Real Wedding: Megan & Robert, Russian River Valley, California

Real Wedding: Megan and Robert
Photography by Megan Clouse Photography

The Love Story: The relationship began with innocent flirting in a high school math class. "I had gone away to college and right before I graduated returned home for a visit and ran into Robert at a mutual friend's birthday party," says Megan. They fell right back into the same innocent flirting with ease. "We knew the love we had was true and completely consuming. We enjoyed 6 years together before Robert spilled his heart to me and asked me to marry him. That "yes" was the first of many yes's! Yes, we want to have our bulldog as our ring bearer! Yes, we want an intimate ceremony with only our closest family and friends! And YES, Dawn Ranch is the perfect place for our celebration of love!"

The Lovely Details: "We wanted it to be comfortable, old fashioned, and filled with fun! We really wanted the wedding to stay elegantly simple, and truly enjoy the natural beauty of the property."  Decorations were picked to highlight the amazing surroundings of the Russian River area. After searching antique stores and yard sales for months, the couple acquired a number of vintage finds for their decor: antique keys used for place cards, vintage furniture and hanging candelabras to create an outdoor living room for the cocktail hour, antique window glass to serve as the menu, and a family heirloom dresser that beautifully displayed the dessert bar.

The ceremony took place in a meadow in front of a forest of California Redwoods.  Megan's long time friend wrote and performed the ceremony with help from other close friends and family. The 46 guests were seated at a communal table to give the dinner hour an intimate feel. After dinner, on to dancing and the dessert spread: cookies, cheesecake, key lime pie, fresh fruit tarts, and frangipane tarts.  A dessert lovers dream! "It was our goal to have people at our wedding that really knew us as a couple and who would share in the love and support for us in the future.  Nearly all of them gave a speech that was full of love, pure happiness and emotion. They brought tears to the eyes of even the toughest men. It was truly the best day in both of our lives."

Vendors:

Venue and Catering: Dawn Ranch Lodge
Photography: Collection Member Megan Clouse
Bride's Dress: Renfro's Bridal
Desserts: Pâtisserie Angélique
Groom's Suit: Nordstrom
Shoes: Steve Madden
Florist: Dragonfly Floral                                          
Paper Goods: Etsy