A Prairie Swamp Wedding: Lauren + Dave

I know I say this a lot, but I think this might be one of the sweetest weddings. It’s so unique + really all about the couple. Lauren + Dave were originally planning the big “perfect” wedding with all the bridesmaids, catering, florist, and extremely large guest list. It started to not feel like them and it wasn’t a happy occasion anymore. So they cancelled everything. They decided to not think anything “wedding” for several months. After gaining good mental head-space, they planned the perfect day for THEM. They wanted to spent the entire day together. Knowing this was going to be one of the best days of their lives they wanted to soak up our together time as much as possible. They invited 38 of their closest friends + family to meet them at the prairie overlook at 5:30. They told them: “We are sort of eloping but in our own town.” Just love it!

And since they were spending the whole day together, Lauren + Dave contacted Glass Jar Photography to not only photograph the day, but to capture a mini documentary of the entire day as they baked their own wedding cake – a pistachio + fig cake with cream cheese frosting which sounds amazing! here is the link for you bakers out there :), went to the courthouse to get the actual marriage license, wrote their vows + got “prairied” in the middle of the swamp at Paynes Prairie. Congrats to Lauren + Dave for having the wedding of your dreams!

wedding at the courthouse in Florida

wedding at the courthouse in Florida

marriage certificate at courthouse

writing wedding vows near the swamp

writing wedding vows near the swamp

bride and groom wearing medals

From Lauren + Dave, “We felt very proud to make it to this moment. We have been together for almost 7 years and have experienced so much life together. We decided we were family a long time ago and never felt rushed to have a public ceremony. It was finally the right time, the right moment…so, we awarded ourselves

Love that! You might recognize those medals from Norwegian Wood from this other sweet wedding we featured last year.

swamp wedding

wedding dress with leather belt and boots

bride and groom in the swamp

bride and groom in the swamp

wedding on the pier of a swamp

What song did you walk down the aisle to? The absence of music can be the most powerful song. Walking down the aisle was a chorus provided by the wildlife of Paynes Prairie…the amphibians, reptiles, and birds.

After the ceremony, Dave had arranged a broadcast on the local low-power FM radio station dedicating songs to his new wife. Guests were instructed to tune in their car stereos during the drive from the ceremony to the reception. A mixture of Calexico, Pixies, Norah Jones, and Tom Waits rung over the airwaves.

a praire wedding

Their wedding day. Spent together. Captured by Glass Jar Photography.

Our Favorite Memory From The Wedding

We hustled and bustled to pull the wedding together. The day of the wedding we did all the tasks necessary to be wedding ready, including making the wedding cake and dropping it off at the reception on the way to the ceremony. It rained on and off all day but, in this moment, the air was cool and the clouds provided shade on one of the hottest days of the summer. Driving to the prairie together in the truck holding my lovers hand, I had The Moment. That peaceful moment which envelopes you with the calmest sensation that is only possible with love. Pulling up together to the prairie, where all guests awaited us…holding my soon to be husband’s hand as we made the trip, TOGETHER, down the long boardwalk aisle was unreal…I completely lost it!

Our Advice To Those Planning Now

If something doesn’t feel right then go with your gut. Don’t be afraid to have a wedding that works for you, even if it goes against the grain. Once you start down the aisle…loose yourself in the moment…and let your wedding day be one you’ll never forget!

vendors:

photography: Glass Jar Photography // wedding dress: Make Me Chic // catering: Paramount Grill // video: Glass Jar Photography // ceremony venue: Paynes Prairie // medals: Norwegian Wood // vintage brown belt: Norwegian Wood // reception: Paramount Grill

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