Etta Turner once said "In a world where you can be anything, be yourself." It is a simple, yet profound perspective that hits home with today's wedding planners and bridal stylists.
Finding what style of wedding works for you can be one of the most important steps to coordinating a wedding that is uniquely yours. Some couples choose the big city, bright lights and the backdrop of a perpetual skyline. For our Bride and Groom- Nathalee Ford and Grant Norman- this meant a country church, wide open outdoor spaces with acres of farmland and unobstructed horizons.
When Grant proposed to Nathalee on the site of their future home together, he had big plans. He already had the farm with the barns and the house with the spectacular view from the hilltop, but he needed Nathalee to complete what was missing. After their engagement, they began planning a stylish country wedding that was uniquely their own.
Creating the perfect setting for your wedding or for your pictures is as simple as being yourself. On their farm, surrounded by friends and family, Photographer Kelli Penn from
Across the Miles Photography was able to perfectly capture the essence of Nathalee and Grant.
So how do you decide what's right for you? Your wedding is your stage. You'll never have a better chance to exploit your individuality and show your guests something amazing and special about yourself and your new spouse. For Nathalee and Grant, throwing corn instead of rice or birdseed spoke to their farming backgrounds. As you can see in the pictures, even the groom's cake shows their commitment to the outdoors and to agriculture.
Individuality can also mean having special or intimate things about your wedding that only you care about. In years past, wearing your mother's gown was always thought to be a tradition. But most modern brides choose not to adhere to that tradition or to limit themselves to their mom's outdated style. Instead, with the help of florist Cheri Welsh of
Floral-N-Flair, Nathalee included lace from her mother's gown into her bouquet and also carried a baby ring and brooch from her grandmothers.
Being yourself is one of the most important parts of a successful wedding day. Sometimes that starts with the dress, the theme, or just an idea. You may want a gown that looks like Kate Middleton's or Joanna Garcia's, but if you're a country girl, you don't want to loose yourself in the glitz and glam. Having a wedding that truly speaks to who you are and what your life looks like will be those amazing moments that couples like Nathalee and Grant will forever cherish looking back.
So make your wedding day about you and take the advice of the famous Etta Turner: just be yourself.
Nathalee was named
Michelle's Bridal and Tuxedo's very first Diamond Bride of the Month in 2012.
Written by: Melissa Guidas, Veteran Consultant Michelles Bridal Shoppe, Urbana, IL