It’s a classic high school movie scenario – a crush on your bff’s brother’s best friend. Then running into your teenage crush a few years later, the love story culminates in a big, beautiful wedding. But this was no movie for Kenzie and Ryan, whose Hollywood ending became a reality. Kenzie explained, “I always had a crush on him. He moved away for college and a few years later we ran into each other at a bar and it was like time stopped. I told my mom the next day that I had met the man I was going to marry.”
Working in the bridal industry, Kenzie was completely clued up on planning a wedding, however she told us, “I knew it wasn’t about the dress or the makeup or the vacay… it’s about the love you share with your partner and being surrounded by your loved ones.” Which is why they focused on exactly what they wanted, planning a unique, personalised day, writing their own ceremony script and curating a playlist with no cheesy wedding songs!
The couple chose Roberts Mansion, a historic Victorian venue in their beloved Spokane. Hiring it for the whole weekend allowed them an intimate celebration with friends and family. With plenty of garden space, Kenzie and Ryan picked the Little Photo Bus of Spokane for some fun snaps, a huge dancefloor, vintage sideboard for the cake and a pizza truck to feed their guests. Street food stalls and catering trucks can be a great way to save on your budget, and as Kenzie said, “Who doesn’t like pizza?!”
An outdoor garden wedding gave the most beautiful backdrop, with very little need for extra décor, and Kenzie and Ryan accessorised with jewel tones for some vintage glamour. Kenzie’s evening dress was Willowby by Watters, and matched the theme perfectly, adding some sparkle to the chequerboard dancefloor. The couple’s first dance was their favourite part of the day, as Kenzie explained, “It was like we were the only ones there and time stopped, just like when we met.”
“Everything went so perfectly,” Kenzie told us, “Although my husband was so nervous about the ceremony, he actually got sick before walking down the aisle! But it all turned out wonderful after that!” And with all that planning experience behind her, Kenzie can now relate to the brides coming into her bridal shop much better. Sharing her experiences and advice, she told us that the most important thing is to, “Take some time to stop and take it all in, it’s over in the blink of an eye!”
