Wedding Date on Jun 17, 2017

From The Bride: Derek and I met in high school. I was a freshman and he was a Junior. Derek joined the United States Air Force after high school. We tried long distance for a year, but ended up taking a break. I think Khalil Gibran said it best, “If you love somebody, let them go, for if they return, they were always yours. And if they don't, they never were." Derek and I got back together a few years later in May 2006 and have been together ever since (11 amazing years), through long distance trials and tribulations we made it work. Derek wanted to wait on getting married because he is “old school,” he wanted to finish college and start his career, so he could provide for our family (How sweet!!). He is my soul mate — he has been with me through the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. We planned our DIY wedding on my parents dairy farm in rural Ohio. We got married outside with the dairy farm as our back drop. They have new big red barn they use for storage. When my dad was building the barn I told him he could only build it if Derek and I could get married in it (wink, wink), he said, "Of course, why do you think I'm building the barn?" My parents couldn't wait for the two of us to get married. We held our reception in the barn. We rented all our table and chair and a porta lisa. The centerpieces were designed by my family with flowers purchased in bulk from Sam's Club. One of my bridesmaids husband built us a bar from old barn wood. The white awning was my late grandmothers--my cousin distressed it for us. It truly was the most beautiful day and we couldn't have pulled it off without all our friends and family. We celebrated with over 300 guests. This day is even more special to us because just 4 months after our wedding day we had to say goodbye, or rather see you again someday, to my beautiful mother. She passed away unexpectedly, but we are so grateful she got to share this special day with us. She was so happy on our wedding day. I don't think she ever stopped smiling and she shed a ton, I mean a ton, of happy tears!! This wedding video allows us to remember that amazing day and those amazing memories from that oh so special day.