The Hitchin' Post Wedding

If you don't look at anything else today, please look at this bride and groom's first kiss as husband and wife. He took that cowboy hat off and it looks like a scene from a movie! This sweet wedding didn't let the rain hold it down.

From the bride: For our wedding I wanted, most importantly, to stay true to who we are. We wanted to share that with our guests along with all the things we love. We wanted our ceremony to be outside with beautiful scenery as far as you could see. Once we visited The Hitchin' Post, we knew this was the venue for us. It had everything we wanted and more. It had a beautiful farm and an old tobacco barn strung with white lights on the inside. For the ceremony, we also wanted simple and rustic; the barn was perfect. We had a homemade photo booth in the loft upstairs to provide our guests with a keepsake to remember our big day. Our reception food was our favorite…barbecue—along with all our favorite sides. As for our cake table, we had cupcakes galore and a naked two-layer cake (white buttercream frosting and chocolate chip cookie dough). For our wedding favors Josh's mom made homemade strawberry jam, canned in tiny mason jars. They were a hit! We used all Purple Toad Winery wine for our reception. We thought it was neat to bring a bit of western Kentucky (Josh's home) to central Kentucky (where I’m from). The wooden arbor that was behind us was made for us by my step dad and it was the perfect touch.

My wedding colors included gold, champagne, raspberry, touches of yellows, and antique turquoise. I wanted my girls (ten bridesmaids) to feel comfortable and love their dresses. I chose the two colors I wanted for dresses along with the designer and let the girls choose which of the two colors and style they would like to wear. My maid and matron of honors wore the same dress, which had a lace overlay and was a deeper tone of champagne. Down the aisle we had baby's breath in wooden logs, which added the perfect rustic touch.

My “something old” was a pair of vintage earrings I found at the Paris fish fry in Paris, Tennessee (a small town I currently work in and also did then at the time). I brought a little touch of “old” from the new place where we would begin our journey. My “something new” was my cowboy boots. My something borrowed was my veil from my lifetime friend Maria Montgomery- Record. My “something blue” was a blue heart I pinned on the inside of my dress that was made for me out of one of my Papaw’s shirts. People don't realize all of the surprises that took place on our wedding day. Not only were the rings a surprise to each other, but Josh also surprised me with a horse carriage to take me down to the aisle. Horse carriages have special meaning to us as one played a special role in our engagement. When I stepped into the carriage on my wedding day, I had some alone time for the first time all day. I was on top of a hill away from our ceremony but could see it all taking place. No one could see me, and I shed happy tears looking down at all of our friends and family and my future husband thinking how lucky and blessed I am. It was a moment I will never forget.

The week of our wedding as we were planning and looking ahead, the weather showed nothing but chances of rain for our big day and of course the forecast came true. Strangely enough, though, I had such a calmness about it throughout the day; I knew everything was going to go just how I imagined. I remained calm even after receiving calls that the DJ couldn’t set up, the chairs couldn’t go out, etc. all due to the rain. I was told that the wedding needed to be moved indoors, but I persisted to tell everyone that we would continue as planned. By ceremony time, the sun was out and the blue sky was more beautiful than ever. As I rode down the aisle in the horse carriage, I couldn't think of a more perfect moment in my life. It felt like an absolute fairy tale.

To all the future brides I just want to say this: no matter the obstacles you face before or on your big day just keep in mind what this day is all about. It is about marrying your best friend and the one you love regardless of anything else—the rain, last minute change of plans etc. The most important thing to remember is that at the end of the day, you will be married, and that's what this day is all about.

Throughout the planning process a lot of people will try to give you their opinion about what they think you should do and what they think will look best, again never lose sight of who this day is for and about. It's about you and your future husband and the visions you both have imagined and come up with together. So regardless of what others think and say, stay true to yourself and do what you have always dreamed of doing. This day is to celebrate you and your husband!

At one point, there was a gorgeous double rainbow. We seriously couldn't believe what we were seeing. Josh picked me up and began twirling me around as if we were in The Notebook. I'm talking the most magical moment I've ever experienced. It makes me cry just thinking about it. Not only were there two double rainbows, but the golden hour of sun was shining right on us as if this moment was made specifically for us. It was so wild; all of our guests came out and were cheering and in awe of the beautiful sight. We knew from that moment that that was the only sign we would ever need to validate how amazing and beautiful our relationship has always been and will be. I love and believe in signs along life's journey, and that was the most unforgettable and most beautiful moment of my life.

Cowboy Says "I Do."

The Hitchin' Post Wedding