Real Weddings | Ashlee + Anthony | July 4, 2020
While many around the country celebrated the 4th of July with fireworks and cookouts, for Ashlee and Anthony, this day was extra special. Having wed in an intimate spring ceremony a few months prior, their July wedding at the Cliff House was a much anticipated time of celebration with their closest family and friends.
Today, we get to share with you their love story and the sweet details of their summer wedding day. Enjoy!
From Ashlee:
Anthony and I met through mutual friends the summer of 2013 at a concert in downtown Rockwall, TX. We became friends and then officially started dating in February of 2014. We were together 5 years before we got engaged on April 12, 2019 and were married on April 11, 2020 (almost one year to date, this was also our original wedding date at Cliff House but unfortunately we had to move it due to the shut down!) We decided to get married on April 11 because we didn't want to wait another minute. We were married on our farm in Sulphur Springs, Texas on a rainy Saturday under a beautiful tree in the pasture with our immediate family. We had our official "big" wedding on July 4, 2020 at Cliff House. It was truly the most perfect summer day surrounded by our friends and family during a time when being together was the best gift we could have ever asked for.
We wanted our wedding to be simple and elegant. Lots of white and green florals, gold accents and candles. We wanted it to be timeless and that is exactly what we got. I am a florist so flowers were very important to me, and Gloria with Blooming Accents did a beautiful job bringing my dreams to life. I was so thankful to have her there to do our florals as it took a HUGE burden off of me as the bride.
We wanted a space that had beautiful natural light, natural wood and loved the fact that the Cliff House was previously a church. It is the ONLY venue we looked at and the moment we walked in I looked at my husband and told him, "This is it, this is where we are going to get married!" I just knew that it was exactly what we were looking for in a venue. It just felt right! The size was perfect, too, as we had a small wedding with 70 people and wanted it to be an intimate space. It was perfect!!!
The day of our wedding was pure bliss. We both were very excited that the day had finally arrived. My sister stayed with me the night before the wedding at mine and Anthony’s house, and we got ready together all morning. Anthony stayed here in town and arrived at the venue to finish getting ready. We loved the privacy of the bridal and grooms suites while we waited for the ceremony. We were also glad we both got there early to relax and enjoy some champagne while we waited for guests to arrive.
We loved EVERY minute of our special day but there are a few moments we will cherish forever. Our first dance and entrance to the reception was amazing! Seeing all of our loved ones together to celebrate is something we will never take for granted. We danced the night away and enjoyed the reception so much.
I will say, our last dance was the most special part of our day. Being able to enjoy the room by ourselves before we left was the perfect way to end the night. We laughed, we danced and talked about how we didn't want the night to end. How can you end a beautiful day like that? Once we walked out and said goodbye to everyone and got in our getaway car, we looked back and were in awe at how loved we felt in that moment. Words can't describe the feeling of being surrounded by family and friends who love on you and celebrate you like ours did.
If I had to describe our day it would be beautiful, full of love and joy, and unforgettable.
We LOVED every song our DJ played. He made it fun and kept the dance floor going all night!
Our advice for any future couples would be to stop and enjoy the special moments throughout the day. We paused when we walked in after being announced as Mr. & Mrs. and looked out to our guests and just smiled and took it all in. I did the same with my Dad when the doors opened before we walked down the aisle. I don't want to forget the joy and happiness that comes from those moments. They are quick, so don't let them pass without stopping to enjoy them. As the bride and groom, you work so hard to put the wedding together and it's worth the pause to see just how beautiful the day is. Another thing is, the wedding and ceremony are important but the most important thing about getting married is the love you share together. Don't worry about the little things and enjoy every second because as much as you hear that it goes by quickly, it truly does.
Thank you, Ashlee and Anthony, for sharing your favorite wedding day memories with us! We loved getting to be a part of this beautiful day, and we wish you nothing but the best in years to come. Cheers!
Vendors:
Photography: Deven Ashley Photography
Florals: Blooming Accents
Rings: Willis Fine Jewelry
HAMU: Kim Wallace Hair
Dress: Grace Loves Lace
Videography: Nobility Films
Getaway Car: Harley Finnell
Cake: The Poppy Seed
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