This love story begins in Pennsylvania where Shelby and Jonathan first met each other as they share a common career - teaching 4th-grade children. Though their love story begins far away, these two plan to return to Mid-Missouri to say their, “I Do’s.” Shelby and Jonathan plan to marry in late May at Blue Bell Farm, a luxurious estate wedding venue located in Fayette, Missouri. They’ve chosen the venue’s open-air deck as their ceremony site, which will be adorned with a beautiful floral installation from Sugarberry Blooms. Their celebration will continue with an intimate reception inside the venue’s main barn where drinks, dancing, and joyful conversation will be enjoyed by all.

To learn more about why they chose their wedding venue and to read some of their advice for newly engaged couples, be sure to keep scrolling down.

Our team is excited to finalize their wedding day details and get these two married. Be sure to check out these wonderful engagement photos. I just love their sweet pup!

Tell me about how you and Jonathan met.

We were teaching together 2 years ago when I was engaged previously. After that ended, Jonathan asked me to go out with friends to celebrate my birthday. That night, he professed his feelings for me. We kept in touch when I moved back to Missouri. We went to a wedding together in October and the rest is history!

Who proposed? Tell me about it!

Jonathan proposed! My birthday was coming up and I had planned to go to the winery that day with him. He had called ahead of time to let them know his plan. When we got there, he "wanted to go walk through the vineyard." Meanwhile, I was "hangry" and didn't want to go walk in the vineyard. He finally convinced me to go down and walk and when we were on the patio, he got down on one knee and proposed! He had secretly given his phone to the manager, who was able to take pictures. There was also a champagne toast waiting for us back at our table.

How did you pick your wedding venue?

We had decided on what the vibe of our wedding was going to be and I had heard about Blue Bell Farm. When we drove up, we were obsessed and were so relieved when they had our date available.

How did you find all of your vendors?

Honestly, I'm using a lot of the vendors from my previous engagement. You also recommended several of them :)

So far, what aspect of planning has been the most enjoyable?

I have really enjoyed planning all the color schemes and decor elements. I've also enjoyed designing and bringing to life all of my stationery.

Do you have any advice for recently engaged couples?

Follow your check-lists and do as much as you can in the beginning so the rest is smooth sailing. Take Terra's advice and if you don't know what vendor to use or just have any questions, don't be afraid to ask. Also, don't be afraid to stand up for what you want and your vision. At the end of the day, it's your big day!

What are you most excited about for the day of the wedding?

I'm just excited to be married to Jonathan. We are best friends and are just so excited to celebrate and party with our friends and start our life as a married couple!

what are three words to describe the feel of your upcoming wedding?

welcoming, floral, comfortable

What made you decide to hire a planner?

We are planning from across the country, so having a planner was a must. I've worked with Terra in the past and she is amazing! She is also a Blue Bell Farm expert. She is organized beyond belief, which makes the planning process so much easier!

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.