1. Real Weddings

Anne & Ryan: A Fall Wedding in Drumright, OK

Anne was introduced to Ryan by a friend who thought they’d make a perfect match, and her friend was right: A year-and-a-half later, the nature-loving

Anne was introduced to Ryan by a friend who thought they’d make a perfect match, and her friend was right: A year-and-a-half later, the nature-loving pair were happily planning an outdoor wedding on her parents’ ranch in rural Oklahoma. The Bride Anne Scott, 29, career counselor The Groom Ryan Lapour, 33, ophthalmologist The Date September 20 While Anne finished her graduate studies, she and Ryan were faced with spending a long year apart. On his first trip to visit her, Ryan took her out for a romantic picnic lunch, where he surprised her by popping the question. Without hesitating, she said yes -- and before long, the countdown to their beautiful country wedding had begun.

On a ranch in Oklahoma, birdseed was the confetti of choice for the newlyweds’ send-off. Simple terra-cotta pots filled with seeds and tied with light pink bows were passed out to the guests just before the couple’s departure.
The ceremony was held in the most scenic spot on the property, a meadow overlooking a pond and the rolling plains of the Oklahoma countryside. A string quartet accompanied the service.
“No tight color scheme here,” says the bride of how she wanted her wedding day flowers to look, “just soft, natural, and complementary.”
The altar space was marked off by a borrowed split-rail fence, a makeshift wooden podium, and loose, unstructured floral arrangements that complemented the natural setting. The seasonal flowers, in shades of buttery yellow, pale pink, coral, and beige, were grouped in planters of various shapes and sizes.
As the newlyweds left the reception hand in hand, guests showered them with birdseed. In the spirit of a true country wedding, even the family dog was there to join in the big farewell.
Simple and elegant, the all-white, three-tiered Italian cream cake was frosted in buttercream and decorated with white polka dots, pearl trim, and fresh flowers. The dusty yellow ceramic cake stand, handcrafted by a Seattle-based artisan, tied in to the warm, homespun feel of the wedding.
Believe it or not, Ryan brewed his own batch of English Strong Ale to serve at the reception. For the finishing touch, Anne designed special waterproof labels printed with their monogram and wedding date.
Ryan is a die-hard chocoholic. His two-tiered, square groom’s cake was covered in rich chocolate buttercream frosting and decorated with the couple’s monogram in large block letters.
Instead of individual, formal arrangements, the tables were topped with unmatched groupings of flowers to look soft and natural. The varying containers were aged and antiqued by the florist to complement the rustic setting.
Abigale, the three-year-old cousin of the bride, made a style statement of her own in sassy, polka-dotted sunglasses. The flower girl wore an ivory, satin dress with a pale pink sash and carried a small nosegay of pink and peach daisies.
The early autumn day in rural Oklahoma couldn’t have been more perfect. On the bride’s family farm, the reception was set up in the shade of crisp, white canopies.
The favors, bronzed “Turning Leaves” bookmarks with burgundy silk tassels, tied in to the natural, rustic feel of the wedding. They also had a personal significance to the bride: An avid reader, she wanted to send her guests home with a token of thanks that they would actually be able to use and enjoy.