1. Real Weddings

A Simple, Intimate Wedding at a Private Residence in Oklahoma

Ashlynn Prater (27 and a cosmetologist) met Joshua (Josh) McBride (31 and a design engineer) through a worship group. They skeptically decided to go o

Ashlynn Prater (27 and a cosmetologist) met Joshua (Josh) McBride (31 and a design engineer) through a worship group. They skeptically decided to go on a date, and four months later, they were engaged! They decided to get married at Ashlynn's sister's home on the sprawling lawn near a beautiful home and pond for a romantic, simple location to enjoy quality time with their loved ones. Josh is an artist and designed the wedding invitations with a photo for guests to keep in each suite. The couple chose to go with a wild, garden look for the flowers, incorporating ivory, blush and pops of blue in the bouquets and even allowing the bridesmaids to create their own using the designated flowers. The couple wanted every part of their wedding to have meaning, down to the snacks, so almost every decision they made had a sentimental reason. "We both are very sentimental people and it was important to us that our wedding was a special occasion that we shared with the closest of our friends and family," says Ashlynn. The bride says it was sentimental gestures that made her wedding day memorable and meaningful: "One thing that I loved was that we handed out floating lotus flowers. We asked our guests to light a candle on the lotus and float it out in the pond with a wish or prayer for us as a married couple. We also prayed as we placed ours in. This added special meaning to our night as well as adding a really cool ambiance to the evening."

Happily Ever After Wooden Wedding Sign
Natural Oklahoma Bride with Tulle Floral Headband
The bridesmaids chose their own knee-length dress in ivory, taupe or rose. "I wanted them to be comfortable and feel beautiful in something that matched their personality," says the bride. "All of the fashions were soft, elegant and sweet!" The groomsmen all wore light gray suits, and the "Best Man," Josh's sister, wore a dark gray dress!
The bride wore a flowy wedding gown from David's Bridal with a lace illusion back, an empire waist and a soft chiffon skirt.
Natural Bridal Makeup with Tulle Floral Headband
Casual Ivory Bridal Sandals with Flowers
The couple wanted to do gray suites for the groomsmen, so Josh wore a dark gray suit with a white shirt and tie.
David's Bridal Chiffon Empire Waist Wedding Dress
Whimsical Casual Textured Layer Flower Girl Dresses
The flower girl dresses were inspired by an Etsy design and crafted by a local seamstress. The ring bearers wore suspenders and bow ties that Josh's sister made, incorporating all the colors of the wedding.
Bride and Groom at Private Residence in Oklahoma
"I would suggest doing the first look," says Ashlynn. "It really helped to ease the tension and allowed me and Josh to enjoy the whole day more. We got a little time together alone before all the craziness started with all the people. I would never take back that time before the ceremony."
Wild Natural Mixed Flower Bridal Bouquet
Since Ashlynn's bridesmaids chose their own dresses, she wanted them to choose their own bouquets, too. She ordered extra flowers, like the ones in her own bouquet, and let her bridesmaids grab the ones they liked to create their own designs.
The couple was married at the private residence of the bride's sister on 15 acres of land with a beautiful home and pond.
A family friend made the couple's wedding cake as a gift. "We wanted to incorporate texture and use of neutral tones in our cake," says the bride.
"All we really wanted were twinkly lights," says the bride. The couple wrapped multiple trees in white lights and hung a pendant light that Ashlynn already owned to add more personality to their event.
First Kiss at Private Residence in Oklahoma
String Lights Between Trees at Oklahoma Residence