After a long engagement, Victoria and Chase decided that an intimate elopement was the perfect fit for them. While they toyed with the idea of exotic locales like Italy, they ended up deciding that the bride’s family farm in Tennessee was the perfect fit. We are just obsessed with all the floral details by Soulflowers and the lovely images by Nathan Westerfield.
What made the elopement special and unique?
We were engaged for a year and six months before we decided to elope. We both knew we wanted a very special and intimate ceremony that we could share just between us. The location was decided kind of by chance when we were visiting my parent’s farm in Tennessee. We had tossed around ideas from San Francisco to Italy, and when we were sitting up there looking at the view, it just felt right.
Tell us about the gown and where/how you found it!
Even though our wedding was just the two of us, it was a family effort. My mother and I spent hours searching for the perfect dress only to come up empty handed. I was looking for a dress with a bohemian feel, but not too over the top. I dreamed up what my perfect wedding dress would be, and she made it. It was a great experience getting to spend time together, and also create such a beautiful piece!
One of the most unique parts of the wedding was the floral arbor we had the ceremony under. I wanted my flowers to feel like an extension of nature, so my entire family gathered local Tennessee plants from the farm to construct the arbor.
What were some touches added to make it personal?
A special personal touch that was very important to us was our officiant. We wanted someone who knew us well and loved both of us. In the end we decided to go with my father. We read traditional vows, but we edited them to be a little more our style. The ceremony was only about 10 minutes long, but it was full of great advice to us, and lots of happy tears.
What was the most memorable part of the day?
The most memorable part of the wedding would be walking hand in hand together “down the aisle.” There wasn’t really and aisle, but when we got to the ceremony site he took my hand and said, “Lets go get married.”
Tell us how you met and became engaged.
We met on my very first day of college. I was looking for the office to make my student i.d. , and got very lost in the basement of the building. He was the only person I had seen in ten minutes, so I flagged him down to give me directions. He walked me to the i.d. office and laughed at me while I was getting my photo taken. We parted ways, and didn’t meet up again for two years. I jokingly played footsy under the dinner table with him, and the rest is history.
Vendors: Photography: Nathan Westerfield // Florist: Jessica Davis of Soulflowers