Fern Hill Weddings

Trying to make plans this year has been incredibly challenging. Fortunately, Garrett & Leah were already planning an intimate ceremony followed by a reception later that day with a larger crowd. Although the larger celebration didn’t happen this time around, we are already planning the party for next year!

Garrett and Leah stayed in a cabin by the stream the night before their wedding. They spent the morning sipping coffee and enjoying the sounds of nature all around them. They spent the first night as husband and wife camping in a tent. Although some people couldn’t make it to the ceremony due to the circumstances, the couple still felt totally surrounded by love and happiness all day.

“Our friend’s mom told us that the secret of a life-long partnership is always believing the best is yet to come!”

At their originally planned venue, Fern Hill at the McCann School of Art, Garrett and Leah had the sweetest wedding ceremony under old-growth trees next to a creek. These two love being outdoors together and the wooded ceremony location really captured that part of their relationship. With mom and dad beside her, Leah walked up the aisle to “Here Comes the Sun” played on the guitar by Garret’s best friend. The guitar belonged to a beloved family friend who had passed away a few years ago and hearing his guitar as she walked down the aisle made Leah feel as though he was there, too. 

Taking a moment to breathe deeply and pause amid all the stress of the pandemic was a necessity for everyone at the ceremony. The bride was able to feel the sun on her face, listen to the stream and the birds nearby, and truly feel peace. With smiles and tears all around, Garret and Leah read personal statements and original vows to each other. “Our favorite ceremony moments were hearing what we had written to each other and the moment of silence,” Leah shares. The evening concluded with a relaxing campfire and quality time. 

Megan from B Events designed this micro wedding reception according to Leah’s taste and it was so elegant! Atop the tables, we loved the antique vases with some of our favorite types of flowers from Avant Garden and hand-dyed napkins to finish (Megan can really do it all). Sydney Beth Designs created the beautiful torn edge place cards. Despite the change in plans, Garrett and Leah were able to have a beautifully intimate wedding ceremony at Fern Hill where they promised forever to each other, and that is what it’s all about.

Advice from Leah to future brides:

Try not to get caught up in the small things like napkin colors, chairs, and flowers. Also, plan a day that is meaningful to you, and don’t let others sway your decisions. You never know what might happen! After we were stripped of everything that didn’t matter, we were left with all that did…each other. Focus on that.

You should know all the amazing people I get to work with:

Venue Location: Fern Hill Weddings

Planning: B Events 

Rentals: Best Event Rental

Beauty: Kelly Clark 

Video: Kairos Creative Co.

Florist: Avant Garden 

Officiant: Elizabeth King 

Catering: Happy Valley Chef