Ryan and Jake’s elegant wedding was the perfect combination of their love and what unites them as one! The Bradford Estate befittingly set the mood for their rustic outdoor ceremony and indoor reception on one beautiful spring day. These two love-birds first met at Bonnaroo, which inspired their musical table decor and the whimsical feel of the day. The bride’s connection and love for South Africa was expressed in the floral arrrangements featuring gorgeous Protea’s to match the theme. The photographs captured by Benjamin Deibert Photography are simply timeless and show every beloved moment that made this day special, so get ready to swoon over every detail below!
From the Photographer, Benjamin Deibert: “Jake and Ryan define our fave type of couple to work with: they are laid back, bring a lot of personal details into the day, and are very, very much in love. Throughout the planning process, we not only swapped wedding stories but gave each other travel tips on Vietnam and South Africa (Ryan served in the peace corps there).
Ryan and Jake met at a musical festival, and he left a note on her car with his phone number. She of course not only called him but saved that note and displayed it in a frame at the wedding. To represent their love of music, each table number had a designated favorite artist or band name.
Their wedding was whimsical. Ryan thought of every last detail and executed a beautiful wedding. Her boho-chic dress and long flowing hair were exactly her styles, fitting with lovely pearl details on her headpiece and belt. Her bridesmaids wore alternating solid and floral dresses with lavenders as the palette.
To honor her time in South Africa as a Peace Corps member, Ryan had Fabufloras incorporate Protea into her bouquet, the national floral of the country. She also ended the night having the band play Toto’s ‘Africa,’ along with performing a ‘Zulu’ dance as well.
We snapped their first look at nearby Kirby’s Mill, where we were blessed with a lot of lush greens and only 1 or 2 bugs climbing on Ryan’s dress. 🙂 It was the perfect spring day for a lovely couple who deserve all the happiness in the world!”
How They Met
“We met at a music festival, Bonnaroo, in Tenessee four years ago! We were parked two cars away and were immediately attracted to each other. It wasn’t until the Jack White show on Saturday that we formally met and went to our first show together. We were both a bit nervous, but the chemistry was palpable. We spent the rest of the weekend together, but we didn’t even as much as hold hands. When we said goodbye on Sunday, I thought it was goodbye for good. Little did I know that Jake left a note on my car window with his phone number. I texted him right away. We ended up doing long distance from Philly to Michigan for a year before Jake moved out here.”
The Proposal
“We both love the outdoors and love camping. Last June, we were back in Tennessee for a friend’s wedding. We decided to extend the trip after the wedding. We were camping by this beautiful lake in Tennessee and went for a day hike. At the overlook point, Jake proposed. It was so meaningful to get engaged in the state where it all started.“
Wedding Planning
“Fortunately, we had an amazing venue who took care of a lot of the logistics for us. Still, we wanted the details to be true to us and our style. We really had fun picking the songs for the band and adding our own personal touches for our big day.“
The Bradford Estate
“We were married at the Bradford Estate in Hainesport, NJ. We couldn’t recommend them highly enough. It was the right price point for our budget, and it was clear they were experts and professionals at doing weddings. We found we were still able to customize things enough to reflect us as a couple, but they nailed the food, service and every detail of our big day. We also got ready in their beautiful bridal suite, and it was a great decision. We felt so taken care of the entire day! We wanted to get married outside, and they have a perfect secluded garden area. The location was also just right with family flying into Philly and coming from North and South Jersey.”
Wedding Inspiration
“We wanted our friends and family to have a great time. They are so important to us, and we wanted them to enjoy the food, music and celebrate with us. We tried to keep things simple while still reflecting our values.”
Best Wedding Moment
“This is hard! It turned out to be such a perfect day it’s difficult to pick just one. We did the first look, and it was such an exciting moment. We didn’t communicate at all that morning, and we couldn’t wait to see each other for the first time! We’re so glad we did it privately, so we had that special moment just for the two of us. The ceremony was also very meaningful and special to us with the readings we selected and saying our vows to each other. Of course, seeing everyone we love together in one room, so happy for us, was also a highlight.”
Wedding Planning Advice
“It can be difficult to please everyone when wedding planning, so don’t try to! There’s nothing wrong with getting input from those closest to you, but remember it’s your day. When you feel overwhelmed, take a step back and remember why you’re having the wedding in the first place. Enjoy every moment once your wedding day arrives and don’t sweat the small stuff!“
Wedding Vendors
“We were really lucky with all of our vendors. We took the time to research everyone, and it was important for us to pick vendors who were not only talented but also reliable and within our budget. All of them are pros at what they do and are genuinely really great, down-to-earth people. They all took the time to meet with us, get to know what we cared about and absolutely executed our vision. A huge thank you to all of you!”
Vendors | Photography: Benjamin Deibert Photography | Venue: The Bradford Estate | Florist: Fabufloras | Make-Up: Emily Dimant | Hair: Ariel Katrina Hair | Dress Shop: Wildflower Bridal | Wedding Film: Martin’s Video | Cake: DiBartolos Bakery | Band: Good Clean Fun