When you add in family, anything is possible. After getting engaged in June 2020 at the height of the pandemic these lovebirds knew they didn’t want to wait too long to get married. So they opted for an intimate wedding on the bride’s parents property.
The whole family pitched in to help with everything from flowers to dog bandanas! Because of course their cuties Cooper and Clyde were part of the day.
Check out some Q&A from the couple and their gorgeous wedding below!
Photography: Amanda Gibson Photography
Dress Store: Lily Rose Bridal Boutique
Catering : Bluefield Preservation Society Inc
Rentals: Aztec Rental Center
Makeup: Mary Kay Consultant
Flowers: Aunt Sandy! (Former owner of Shirl’s Flowers in Iaeger, WV)
DIY /Homemade Good : Hammer and Stain
Q: How did you meet?
A: We met at South Holston Lake in June of 2018. I was there with some of my best friends and he was there with his dad. We first saw each other on my best friend’s camper porch. We were there the entire last weekend of June and we didn’t even speak. Its pretty comical now looking back. I remember after leaving the lake I tried to remember Cody’s name so I could look him up on social media (I remembered someone saying his name while we were all sitting there together). I ended up “following’ him on instagram and him “following” me back. I waited on him to message me and he never did. The next day which was a Monday I believe, he sent me a friend request on facebook. I accepted of course and was still waiting for him to message me and he never did. By the following evening I finally gave in and messaged him first and I am SO GLAD I did. We talked back and forth a little bit on facebook messenger and then he finally asked for my number.
Our first date was on the Fourth of July. We went to Texas Steakhouse and then after he took me to watch fireworks. We’ve been together ever since.On the day he proposed, I was suppose to be taking my grandma to a baby shower. The whole week leading up to the day of the baby shower, Cody kept trying to get me to get out of going and I never knew why. Well the day of, my grandma ended up backing out and not wanting to go, so Cody took me to shoot guns. When we first got there, he was fiddling around in the back seat of the jeep, I didn’t know what he was doing but my back was turned towards him. I heard “baby” and I turned around to find Cody on one knee and all I said was “Oh my God Cody!” and he said “Will you marry me?” I of course said yes. Then he asked if I still wanted to shoot guns. We were both shaking and smiling from ear to ear but of course I said “well that’s what we came for wasn’t it?” So we stayed. We had so much fun and I was in shock for days.
First look with dad 🙂
Q: Tell us about your wedding! What was the inspiration behind your day? Did you have a specific theme, style or color palette?
A: My parents bought a house in Bland, VA in October of 2019. We all immediately fell in love with the home and the location. I was dead set from day one that I wanted my wedding to be there. I wanted an October wedding because of the fall foliage, but Cody proposed on June 27, 2020 and my parents didn’t actually permanently move to Bland until August so October was a little unrealistic. I was obsessed with the idea of having a fall wedding, so we set the date for November 28, 2020. Everyone was very skeptical about the weather, but it actually ended up being an absolutely beautiful, sunny, and warm day. We did not have any bridesmaids or groomsmen, but we did have two cute flower girls, Kenlee and Kinsleigh. We had our sweet puppies, Cooper and Clyde, with us all day. My aunt Karri made them bandanas. Coopers said “Dog of honor” and Clyde’s said “Here for the cake”. My mom was worried about them being there, but they were so good for us all day. My uncle Leroy from Mooresville, NC married us and he did so well with the ceremony. We were so happy to celebrate the day with all of our closest friends and family. It could have not been more perfect.
Q: What was the most anticipated or special moment of your wedding day?
A: My most anticipated moment was seeing the look on Cody’s face when I was walking down the aisle. I couldn’t wait to see if he was smiling or happy crying.
Q: Let’s talk fashion. How did you both choose your wedding day look?
A: It was a country wedding so Cody didn’t want to wear a tux. The only thing I knew I wanted going into the bridal shop is that I wanted a long sleeve dress. Cody ended up wearing a navy blue button up dress shirt and khaki Levi’s with his cowboy boots. I only tried on 6 dresses and knew that I had found “the one”. It’s train was not too long, it had cute details such as sequins and lace. I was in love with it immediately. I also purchased my jewelry from the same bridal store. I wore cowboy boots as well.
Q: Let’s talk wedding decor. How did you decorate your space for the ceremony and the reception? Was any part of the decor DIY?
A: My aunt Sandy did all of the flower arrangements. The flowers were the “main attraction” in my opinion as far as decorations go for the wedding. My aunt Sandy incorporated every color I imagined beautifully together.From my bouquet, to the arrangements on the wine barrels, to the arrangements on the arbor, the flowers lined up on the fence, and even the flowers hanging on shepherds hooks going up the driveway. I bought tall skinny vases with floating candles and wood slices to set them on. My mom bought the wine barrels at Carolina Wine Supply in Yadkinville, NC. Cody built our arbor and did such a good job on it. My aunt Sandy also made little figurines for all of the reception tables.
Q: Did you personalize the day in any way (food trucks, guest entertainment etc.)? What were some of your favorite parts of your wedding?
A: As wedding favors, we bought blankets for everyone in anticipation that it was going to be a cool November day. We had little tags made for them that said “To have and to hold in case you get cold. Cody & Kristen 11/28/2020”. They turned out so cute and I was very pleased with the reaction of our guests when they received their blanket.
Q: Do you have any wedding planning or marriage advice that you’d like to share with other couples planning their day?
A: Take time to soak everything in from your special day!!!! Everything goes by so quick and there is so much going on. From the first dance, the pictures, food, cake, and everything else in between. It turns out to be so busy and chaotic that you don’t really have much time to just enjoy each other. Take a moment and soak it all in.
