Lush Spring Wedding with Modern Elegance | Ally + Curtis from Columbia, MO
This lush spring wedding day in the quiet countryside of Missouri was full of modern elegance and romantic touches. Ally and Curtis created a beautiful wedding weekend at Emerson Fields for their May wedding. Throughout the weekend, from the rehearsal dinner to their final moments at the venue on Sunday morning, wedding guests were not only entertained but got to bear witness to a beautiful union. With tons of lush florals, elegant decorations, and lots of romantic lighting this spring wedding was brimming with beauty.
“My daughter recently got married Emerson Fields. It’s the *best* wedding venue in Mid-MO in my opinion! It has everything from beautiful lakeside sunsets, to wild flowers, to brides and grooms suites, large spacious indoor venue with floor-to-ceiling windows, large outdoor pavilion, and a sliding glass wall that walks out to a stunning patio deck. Perfect for cocktail hour! Your vendors will love preparing your meal in the commercial kitchen and the large concrete bar.”
Ally and Curtis are high school sweethearts from Columbia, Missouri. With Emerson Fields being an hour away, it was the perfect mini-destination for their wedding weekend with family and friends. Ally has a sweet and fun personality and this wedding really reflected her style! Adventurous, modern, elegant, classy, and fun!
With the primary color palette of natural greens, black, and crisp white, the splashes of blush softened this wedding style and added a romantic lush element. Ally and her bridesmaids got their hair and make-up done in the bridal dressing room at Emerson Fields and enjoyed a slow start to the wedding day.
After hair and make-up were completed, Sarah, Ally’s mom, helped her get in her bridal gown [Breeze Bridal] and add the finishing touches to her look. The bridesmaids in their cute matching pajama sets and slippers waited patiently on the balcony until Ally was ready. We loved this first look reveal moment with Ally and her bridesmaids!
Next, it was Ally’s dad’s turn to see his daughter all glammed up for her wedding day. It was a sweet moment between father and daughter while Ally’s mom and brother looked on. Having a moment with just your family on the wedding day can help you stay present and in the moment. Your family unit never looks the same after a wedding so soaking in a few moments together lets everyone take a breath and let the day sink in.
Sometimes as the parents of the bride (or either partner), it can be hard to not take control of the wedding day or planning process. Sarah, Ally’s mom, did a great job of giving Ally the freedom and trust to design and choose her vendors and style for the wedding day. Every family has different dynamics, but we love that the day felt like a reflection of Ally and Curtis's personalities. Ally sourced her vendors from all over Missouri, choosing vendors ranking at the top of each category. It showed throughout the smooth wedding weekend and how gorgeous this lush and modern wedding turned out!
Meanwhile, Curtis and his groomsmen got ready downstairs in the groom’s suite. This additional dressing suite at Emerson Fields is the perfect place to casually hang out on the wedding day. It is located next to the back patio for easy outdoor access for corn hole, ladder golf, or enjoying some fresh air. Curtis and the guys were able to hang out and swap stories while enjoying the slow start to their day. Curtis opened a gift from Ally and prepared to meet his bride under the pavilion for a first look.
Ally looked stunning and elegant in her bridal gown with lace detail, a flowing train, and a cathedral veil. Curtis chose a handsome classic black suit with a black bow tie. Curtis waited at the circular flower altar under the pavilion at Emerson Fields, where the ceremony would be held just a little while later. Ally greeted her groom and the couple got to share some special one-on-one time! Curtis had a sweet gift and flowers for his bride and then the couple each took a turn to read their vows to one another.
Pro Tip: If you think you will feel anxious on the wedding day in front of family and friends, but still want to have that personal element to your day, consider a first look. It alleviates some of the stress because you get to see your person! It also allows you to say everything you want to with as much privacy as you want.
After Ally and Curtis spent some time together, their wedding party came to the pavilion to greet them! It was the perfect shaded location for wedding party photos. We love that Abigail Derrick, their wedding photographer, was able to capture both formal and candid photos of the wedding party. This brings out the fun of having all your friends together! You’ll want to remember who was there with you on your wedding day and mixing in posed and candid shots gives you the feelings of the day through photos.
The groomsmen all wore matching black suits with a white tie, setting them apart from Curtis in his black bowtie. The bridesmaids also wore matching dresses, the Rory style from Revelry. Having the wedding party in the same attire created a cohesive and elegant look for this modern wedding.
The pavilion provided a great location for the wedding party photos on this sunny spring day. MU Tiger Garden created an incredible circular flower arch for the ceremony altar and made matching bridal party bouquets. The lush floral arch, reminiscent of a wreath, doubled as a gorgeous photo backdrop! This was another way they made the wedding look cohesive. Everywhere you looked at Emerson Fields on this Saturday in May you saw lush florals. Beautiful!
Once the wedding party photos were finished the couple got a few portraits together as fiancés! Then it was time to regroup in the venue before guests arrived for the ceremony.
“The “bones” of Emerson Fields is absolutely gorgeous. I could’ve had 0 decorations and it would still be beautiful. I also loved that everything was on site, and we didn’t need to worry about driving anywhere the day of. Also, the bridal suite? To die for. Amelia and Steve really thought of everything!”
Guests arrived by 4:15 PM for this 4:30 PM spring outdoor wedding. Once the wedding guests were seated, the wedding party and family lined up behind the pavilion sliding doors. Their wedding planner, Lisa from Blue Diamond Events, placed the aisle runner down right before the processional. Runners can be tricky for an outdoor wedding so it’s always best to wait until guests are seated.
Leme Ensemble, a live quartet, played beautiful music that made the outdoor space peaceful and even more beautiful. The doors opened and family members, the sweet ring bearer and flower girl, and the wedding party all made their way down the aisle. Ally stood off to the side with her father until the doors closed again.
“All rise!” The doors opened and Ally and her dad made their way down the aisle to Curtis. Big smiles and tears of joy filled the pavilion. Curtis’s sister was the couple’s officiant and a family member read some passages from the Bible. Ally and Curtis exchanged rings and vows with one another in front of their family and friends. A kiss to celebrate and then another kiss down the aisle to celebrate a little more! The new Mr. and Mrs. Holliday!
Family and loved ones gathered together again after the ceremony after the guests were dismissed for cocktail hour. Abigail Derrick Photography snapped some family formals and then they all joined together back at the venue.
The cocktail hour took place out on the back patio and the dock overlooking the lake. It was important to Ally and Curtis to feel very involved with their wedding day and their guests, so they truly entrusted their wedding planner and the team of vendors to run the show. This allowed for much more socializing and enjoyment for the couple because they got to be fully present with their loved ones. When you want to pack a lot into your wedding day you need someone managing the behind-the-scenes! When you rely on a team of professionals, you can entertain your guests and be wowed at every moment right along with them.
This pro team of wedding vendors knocked it out of the park for both the ceremony and reception! There was a gorgeous ice sculpture against the brick wall, a modern black seating chart, and family photos, mementos, and a book of engagement photos in the foyer. Guests were able to leave a voicemail for the couple with a super fun guest book - After the Tone. What a unique way to capture what your guests want to wish you on your wedding day and hear it in their own voices!
MU Tiger Garden created gorgeous centerpieces with these modern gold pedestals with a lush floral assortment adorning the top. Greenery mixed in throughout the center of the farmhouse tables in the middle of the venue where close family members sat. The round guest tables each had a unique centerpiece, some with towering arrangements and others with candles or bouquets of flowers. Every table had an adorable circular gold table number to bring the whole look together.
The wedding party sat at two rectangular tables on each side of the stage with beautiful place settings and a garland of greenery and white flowers. Curtis and Ally had their own sweetheart table in the center so they could be next to their friends but still set apart as a newly married couple.
The collaboration between all the wedding vendors created a layered, elegant, lush, and modern reception space. Good Stuff China from Kansas City designed individual place settings for every person. So gorgeous!
We asked Jami from Good Stuff China about this beautiful wedding and here is was she had to say.
“When we worked with Ally we wanted to achieve a cohesive, upscale design for all of her guest’s place settings. However, if you look closely at the photos you will see that the tables were a mix of gold and white plates and a collection of glass water goblets.
Good Stuff China’s vintage gold flatware is also a carefully curated assortment. The gold chargers and ivory napkins folded in a waterfall style are all the same. These elements helped to build a cohesive base to bring the design together.
We can create a cohesive tablescape for your wedding reception using our mix of vintage rentals and glassware and adjust it within the scope of your wedding budget.”
This indoor spring wedding reception couldn’t have been more gorgeous. It was brimming with lush florals, including greenery intertwined on the suspended string lights of Emerson Fields. Ally and Curtis entered to applause and began their first dance. With a light fog and cold sparks from Abell DJ Company, it was truly a magical moment.
Guests enjoyed socializing at their tables and walking around the balcony to take it all in. Room 38 catered a delicious meal and the bride and groom slipped away while guests finished up their dinner.
Abigail Derrick got some gorgeous outdoor wedding portraits of Ally and Curtis around Emerson Fields. Slipping away at the end of dinner is a great time to add in some golden hour photos.
“I can guarantee your day will go smooth here. Amelia and Steve are the best of the best and will do anything in their power to help the bride on their big day! You can trust them, I promise. ”
After photos, the couple came in the venue to cut the cake, hear toasts, and have special first dances with a parent. Then the party really got started! Their wedding guests had a fabulous time dancing the night away and enjoying the open bar by Room 38. Cindy Scott Artistry even made a debut with a personalized painting for the newlyweds waiting in the foyer for them.
After dancing, taking photos in front of the greenery wall photo booth, eating delicious desserts, and laughing a lot it was time for the grand finale. A sparkler exit and then an incredible fireworks display over the lake!
“I was surprised by how responsive you were! If I emailed you with a question I would hear back before the day was over (or sometimes just in 15 minutes!) My only hesitation was the hour drive from Columbia. I didn’t want our guests to feel inconvenienced by the drive. I provided a shuttle for younger guests likely to drink to help alleviate this though. ”
“But the best asset is Amelia Holder, the venue’s owner. Amelia is highly experienced with hundreds of weddings so you can count on her to provide helpful tips. She’s professional, calm, helpful, and has seen it all. She even makes sure to store some snacks in the fridge for the vendors! Be sure to check out her approved list of vendors. We were glad we did! Thanks, Emerson Fields for making our daughter’s fairy tale wedding magical.”
“We always enjoy working at Emerson Fields. Amelia and Steve are so supportive of the vendors that come together to make your wedding day run smoothly. To be a part of the Emerson Fields team is an honor and a privilege, we look forward to many more weddings at this outstanding venue.”
We adore hosting weddings at Emerson Fields and the fabulous people we get to meet each weekend. It was an honor to host Ally, Curtis, and their families and friends for this beautiful wedding weekend. A modern and lush wedding day with just the right amount of fun is our cup of tea. We hope you enjoyed getting this behind-the-scenes look at a real Emerson Fields spring wedding! If you’re interested in a wedding day that runs smoothly and checks all of the boxes, read our blog “Is A Wedding Planner or Coordinator Worth It?”.
Vendor Team
Guest Count | 250
Wedding Venue | Emerson Fields
Wedding Photographer | Abigail Derrick Photography
Wedding Coordinator | Blue Diamond Events, Lisa Wampler
Wedding Videographer | Lumen Studios
Florist | MU Tiger Garden
Caterer | Room 38
Bartending | Room 38
DJ | Abell DJ Company
Live Musicians | Leme Ensemble
Cake | CoMo Classic Pastry
Wedding Gown Boutique and Gown Designer | Breeze Bridal - Enzoani
Bridesmaids Gowns | Revelry
Menswear Rentals | Men’s Wearhouse
Hair Stylist | Uplifted Salon
Makeup Artist | Emina MUA
Shuttle | MO-X for wedding guests and The Party Limo for the bridal party
China Rentals | Good Stuff China
Napkin and Table Runners | A1 Party Rentals
Boxwood Wall, Photo Booth | Blue Diamond Events
Arbor, Champagne Wall, Candles | MU Tiger Garden
Firework Pyrotechnics | SW Productions
03/23/2023 - Gabrielle Isom
