Winter Wedding at RT Lodge
There were some really special moments at Wes and Natalie’s winter wedding at RT Lodge that I have to share with you guys! All of these moments had one thing in common. They all included their parents in some way. To kick it off, Natalie welcomed Lezlie, her almost mother-in-law, into her bridal suite with her and Mary, her mom, while she was getting dressed. Lezlie even stepped in to help with some pieces. Natalie gifted bracelets to both Lezlie and Mary after her dress was on, and it was a really sentimental moment. The room was small, a little hot, and there was a lot going on when Lezlie reached over, touched Natalie, and prayed for her. She prayed for peace and calmness, and it was such a sweet, special thing to witness.
Want to hear something wild? Natalie has two sets of living grandparents, and both are still in happy marriages. One for 58 years of marriage, and the other for 62 years of marriage. But that’s not all. Wes also has a set of living grandparents with over 50 years of marriage. AND both of their parents have been married for more than 35 years each. So, to commemorate that, they wrote letters to each other’s parents that they read out loud during the ceremony. It was such a special way to honor the example these marriages modeled for them and will continue to model for them as they start their own marriage. There were tears not only in my eyes but everyone there. It was just so respectful, loving, and special. I have never seen this done before and really really loved it!
The last thing had to do with the special parent dances. After Natalie danced with her dad and Wes danced with his mom, Natalie had a surprise special dance with her mom. Mary was so surprised, and when the song started, she also was overcome with happy tears. I’m not sure what exactly the song meant to them, but it definitely meant something really special because it was such a sweet, sentimental moment. I really love the way brides have really started to honor their moms lately in wedding days. Whether it’s their own special dance, a special dance between the parents of the bride, or a bouquet dedicated to her, she gets her own little spotlight moment. It’s really precious, and I hope this is a trend that stays!
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Vendors used by Natalie & Wes:
Assistant Photographer: Emily Elizabeth Portraits
Content Creator: Veil on Wheels
Venue, Cake, & Caterer: RT Lodge
Videographer: Milestone Pictures
Florist: Colby West Design
Hair & Makeup: Grow
Wedding Dress: Lillian Ruth Bride
Bridesmaids Dresses: Azazie
Stationery: Wallace Paper Co
Alterations: The Perfect Fit
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