Flowers have such beautiful significance: the long-held embodiment of romance and love, they symbolize everything from hope, to commitment, and new beginnings—a true proponent of marriage, and the lovely vision behind Drew & Brenna’s nuptials! With everything from florals to altars to bridesmaids dresses employing their classic beauty, their sweet garden wedding is the perfectly rosy inspiration!
A word from Amilia of Amilia Photography:
“Brenna and Drew’s Long Hollow Gardens wedding had an elegant, timeless style that I love! I can just imagine someone looking at these images 100 years from now, smiling at the photographs and wondering what this sweet couple’s life together was like. Many of these photographs were taken on film, which I think just adds to the classic feel of the day. And, of course, there is nothing more timeless that emotion-filled, candid photographs!
Let’s talk details–Rosemary & Finch makes just about the most beautiful bouquets I’ve ever seen, the bridesmaids wore some of the coolest, eye-catching dresses I’ve ever seen, and Brenna’s smile is just about the best in the world! Long Hollow Gardens is such a unique space that can suit a variety of styles, including a sophisticated greenhouse celebration like this!”
Love notes from the couple, Drew & Brenna:
How did you two meet? What were your first impressions of one another?
“We first met in college back in 2008. Drew says he always had a crush on ‘that pretty girl that walked into the apartment’ on move-in day but Brenna didn’t think much of the meeting at the time, except she did remember that Drew made some pretty delicious fried chicken that night for everyone. Drew was the roommate of Brenna’s friend’s boyfriend and seemed quiet, and according to Drew, Brenna was sassy from the beginning. We hung out in the same friends’ group off and on but didn’t really connect until those two friends ended up getting married in 2012 and we were both in the wedding party. The wedding was chaotic to say the least and while trying to help out the bride and groom, we connected immediately, staying up all night after the wedding, talking and laughing. I think we both thought it was love at first re-sight.”
Tell us a funny story relating to your wedding day or relationship!
“In college, we hung out in similar groups but not necessarily together. If you had asked anyone at the time if they would couple us, I’m sure it would have be a resounding ‘Brenna and Drew? What?’
When we started dating, it was funny to see how much we actually had in common even though no one would have ever guessed it, and then it made the wedding extra fun because it was basically a college reunion!”
Describe a hurdle you had to overcome in your relationship or during your wedding planning.
“The biggest hurdle was planning from afar. We got married in Nashville, Tennessee (Brenna’s hometown) but were living in Portland, Oregon during the entire engagement. In fact, we got engaged the week before we moved out west! We decided to have a long engagement (2.5 years) to ease the long-distance stress, but not being able to meet with people in person and having all home visits surround the wedding, made for quite a hurdle. The few trips we made to Nashville, we would arrange it so we had 2-5 meetings with vendors a day just so we could get everything in! It never left anytime for relaxation. And then we moved back to Nashville 2 weeks before the wedding! A major move right before a big wedding, not something I’d ever suggest to anyone! But in the end, it was all worth in. And because of the big move, we were able to take a 3.5 week honeymoon in Italy and Spain. Totally worth it.”
Any special ways you incorporated your family into your wedding day?
“We are both really close to our families so we wanted to incorporate them as much as possible. Drew’s father was his Best Man, which is a tradition in the family starting with his grandfather. Brenna turned her mom’s big, 80s wedding dress into a beautiful cocktail dress for the rehearsal and used the remaining lace to make her grandmother (GiGi), mom, and sister all handkerchiefs, each one monogrammed with their wedding date. We had a dear family friend officiate the wedding for us (his first time and he did wonderfully!) and had an Aunt from each side do a reading during the ceremony.”
What part of your wedding day was most important to you?
“We both agreed that having everyone we love in one location was the best part of the wedding. We’ve always known we would get married and even joked that we’d be perfectly content at the courthouse with just the two of us, but when it came down to it, being surrounded by all the people you love is one of the best feelings in the world.”
What is your favorite thing about each other?
“We always like to remind ourselves that we are a team. No matter the good or bad, it’s Brenna and Drew against the world. It’s a wonderful feeling to have someone there by your side all the time. It makes life that much sweeter.”
What is the best thing you’ve learned from one another?
“We encourage each other to be inexcusably ourselves. We often find that when we tell people our ideas on something – be it the food theme of our wedding (just stations of different food we like) or the sometimes eclectic taste we have in design or clothes – we get an eye roll and a ‘there they go again with their crazy ideas’. But it always works, and it’s always ours. And we love that about each other.”
What is the most honest thing you can say about love?
“Love, and weddings specifically, can be really hard. But it’s also beautiful. There were a few times before our wedding that we weren’t even sure if we were going to make it as a couple. But when it came down to it, we both agreed that we loved each other and that’s what was going to get us through. Even if we don’t always like each other, we have the deepest bond of love that I’ve ever felt. Sometimes that’s all you need.”
photographer: Amilia Photography / venue: Long Hollow Gardens / stylist & planner: Kenzie Events / floral designer: Rosemary & Finch Floral Design / dress boutique: Posh Bridal / dress designer: Madison James / hair & makeup: Amanda Gros / men’s formalwear: Street Tuxedo / rentals: Liberty Party Rental / catering: Chef Penelope / invitations: Letterpress PDX / bridesmaids dresses: Eliza J Dresses / film lab: The Find Lab
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