Fall wedding season has officially started for us over here and we were thrilled to kick it off with Melissa & Cody!  I first got to hang out with these two at their engagement session, which was at the same farm they held their reception.  Cody’s family owns and operates a lot of farmland in Dinwiddie.  I don’t know if you remember that night my life changed when I saw a calf be born but it was with Cody & Melissa.  Even more little calves were walking around this weekend at the farm.  Melt my heart!

There were a few firsts for us with this wedding and we were really excited for them!  One was that Melissa and Cody didn’t just have a farm reception but it was at their OWN farm!  Literally, their own backyard was filled with well over 300 friends & family members.  Everyone parked in one field, the beautiful reception was held in the next field, and we were surrounded by soybeans.  The sun sets directly in front of their home as well, so it was a gorgeous site!

Another first was the ride to the reception.  This. Was. Awesome!!!  Cody’s dad has a lot of old school buses at their farm that they use to collect tobacco.  The tops have been cut off of these buses and they look like a lot of fun!  Cody and the guys filled the back with hay and quilts, then spray painted the side to say “just married” & tied old cans to hang out the back.  A PERFECT ride for the wedding party & family to enter the reception.  Just picture this thing riding down the country roads (actually, just scroll down and you will see it).  We drove the jeep to the wedding – instead of our super classy minivan, so Anthony threw the top back for me to stand up and get pictures of the bus (is this something I should be confessing?  It’s fine.).

Melissa really thought through her wedding day, what she wanted it to be like, and all the different aspects of it. One thing I found really thoughtful was all the “stations” at her reception.  There was something for everyone, even kids!  Most weddings do not cater to children at all.  However, Cody & Melissa had a really cute area out in the field for the kids to hang out, play games, kick the soccer ball, whatever they wanted!  They also had standing tables with umbrellas out in the field if people wanted to walk around some, a photo booth for guests to have fun with, and a lot of food & beverage options (margaritas for the win!).

A final thought I have on this truly heartwarming wedding day is about the sermon the pastor preached.  He said, as a farmer, you don’t just throw some seeds in a field and expect your crops to grow well and be fruitful.  You have to spend time in the field planting each seed, pulling the weeds, making sure the crops aren’t being affected by anything harmful.  You have to work hard & nurture those crops to get a good harvest.  The same thing goes for marriage.  You can’t just get married and expect things to always be perfect!  It takes effort and work to cultivate a beautiful marriage!  You have to put in the time and do all you can to make each other happy.  This is the person you should love most in the world so put in the work to make your marriage the best it can be.  Can I get an AMEN?!

That was a long winded blog post, I know, but y’all know that’s how I do things.  I LOVE this couple!  They are two very loving, sweet, funny, hard working people and I am so happy that after almost 10 years, they are finally husband & wife!  What started as a high school romance is now a lifelong love!  Melissa & Cody, I wish you two nothing but the best and I am so glad I got to be a part of your amazing day!

 

These pearl earrings belong to Cody’s mom.  She said she has been waiting over 9 years to have
Melissa wear them!  Susan wore the matching necklace on the wedding day.




I just love these boutonnieres!

The ride over from one farm to the other was in a Tobacco Bus!!



































That super strong sunset, right before it goes behind the trees…I love it!
















We ended the night with some fireworks!

VENDOR LIST:
Gown – Maggie Sottero, Caryn’s Bridal
Bridesmaids Dresses: Caryn’s Bridal
Florist:  Vintage Bloom Valerie Whitehead
Groom & Groomsmen Attire: Mens Wearhouse
Reception: Watkins Farm
Ceremony: Ocran United Methodist Church
DJ: Mark Kidd
Catering: Leon Nixon Catering
Cake & Tarts:  Ukrops Bakery
Rentals:  Classic Party Rentals 

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO – Caiti