What is your favorite wedding day memory?

My favorite moment came at the end of our wedding ceremony as Gaines and I were walking back down the aisle. The overall feeling was just pure joy, and it was amazing to look around and see the happiness and love that we felt reflected in the faces of our friends and family. Everything about it was just perfect- it was a beautiful midsummer early evening, the view from our wedding ceremony site was gorgeous, and it was very special to have our families and our oldest friends all around us to share in that moment.

What did you DIY for your wedding?

All the flowers were grown on our friends’ farms and arranged by our family friend, Kasey Butler. My bouquet, arbor flowers and all the centerpieces were DIY. We also purchased and hug our own drape on the ceremony gazebo.

Did you have a something old, new, borrowed and blue?

Yes! My something old was a necklace that my Mom gave me a number of years ago. The diamond on the necklace came from a watch that belonged to my late maternal grandmother. My something new was my wedding dress and shoes. My something borrowed was a diamond ring that belonged to my late paternal grandmother and was inherited by my mom. Lastly, my something blue was my engagement ring. The center stone on my ring is an aquamarine gemstone, which also happens to be my birthstone.

Any advice for brides currently in the planning process?

I know it probably gets said over and over, but try not stress about the little things and don’t feel too bound by all the wedding traditions. Do things in whatever way feels right for you and your fiance! Gaines and I had a relatively small wedding, and there were some traditions we wanted to keep, and some that just didn’t feel like “us.” We didn’t force ourselves to do certain traditions just so we could check that particular wedding tradition box. For example, we didn’t have bridesmaids or groomsmen. I still had a couple girlfriends who got ready with me and had their hair and makeup done, and Gaines spent time with some of his guy friends during the day, but by not having a wedding party, it simplified a lot of decisions for us while still feeling like we had a support network on the wedding day. Another thing that really helped me was setting a goal of making two concrete decisions/choices every day. We planned our wedding in about five months, and as the time got closer, it was very easy for me to get overwhelmed by all the details and logistics of the wedding. I found that I could spend oodles of time looking at wedding blogs, Pinterest, and Instagram, and not be any closer to making plans for our actual wedding. Setting the goal of making at least two concrete wedding decisions everyday really helped me to stay focused in the later planning stages. It’s easy to feel like there are a lot of things you “should” do for your wedding, but ultimately it’s about what is meaningful and important to you and your fiance, and what will make you two the happiest and most stress/anxiety-free on the big day. -Katie, the Bride

Event Credits

Photography: Katie Childs Photo // Venue: Riverwind Lodge with Buffalo Outdoor Center // Wedding Planner: Meredith Events // Catering: Bombadil's Cafe // Cake: Community Bakery // DJ: DJ G-Force // Rentals: Somthin' Borrowed // Engagement Ring: Sissy's Log Cabin in Little Rock // Bride's Attire: She Said Yes Bridal // Bride's Shoes: Zappos // Make-up: Jessica Humerick Stylist // Groom's Attire: Jos. A Bank // Drape for Ceremony Gazebo: KraftologyStudio