ […]

  2. avatar Loverly reply

    Love the green truck! It adds such a great vintage element!

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I always smile when I see a wedding photographed by our Blue Ribbon Vendor, Rachel May, pop up in the blog schedule–without fail, it seems, the weddings she shoots are sweet and feminine, with a touch of Virginia country. Candace and Matthew certainly fall into this category and I love the way they planned their wedding to fit their personalities to a tee. From the songs they walked down the aisle to, to Candace’s dress, to the outfits the gentlemen wore, every detail was a reflection of who Candace and Matthew and their family and friends really are. Because of this, I can only imagine that all of their guests felt right at home–nothing makes a wedding more wonderful than that!

P.S. Candace and Matthew are celebrating one month of marriage tomorrow–yay!!

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. I’m a Pinterest addict, so I had a copious amount of wedding dresses that I absolutely adored pinned to my wedding board. My first attempt at finding a dress was at David’s Bridal, but since nothing there had truly caught my eye, I wasn’t expecting to find anything. My sister ended up picking out a lace dress that I loved, and as soon as I put it on, I knew it was the one. It was classic, but had vintage flair. My mom was bawling her eyes out because it reminded her of my grandmother’s wedding dress.

My wedding wasn’t the most traditional of weddings. Matthew’s groomsmen are a bunch of rowdy, country boys that love getting dirty, so I figured putting them in a tux or even a suit could potentially end in disaster. They wore navy blue gingham shirts, dark blue jeans, navy blue suspenders, and navy blue ties. We have pictures of them all on top of and jumping off of one of their trucks, which is completely “them.”

Pretty much the only thing Matthew didn’t say “whatever you want” to about the wedding was the song that he and his groomsmen walked down the aisle to. He requested ZZ Top’s “Sharp Dressed Man.” That song right there established the untraditional feel for the entire day. My bridesmaids came in to “Oh, Pretty Woman,” which I deemed fitting with the groomsmen’s song. I walked in to Ingrid Michaelson’s version of “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” Our recessional was to American Author’s “Best Day of My Life,” for obvious reasons, I think.

Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! I borrowed the lace sleeve off of my grandma’s wedding dress, which had pretty button details at the wrist. We wrapped it around my bouquet. My something blue and old was my great grandma’s sapphire ring. My something new was my shoes–I fell in love with them as soon as I saw them, and knew they would be perfect for the wedding!

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? My reception had burlap everywhere! My tables were draped with a navy blue tablecloth, a lace overlay, and then topped with a burlap runner. The chairs had burlap bows. My centerpieces were various-sized mason jars and rustic wooden boxes overflowing with gorgeous flowers. We served pulled pork, BBQ chicken, and my personal favorite, cornbread, at dinner. My favors were s’mores, and they were the cutest things ever!

Describe your wedding cake or dessert. We went with cupcakes because I wanted a variety of flavors for everyone. Our caterer recommended a bakery in downtown Fredericksburg that has the most delicious tasting cupcakes. We decided to go in for a tasting, and she was right, they were amazing–not to mention, well within budget. We had carrot cake, strawberry, red velvet (Matthew’s favorite), and a chocolate turtle cupcake.

Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. Our first dance was to Eric Church’s “Like Jesus Does.” We both love country music, and this song is fitting to our relationship. My favorite song of the entire day was the father-daughter dance song, Point of Grace’s “King of the World.” My DJ, Eric Herod, suggested the song to me because I had mentioned that I couldn’t decide one. As soon as I listened to it, I immediately started crying.

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. We both worked at CarMax and saw each other in passing from time to time, but it wasn’t until a mutual friend’s birthday party that we started talking. We immediately hit it off and were inseparable from that day on.
Tell us all about the proposal! Matthew met up with me after a business trip to Pennsylvania. I had been sitting in traffic all evening, and he had been impatiently waiting for me to get home. When I got back to work to check my email, he was waiting in the parking lot for me–of course, I took forever to go outside, since I had absolutely no idea that he was out there! He eventually texted me to hurry up because he had a surprise for me. And right there in the parking lot, he proposed to me where we first met.
When did y’all get married? May 18, 2014
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 100
Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? I love first look pictures, so I threw around the idea of doing one and changed my mind on a daily basis. We ended up sticking with tradition and did not do a first look. I wanted the first time Matthew saw me to be that moment that I was walking toward him to be joined with him forever.
What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they have any special significance to you? Both Matthew and I were raised in Spotsylvania, Virginia, and a lot of Matthew’s family is local, so we wanted a location that was close to our hometown to make it easy on everyone. I knew from the beginning that I wanted a rustic outdoor ceremony, and I absolutely fell in love with Stevenson Ridge the first time I went there. The wood beams in the lodge were calling my name, and the lush green backdrop for the outdoor ceremony was wonderful.
Describe your wedding flowers. I was absolutely in love with my wedding flowers. I met with Amanda from Anthomanic after drooling over her work for months and months, and I knew she would be PERFECT for what I wanted. We ended up describing my flowers as fluffy and pretty. They included peonies, Juliet roses, and hydrangeas in light pinks, corals, and whites. The groomsmen wore succulent boutonnieres for a more masculine touch.
If you are comfortable responding, what range did your wedding budget fall into? $10,000-$25,000
What was one way you saved money or cut costs at your wedding? A lot of our reception decorations were DIY projects my mom and I made, including the table numbers, the mantle decor, and the favors.
What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? I don’t think I could pick just one. My photographer was wonderful and so sweet, and everyone was in awe of her pictures. My florist blew my mind with all the gorgeous flowers, and my DJ made our reception more fun than I had ever anticipated.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? When removing the garter to Hot Chocolate’s “You Sexy Thing,” Matthew decided to do a little dance while he was removing it. Thank goodness multiple people caught it on video!
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Don’t wait until the last moment to start planning–you’ll end up stressing yourself out more than necessary.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? We didn’t take a honeymoon right after our wedding because Matthew got a new job, and taking the time off wouldn’t have worked out. So now, we are saving for a nice tropical getaway, and we couldn’t be more excited about it!

Photographer: Rachel May Photography / Planner: Elizabeth Timms / Venue: Stevenson Ridge / Florist: Anthomanic / Dessert Baker: Colonial Cupcakes / Caterer: Country Lane Catering / DJ: Eric Herod / Bride’s Gown: David’s Bridal / Bride’s Accessories: David’s Bridal, Modcloth / Hair Stylist: Jackie Jekic / Makeup Artist: Go Go Gorgeous Makeup Artistry / Bride’s Shoes: Modcloth / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: eShakti / Men’s Attire: Land’s End, J. Crew, Kohl’s

Rachel May is a delightful member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

lisa Written with love by Lisa
9 Comments
  1. avatar Stacey Hiltner reply

    I was blessed to be able to be one of Candace’s bridesmaids. I can attest to the fact this this was one of the loveliest weddings I’ve ever been to! Every detail not only had Candace and Matthew in mind but also their guests. It was truly a celebration

  2. avatar Stacey Hiltner reply

    I was blessed to have been one of Candace’s bridesmaids and can attest to the fact that this wedding was simply beautiful! Every last detail was so thoughtful and executed perfectly. It was especially clear that day that Matthew and Candace are deeply in love and included all their guests in celebrating that fact!

  3. avatar Kat reply

    I am OBSESSED with that pergola!! And I love the music they used throughout their day:) Love this one! Congrats, Rachel!! xo!!

  4. avatar Amy/Bride Chic reply

    Absolutely stunning details and every detail works!

  5. avatar Dana reply

    the picture of the groomsmen jumping off the truck is so perfect!

  6. avatar Mary reply

    Any way that you can provide more details on the bride’s shoes? LOVE them! But can’t find them on Modcloth’s website:(

    • avatar Candace reply

      Mary, it looks like they don’t have them in stock anymore :(. They are called “Go For the Rose Gold Flat” – they came in rose gold and a pewter/silver color. I know they bring items back, so maybe that’s one they will?

  7. avatar Sera Petras reply

    Such a sweet wedding. These two looked so happy and I love all the adorable details!

  8. avatar Grace Upon Grace Vol. 7 – Rachel Nordgren reply

    […] Lovely Reads… Cinnamon Vanilla French Press Coffee (yes please) This Fabulously Feminine and Rustic Wedding (I’m swooning so hard) Thoughts on Contentment Brand vs. Branding (helpful for bloggers!) […]

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Get ready for your heart to be melted, because we have a sweet-as-can-be Texas love story to share with y’all today! Kristy and Cory are college sweethearts, and three years after their first kiss at the State Capitol in Austin, Cory proposed in the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. They were married at his aunt and uncle’s ranch on a hot day in June, but I can only imagine how little the heat mattered when everyone was focused on their deeply meaningful ceremony. The pictures from Kristy’s walk down the aisle are some of the most touching I’ve ever seen!

Thanks so much to Sara & Rocky for sharing Kristy and Cory’s wedding with us!

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. All the dresses I tried on were beautiful. After trying on tons of dresses and loving all of them, I finally asked Cory’s opinion. He described to me the dress he imagined in boy terms, which was adorable and awesome. He ended up describing a lace fit and flare dress with small straps. I went dress shopping the next day with my mom and sister at a precious boutique in Austin, and the experience was so fun and peaceful. I found a dress like one he described and knew instantly that it was the one.

Describe your wedding flowers. My wedding flowers were dreamy and beautiful! Cory’s aunt arranged the flowers and designed the ceremony and reception. We sat down many times as I described flowers I loved and we looked at Pinterest over and over. She took all of the flowers I liked and designed the most beautiful bouquet. It was wild, colorful, and big!

The size of the wedding party was definitely Southern! We each had 13 bridesmaids and groomsmen and I had six girls in my house party. We are both blessed with precious, lifelong friends. The weather was also pretty typical for the South–we got married in late June outside, and it was hot! We made our programs into fans so that our guests could cool themselves off.

Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? We didn’t do a first look. We weren’t nervous or anxious for our big day–I always say that marrying Cory was the most natural thing I have ever done. We wanted the moment of seeing each other for the first time to be a part of our ceremony–a moment of our hearts bursting with pure joy!

Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We did write our own vows. It was really special getting to craft them together! We did the same opening and closing lines, with the middle part of our vows unique for a man and woman’s roles in marriage. Our favorite lines were “With deepest joy and humble gratitude, I accept you as my perfect provision from Christ. This love is not from ourselves–it is originated in Him who loved us and sacrificed for us first.”
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? We had three readings done by dear friends. They were Psalm 84, a scripture Cory’s dad shared with him before he started dating, which we held onto during our dating relationship, Proverbs 3:3 and Romans 15:5-6, all scripture that helped shape our engagement.

The most memorable moment for the two of us was right after the ceremony. We stood on the porch of the barn, just the two of us, and held each other tightly. They were our first still moments together as husband and wife.

Cory’s aunt and uncle have a ranch outside of Cleburne, Texas, where they recently built a wedding barn. We loved the idea of getting married at a place Cory grew up visiting, and that Cory’s aunt and uncle ran. Thistle Springs Ranch is overflowing with love and sweet memories, and getting to work with Cory’s aunt and uncle to plan the wedding was the best. The only challenge was planning a wedding in a town that neither of us are from. I had no idea about a hair stylist, a location for the bridal luncheon, etc. My family and I spent a day walking around Cleburne stopping in at salons, tasting cakes at bakeries, and discovering cute restaurants. What was originally a challenge ended up being so much fun, and we loved every vendor we ended up using!

Describe your wedding cake or dessert. We did a wedding cake and mini pies! The wedding cake was a simple three-tiered cake with the stroke marks of the icing visible. I am gluten and dairy free, so the top layer of our cake was made so that I could eat it! Cory’s aunt put the most perfect flowers on it. Instead of a traditional cake topper, I made a tiny banner that said our names for the top layer. We also had about six different flavors of miniature pies, all of which sat under a banner that said “love is sweet.”

Our advice is to not stress about the details. While the music, food, and decorations are fun, they are added blessings. At the end of the day, all that matters is the covenant you make. If something goes wrong (which it probably will) or doesn’t get planned, that’s okay! You will still walk away as husband and wife. I always said that my dream wedding was one where I was married to Cory at the end.

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. During our freshman year of college at Texas A&M, we started to see each other more and more within our group of friends. Our first impression of each other was that we looked so familiar–like we had seen each other or met somewhere else. We still haven’t figured that out. On the first day back at A&M for sophomore year, I saw Cory locking his bike outside of his classroom. My heart leapt, and I smiled and said, “Cory?” He looked up and smiled. So many of our thoughts and dreams over the summer were confirmed and exceeded in that moment. In October 2009, after a few dates and “coincidental” time together, Cory told me that he was serious about our relationship, and wanted to protect it in such a way that we would be ready to marry when we left college. We spent the last year and a half of our relationship long distance, and though neither of us preferred it, we are confident that this allowed us to see clearly the importance of our relationship, learn creative communication and affection, and cherish every moment together. Now, we delight in getting to walk each day side by side.
Tell us all about the proposal! In the nine months prior to our wedding, Cory had moved to Washington, D.C. for an internship and seminary courses, while I had decided to help a friend start a company in Houston. I had always said that when I got engaged, I wanted a party with all our friends and family there to celebrate with us. Cory knew this, but his plan came with a little bit different of a timeline. Right when Cory moved to DC, I had booked flights for a visit in the middle of October. Because of my expectations, I had no idea that he would think about proposing while I was visiting. Cory picked me up from the airport that weekend and took me straight to dinner and a concert. When we left the concert early, Cory suggested we go and look at some national monuments. Since we’re always going on adventures together, I didn’t think that this was out of the ordinary. We got to the Capitol building and walked hand in hand, humbled by the greatness and beauty of the building. We started reminiscing on the sweetness of our relationship over the years and talked about sharing our first kiss at the Texas state capitol in Austin. Cory then said, “What if we shared our first kiss as an engaged couple at the nation’s capitol?” I started going numb and couldn’t really speak–I was in shock! I finally believed him when I saw my grandmother’s ring. After the feeling came back to my body, I mustered a “YES!” and started crying tears of joy! Although Cory proposed in a different state and there was no party with friends and family, it was perfect. Instead of bringing friends and family into the first moments of our soon-to-be covenant marriage, we got to spend the evening just the two of us, establishing ourselves as an engaged couple and talking about the magnitude of being a picture of the gospel. I couldn’t have asked for anything more.
When did y’all get married? June 22, 2013
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 280
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. One of my sweet girlfriends played “Before the Throne” and a mash-up of our favorite hymns on the piano during the processional. During the ceremony, Cory and I took communion together while my sister and a friend sang/played “In Christ Alone.” Our first dance was to “Love Like That” by Ben Rector. We first heard the song at one of his concerts while we were dating and immediately loved it!
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: Our favorite detail was getting to celebrate with our friends and family! We made a point to love on and talk to everyone at the wedding, and we hope we succeeded! The conversations, hugs, and encouragement we got from our community is something that we will always cherish.
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? For our favors, my mom and I made homemade peach jam. Cory and I are Aggies, so of course, we did the Aggie War Hymn at the end of the reception! It’s one of our favorite Aggie wedding traditions.
What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? We loved our photographers, Sara and Rocky Photography. They were the first vendor we booked when we got engaged! We knew our photographs of the wedding would be precious to us forever, so we were very intentional when choosing photographers. Sara and Rocky are so friendly, creative, and crazy gifted!
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? Before we even met, we both desired to work in outdoor Christian ministry in the mountains. We worked towards that dream together for our whole relationship and the Lord blessed us greatly! Graciously, He provided a job for us helping to develop a camp in the mountains in New Mexico. We moved to New Mexico the month after our wedding and get to work side by side. We are still in awe that we get to live together and love on each other day in and day out. Because of our long distance, we delight in every second together and pinch ourselves that we get to live with our best friend!

Photographer: Sara & Rocky / Venue: Thistle Springs Ranch / Florist: Groom’s aunt, Ann Wright / Cake and Pies: La Trattoria / Catering: Pappas Catering / DJ: Ryan Lee / Bride’s Gown: San Patrick / Bridal Salon and Veil: Blush Bridal Boutique / Bride’s Jewelry: Nordstrom / Bride’s Shoes: Tom’s / Bridesmaid Dresses: J. Crew / Men’s Attire: Vera Wang

lisa Written with love by Lisa
8 Comments
  1. avatar Nicole reply

    Oh goodness, my eyes watered just looking at that photo of the groom seeing his bride for the first time!

    • avatar Kristin reply

      Me too, Nicole! His sweet reaction had me in tears. Oh my — such emotion.

  2. avatar Emily reply

    Their ceremony photos ARE so sweet! And I love Kristy’s thought that she wasn’t nervous or anxious because marrying Cory was the most natural thing she’s done!

  3. avatar Sara Garza reply

    Thanks SO much for featuring Kristy and Cory’s wedding, it looks wonderful. You guys are great.

  4. avatar Dana reply

    the pictures of her walking down the aisle are sooo perfect!!!

  5. avatar Bobbi Jo reply

    What a sweet story and wedding! They both sound like good people. I feel like we could be friends!

  6. avatar Natalie reply

    Beautiful wedding, beautiful couple, and beautiful story. Thanks for sharing!

  7. avatar Plan Your Wedding without cracking Nuts | Mine Forever reply

    […] Sarah and Rocky Photography via Southern Weddings […]

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