Weddings like this make my heart happy. For these two triathletes their Big Day was an ode to nature, and naturally with April Foster Events behind the scenes it was extraordinary. Guests gathered for terrace cocktails and merriment underneath twinkling lights while the Bride donned a delicate J P Parker floral crown. Every moment captured by Megan W Photography is pure wedding bliss and we can relive it all right here.
From The Bride…Mitch and I have a somewhat unique story of how we met. We were both at a triathlon (I signed up to compete last minute while I was home from school, and he was reminded the night before that he had agreed to cheer on a friend at this particular race). As fate would have it, he noticed me during the race, and I asked to meet him for coffee. Mitch and I have a shared love of exploring and adventuring, especially in the great outdoors, and when we began planning the wedding, our undeniable love of nature had to be in all our wedding details.
Every piece of this wedding was lovingly thought out. I found an artist on Etsy who helped me custom design our wedding invitations with watercolor. We chose to have the ceremony and reception at the breathtakingly beautiful Laurel Hall, a tree-covered property nestled right in the middle of Indianapolis, Indiana. I knew I had found my dress the minute I put it on – classic and timeless, with a hint of early 1960s glamour. Bridesmaid dresses were found on BHLDN, and perfectly complemented my gown. Friends helped create signage and programs, and streamers were hand-made to celebrate us down the aisle. And when it came to photographing our day, a lot of care was put into hiring an amazing photographer. We are so happy with Megan Wynn’s eye for beauty and her ability to capture our day.
Not long after we had booked the venue, Mitch and I made the decision to move to Portland, Oregon. Instantly, the mood of the wedding changed when we realized this was going to be more of a homecoming celebration. Our wedding was going to be the first opportunity in months to spend time with family and friends since our move across the country, and we wanted to have lots of liveliness, merriment, hugs, and stories to catch up on.
Mitch and I love the wilderness (much of the reason why we’ve always dreamed of ending up in the Pacific Northwest), and we knew we wanted to weave our love of forests and sunshine into the day. Details were left very natural – raw wood, greenery, mismatched crystal glasses, simple lights strung up on the terrace that were reminiscent of stars.
The ceremony was sweet and simple. Guests sat in mis-matched wood chairs, and sang our favorite hymns. Mitch’s dad married us (he also happened to make the weathered wood arbor), and I received the wedding ring worn by my great-grandmother. John Muir quotes were read, and we walked down the aisle as newly-weds to the sounds of a fiddle, guitar, and cello.
Dinner was held on Laurel Hall’s terrace, right before dusk. Guests enjoyed grown-up food stations (pasta, tacos, and sliders), local craft beer, as well as milk and homemade cookies from old family recipes. The evening continued with dancing to the sounds of an eight-piece band just inside from the star-lit backyard.
This was the most lovely day of my life; being married to my best friend has turned out to be even sweeter than the buttercream frosting layered between our unembellished wedding cake.
Photography: Megan W Photography | Wedding Planner: April Foster Events | Floral Design: J.P. Parker | Wedding Dress: Raimon Bundo | Bridesmaids' Dresses: BHLDN | Makeup: The Makeup Studio By Danielle Wilson | Hair: Terra Salon | Groom's Attire: Raimon Bundo | Venue: Laurel Hall | Decor: Violet Vintage | Photography Assistant: Melody Carpenter