If you can’t imagine being married anywhere else but ~back home and you adore nature-inspired INDOOR weddings … you’ll fall in love with this one! Jana knew that planning a wedding from hundreds of miles away would be rough. Especially with her tough schedule. But she also knew that between her mom (yay moms!) … and the ladies at Details Weddings & Events … everything would be OK. And according to Jana, it was way more than OK!
images courtesy of Meredith Melody Photography
wedding gown by Pronovias
from Amy at Details Weddings And Events …
Jana & Mark were married on May 29, 2010 in Poteau, Oklahoma with a large church reception immediately after the ceremony. They then spent the evening enjoying a formal reception in Fort Smith, Arkansas at Hardscrabble Country Club. 150 guests were invited to this second reception which had impeccable attention to detail. Jana chose a nature inspired, bird theme early on and it’s execution was subtle and charming amongst her green and chocolate linens. Guests were treated to a served meal, cocktails, and dueling piano show. Their sweet tooth was satisfied with an ice cream bar and the night ended for most with a drink from the coffee and liqueur station. This was by far one of our favorite events we have designed and coordinated and we feel it turned out perfectly!
Jana actually had two gorgeous gowns by Pronovias …
I had been to several stores, and made several trips to some of them, but hadn’t found “the one.” I wanted something beautiful, yet unique. While flipping through a local wedding magazine, my mother-in-law stumbled across a beautiful Pronovias “Huesca” with a ruffled collar and a layered skirt. I was intrigued. I located the store and tried on the dress. I didn’t burst into tears or hear a symphony, but I just knew. I felt beautiful (even in the too-small sample). I came out of the dressing room beaming, and everyone could tell that this was my wedding gown. With two receptions planned, I knew that the wedding day would be long. I loved my bridal gown, but I wanted a second dress that I could wear for dinner and dancing. I found the Pronovias “Heraldo” the same day that I purchased my wedding gown, but the price was too much for a second dress. So, I went home and scoured the internet. I came across another bride who had already purchased the dress, but had changed her wedding date. She had the dress, in my size, completely unaltered. After some discussion and negotiation, I purchased the dress from her. It came perfectly wrapped in its original bag from the Pronovias flagship store in Manhattan. So, if she’s reading, I just want to thank her!
You can see tons more photos on Details Weddings And Events’s blog {here}, Meredith’s blog {here}, and in our gallery {here}! Thanks to ALL for sharing!!
How We Met
I guess you could say it was fate that we met. We both started pharmacy school at the University of Oklahoma in 2005 in the same class, but on different campuses that were nearly 100 miles apart. We had never met in person until I traveled to Tulsa to participate in our pharmacy fraternity’s initiation in November 2006. I came in late and took the last empty chair, which just so happened to be next to Mark. We talked off and on throughout the evening. I knew there was something special about him when he told me, “you have a pretty face.” I spent the rest of the evening giddily telling my friend that I thought I might like “Mark from Tulsa.”
The Proposal
Things didn’t fall automatically into place. Our lives took many twists and turns, but three years later, he proposed! We had discussed the prospect of marriage ~ we both knew that we loved each other and that we wanted to spend our lives together. I even tried on rings one day, just to ‘see what I liked.’ I always knew that once Mark had the ring he wouldn’t be able to hold onto it for long. After Christmas 2009, we planned a trip to Sand Key, Florida. Unfortunately (or fortunately?) we got stuck in a flight delay at Houston’s Hobby Airport. I didn’t know it, but Mark had the ring in his backpack and was worried about losing it. I was reading my magazine (“Engagement”) when I heard Mark say my name. When I looked over, he was holding a white box with the most beautiful ring that I had ever seen! We spent the next week on the beach enjoying our new engagement.
Wedding Planning
First of all, I’m an only child, my mother is an only child, and my grandmother is an only child. Among the three of us, I was the first to have a real wedding. We had no idea where to start! Luckily, we found Amy Hardin and Pam Hornberger of Details Weddings and Events. From our first meeting all the way through to the last dance of the evening, Amy and Pam helped us create a beautiful day filled with lifelong memories.
Location
Mark and I discussed several locations for our wedding day, but we knew that by having it in my hometown of Poteau, OK, we would be able to share our day with more of our family and friends. We were married at First Baptist Church in Poteau, OK, and shared a reception with our church family. Since so many members of Mark’s family traveled to be with us, we planned an evening reception that included cocktails, dinner, and dancing at the Hardscrabble Country Club in Fort Smith, AR.
Vendors
When we first started planning, I was in the process of moving back to Oklahoma City. I knew that having frequent face-to-face meetings with our wedding vendors would be difficult. I told Pam and Amy in one of our first meetings that I didn’t want to be a micro-manager and that my mom would be in charge of most of the decisions. Pam and Amy assembled a team that far exceeded my expectations!
I told our florist, Robert Roberson of Expressions Flowers that I liked trees and branches and that our color palette was green, white, and chocolate brown. When he first described the tree centerpiece, I was sold! Robert was always open to my ideas and designed magnificent floral arrangements. At the end of the evening, I spent time examining the florals at Hardscrabble in hopes of remembering the imaginative details and the true artistry he infused into the day.
I met our photographer, Meredith Melody-Hubbell, when we were sorority sisters in college. I knew that I could trust Meredith to capture such a memorable day. Starting with our engagement pictures, we were able to be comfortable with Meredith’s presence. The best way to describe her is a “photography ninja.” She was everywhere, but she was rarely noticed. She captured some of the most precious moments and the tiniest details.
We had discussed videography many times during the wedding planning process, but we were uncertain if the budget could stretch. At the last minute, we found out that PictureThis! Studios had an opening for our wedding weekend. We were able to put it in our budget, and we are so glad that we did. The moments captured on video are priceless, and we can’t wait to make our children sit through the whole thing someday!
Inspiration
When I started reading wedding magazines and blogs, I fell in love with the natural look of branches, trees, and greenery. I always knew that I wanted my wedding to feel warm and whimsical. By adding the birds, the lanterns, and the many candles, I felt as though we were able to create our own Secret Garden.
Two of Our Favorite Memories
Mark ~ I’ll never forget seeing Jana for the first time on our wedding day. She was the most beautiful bride that I had ever seen. She looked like a picture from a magazine.
Jana ~ Just before the doors opened for me to walk down the aisle, Pam and Amy miraculously found a Kleenex for me just in case I needed it. As I reached the end of the aisle to meet my parents and my groom, all of my bridesmaids burst into giggles and tears! As I came around the corner, I saw Mark tearing up. When I got closer, I gave him the Kleenex. He used it quickly and handed it back. A tear fell down his cheek, and again, I handed him the Kleenex. He dried his eyes and as he started to pass it back, I remember smiling and telling him, “You keep it.”
Photography: Meredith Melody Photography, Little Rock, AR
Cinematography: Picture This Studios, Fayetteville, AR
Flowers: Expressions, Fort Smith, AR
Event Planning & Design: Details Weddings & Events, Fort Smith, AR
Ceremony & Church Reception: First Baptist Church, Poteau, OK
Second Reception: Hardscrabble Country Club, Fort Smith, AR
Invitations: Brides from the Editors of Brides Magazine
Dress: Pronovias (both dresses)