Q: Tell us about your wedding! What was the inspiration behind your day? Did you have a specific theme, style or color palette? Did you incorporate any cultural or religious traditions in any part of your day?
A: We wanted our wedding to be true to who we are. We wanted it to be simple and natural. Our color palette was neutrals with greens and blues. Our ceremony was very important to us. We wrote our own vows, and we participated in a foot washing ceremony. Following the example of Jesus, who washed the feet of his disciples, we washed each other's feet as a representation of the selflessness and humility that we believe love and marriage require.
Q: Let's talk wedding decor. How did you decorate your space for the ceremony and the reception? Was any part of the decor DIY?
A: Our ceremony was outside, and didn't require much decorating! My uncle constructed two simple archways, and my aunt provided some white cloth to wrap around them. My mom grew some flowers that we had in pots at each end of the aisle. Our focus was to use the natural beauty of the space we were married and not take away from it. For our reception, we wanted to mimic the same idea. The reception hall was naturally beautiful, so all that we did was string up some lights and bring in some wildflowers!
Q: What were the florals like in your wedding? Did you use flowers in any of your design elements like the bridal bouquets, centerpieces or ceremony backdrop? Did they play an important part in the overall style of your wedding?
A: We used simple wildflowers and greenery in the bouquets, centerpieces, and ceremony. I think that they were simple but overall important in tying the day together. We wanted the decorations to add to the beauty, not take away from it. I never like going to a wedding and not being able to talk to the people across the table because the centerpiece is too big!
Q: Did you personalize the day in any way (food trucks, guest entertainment etc.)? What were some of your favorite parts of your wedding?
A: The ceremony was so special, as it was in the garden of our church. A good friend officiated our wedding, who has known us both since we were young and kind of watched us fall in love. We wrote our own vows and had a foot washing ceremony, which I believe were special and some of my favorite parts of the day! I also loved that we had a live band instead of a DJ! We also had disposable cameras at each table and those pictures were so fun to look back on. My favorite part of the day was that so many people we love gave their talents to help give us the most beautiful wedding celebration! Oh! My most favorite part is that we were barefoot!
Q: Let's talk fashion. How did you both choose your wedding day look? Describe the looks in detail.
A: Again, we wanted it to be simple. We knew we wanted the wedding to be outside, and we knew we wanted to be barefoot. I chose a dress that was simple, yet unique. For the guys, we couldn't go too formal if they were going to be barefoot, so we went with casual khaki pants and white shirts. I also don't like matching, so the girls all wore different shades of blue of the same style dress, and the guys wore different blue ties.
Q: How did you meet? Tell us about the proposal.
A: We grew up going to camp together. We would see each other for one week every summer, spend that whole week together, and then hardly speak throughout the year. We started dating in 2014, and then he proposed at the same camp where we met in 2016! He prepared a picnic and we went down by the river and he asked me to be his wife. When we walked back towards the campus, our families were waiting to celebrate with us!
Q: What was the most anticipated or special moment of your wedding day?
A: Being married!
Q: Do you have any wedding planning or marriage advice that you'd like to share with other couples planning their day?
A: Breathe and enjoy it. On the actual day, take time to pause and look around and take it all in. And remember that the whole reason for the wedding is to celebrate your love for each other! At the end of the day, that love is all that matters!