We pulled up to Yellow Sulphur Springs, and everything was bustling. But it was a different kind of bustling. Because Yellow Sulphur Springs was Alley’s home. She’d grown up there climbing trees and running around the property. She gave me a tour of her home as the day started, pointing out a picture of her siblings at a wedding together and I noticed the place on the door trim that they’d marked their heights in pencil as they grew. As Alley said, everyone that was there was family by blood or family by choice. She was full of nerves…but not about marrying Matthew, not at all, she kept proclaiming. As Alley slipped on her dress, her mom gushed about what a truly good man Matt was. And there were quiet tears shed as she prepared to walk out to see Matt for the first time as a bride.

“Ready or not, here I come!” Alley called out as Matt waited with his back turned. Matt’s words spilled out as he turned around, quickly saying that she was SO beautiful. He was beaming, constantly smiling, walking around her in awe. They practiced their first dance in an open field, swaying to “lucky I’m in love with my best friend.” After a brief time, Matt walked down to the ceremony site and Alley yelled after him, “see you at the end of the aisle.”

The tree surrounding the ceremony was full of friends and family from across the globe. It was a true celebration. Her uncle played the accordion as guests milled around greeting each other. A local artist painted the scene as it unfolded. And finally, Matt and Alley joined under the tree she’d grown up climbing to officially commit and celebrate what they’d known for so long: they were choosing each other. They promised to love and live in the mundane together, choosing each other always. There was an aroma of lavender in the air as they walked back down the aisle, full of joy, a promise finally fulfilled in marriage.

The night went on with dancing and so much laughter and celebrating, finally ending with a bonfire. And as we said our goodbyes, Alley looked at me and asked “When does it feel real?” I had no answer because that’s some of the goodness of this marriage commitment they’d made. Yes, life can grow slow and stale at points, but sometimes being married to your best friend just feels like the best dream.

Alley wore heirloom jewelry to bring a little bit of history with her.

An heirloom mirror gifted by Matt, and the first way Alley got to see herself as a bride.

And she gifted him a pocket watch :]

Ready or not…

Alley glancing out at all her people in the crowd.

venue: yellow sulphur springs //coordination: morgan knott // florals: stone crop farmers // gown: david’s bridal, vera wang // bridesmaids: david’s bridal // groom: jos a bank // hair & make-up: studio 700 // deejay: rsp entertainment // cake: fresh baked // caterer: the blind pig //