BRAIDEN AND ZACK met through mutual high school friends who set them up on a date. Two years later, Zack took Braiden to Mueller State Park in Colorado for a day of hiking and fishing and proposed in a beautiful wooded area known as Elk Meadow.

PLANNING DURING A PANDEMIC

Braiden and Zack’s original wedding date was May 23, 2020, but because of restrictions against group gatherings larger than 12 people, they pushed back their date to August in hopes that the pandemic would be over by then. Braiden and Zack wanted to keep their wedding in May, so they chose to have two ceremonies. Five Oaks Farm owner, Melody Ball, allowed them to have an intimate ceremony with immediate family members. Their ceremony was led by Zack’s mother who is a minister and was followed by a reception in Braiden’s parents’ backyard. Because they were already married for their second ceremony, Zack walked Braiden down the aisle and Braiden’s father gave a blessing ceremony over the couple with all of their friends and family present.

THE INSPIRATION

Braiden dreamed of having a white barn wedding venue, so when she toured Five Oaks Farm, it was everything she imagined for her big day. The couple wanted to go with a naturally styled wedding, so the decor included an array of creams, whites and greens. Braiden loved the idea of greenery being a key component of the decor, so it was placed all throughout the space, making an appearance in the tablescapes and bouquet, as well as on the cake.

HOW  THEY CUSTOMIZED

Braiden and Zack’s wedding invitations were with gold embossed flowers surrounding their names in a script font. Their ceremony was held under enormous live oak trees wrapped in white fabric, and they exchanged vows standing on an antique rug that served as an altar. The reception was kept in the same style as the ceremony and decorated with lots of white florals and greenery. Their cake was a five-tiered pink champagne cake with white icing flowers, fresh flowers and greenery. Braiden wore an ivory, sleeveless mermaid gown with a plunging v-neck, which she complemented with a crystal- and glass-beaded belt. Her favorite fashion elements were the veil and shoes she used to complete the look. The bridesmaids were dressed in gray maxi dresses, which could be styled differently for each girl. Zack wore a royal blue suit and a gray tie to complement the gray dresses of the bridesmaids. Braiden and Zach found a beautiful antique ring while they were on a vacation in Florida. They were originally supposed to ride away in a limo, but it was in a car wreck on the way to the wedding, so the two left in a party bus, adding another memorable moment to a memorable day.