Meet Their Wedding Day Pros
PREMIER VENDORS
Rehearsal Dinner Cedar Ridge Distillery
ALL VENDORS
Photographer Jams Creative Photography | Ceremony Venue Faith Life Church | Reception Venue Veteran’s Memorial Building | Caterer Kernels Catering | Bartending Hy-Vee | Cake Amy at Blair's Ferry Sam's Club | Floral Beth at Hy-Vee Floral | Bride’s Dress Ellis Bridal in Tulsa | Tuxedos Generation Tux | Bridesmaids Dresses Birdy Grey | Hair Johanna Fentress | Makeup Hadley Howell | Dress Tailor Barb Christoffersen | Tanning Salon Sun Tan City | Engagement Rings Moody's Jewelry in Tulsa | Groom's Wedding Band Kay Jewelers | Planner & Coordinator Stacey Each | Officiant Jay Haugh
See all the vendors we LUST for, that can help you with your big day!
Reba and James celebrated their marriage with a candlelit, winter wedding that was equal parts intentional, elegant, and deeply personal.
The couple first met during orientation week at college, and by a stroke of luck, they paired up as chemistry lab partners. Each week they talked and talked and talked (one of their favorite things to do) and their friendship grew. Through some unexpected turns, their relationship turned romantic, and James quickly knew he was ready to ask for her hand in marriage.
Determined to surprise Reba with the proposal (not an easy task), he teamed up with her sisters to orchestrate a “girls’ weekend” in Tulsa paired with a fake photoshoot. Reba became suspicious — especially when someone suggested getting their nails done — but clever psychological tactics and straight-faced denials managed to throw her off.
When James picked her up for their “photos,” he could barely contain his excitement. At Woodward Park, surrounded by wintery beauty and with her sisters secretly waiting nearby, James proposed. “The joy I felt and the happiness I saw in Reba’s face was a moment that stood still in the best possible way,” he shares. “Her response was, ‘Shut up! No way James!’”
That same joy and sense of surprise carried into their wedding day. Reba envisioned a candlelit ceremony with classical music, so they began at 5 p.m., letting darkness and soft lighting create an unforgettable, dramatic atmosphere. Bridesmaids held candles instead of bouquets, casting a glow that made the aisle feel both sacred and cinematic.
The duo worked hard to make the ceremony personal to their love and families. They read letters from their early dating days before the ceremony, and Reba wore a cherished emerald ring from her grandparents and a cathedral veil (which is the same veil her sister wore, and her other sisters plan to wear for their own weddings).
They also had a clever idea to place a sticky note under someone’s seat before the ceremony. When it was time to sign their marriage certificate, everyone looked under their seat to see who the witness would be. “It was so fun to hear everyone’s joy as they looked for it and gasp when they saw who was selected,” Reba shares.
The Veteran’s Memorial Building in Cedar Rapids was a blank canvas for Reba’s vision for the reception. She wanted it to be a cheery, colorful winter ballroom filled with flowers and a touch of antique glam. And she nailed it — especially with her DIY floral. She ordered blooms in bulk from Hy-Vee and arranged all the centerpieces herself with the help of family and friends.
From a crowd-favorite Kernels dinner to a custom cake from Sam’s Club baker Abby (who perfectly embraced the Pinterest vision), everything was thoughtfully chosen. Reba credits her childhood best friend Stacy Each, who is a professional wedding planner, for all her work in coordinating the day and making everything run smoothly.
She also gives kudos to photographer Jenni and second shooter Mary with Jams Creative Photography for bringing all the calm and joy. They clearly understood the vibe and captured the most dreamy, moments of the special day.
“To us, the most important thing was that we celebrated our marriage in a way that was meaningful to both us and our guests. It was sweet to design an aesthetic that reflected the beauty and intricacy of the commitment we made to each other,” Reba shares.
A joyful celebration, rooted in love, creativity, and community — just like their story.
