Sometimes plan A goes awry but it leads to an even better plan B. This was exactly the case for Lauren and Matthew’s backyard wedding day. After having to cut their guest list and reorganize original plans due to COVID, they decided to have an intimate, vintage-inspired celebration. After vows were exchanged and stunning wedding bands from Henne Jewelers were placed on their fingers, the newlyweds headed back to Matthew’s parent’s home for a quaint fete where mismatched chairs and farm tables from Vintage Alley Rentals, wooden and rose gold accents, and a plethora of greenery dressed up the outdoor space. Lace fabrics were woven into the table designs for delicate pops. Lauren’s gown featured a floral tulle skirt overlay for an added antique touch and it swayed beautifully as the two shared their first dance in the driveway in front of close family and friends. It may not have been the wedding day they expected, but it was everything they never knew they wanted. These photos by Adam Michaels Photography are proof that nothing can take away from your wedding day when your love is as strong as this!
About the Couple
Matt and I met in October 2017 on Bumble. I never thought I’d meet my husband on an app, but here we are! We messaged back and forth for a week or so and set up an evening to get a drink. I had been student teaching at the time and forgot we had parent/teacher conferences that night and had to text Matt the day of to reschedule! I was so worried he would think I was blowing him off. Then, before our rescheduled date I lost my license and was worried I’d get carded at the bar. I was frantically texting Matt about not being able to find my license and now I was really worried he thought I was being flaky! I met my mom that afternoon and got my passport from her…all so I could get a drink with a guy I really didn’t know yet. We went to Shady Grove and talked for hours and had the best time together!
In April 2019, we went on a weekend trip to Niagara Falls in Canada. I had a huge hunch this was where Matt would propose! We had already gone ring shopping together earlier in the year and I had just been waiting for the day to come! We drove up to Niagara-on-the-Lake for the day. After lunch, we were walking to a park on Lake Ontario and Matt had been stalling by reading historical landmark signs. I was very uninterested and just wanted to see the lake. When we got to the park, Matt had us sit by the water for a little and I was getting impatient. I wanted to walk along the path and he said, “Let’s just wait 5 minutes.” Well, I found out later we were running ahead of schedule and Matt had hired a photographer who had not arrived yet. After much stalling, Matt took a selfie of us (a cue to the photographer), got down on one knee, and asked me to marry him! I can barely even remember the moment; I was so happy! We then had a mini photo session with the photographer. It was so perfect!
About the Wedding
Our wedding was intimate, romantic, and vintage. Having our reception filled with mix-and-match farm tables, vintage china, and all the lace details made for a beautiful space with a romantic feel. I have always had a love for the vintage look. We originally had a lot of rose gold details, so we worked those in with our champagne flutes and cake knife set.
We had to make a lot of changes to the day we had planned. Our guest list went from 150 to 26 of our closest family members surrounding us as we became husband and wife and our reception was held in my husband’s parent’s front yard.
Never did I think that I would walk down the aisle and not be able to see my mom’s smile because it was hidden behind a mask. This wedding came together in a way we never expected, with a set of circumstances that we couldn’t have foreseen. It took a pandemic for us to see this was exactly the wedding we wanted – this intimate feel to our day. I am so happy we chose to keep our date and get married. To any brides dealing with the effects of COVID, I feel for you and I hope your day feels just as special as ours!
Favorite Moment
One of my favorite moments was when I was standing with my dad at the back of the church. Matt was at the front and we locked eyes and all I could do was smile and give him a little wave. He waved back and I was so ready to get down that aisle and be with him!
