Brette and Hani hosted their gorgeous rustic wedding at The Barn at Red Gate Farms last December, and it was certainly a night they will never forget. What started as a romantic wedding ceremony beneath Spanish-moss draped Live Oaks ended as an epic dance party (that everyone in attendance, including the vendors, wanted to last forever)! This beautiful couple threw the ultimate crowd-pleasing wedding bash.
The Proposal
The lovely couple met in high school, and although they had crushes on each other for years, they didn’t make it official until their sophomore year of college. After that, the pair were inseparable. It wasn’t long before Hani surprised Brette with a charming proposal at the couples’ favorite fishing pond. He planned the surprise proposal with a photographer friend, who was also there to “catch” the big moment. Brette was absolutely thrilled, and she was left breathless by the careful thought that Hani took planning every detail of the special surprise proposal.
The Wedding Details
The couple had a shared vision for their special day — they wanted it to be an elevated yet laid soirée that their guests would remember. Their rustic-meets-formal wedding day incorporated several beautiful royal colors, including deep burgundy, cream, and dusty blue, accented with green and gold. For Brette and Hani, including their closest friends and loved ones was extremely important. The 20-person bridal party consisted of family members and several lifelong friends. For an extra special touch, Brette’s childhood youth pastor officiated the marriage.
“The majority of our guests came from out of town, and it meant the world to us that they came!”
For the couple, seeing so many of their close friends and family in one room was a dream come true, and they wished that the night could last forever. During the reception, the couple realized that a 4.5-hour reception was simply not enough time to celebrate — so they decided to keep the party going. Their incredible vendors even stayed an extra hour — no one wanted the celebration to come to an end!
The Venue
For the couple, selecting The Barn at Red Gate Farms as their reception venue was an easy choice. “We really wanted to have the majestic oak trees with moss for the backdrop of our ceremony, so The Barn was perfect,” said Brette. “We fell in love when we came for our initial tour. I remember standing at The Barn doors looking over the lawn at the tree and pond with teary eyes envisioning our wedding day.”
The Memories
One of the couple’s favorite wedding memories is their grand introduction at the reception. To add a unique spin on the traditional grand entrance, the couple was introduced first, and then they introduced their own wedding party. Brette and Hani said a couple of silly and sweet remarks, telling about their personal relationships “I think that our guests really enjoyed being able to hear how we knew each person,” said Brette. “We also chose individual walkout songs for them based upon relationships with them! It was awesome!”
All in all, the couple wouldn’t change a thing about their wedding day. Brette’s advice to other brides and grooms is to stay present. “It went by WAY too fast, and I wish that we could relive that day again!” she said. “I would highly recommend for brides to be extremely present on your wedding day and take time to just sit and take it all in.”
Venue: Red Gate Farms
Photography: Raluca Rodilla Photography
Videography: Coastal Videography
Outdoor Lighting: Bounce Play Love
DJ: Shockwave entertainment
Catering: Georgia Restaurant Ventures, Ray DuBois
Hair: Kelly Lock Hair Design
Bridal gown: Formally Yours
Bridesmaid Dresses: Azazie
Groom’s and groomsmen suits: Men’s Wearhouse
Groomsmen ties and pocket squares: Azazie
Bride spray tan: Kaitlyn Wallace at Outback Tanning
Bride lash extensions: Tia Coons
Flowers: Graham Solana and Beth Pittman
Cake: Beth Harris
Officiant: Jody Shelton
Day of coordinator: Regina Rice