Katie & Matt’s Rustic & Relaxed Celebration
Where do I even begin with Katie and Matt? For starters, it’s very rare for me (living down south in Louisburg, Kansas) to have clients who live so close and have common industry knowledge of what my husband does for a living. Katie’s parents grew up farming, too, and we had many conversations about it. Client relationships are my favorite thing about this gig, and I’m always interested in getting to know and learn more about each couple I work with. So, for them to reciprocate that to me was so sweet!
Fast forward to their wedding day, it was evident everyone they love and chose to work with was just as kind-hearted as they are! From family members to friends, vendors, and more, each person was incredibly willing to offer a hand with whatever needed to be done to make the celebration super special for the bride and groom.
Most importantly, Katie and Matt wanted their event to be filled with relaxing vibes. They chose the Lodge at Ironwoods for the reception venue as it was close to their church (Church of the Resurrection), and could hold their large number of friends and family!
Not to mention, the party space was set in a barn—reminding Katie of her grandparents’ farm in Michigan. Right from the get-go, popcorn was set out to munch on during cocktail hour, which allowed everyone to get settled in before a night of dancing and photobooth fun in honor of the love this couple has for one another.
But, I’ll stop right there because I don’t want to spill all the details. Enjoy Katie’s recap as she shares more of what made their big day so special. A special thank you to Erin Leigh Studio for capturing these sweet moments!
How did you meet? How did he pop the question? Tell us your love story.
Matt and I met on eHarmony only to find out that we both work for Cerner. We went on our first date in March of 2015 and got engaged on October 18, 2017. Matt proposed while we were at Disney World.
During the fireworks at Magic Kingdom, he waited until the perfect spot in the song where it says, "Go find your happily ever after," and got down on one knee to tell me I was his happily ever after and asked me to marry him.
Describe your wedding vibe in one sentence:
Relaxed rustic.
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding?
280
Share a few things that helped you along the way with planning a wedding.
McKenzie was so helpful along with TheKnot.com! I used the checklist on The Knot to make sure I was on top of what needed to be done.
What was totally worth it?
McKenzie, DJ Alex Reed, and Erin Leigh Photography!
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them.
We asked the DJ to play 70s, 80s, and 90s music that was fun and easy to dance to. Additionally, we just love 80s music, so most of the specific songs we requested were in that genre.
Did you have something borrowed, something blue, something old, and something new? If so, do tell!
Yes! I borrowed my mom’s pearls to wear and Matt's mom’s pearls to wrap around my bouquet. The something blue was my garter. The something old was my veil, which was my mom’s on her wedding day. My something new was my shoes. I wore TOMS flats, and they were perfect!!
Share your best practical advice to a soon-to-be bride.
Take a deep breath - it will all work out! I was pretty calm throughout the entire process, but near the end, I started to worry about the seating chart and little details. When I would get worried, I would take a deep breath, and everything ended up being perfect despite the little worries!
What’s next for you as a couple? What memories are you looking forward to making together?
Matt and I are excited to start looking for a home to buy and growing our family. We are looking forward to having children and going on lots of trips to see different parts of the world.
Let us know one thing that WOWed you while working with McKenzie Phillips Events.
Everything!!! I am so glad that we booked McKenzie! It was the best money that we spent and was so nice to know that everything was taken care of. All of our meetings were super helpful, and McKenzie was great to work with over email and phone as well.
My mom also loved her, and both of us were so grateful to have her there on my wedding day! Everything with the wedding was seamless and I know that was because of McKenzie and her team (who was also amazing)!
Photographer: Erin Leigh Studio | Venue: Wesley Chapel at United Methodist Church of the Resurrection & Ironwoods Lodge | Catering: Price Chopper (Grace Callison) | Desserts: Price Chopper (Grace Callison) | Florist: Price Chopper (Grace Callison) | Hair & Makeup: Alluring Creations (Loran Girton), Blush Face Artistry (Juliana Stanley-Zolotor) | DJ: DJ Alex Reed | Videographer: Will Davis | Bride’s Gown: Emily Hart Bridal | Bridesmaids Dresses: Emily Hart Bridal | Menswear: Men’s Wearhouse