Congratulations Sara & Hunter!

Our bride, Sara, said “I do” during a dreamy ceremony held at Up the Creek Farms. Everything from her styling, to the flowers, and the little details were just perfect. Keep reading to learn about how Sara and Hunter fell in love, and what advice Sara has for bride’s planning their own weddings now!

Your Name: Sara

Partner's Name: Hunter

Event Date: 02/01/20

Event Location: Up the Creek Farms

Vendors:
Venue, Flowers, Catering : Up the Creek Farms
Photography: Jenna Nicole Photography
Videography: Faith+Covenant Films 
Cake: CakeKrush
DJ & Photobooth: Blue Skies Entertainment

Click here for more real weddings held at Up The Creek Farms!

How did you and your partner meet?: Mary, my best friend from college (and now Matron of Honor) was Secretary of Florida State University’s Sports Management Club, the same club that Hunter was a member of. It happened to be one of the club member’s birthday, a group of boys from the club were egging Mary on to join them in celebration. She, of course, felt more comfortable having her best friend join her – me! As an extra incentive to join her, she offered to set me up with one of her friends from the club. I didn’t end up getting to know the friend Mary wanted to set me up with because Hunter caught my eye instead! We spent the night chatting and exchanged numbers. I didn’t expect it to turn into anything serious. I didn’t even hear from him for over a month after we met! I guess he had been thinking about me the entire time because he finally asked me to come over to his apartment and hang out. After a night of chatting on the couch binging Shark Tank, we had our first kiss. It’s been magic ever since!

How did your partner propose?: “Home is where the heart is” is the truest statement for us. The day Hunter proposed to me, I came home from work to find the apartment covered in gold streamers and balloons, with a giant balloon shaped like an engagement ring. Hunter took my hands and told me how he had thought over and over about the perfect place to propose to me, and realized that there was no more perfect place than our home because that is where all of our best, most loving memories took place. He proceeded to tell me that he couldn’t propose to me without a little bit of help. He opened the bedroom door and our dog Mellie ran out wearing a bandana that said “Say Yes!”. He dropped to one knee and asked me to marry him. We celebrated with champagne, a steak dinner, and an “engagement ring” circular bundt cake. It was the most perfect night and another memory that makes our home even more of a special place.

Love reading about engagements? Check out some of our real bride’s engagement stories here!

How was your dress shopping experience?: Tali and the girls at The Bridal Finery made the dress shopping experience one of a kind. I have never been to another bridal shop where you are the only bride in the room. You don't have to fight the racks with other brides, and you don't have to be self-conscious if you come out in a dress that is not made for you. All eyes are on you, making your day even more special and memorable. At the end of the appointment, the girls put me in my favorite dress with accessories and a bouquet and started playing my first dance song. You don't get that kind of personal attention anywhere else. There was not a dry eye in the room! Every appointment afterward, whether it be a fitting or shopping for accessories, Tali made me feel beautiful and confident. She truly became a friend, and someone I could trust to be there for me through every bump in the wedding planning road. I couldn't have dreamed of a better experience or a better team of women to transform me into a bride. 

What was your favorite memory from your event?: Hunter & I both had a signature drink the night of the wedding. Our bar staff would keep an eye on us, and bring us a new drink when they noticed that our drinks were running low. The waitress came up to me with my refill and said, "Here is your drink, but where is your husband? I have his drink too!" My who?! It was the first time that day that anyone had called Hunter my husband, and I will never forget it!

What wedding planning tips do you have?: This is your day, so you and your spouse need to do whatever makes you happy! Family and friends can't help but give their opinions about your wedding - and they mean well! But this is your special day. Don't make decisions because you are worried about making your guests or family members happy. Do what you want to do, no matter how unconventional, or how many people disagree. You only have one wedding day, and you deserve it to be your definition of perfect. 

Are you loving Sara’s bridal look as much as we are? Her wedding dress is designed by Monique Lhuiller, a designer we carry at Now by The Bridal Finery!

What is one thing you wish you knew before you started planning your wedding?: It's okay to walk down the aisle alone. My father has never been a part of my life, and I was very stressed trying to figure out who was going to walk me down the aisle. At times, I felt bad and ashamed of myself because I didn't have anyone to walk with me. However, conversations with Tali changed all of that. She showed me that it is beautiful to walk alone. Walking down the aisle alone ended up being one of my most cherished wedding memories because it was the last time in my life that I would ever have to walk alone. I met the man of my dreams at the end of the aisle, and now we get to walk together for the rest of our lives. 

Planning to walk down the aisle alone? Here is another blog post addressing this topic and why it can be so empowering to do so!