Christine and Erik found me through a coworker whose wedding I photographed last year. The two met years ago when Christine worked as a waitress. After a while, they started talking and their personalities just clicked. They had their first date at a fancy seafood restaurant with another couple. In April of 2010 Erik got down on one knee in front of Cinderella's Castle in Magic Kingdom with a ring that he designed and made himself!

The couple spent the next few years building a life together and growing their family. In 2020 they decided to start planning the wedding. Shawna at Bridle Oaks helped the couple meet up with some incredible vendors to bring their wedding day to life.

When asked about what inspired their wedding decor, Christine says, "I always liked the ocean color blue which was a form of turquoise and a grey blended into it." When you take a look at her jewelry you will see she was highly inspired by Titanic's "Heart of the Ocean" diamond necklace. 

The two chose Bridle Oaks to host their special day. Bridle Oaks is a five-acre farm with two barns, an outdoor altar, a getting-ready house, and lots of plants and animals which make a perfect backdrop for beautiful wedding photos. The venue can host up to 150 people, with an open-air barn for cocktail hour and a 3,500 square foot barn for the reception. Tables, chairs, and some of the decor is even included with the property rental! Want to know more about renting Bridle Oaks? Check out their FAQ here!

When asked about the planning that went into making their dream a reality, they said their biggest challenge was having to move their original date 3 times due to life and covid and making sure all of their vendors were on the same page and schedule. Christine said using a folder to print out all of her information and keep all her expenses on track and on time really helped. She says that no matter how stressful planning a wedding might be, just trust in a higher power to guide you with the best timing of how everything should go. 

When talking about their favorite parts of the day, the couple said they felt as though they, "Walked into a dream" when they first saw the reception area and all of the details. Erik particularly had fun playing the shoe game with his new bride.

Onto the photos!

Vendors:

Venue: Bridle Oaks

Wedding Planner: Heartwood Events - Desiree & Kim

Officiant: Nabila Garcia - Tie the Knot Florida

Hair and Makeup: Mimada Beauty Studio, Sanford

Videographer: Samson Videography - Jose

Cake: Chace's Cakes - Tricia

DJ: Phil Joeckel

Caterer: Ricky

Bartender: Tony Tucci - J and T Bartending

Nails: Nail Art & Salon

Florist: Amazon Silk Flowers

Groomsmen Suits: It Suits Me

Jewelry: Etsy

Shoes: Ross

Stationary: Zazzle