Sierra + Terek
(June 26, 2021 in Newman Lake, WA)
Planning a wedding can be overwhelming, with so many details to consider and decisions to make. However, for the author of this blog post, one thing was clear from the start - she wanted to get married on her grandparents' property. In this heartfelt and inspiring post, the author shares the story of her wedding day, from the unique and meaningful decor to the emotional moments during the first looks with her father and partner, and the advice she has for future brides. Read on to learn more about how this special day came together and how the author made sure to savor every moment of it.
Our real bride Sierra married her love in our beautiful Fallon gown by LaPerle. This dress has a beautiful sheet lace with a unique, organic pattern to it. Eyelash lace can be found along the edge of the skirt and train as well as along the edge of the bodice. The bodice has a v-neckline, dainty straps, and a low back. Fallon is a classic mermaid fit with a stunning unlined train, and to top it all off has a comfortable jersey lining.
By our real bride, Sierra:
What was the vision for your wedding?
From the beginning I knew I wanted to get married on my grandparents property, which was full of childhood memories and is one of my favorite places in the world. Because of this, when I began planning I desired to make it as special and meaningful as I could. I wanted the decor to be unique and every piece to seem like it had a story to tell, and everything to seem as if it was meant to be there. This led to a natural color palette of whites, greens, and some blushes and light pinks. I also thrifted lanterns, jars, and frames, and borrowed some decor from friends. I spent a lot of time hand painting most of our signs, which was a much-needed bit of forced relaxation leading up to the day. We made our aisle with rugs from our grandparents houses, and the rug we said our vows on was the very first one my mother owned when she moved out. Our chuppah was made by my other grandfather from wood out of his property, and the covering was my aunt's from her wedding. We spent days cleaning out the barn, building a wall, throwing out junk, and adding to its features with lights, curtains, and the thrifted frames. A lot of work went into their barn and property to prepare it for the wedding, but it turned out absolutely beautifully and I know I could not have chosen a better place to get married!
How did it go the day-of?
The day of the wedding was a dream (even though I hardly remember a thing!). I had spent the week before with my bridesmaids at my grandparents, so I woke up early that morning there at the property. I spent some time alone on their porch, gazing at the barn in disbelief of what was to come that day.
The morning passed with makeup and hair and getting ready, until it was time for the first look with my father. This was one of my favorite moments from the day, and maybe the most emotional one for me. I then got to do a first look with Terek, which helped relieve some of the stress and anticipation and made the ceremony feel so much smoother. After the first look and some time for photos, guests began to arrive and I hid away in the house for a few moments of quiet before the ceremony. I remember being so very nervous and excited!
My cousin played my dad's old guitar as I walked down the aisle, and the ceremony was done by our close friend and pastor. The ceremony was sweet, intimate, and special, and the very best part was the kiss, because it was our first time ever kissing each other. Yes, you read that right. We saved our first kiss for the wedding day and it was the sweetest thing ever!
After the ceremony we snuck away for 10 minutes alone, then drove back to the barn in a Polaris Ranger. From there we did some more bridal portraits (finally with smooches!) and family photos, then kicked off the reception with toasts and cake cutting. Terek's mother had made our cake, and we bought cake donuts to put on stands around it on the table.
For our first dance, we had choreographed a fun, upbeat dance to "Dancing in the Moonlight" and it was a blast to surprise our guests with it! We did more dancing, bouquet toss, garter toss, and then ended the afternoon with a slow dance together and exit surrounded by bubbles.
What is your #1 tip to future brides?
Out of the whole wedding experience, one thing I regret is that I didn't take the time to stop and really make memories. Especially the week before, I was so focused on planning and preparing that I never slowed down to be present with my bridesmaids and family. So, future brides, just remember that it will all happen how it's supposed to, that there are people there to help, and then allow yourself to sit back and remember the moment. Take mental snapshots and appreciate the fact that you are surrounded by loving, encouraging people. The day will come, and when it does, take it all in and don't let the whirlwind of emotions sweep you away too much!
