A Sentimental DIY Wedding at Secret Meadows at Green Dell Farm

Some weddings are beautiful because of the details.
Some weddings are beautiful because of the people.
And some weddings are beautiful because every single part of the day is overflowing with sentimental details, heart, friendship, family, and love.

My bonus daughter Shae’s wedding to Colby was absolutely one of those weddings.

These two have been together since high school, so getting married at Secret Meadows at Green Dell Farm felt incredibly full-circle. Years ago, I took their senior prom photos here, long before they ever knew this would one day become the place they would say “I do.” To make it even more meaningful, the venue owners are dear friends of ours, which made the entire day feel even more personal and sentimental.

Shae’s vision for the wedding was what she lovingly called “grandma vibes.” She wanted guests to feel like they had walked straight into their grandma’s house... cozy, welcoming, sentimental, timeless, and filled with charm. The antique touches throughout the venue paired so beautifully with all of the flowers, creating the perfect mix of youthful elegance and nostalgic comfort. Honestly, “youthful grandma” has never looked so good.

The bridesmaids wore mismatched dresses, something Shae intentionally chose because she wanted every girl to feel comfortable and confident in what they wore. She also wanted them to purchase dresses they could actually wear again. The look came together so beautifully and felt effortless and authentic, and it fit the theme beautifully! Meanwhile, the groomsmen fully embraced their southern charm with Wranglers, boots, and navy blazers... a combination that fit the entire aesthetic perfectly.

Shae found her wedding dress at Fallen in Love Bridal, one of my favorite local bridal boutiques over the years. Mary Beth and Sarah are the sweetest humans, and they helped Shae find the perfect gown. Her description of what she wanted was honestly hilarious. She kept saying she wanted her dress to “look like a grandma’s tablecloth.” Somehow, that description turned into one of the most elegant, timeless, and stunning dresses I’ve ever seen. It fit her perfectly.

Florals became one of the biggest personal projects for me leading up to the wedding. I sourced the majority of our flowers from A Flower Habit and grabbed additional roses from Trader Joe's. I created every single floral piece myself... the bouquets, boutonnieres, bud vases, and even the flowers attached to the ceremony cross. Seeing it all come together was so rewarding and honestly one of my favorite parts of the process.

We were surrounded by the most incredible vendor team... many of whom are also close friends.

Randy Smith absolutely brought the energy as our DJ. He kept the reception feeling like one big celebration from start to finish and made sure the dance floor stayed packed.

Royale Rose went above and beyond in every possible way. She arrived early, stayed late, handled every hiccup with calmness and grace, and when the rain started pouring right at ceremony time, she literally ran out to dry every ceremony seat before guests sat down. She is truly a saint and I genuinely cannot imagine the day without her.

I also had the privilege of working alongside Noah Overby, who is now officially part of my videography team. I could not have managed everything without him there helping every step of the way, and we are SO excited to see the final wedding film.

The desserts were another sweet part of the day. Reagan Eats created the cookie cake wedding cake, while Shae’s grandma Moc lovingly made two homemade pound cakes. It was personal, meaningful, and absolutely delicious.

Dinner was catered by the groom’s family friends, Troy and Wanda Evans. Before dinner even started, they confidently announced there would not be any brisket leftovers because it was everyone’s favorite... and they were exactly right. Not a single bite remained.

This wedding was truly a labor of love from beginning to end. It was a completely DIY wedding, and I wore more hats on a wedding day than I ever have...planner, florist, decorator, photographer. Somehow, through the chaos and beauty of it all, it came together more perfectly than I could have imagined.

And then... there was the weather.

At 1:00 PM, after watching radar after radar, we decided to move forward with the outdoor ceremony plan. Everything showed clear skies between 2:00 and 6:30 PM. We felt confident and hopeful.

And then it rained at 2.
Then again at 3.
Then at 4.
And once more at 5:00 PM... our actual ceremony time.

We delayed the ceremony by just 15 minutes, and somehow, by the grace of God, the rain stopped long enough for the ceremony itself, family photos, bridal party photos, and even a few bride and groom portraits before the rain returned again.

But honestly... none of it phased Shae and Colby.

They are two of the most easygoing people you’ll ever meet. Shae kept saying throught the whole wedding planning process (and each decision I tried to get her input on), “I just want to get married.” And that perspective set the tone for everything. No stress. No panic. Just joy, gratitude, and excitement to begin their marriage together.

Pastor Luke from Mt Zion Church officiated the ceremony, and it was truly one of the most heartfelt ceremonies I’ve ever witnessed. The light of the Lord pours out of that man, and every word he spoke carried so much sincerity and love.

At the end of the day, this wedding was never about perfection.
It was about people.
It was about history.
It was about family, friendship, faith, laughter, and love that has stood the test of time since high school.

And despite the rain... despite the chaos... despite all the moving pieces... it was absolutely perfect in every way that mattered.