Saddlerock Ranch Wedding from Marianne Wilson Photography + Dana Gabriel

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March 27, 2013

There's just no other way to start off this feature than to tell you to read the beautiful description below. Just no other way. Because, when it comes to captivating love stories and meaningful weddings, these two gorgeous brides have it down in spades. And honestly? I can't even begin to do it all justice. From their simultaneous walk down the aisle to their beyond heartwarming ceremony to every last moment captured stunningly by Marianne Wilson Photography, it's perfection. Absolute perfection. And you must (MUST) read their words to really soak it all in. Click here for so much more.

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From the Bride... Our wedding was old school. It doesn’t exist anywhere but in our memories and the beautiful photography.

Our wedding took place at the little slice-of-heaven that is Saddlerock Ranch. Kim and I took the idea of being surrounded by family and friends literally and married encircled by our guests. This allowed a real sense of intimacy with a fairly large group. It also allowed our fathers to walk us down the aisle simultaneously – towards each other - making for one of the most incredible, memory searing moments of my life.

Our precious poppas welcomed the guests and explained that marriage is personal and that because the wedding wasn’t “officially” recognized, there would be no officiant – Kim and I would be marrying ourselves.

We started our vows with the story of us. Kim and I began our friendship on a train from Florence to Bologna. We were on our way to start a study abroad program the summer after our first year of law school. We knew by the end of the program that we would be friends for life: stand by each other’s sides when we got married, raise our children together and grow old together. We just didn’t know how right we were! Five years of inseparable friendship later, Kim told me she wrote me a letter and left it in the book I was reading that day on the train. The next day, I wrote her back. We’ve been writing ever since.

After we exchanged rings, our mothers explained that the tradition of jumping the broom harkened back to a time when American slaves were prohibited from legally marrying. The moment was made complete by the ring my mother slipped on to my finger that morning as my something borrowed. The ring belonged to her grandmother who was born a slave. Our Moms lead the guests in a resounding count to three and Kim and I jumped the broom.

Kim and I have been overwhelmed by the number of guests that have written us letters – real live sent in the post letters - to THANK US for our wedding! They have written about how the ceremony touched them, how “the whole day seemed to have stardust on it” and about the throw down, complete abandon, good times dance party.

All in all, I have to say it was the most magical day of my life – made so much more special because it truly was a labor of love. So, maybe our wedding wasn’t written in any book, but we’re pretty sure it was written in thestars.

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