Photography: Jen Brazeal Photography
It was on the final day of a conference when Aaron joined me in San Antonio. I remember telling him as we walked around a seemingly deserted part of the River Walk, “There’s not really anything over here.” But he insisted we keep walking. Eventually we made it to a little spot that I later learned was Marriage Island, known for good luck. Before I knew it, he was on one knee and I was saying “YES!”
An outside wedding—complete with trees and a lake—was a dream of mine. Saying “I do” in open air, encompassed by God’s creation, always left me with a sense of peace. At the urging of our wedding planner at Ashley & Co., I made an appointment to see Moore Ranch on the Brazos. As we walked out of the back doors of the reception hall the fresh air hit us: we were surrounded by green fields and in view was a beautiful lake. Café lights strung just above our heads gave the space the perfect outdoor party vibe.
After talking to the owner about what we wanted in a wedding day, we were taken on a short drive around the venue. When we saw the 350-year-old, magnificent oak trees on a backdrop of cotton fields and a sunset-painted sky, Aaron and I knew we had found our spot. There was only one date open and we booked it.
The three and a half months leading up to our wedding was a whirlwind of excitement, hard work and challenging decisions.
It was important to us to involve our families in the planning and to keep traditions alive. Lots of love and hard work went into every detail of our special day. 1,500 Italian ring cookies, an incredibly special treat, were tediously handmade over several days and we introduced our wedding party and family by way of the Italian Wedding March. Something we’ll always remember is when Aaron’s family circled around us and prayed for us. Every moment was special!
We danced the night away under the stars on a dance floor my brother built and our cake sat atop a cake stand my dad hand crafted out of a tree trunk, complete with Brooke + Aaron carved inside of a heart. Pictures of our parents and grandparents on their wedding days reminded us of where we came from and that we have the whole world in front of us.
During the wedding planning we often wondered if just one day was worth all the work and expense. It is. Being surrounded by the love and support of our closest friends and family on the most important day of our lives was a gift. Seeing the joy on their faces brought joy to our hearts and will each time we remember our wedding day.
And to my husband: to quote the song we walked up the aisle to as Mr. and Mrs.—“You are the best thing to ever happen to me.”