Valerie and Taylor “have always known each other,” says the bride, explaining they went to the same schools and only started to get to know each other during her college winter break.
They dated for five years before getting engaged. “He took me to the spot where we went on our first date, a park with a beautiful view,” says Valerie. “We have done this exact date many times and I did not suspect anything until he was down on one knee saying, ‘will you marry me?’ Of course I cried and was able to say yes.”
Ten months later, they married in front of their 200 guests, at a private property in Somerset. “We wanted to have it at a unique place and it let us be able to have more say in exactly what we wanted it to be, while also improving the property for all to enjoy,” says Valerie, noting a family friend who’s a graphic designer created the invitations, incorporating a photo of the property’s barn.
They chose not to do a first look: “We wanted to see each other for the first time that day as I walked down the aisle,” says Valerie, who felt “pure happiness,” when she saw her groom. “All my nerves went away.”
Taylor says he felt, “Amazed, she was absolutely stunning and beautiful.”
The ceremony was “short and sweet but very meaningful,” says Valerie. “With a few prayers in support of our marriage, a thank you to our parents, and our vows, it was a reflection of our strong commitment to each other and our personalities.”
For their American country-themed wedding, they chose red, white and blue as their colors. Completing the country look, the groom wore cowboy boots to the ceremony and his white cowboy hat for the reception.
They also served country cooking including BBQ chicken, pulled pork and tri-tip with beans, bread rolls and coleslaw. For dessert, their white cake with white buttercream frosting was topped with blueberries and strawberries.
The couple loved their wedding’s personal touches, including the personal wine labels made by their friends; homemade beer courtesy of their friends; and the bar area built by Taylor’s grandfather. They also liked displaying photographs of their parents’ and grandparents’ wedding days; and the chandelier in the middle of the reception.
The wedding, “was flawless, and went by way too fast,” says Valerie.
—Kristen Castillo
