Hannah and Bret got married on October 12, 2019!
How did you meet?
We met in high school. I (Hannah) had a crush on Bret for many many years before he gave me a chance and we started dating our sophomore and senior years.
Tell us about the proposal
We love to ski and we go many times each winter. We decided to take a weekend trip to the mountains to celebrate the anniversary of when we started dating. We had been skiing all morning and about to head for lunch when I asked for Bret to stop and take a picture of me on the side of the slopes. He pretended to be getting the perfect shot when he dropped to one knee and I said, “Yes!”
What inspired the vision you had for your big day?
Our faith and family are focal points in our relationship, so we knew we wanted to get married in a church and incorporate our closest family and friends into our ceremony. We also wanted to have our reception somewhere that was naturally beautiful but where we could add aspects to make it our own. We wanted an elegant but fun atmosphere which included greenery, roses, and pizza.
What made you choose the art center as your venue?
We originally looked at PAC as a potential venue because of the location in downtown Parkersburg. Market street has a sophisticated feel and is beautiful at night with Edison lightbulbs strung overhead. This beautiful street is best viewed from the ballroom on the top floor of the art center. The dance floor is placed in front of extraordinary floor to ceiling windows that provide a stunning view and a beautiful backdrop for dancing pictures. When we toured PAC, Lyndsay was the definition of wonderful. She showed us the venue providing us with ideas and possibilities, while also listening to our wants and ideas. She helped ease the stress of planning and was there to help every step of the way. PAC provided the full package when planning our big day and it did not disappoint.
What other vendors did you choose, and can you tell us a little about your experience?
For the ceremony flowers we chose Crown Florals and they were exceptional. After an initial consultation about our vision, we were given designs for each item along with the descriptions and estimates. We were then able to work together to make changes depending on how we liked each design. They were easy to work with, as well as affordable. The flowers were simply beautiful and everything we could’ve wished for.
Another vendor I used was Black Tie Affair- Events & Rentals for some of my reception decor. They had a lot to offer and their services range from minor to minimal involvement in the planning and production of your event. They provided me with one of my favorite decorations of the entire day which was ceiling greenery that contained lights, that spanned the entirety of the guest tables. It was stunning. I would highly recommend them for all aspect of your wedding and reception!
What is your favorite memory of you wedding day?
My favorite memory of my wedding day was the prayer said at the end of the ceremony. It was a beautiful experience to pray with my husband for the first time along with our closest family and friends.
Any last bits of advice?
My advice is to remember that the day is about you and your future spouse. You will have wished you would’ve done a million things or maybe wished you hadn’t, but in the end you were able to marry the love of your life and start your life together. Make sure to enjoy the planning and make decisions based on what will bring you joy! Also, choose your favorite food as dinner. You and your guests will love it, I promise!