They exchanged their vows under the shelter of a tent as the rain steadily streamed down around them at their White Fence Farm Wedding. It didn’t really matter what the weather was doing, though, because what was most important on Jessica’s wedding day was that she was marrying her best friend and soul mate.

Their love story started in high school when Jessica asked Ray to the senior prom. After that, they were pretty much joined at the hip and the rest was history! Jessica & Ray celebrated 14 years together in April. The love that I saw shared between them totally reminded me of two teenagers but in the best way. It was wonderful to see a couple so smitten with one another after that much time together!

Jessica and Ray bought their first house about 10-minutes away from White Fence Farm, so it made for a perfect wedding venue since it was their wish to wed near their home in Vilas. They love springtime in Boone, NC, and the couple envisioned an outdoor wedding that was casual & relaxed that included a BBQ reception & dancing. They both agreed that the farm and barn was a beautiful venue that would allow their friends and family to enjoy themselves and have the best experience possible while in the mountains for their wedding.

Because they wanted to keep it simple, Jessica let White Fence Farm and the mountains be the main decor. Some details she added to complement the natural elements of the barn were vintage handkerchiefs she collected and antique vases from her Mom filled with colorful flowers for the reception table centerpieces.

They bought mixed flower buckets from Shady Grove Gardens & Nursery for the DIY bouquets & centerpieces. I thought they did a great job of transforming the loose flowers into something beautiful. The colors in Jessica’s DIY bouquet were so bright and cheery!

The bride wore a strapless wedding dress with a sweetheart neckline that was designed by Stella York. It had ivory lace fabric and tulle overlaying a peony gown. Not many brides do so, but I loved how Jessica wore her hair down on her wedding day. The wind was blowing it around at times during portraits, she looked so lovely!

Before their big day, Jessica shared with me that they wanted a fun and happy wedding photographer that could help her and Ray feel at ease with their formal photographs. Like most fellas, Ray wasn’t looking forward to taking pictures so she wanted someone that could get a natural smile out of him. I must say,  I didn’t find it hard AT ALL to conjure a genuine smile out of Ray because he was grinning from ear to ear after they said, “I DO!”

After sharing their wedding photos with them, here’s what Jessica had to say:

“We are so happy with the photos. We love how you captured the whole evening and the essence of the event! There are so many wonderful photos! We loved working with you, you made us feel so at ease while taking the bride and groom photos. Due to your personality and photography, our bride and groom pictures really captured how happy we were, as opposed to more “posed” and forced smiling. The quality and colors in the images look so good too! Thank you again!”

The rain and other issues that we won’t mention here (wink wink) threatened to put a damper on their wedding day, but that didn’t stop them from enjoying themselves and having a good time with their family and friends. Jessica + Ray made the most of it and maintained a positive attitude all day long. It was a blast working with them because they were so laid back and easygoing. It was an honor to be a part of their special day!

CONGRATULATIONS to Jessica + Ray on your wedding and marriage! I know you just got back from your honeymoon in Hawaii but I wish you two more epic adventures in life and love, and I hope that your relationship and the connection you share will grow stronger as you continue this journey together! Thank you so much for choosing me out of all the other Boone photographers to capture your White Fence Farm wedding photos, it really means a lot to me!

[WEDDING VENDOR LIST]

Wedding Venue: White Fence Farm

DJ: Haynes Productions, Inc.

Officiant: High Country Ministers

Mixed Flowers for DIY Bouquets & Centerpieces: Shady Grove Gardens & Nursery

Catering: Big Mo’s BBQ (bbq & sauce) // McKethan Brothers (banana pudding)

Dress Designer: Stella York

Dress Shop: Southern Bride in Yadkinville, NC

ARE YOU NEWLY ENGAGED AND READY TO BEGIN THE WEDDING PLANNING PROCESS? 

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