Courtney and Ryan plan to exchange their “I Dos” in front of their closest friends and loved ones on New Year’s Eve at The Atrium on Tenth in downtown Columbia, Missouri.

My first actual memory of meeting Courtney was in college; we were both in the same degree program, and she was a sorority sister to one of my roommates. I’ve never told her this, but I have always thought she was the most stylish person, an absolutely kind soul, and a big dreamer. Collaborating with her to plan her wedding has solidified these thoughts, and I have been honored to work alongside them. You know what I admire about these two? The sincere love she and Ryan share between each other.

I asked Courtney to share her proposal story along with some questions about what wedding planning has looked like from her perspective.

Before you read more from Courtney and Ryan, check out these wonderful engagement photos captured by the wonderfully talented Kelsi Kliethermes Photography. Thank you for sharing!

How did Ryan propose?

I planned a surprise 27th birthday party for Ryan, and in return, he flipped it on me and proposed! His mom was in on it the whole time. He made sure all of our friends and family were there to celebrate. It was quite a surprise for me!

How did you meet?

We grew up around each other, both attending the same middle school and Jefferson City High School together. It wasn't until after college that we both were interested in each other and the rest is history.

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

Getting to be creative with our design and have fun with small and big elements of our wedding to make it unique and special to us.

️Do you have any advice for recently engaged couples to help them stay stress-free throughout the planning process?

Don't get married during a pandemic- haha just kidding. The best advice that I learned, received, and could give would be to not try and control what you can't control. Life is going to throw a a lot at you, so at the end of the day remember it's not about all of the extras for a wedding, but who you marry and why you are so ready to spend the rest of your life with them.

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

Kissing my then official husband at midnight to end our awesome day.

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

Black tie, modern, and party

What made you choose Stephens College* as your wedding venue?

It was one of the largest options for our guest list to fit comfortably.

What made you decide to hire a planner?

So we can enjoy our day and not be weighed down with things that come up. Also to help us stay on track to make sure we can have the best day ever!

Before this blog post was published, Courtney and Ryan changed their wedding venue to The Atrium on Tenth. This new venue provides the couple with plenty of space to fit their guests and flexibility during the global pandemic.

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.