Jessica, we’re excited to have you join us on the blog today! Your wedding was so gorgeous. How would you describe your wedding theme?
John-Mark surprised me and proposed to me on December 4th, 2017, and we both decided a six-month engagement would be perfect for us, so the date was set for June 1st, 2018! I had a vision in my mind of a cozy October wedding, but neither of us wanted to wait that long, so a spring wedding it was!
I came up with the idea of wanting to create our own personal “Secret Garden,” and I went for it! My plan was to transform our cozy fall wedding into a beautiful spring day spent in a garden full of flowers and greenery. No better backdrop for a wedding than God’s beautiful creation!
Our color scheme was filled with neutral colors like soft pinks, blushes, creams, and ivories, and I decided to accent all that with deep burgundy and rose gold — had to get my fall vibes in there somewhere! We were married in beautiful gardens located in downtown Indianapolis, called the White River Gardens. With the help of my special friend Jacelyn Sparks and many others, we were able to make my vision come true, and it couldn’t have come together any more perfectly.
What are some favorite special memories from your wedding day?
There are so many; where do I start?!
One of my most favorite and special moments was when John-Mark and I first saw each other. We decided early on when planning our special day with our photographers that we would do what’s called a “first look” before the ceremony, and I’m so glad we did! It instantly helped with both of our nerves and helped set the mood and flow for the rest of the day.
Were there any funny moments or things that didn’t go according to plan?
My now-husband attempted to kiss me before we were officially announced husband and wife during our ceremony. . . . You could say we both were a little excited for the big kiss!
How did you find the perfect wedding dress?
I had a general idea of what I wanted, so I went online and started looking for the right boutiques and what they had to offer. I found a super cute little boutique called Sophia’s Bridal & Tux located relatively close to where I live, and so I decided to set an appointment and try my luck.
I chose my mother and my maid of honor to accompany me, as I wanted the opinions of those I trusted most to help me find the perfect dress! The lady who helped me was super kind and respectful of my wanting a modest wedding dress that didn’t show too much skin but would be timeless for years to come. She quickly found several options, and believe it or not, the very first dress I tried on was the one! I knew it was the one before I walked out of the dressing room to show everyone, and they all agreed as soon as I stepped out. I tried on others, but none of them gave me the same feeling as the first one did. When you know, you know!
What advice do you have for future brides?
All I can say is don’t second guess yourself!
Stay true to the vision you have created in your mind. Always make sure you have an awesome group of family and friends to be there for support and to help with everything: don’t be afraid to delegate! Try not to overload yourself with all the errands and the to-dos of planning a wedding. It will all fade away the moment you’re standing in front of your soon-to-be husband, and you both are fixing to start your biggest adventure yet. Enjoy the process, and remember to just have fun!
Gorgeous bridesmaid dresses by Dainty Jewell’s.
Thank you so much for allowing us to feature your wedding! Before we go, is there anything else you’d like to share?
God blessed me with a fiancé who helped me every step of the way. Planning our wedding helped bring us together and strengthen our bond more than I had ever imagined! It made the moment before we said “I do” even more special knowing how much we both put into planning and preparation for our special day. Did everything go according to plan? No. But we wouldn’t change a thing. Like I said, enjoy the process and have fun!
Beautiful photography by The Stewarts Roam Photography | http://www.thestewartsroam.com/