WeddingMagazine

Megan and Nate

It had only been one month since we’d started dating, and there was that moment—the moment that I knew I could spend the rest of my life with Nate. Three years later, after getting the approval of my father, he finally popped the question.

After a month or two of sharing the excitement with friends and family, we finally got down to the business of planning. We were engaged at the end of July and wanted a summer wedding, so we started planning for the following summer. Though we had less than a year until then, it was plenty. Conveniently, we were both working in Rochester, my hometown, so it was an easy decision to marry here. Initially, we’d wanted an outdoor wedding, but the traditional side of me was set on tying the knot in the church I’d attended all my life, Trinity Lutheran. For our reception site, we chose the Rochester Art Center. We decided planning an outdoor cocktail hour would fulfill our need to be outside and enjoy the summer heat.

Throughout the planning, there were only a few things I was adamant about: a string quartet for the ceremony, a chocolate wedding cake from Daube’s, and orchids, orchids, and more orchids! I also wanted lots of bright, fun colors. We had fuchsia bridesmaid dresses, orange rose bouquets, fuchsia orchids with orange centers as the focus for reception centerpieces, orange napkins, and fuchsia-colored draping at the Rochester Art Center. It was exactly what I’d envisioned. Nate and I had fun making the wedding our own—keeping much of it very traditional, while undeniably adding not-so-traditional touches that were an expression of us.

The wedding turned out better than I ever expected. The best part of it was that our photographer expertly captured every detail and emotion of the day. I relive every second each time I see our pictures. Most importantly, I am reminded of the reason we have them. In front of God and our closest friends and family, we said, “I do!” 

BUSINESSES: Joy Williams I Do Events (Décor), Le Jardin (Floral), Canadian Honker (Catering), Rochester Art Center (Reception), Fine Exposures Photography, Daube’s Cakes & Bakery (Dessert)