Samantha + Aaron | A Colorful Wedding at Wildcliff Weddings & Events
“The best decision was bringing Terra and her team on. I couldn’t have made my vision a reality with out her. Her attention to detail and how she thinks of everything. I am truly grateful for her and her team! Thank you again!”
Samantha and Aaron always dreamed of a destination wedding, but they always pictured having their ceremony on the beach. However, after discussions with family, they knew they wanted the destination to be fairly accessible. Samantha found Wildcliff online, and it was the perfect fit for these two to celebrate their marriage.
Samantha and Aaron celebrated their marriage outside under the warm July sun at Wildcliff Weddings & Events, which is a beautiful destination wedding venue located in Blackwater, Missouri. The lake made a beautiful backdrop for this stunning outdoor ceremony. Their guests were then invited to the indoor reception space, called The Hollow, which was located in the small town of Blackwater.
WE ASKED Samantha, “What made you choose to work with Plan it Terra? Why did that matter to you?”
“You knew the area and the vendors, and had worked with them before. I am a big believer that we feed off of everyone and we are our best when we are surrounded by people that bring out our best. With you knowing the area and working with them before I couldn’t have asked for anything better.”
Samantha and her bridesmaids began the day at the historic boutique Iron Horse Hotel, where Joy Loveless and team got the ladies picture ready. Once makeup and hair was complete, the ladies made their way to the Bridal Cottage, which is located at Wildcliff’s outdoor space. The ladies buzzed with conversation, taking their time to get dressed for the day. We loved the two dresses worn by the flower girls; they were custom dresses made from the bride’s grandmother’s dress, which was worn at her parent’s wedding.
After the ladies left the Iron Horse Hotel, Aaron and his groomsmen arrived to get dressed and ready for the day of celebrating. The group took a few photos outside the hotel on the railroad tracks that cross right through the front of town. Before we knew it, it was time for Aaron and Samantha to see each other for the first time. The venue owner, Mark, escorted the bride via a historic red car up to the top of the cliffs to finally see Aaron.
The rest of the afternoon was spent taking portraits around the property, and of course, there was much joy and lots of laughter to be had by the bride, groom, and their wedding party. About an hour before the ceremony, the couple and their attendants went to rest inside the Bridal Cottage while their guests were welcomed to a pre-ceremony cocktail hour. Guests enjoyed an amazing spread of foods from Peachtree Catering while the champagne flowed from the bar, which was provided by Vertigo Events.
Before we knew it, it was time to get everyone lined up for the ceremony. Samantha’s brothers had two very large roles for the wedding day; one brother was asked to be the officiant. The second brother was the flower boy, and he took his role very seriously. Prior to the bride’s processional, the flower boy popped off confetti cannons and passed beer to the guests, getting them pumped up for the bride’s entrance. It was a great way to get the crowd to stand right before Samantha walked down the aisle.
The outdoor ceremony was short and sweet, and the couple surprised everyone by announcing that they had been married for a year, and that the day was actually their one-year anniversary. After the announcement, Samantha yelled out, “Bazinga!!!” After the ceremony, the couple took family photos and then took some time to rest before making their grand entrance into the reception. While photos happened, guests made their way into downtown Blackwater where they were welcomed into The Hollow, Wildcliff’s indoor reception space.
Once the couple made their entrance into the reception, they joined their wedding party to a fun game of flip cup. The rule was that whichever team won flip cup would get to go through the buffet line first. It was a neck-in-neck game, but the ladies pulled ahead with the bride winning for the ladies. Later in the reception, the couple were honored with a few speeches and danced with some of their loved ones. Of course, they took time to take photos at sunset and cut a delicious wedding cake. The rest of the evening was filled with plenty of laughter and lots of dancing.
We provided Event Management services, which included a variety of planning meetings, timeline development, a venue walkthrough, assistance with the layout, confirming final details with vendors, facilitating the rehearsal, managing their wedding day, and so much more.
WE ASKED Samantha, “What would you say to a couple who is thinking about booking us?”
“Do it! Do not hesitate. If it is not in the budget make it in the budget. There are so many things that happen behind the scenes someone has to do, make it someone who makes a living out of putting parties on! They see everything before it happens. And you want everyone to enjoy the day so let them relax.”
If you’re looking for a luxury wedding planner based in Missouri that is focused on heart-centered and personalized services, please contact me and my team- we would love to work with you! Check out our blog to get a better sense of our approach to wedding planning & our style, and follow us on Instagram! We love to exceed any expectations you have for your day.
Venue: Wildcliff Weddings & Events || Event Management: Plan it Terra led by Terra || Floral Designer: Sugarberry Blooms || Photography: BLK Photography || Videography: James Smith Films || Catering: Peachtree Catering || Bartending: Vertigo Events || DJ: DJ Max James || Transportation: MOX || Bridal Beauty: Joy Loveless || Photo Booth: Fete Booth || Vintage Rentals: Pretty Little Things || Baker: Celebrating Life Cakes Boutique
Hey, I’m Terra!
Born and raised in Missouri, I’m a grateful wife and dog mom to my rescue pups, Hildi & Lola. I’m a true believer in the pursuit of bold dreams, learning from mistakes, and staying curious.
I'm a girl that lives in her Chacos during the summer, and I'm typically always wearing lipstick. Yes, red is my preference! When I'm not helping engaged couples plan weddings, you'll find me on stage teaching Jazzercise classes. Needless to say, creating engaging experiences that leave people feeling good afterwards is my passion. Seriously!
I’ve created this blog and my wedding packages to empower you to plan an awesome wedding day and put all of the stress and obligations straight into the dumpster! Now that sounds like a party.
