This nature-loving duo had the most magical Bridle Oaks Wedding. They chose Earth Day as their wedding date and it’s almost as if Mother Nature nodded her hat to that and gave them the most beautiful April day you could imagine. The breeze swayed through the gorgeous oaks and their day flowed so smoothly. It really was a dreamy day, for an insanely in love couple. A perfect combo if you ask us! :)
Chirs & Lizzi love nature and animals so Bridle Oaks Barn was a natural choice for them and they highlighted their venue in creative ways!
We tried to incorporate Bridle Oaks farm into the wedding by having a goat walk down the aisle with a ” Here comes the bride” sign and involving a cute silkie chicken named “Joe” in some wedding photos.
Disclaimer: involving animals (and children) in your wedding always involves some risks. LOL
Lizzi said:
At the rehersal, the sign Cookie the goat wore kept falling to the side. On the day of, my maid of honor Alex and I tweaked it, ran it out to the yard with all the goats, found Cookie, and tried it again. Thankfully we got it just right before the wedding started and it worked great! Cookie was a good girl on the day of our wedding (could not say the same for the rehearsal, however)
Hers: Right before walking down the aisle, the bartender gave me a drink. I got liquid courage before those doors opened! Chris and I did not do a first look, and even as I walked down the aisle he was turned away from me. The first time he saw me was when I arrived at the altar and I will never forget the way he looked at me when he finally turned around.
His: Having our own photoshoot that evening where we were told: ” do whatever you want” (thank guys!). We could be intimate, funny, and ourselves. I loved getting the chance to see the reception area while our guests were at cocktail hour as well. We got to take everything in by ourselves, get pictures, and enjoy a private moment before our guests came in.
We have to make special mention of how much we LOVE Bridle Oaks Barn. Not only is it clearly stunning but the owners and team there do everything in their power to make your day flow as smoothly as possible.
After being a part of so many weddings we see what a big difference this makes. All of the weddings we photograph here seem to have this laid-back vibe and we think it’s because of the venue and the vendors they have partnered with. It makes planning so much easier for the couple and the smooth day allows vendors like us to have time for creativity which is everything! Consider this our love letter for Bridle Oaks. ♥
We adore when our couples infuse their wedding with personalized details! An example of this for Lizzi & Chris was their toast drink!
Our toasting beverage was a sparkling cocktail that the groom’s parents tried on a trip to Italy. We had it imported so all of our friends and family could experience how delicious it was!
- Wedding Coordinator – get one at least for the day! If your venue doesn’t offer one then do a lot of research. It will save your sanity on the day of the wedding.
- If your venue has suggestions for certain vendors then I would follow those leads. We followed most of them and our wedding went very smoothly. They know and trust those people for a reason.
- On your wedding day if something does not go as planned, it’s not the time to fret. As Elsa would say, ” let it go”.
- If you can do it, get married on a weekday. It’s an amazing cost saver :)
We love all of this advice almost as much as we love this couple! THANK YOU Lizzi and Chris for inviting us to capture this perfect day. Wishing you all of the love and happiness you deserve!
♥ Sierra & Team
Wedding Vendor Love
Venue: Bridle Oaks
Florist: Country Club Flower Shop
Caterer: River City Catering
Officiant: Ray Alonzo
Cake & Desserts: Chace’s Cakes & Catering
DJ: DJ Phil
Hair & Makeup: Lauren Reynolds Artistry
Bridal Shoes: Betsey Johnson
Wedding Dress: Azazie
Groom’s Attire: Men’s Wearhouse
Harpist: Christine MacPhail