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Ryan + Claudia | Wedding at The Farm Retreat at Willow Creek

August 30, 2017

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Can you even imagine meeting your spouse at 7 years old? How crazy would that be?

If Sam had met me when I was 7, we would not be here right now – I had more hairs bridging my eyebrows together than I did friends!!

But in God’s perfect timing everything comes together. Especially for Claudia + Ryan, who we’d been hoping would get married for a long time! Last Saturday,  these childhood sweethearts gathered their friend and families to witness their tearjerker vows and the start of a loving marriage.

How they met as kids is right out of a Disney movie.

One snowy day, Claudia and her younger brother wandered down their new street in the neighborhood they had just moved into. They saw two brothers their age in the midst of a snowball fight and were invited over to join the fun. From then on, their childhood memories always included each other. 

In middle school, Ryan’s family moved a little farther away and they lost touch. However, one day as Sophomores in high school, Claudia spotted a very cute and familiar boy walking the halls. The two quickly reconnected as best friends and exchanged numbers.

With homecoming approaching, Claudia hoped Ryan would ask her, but either he didn’t get the hint or he was just too nervous to ask! At this time, they both had secret crushes on each other but neither was admitting it… though I’m sure all their friends saw it coming a mile away! 

At the homecoming dance, Claudia made a game-changing move. With impressive courage for a teen girl, at the dance she went right up to Ryan AND his group of friends, first introducing herself to all of them before asking Ryan to dance! With some perfectly timed divine intervention, the next song HAPPENED to be a slow one. Sparks flew between them and they dated ever since!

 Deep in the wooded country, The Farm Retreat at Willow Creek served as an intimate, rustic setting for their wedding. Almost completely covered in trees where the sun could peak through, there was a green backdrop everywhere you turned.

Claudia and her sweet bridesmaids got ready together, pinning flowers in their updos all provided by Claudia herself who is the owner + designer behind Daisies Over Diamonds floral artistry. Just wait until you see their gorgeous bouquets!!

How He Asked | When Ryan proposed a little over 5 years later in early December, he lead Claudia to one of the very same trees they used to climb as kids. Both having since moved away from their childhood neighborhood and Claudia not knowing the current homeowners were already in on Ryan’s surprise, she was super skeptical to trespass!! Ryan grabbed her hand and insisted that they try out the wooden swing the new family installed on a branch but quickly before they got caught.

As soon as Claudia sat down on the swing, she noticed mistletoe hanging above…and then saw Ryan get down on one knee!

Wow!! How romantic is that?! Bravo, Ryan!!!! 

With an early ceremony planned at 3pm, the Wedding Day was flying by even before the day had really started. The two had planned to have a gift + letter exchange down by the water (a First Interaction without seeing each other) but the scheduled time kept getting pushed back until it was deemed too late. Sam and I were on different parts of the property without cell service and without a way to coordinate a Plan B without guests seeing the Bride!

Claudia had just slipped on her wedding dress with the help of her Mom and Dad, but she was clearly bummed that the morning slipped by without this moment she was so looking forward to.

Just then Sam knocked on the bridal suite door and said he had Ryan waiting on the porch upstairs!! (Thinking they were already set up at the alter by now, I literally cheered “Sam Tucker, you’re a hero! She’s going to be so happy!”) Claudia was so excited that she ran out the door barely with shoes on to sneak in this special moment…with minutes to spare before the ceremony! As soon as she saw him with his back to her, she started crying as I’m sure it all felt very real now.

They stood back to back and exchanged letters and gifts with tears. Claudia’s parents along with her bridesmaids watched from down the hill wiping their own tears as they watched these two enjoy their un-rushed few moments together. I’m SO thankful to have squeezed in this moment which was just a tender prelude to a VERY tear-jerking ceremony.

But before the two (and everyone else!) broke into happy tears during their vows, they looked at each other like this. It was a look filled with quiet joy. It was sincere. It was a genuinely loving look that held well over a decade of years building up to this moment. 

Claudia’s Dad pictured below even had me holding back tears! Even the officiant, a close friend of the couple, had to wipe her eyes when the two read very sweet, personal vows to each other where they recounted that memorable day as kids playing in the snow. 

Their bridal party colors were so pretty!!

Some of our favorite Bride + Groom portraits!!! I am so happy they planned out extra time within their timeline so that we could take advantage of so many parts of this property! Just wait until you see this old Studebaker car!!

A few MORE portraits at dusk – yes, please!! These are our favorites under the willow tree!!!

Ryan + Claudia,

We loved FINALLY photographing you as Husband + Wife!!! What a sweet love you guys share! You’re patient and kind to each other. You’re warm and giggly in each other’s arms!  Even when the odds are against you, your love finds a way… it’s not often that you meet your soulmate at 7 years old. It’s not often that couples continue to stay inseparable and in a perpetual honeymoon phase.  Your love IS this way. We’re really excited to see all the ways that marriage continues to strengthen something already so profound and impactful to others. The closer you guys pull each other towards Jesus, the more you’ll continue to uncover just how deep and epic love is. Cheering for you guys! We love you!!!

Love,

The Tuckers

 

Details :

Venue | The Farm Retreat at Willow Creek

Photography | The Tuckers Photography

Day of Coordinator + Planner | Sweet Southern Party

Florals | Daisies Over Diamonds 

Band | The Hacken’s Boys

Catering | ABS Cakes + Catering

Wedding Dress | Lele Bridal 

Bridesmaid Dresses | JJ’s House

Groomsmen Attire | Jos A Bank

Invitations | Zazzle.com

Hair | Alyssa Davis

Makeup | Paige Schreiber, bride’s sister

 

 

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Based in Richmond, Virginia and serving the surrounding States