How They Meet

Andrew and Amanda met through a mutual friend and bonded over their joint passion for education. Amanda was pursuing her teaching certification while Andrew was substitute teaching at the time. The pair spent hours talking and getting to know each other. From there sparked their friendship which grew to something much more profound.

The Proposal

On the night of the proposal, Andrew planned for him and Amanda to go downtown and see the lights on the Riverwalk, knowing Winter was Amanda’s favorite season because of the lights and decorations. Once at the Riverwalk, the pair found a secluded nook near the mall where Andrew got down on one knee and made Amanda’s dreams come true.

Inspiration for the Wedding

Amanda always viewed her relationship with Andrew as a fairytale, so the couple decided to draw inspiration from that when planning their wedding. Once They found their wedding venue, The Gardens of Cranberry View, Amanda’s vision started to come together. Since the venue is a rose garden, the pair incorporated their favorite colors and roses, giving life to their Fairytale Beauty in the Beast-themed wedding.

Unique Elements

Amanda and Andrew wanted to encompass love and laughter, which they consider the foundation of their relationship; for their wedding. They wanted to do this by bringing in different elements to make that connection. Amanda, along with the help of her mom and sister, created the décor and flowers (bouquets, arrangements). Amanda stated, “They have always been my rock, so having pieces of them throughout was special.”

Amanda’s sister painted the background canvas of the couple’s welcome sign, which they plan on hanging in their home. The couple was married by Andrew’s long-time best friend, Jack Mack. To incorporate lost family and members who could not make it to the ceremony, Amanda had her necklace made from her great grandmother’s engagement ring that was passed down to her. Her something borrowed was created from one of her grandfather’s handkerchiefs that her mom sewed a piece of her grandmother’s wedding dress into.

Finally, Amanda’s favorite unique piece of her wedding was the song she walked down the aisle to. Amanda was able to work with her ceremony musicians, Sonya and Nathan, to record a version of Turning Pages by Sleeping at Last with her singing.

Words of Advice

“Be patient, and ask all the questions!! Everyone is so sweet and willing to help. I was able to find amazing vendors just by asking! Enjoy every step of the process. It may feel like you have all the time in the world, but it will speed by. Enjoy your day! It will be over in the blink of an eye! It’s okay if not everything is perfect. Just have fun, laugh and love during every chance you get!”