Natalie and Jordan's Intimate Wedding

From the Bride: Although I was planning my fantasy wedding before I could even walk, I was adamant on including my now-husband in every part of the planning process. November 4th was not "my" day, it was "our" day. We wanted to throw an amazing party for our closest friends and family to enjoy. We may have had a large bridal party (eight bridesmaids and eight groomsmen), but that was the only part of the wedding that was large. We found a venue that could comfortably accommodate us without feeling too large for our intimate party of 65 people. We wanted to include those we love in as many ways possible, so we asked Jordan's friend, Kyle Hackett, to play the ceremony music while my friend, Haley Schreier, became ordained in order to marry us! All of our guests enjoyed her fresh, non-denominational approach to a wedding ceremony. I also asked one of my good friends from D.C. to photograph the wedding and another friend of mine offered to video the wedding as a gift to us!

We are all about supporting local businesses and were able to find perfect ones for our wedding day. Jordan and I love live music, so a band was a non-negotiable. Just like Haley set the intimate ceremony tone, our band kept the reception rocking for 3 hours of dancing! None of us wanted to leave the dance floor because every song was better than the last! People are still remarking how amazing the band sounded and how great their interaction with the crowd was. Even though we had a small wedding, you couldn't tell because everyone was packed on the dance floor enjoying themselves!

Our day was not so much about the details, but our friends and family. Even still, the details shine through. I really enjoyed planning this party with my now husband and can't wait to throw hundreds more (albeit less intricate) parties with him in the future. Planning all of the details ourselves allowed us to explore our creative sides and reaffirmed how well we work together. With the support of our tight-knit group of friends and families, we know we can make it through anything together.

Photography: Laura D. Meyer Photo | Videography: Jordan Ridenour | Location: Newport | Venue: New Riff Distillery | Florals: Robben Florist and Garden Center | Caterer: Chef's Choice Catering | Cake: (Cake and Cup Cakes) Homegrown Cakes (Pies, Tortes, Shooters) Chef's Choice Catering | Music: (Ceremony) Kyle Hackett (Reception) The Chuck Taylors | Paper Products: DIY Design with Paper by Gartner Studios (Table Numbers) David Tutera | Hair: Michelle Bulach | Makeup: Haley Bolen at Simply Hair and Makeup | Bride’s Attire: Essense of Australia from White Wisteria Bridal Boutique | Groom’s Attire: Folchi's Tuxedos & Menswear | Credits: (Bridesmiad’s Dresses) Lulus and Birdy Grey (Alterations) Aydore (Getting Ready Attire) Opa Stitches