For a bride-to-be who had dreamt of an outdoor ceremony with a barn celebration since she was a little girl, a Willowbrook wedding was ideal for Elaina and Brandon. The pair wanted an intimate setting for their big day and the venue (which has since undergone significant renovations) with its garden views and picturesque pond was the perfect setting. The couple exchanged personal vows under a trellis accented with dahlias, roses, eucalyptus, and fresh greenery designed by The Farmer’s Daughter Flowers. To match the serene setting, pops of sage green, gray, tin, and gold were seen throughout the day, including the bridesmaids’ dresses and the matching ties worn by the couples golden retrievers. At the reception, gold chairs surrounded long wooden farm tables decorated with fresh greens, etched glassware, crisp white china, and plenty of candles. The semi-naked wedding cake, made by Bethel Bakery, featured a gold drip and fresh flower accents. Behind the sweetheart table was a palette backdrop and neon sign donning the newlywed’s last name. A display of old family photos and a donation to a non-profit in memory of a lost family member brought further meaning to the day. It was truly a day filled with personalization, happy tears, and love, and it was all perfectly captured by Oakwood Photo + Video.
About the Couple
Brandon and Elaina first met at Robert Morris University. Although they didn’t know each other, they shared a mutual friend so they decided to sit together in the Accounting course they shared. A few days into the semester, Elaina asked Brandon for his phone number so they could compare notes. To her surprise, she sent him a text and received an error message…he gave her the wrong number. To this day, she still doesn’t know if this was him playing hard to get, or if she truly shocked him into forgetting his own number. A few weeks later after not receiving anything from Elaina, Brandon finally asked if they could meet up in the library. After many long nights of “studying”, it became clear that a strong friendship was forming. For the next few semesters, they scheduled every class together so they could take turns picking up coffee and snacks, they spent more time together than not, and they got really good at explaining how they were “just friends” to everyone they knew.
In November 2016, Brandon’s Marine Corps ball date fell through at the last minute, so Elaina offered to go in her place. After a few Jim Beam and Pepsis, they decided to prank their friends and send a Snapchat of a kiss. Turns out, they both liked each other more than they thought. In March, they went on their first spring break trip together. On the trip, Brandon confessed his true feelings for Elaina but before he could say those three special worlds, Elaina stole his thunder and said that she loved him and the rest is history!
As they were both seeking change, Brandon and Elaina took a leap of faith, left home, and moved in together in Charlotte, NC. Brandon proposed in the Romare Bearden Park with the skyline of Charlotte in the background. They will forever cherish the city where they started the rest of their lives together.
About the Wedding
Overall, we wanted our wedding to be intimate and fun for everyone, not just us! Our ceremony was outside by the pond, where we shared our own personal vows in front of all our friends and families. In my opinion, an outdoor wedding calls for earthy tones and a rustic vibe, so we decided on sage green and grey with wood, tin, and gold accents. For my dress, I wanted something lace, but different and comfortable. It was ivory with lace, an open back, and a long train. It was truly the dress of my dreams.
I had always envisioned an outdoor wedding and celebrating in a barn long before it became popular. It was incredible to see it all come together. The best day ever!
Favorite Moment
It’s hard to pick just one, but our first kiss and exit from the ceremony was our favorite. After hearing each other’s vows for the first time, we were extremely emotional but we both tried to hold it together. After we walked past the last row of guests on the way out, we quickly went by the tree line and shared a special (and extremely tearful) moment together. Being able to show the people closest to us our love was so overwhelming in the most beautiful way. It’s a feeling that we’ll never forget.
