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“My favorite wedding day memory was when I paused at the end of the staircase right before I walked down the aisle. I took time to soak in the moment and to see all of my loved ones in the crowd there to support Trent and I on our wedding day.” – Abigail + Trent
“My favorite memory was seeing Collin for the first time when I was walking down the aisle. There were so many emotions building up to the ceremony. I will never forget the way he looked at me. As tears rolled down his face I knew we had a life full of love in store for us! We were truly present in that moment!” – Madee + Collin
“Amy Ray Events is just incredible. I am a resident physician and honestly needed someone who I could describe what I wanted my wedding to look like and could make that happen with my limited schedule, and she did an incredible job. She even broke her foot the weekend before the wedding and still ran the show from her wheelchair on my wedding day. I could not recommend her more highly!” – Lucy + Garrett
“We LOVED our photographer, Mary Keen. She made sure to keep us on schedule and got every picture we wanted. Mary made taking pictures fun and captured our day perfectly.” – Taylor + Branson
Summer internship applications are now open! Wedlink Media (publishers of Brides of Oklahoma, Brides of North Texas, Brides of Austin, Brides of Houston and Wed Society) are officially looking for interns to join our team during this coming summer semester! Applicants for each must be a college student majoring in PR, Advertising, Journalism, Communications, Marketing, Online Media, Graphic or Web Design or a related field. We prefer seniors or juniors who are self-starters, full of creative ideas, love weddings and/or marketing and are organized. The summer semester internship is unpaid, but can be used for college credit. To apply, complete our online application form here. Deadline to apply is Wednesday, April 6.
Our digital media interns are responsible for client research, social media content creation, social channel platform management, writing online posts and are involved in the distribution of the magazines. Those seeking to fill the digital media internship must be a strong writer and intimately familiar with all social media platforms. Applicants must complete a short writing project with their application (download here).
Our graphic design interns are responsible for creating graphics for digital and print and preparing images for online posts. Graphic design intern candidates must be proficient in Adobe Photoshop and InDesign and must provide a portfolio for review. Video editing skills are a plus.
Get to know all of our brands: Brides of Oklahoma, Brides of North Texas, Brides of Austin, Brides of Houston, Wed Society, Brandlink Media
“I would have to say that my florals by Haleigh Kenney were by far one of my favorite things of our wedding day – the floral chandelier made the reception space. I asked for a sunset inspired palette and she delivered perfectly!” – Olivia + Caleb
“My favorite part of our wedding was taking the time to have a private dinner out at the rockers by the groom’s suite at Esperanza Ranch. That is the moment when it first set in for me that we were married. We loved getting the opportunity to celebrate with our friends and family, but I remember wishing I could freeze time at that moment with my best friend. I will forever have this memory stored away in a special place.” – Catalina + Connor
“I knew I wanted a micro wedding where everyone in attendance would be part of the bridal party instead of bridesmaids and groomsmen. My father officiated our ceremony and had everyone sign the marriage certificate on the back as witnesses, along with our official witnesses as well. We also took a group photo at the end – who else can say they’ve done that?” – Giselle + Dylan
There’s nothing quite like the nostalgia of a gorgeous summer day filled with the ones you love. With nature in full bloom under a picturesque clear blue sky, who wouldn’t want to take their vows outside?! We know it can be hard to narrow down your search for the perfect wedding venue given Oklahoma’s wide variety of breathtaking options, so we’ve done our best to narrow it down for you! If you’re a summer bride in hopes of finding the outdoor setting of your dreams, you’ve come to the right place! From country clubs to conference centers, we’ve hand-picked a few of our favorite outdoor Oklahoma wedding venues to make your hunt just a little bit easier. Cheers!
The Baumberhof is a replica of a 400-year-old German stone barn in Bavaria Germany. The four-story building has intricate vaulted ceilings, spiral staircases, wrought iron railings and accents, and a cupola at the top made completely of windows. It sits on 450 acres with lakes, forests, wheat fields, tree farms, orchards and an aviary. The unique outdoor ceremony locations have 360 degree views of beautiful trees, vast lawns, rolling valleys and the sweet sounds of nature!
Photo: Sarah Libby Photography
Nestled in a valley in central Oklahoma, The Farmstead is perfect for those desiring a beautiful wedding with family and friends. The property has multiple venue options, including the Farmstead Venue, the Wedding Tree, or the Corn Barn. All of which can accommodate a wide variety of guests! The Farmstead venue can hold up to 250 people and has an outdoor reception and bar area perfect for dancing under the stars. There’s also the Wedding Tree, an awe-inspiring 300-foot walkway with a beautiful arbor, bistro lights, and seating for up to 400 guests. Coming soon, The Corn Barn makes for a unique space where rustic looks meet rich history and has the capacity for 100 guests to dance the night away or enjoy an elegant outdoor dinner!
Photo: Courtesy of The Farmstead Venue
Make your wedding day the ultimate hole-in-one at Rose Creek Golf Club! This venue has the outdoor seating of our dreams and would make the perfect summertime oasis (right here in Edmond!). Between the lush greenery, picturesque pond, and the perfect patio for your cocktail hour, we see a wedding that’s definitely on par.
Photo: Courtesy of Rose Creek Golf Club
The Springs wedding venues are widespread across Oklahoma and Texas and bring authentic, rustic Southern beauty to a new level of elegance. Between the rock framed water features, stone and wood buildings, grand staircases and grounds that are landscaped to perfection, the Springs Venue in Tulsa, Edmond or Norman ensures that the big day and all its little details will be picture perfect in every way.
Photo: Ricky Thompson Photography
The Stables at Washita Farms is an authentic, equestrian-style barn that has been renovated to include exposed barn wood, stained concrete and glistening chandeliers that provide for an elegantly rustic atmosphere. Your event can be exclusively indoors, or you can open up the sliding barn doors and take advantage of the beautiful deck. If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind venue right here in Oklahoma, then The Stables at Washita Farms might just be the place for you!
Photo: Carley Ann Photography
Lakeside Wedding Venue is the perfect outdoor venue for anyone interested in a “destination” wedding. What’s the trick? Well, you never even have to leave Oklahoma! Lakeside Wedding Venue is located just East of Oklahoma City and Northeast of Norman. The sandy beach shoreline is sure to produce jaw-dropping photographs that last a lifetime and memories with those who matter most.
Photo: Cassidy Elise Co
Nestled in a hundred year old wooded setting, Eleven Oaks Ranch is the perfect venue for your special event. Their 9000 square foot rustic elegant venue is constructed of heavy timbers and stone. The venue is conveniently located on all paved roads just outside of Edmond and only two miles off Highway 66 in Luther, Oklahoma. This venue gives you the option to host your special day inside on the beautiful stage or outside under their stunning pergola with room to seat up to 300 guests!
Photo: Meg Rose Photography
Gathering Place is a dream venue for wedding ceremonies, from small intimate ceremonies to charming celebrations. Located on 100 acres of Tulsa’s iconic waterfront, the scenic Arkansas River, this venue makes for the picture-perfect photo backdrop. Think sunset ceremonies overlooking calm waters and beautiful evergreen landscaping! With natural elements and jaw-dropping views of the ONEOK Boathouse, Peggy’s Pond, Willow Beach, and the Wetland Gardens, The Waterfront Landing is the perfect timeless space to celebrate your special day.
Photo: Courtesy of Gathering Place
The Dominion House offers a breathtaking wedding garden, elegant grand ballroom and charming chapel for your wedding or special event. In 1923, the Dominion House was built as a Masonic children’s home and occupied until 1978. After being purchased and renovated in 2000, it was turned into the historic treasure that it is today! If you’re looking for a place outside the ordinary, the charming atmosphere and historic beauty of the Dominion House is just the right venue for you.
Experience the magic of an outdoor wedding at Timber Valley Ranch, a stunning 40-acre, family-owned venue conveniently located just 5 miles north of Edmond, Oklahoma. Surrounded by majestic rock bluffs, tranquil grassy valleys, and a charming wooden bridge nestled among abundant trees, this picturesque setting provides a truly unique backdrop for your special day.
Photo: Bridget Nicole Photography
The Chickasaw Retreat and Conference Center sits on 1,750 beautiful green acres just south of Sulfur, Oklahoma. Guaranteeing breathtaking views, this Southern venue is surrounded by a scenic view of the Arbuckle Mountains and is often complemented by a beautiful Oklahoma sunset. Wedding big or small, The Chickasaw Retreat is ready and capable of accommodating a bride of any kind!
Photo: Josh McCullock
The Harwelden Mansion is an event center and boutique hotel. Six luxury bedroom suites are available to reserve for overnight guests. The mansion is ideal for weddings, corporate retreats, nonprofit fundraisers, or musical performances to name a few. Outdoor tented events work out beautifully surrounded by native gardens and stunning landscape and riverfront views. Individuals and groups will enjoy the unique and charming experience the mansion brings.
Aspen Ranch is situated on 160 acres of pristine land showcasing spacious lawns, beautiful ponds, and surrounding fields. Located only 30 minutes north of downtown Oklahoma City, the picturesque landscape will transport you out of the city into a peaceful, serene environment. With various spaces on property the grounds at Aspen Ranch are ideal whether you are celebrating with only your closest loved one or 500+ guests! Plus, they offer on-site lodging for up to 38 guests! Aspen Ranch serves as a home to many rescue animals including horses, pigs, and donkeys — and their beautiful animals can be a unique addition to any event!
photo: Danielle Villemarette & Co
Nestled in the hills between Edmond and Oklahoma City, River Oaks Golf Club is the perfect venue for your special day! They offer stunning views, fine cuisine, and professional services to make your wedding as unique and as extraordinary as you are. Their wedding and reception packages offer a variety of services to meet every couple’s needs and budget.
Move over traditional rustic barn weddings, today we’re going dark and moody. Okay well, only dark and moody on the outside because the The Legacy at MK Ranch is anything but dim on the inside. With over 50 windows the natural light in this barn makes your indoor photos as beautiful as outdoor!
Photo: Kevin Trujillo
Are you obsessed with the European weddings trending on TikTok? Well, so are we, and thankfully, The Bower is serving those vibes straight from Edmond, Oklahoma. This beautiful, brand new venue is the perfect escape without having to. With its lush gardens and scenic views of the surrounding landscape, The Bower provides the perfect backdrop for an exquisite outdoor wedding.
Photo: Peyton R Byford
After all the planning, stressing and excitement, your wedding day has suddenly come and gone so quickly! A bride’s wedding gown is the most expensive, gorgeous piece of clothing she’ll ever wear. She also puts a lot of thought and money into creating the perfect bouquet to carry down the aisle and toss to her girls. Parting with these items can be hard, but preserving them lets you keep them to reminisce on forever! If you want to keep your gown, it’s important to take the necessary steps to preserve it. Otherwise, your dress will most likely turn yellow, develop brown spots from oxidation, grow mold and mildew and/or have permanent creasing. You also can’t just put your bouquet in a vase and expect it to last a lifetime. There are several ways to preserve your wedding dress and bouquet that will keep them looking brand new and also help preserve your memories of your special day. Keep reading to find out how!
Photo //Modern Love Photography, Chantilly Bridal Studio, Ever Something, The Mayo Hotel
Taking or sending your dress to a preservationist is the easiest way to preserve your dress. They will clean it and package it using special methods to ensure safe, long-term storage. Just ask your bridal boutique where they suggest! Or use our local favorite, Nichols Hills Cleaners. However, if you’re up for the challenge (or if you’d like a cheaper option), you can preserve it yourself with these steps!
Get it cleaned
Getting your gown cleaned is essential to preserving it. Have your dress professionally cleaned within six weeks, unless it’s silk, which should be done immediately. The less time stains have to set in, the better. If you’re going on your honeymoon right after the wedding, make arrangements with a family member or bridesmaid to take your dress to the cleaners right away.
Do your research to ensure your dress is in the hands of specialists who know exactly how to manage delicate fabrics and embellishments, like pearls, beads, sequins, etc. Find out whether they use a virgin or recycled solvent. Recycled solvents can cause your dress to acquire an odd smell. Check the label on your dress for any cleaning directions as well. Lastly, take a look at their policies. What’s their warranty like, and do they guarantee a refund of the cost of the dress AND the cleaning should any damage occur? Notify the cleaner of any and all stains. Be aware of clear, invisible stains, like sugar, alcohol, soda and oils, and places you might have sweat as these stains will oxidize, discolor and become noticeable over time if not treated.
Seal it, box it, or bag it
*Before handling your newly cleaned dress, make sure you’ve washed your hands to get rid of any lotions, oils and anything else that could transfer onto the dress. Wearing cotton gloves is strongly advised!*
Most preservationists either seal, box or bag dresses. Sealing it involves vacuum sealing your dress in a bag. While this might seem like the most protective route, sealing your dress can actually cause the permanent creases, yellowing, molding and mildewing we’re trying to avoid. It also prevents you from being able to check on it regularly. Most people prefer boxing or bagging their gown.
Boxing your dress first involves folding your dress and wrapping it in white acid-free tissue paper to help prevent creasing. If the tissue is any color besides white, it will dye your dress! Consider stuffing the dress with tissue paper to help it maintain its shape. Then, place your dress in an acid-free box made from acid-free board. Acid-free wedding chests are highly recommended! Boxing allows your gown to breathe and to be accessed easily. If you box your dress, it is advised to refold it every two to three years to avoid permanent creasing.
If you decide to bag your dress, hang it on a padded hanger by the loops inside the dress connected to the strongest seams. Then, bag it in a cotton or acid-free plastic bag, NOT regular plastic. While hanging your dress offers the best air circulation and permanent crease prevention, long-term hanging of your gown is not ideal.
Find a good place to store it
Where you store your dress is just as important as the cleaning and the packaging. Cool, dark and dry environments are best, such as under your bed or in a dry closet. Places with extreme temperatures, lots of light or humidity, like attics, garages, and basements, are a no-go. You might put some silica desiccant packets inside your packaging to help control humidity.
Photo // Amidst the Daisies, Emma Ray Photography
Preserving your bouquet lets you get in touch with your creative side! We’ve listed a few popular options below, but they don’t stop there! However you choose to preserve your bouquet, make sure you do it while your flowers are still fresh for the best results.
Press them
Do your research on your flowers before you press them because certain flowers press better than others. For example, there are flowers that quickly fade in color, have petals that easily fall off, or have a higher water content, which makes them more likely to mold and brown. Some flowers take longer to dry, and bulkier flowers might need the middle petals removed or turn out best when separated into individual petals or flowers.
When it comes to the actual act of pressing flowers, there are a number of ways you can do it. Stick them inside the pages of a big book, like a phone book or textbook or between two pieces of bolted plywood. Either way, you’ll need to make sure to sandwich the flowers in between materials that soak up moisture. Cardboard and paper often work well for this. Parchment paper is common, too, but doesn’t always work due to its inability to soak up moisture. When they are ready, arrange them how you’d like, maybe around a picture or two, and frame them! Another option is placing them throughout your wedding photo album!
Not prepared to press your flowers yourself? Hand them off to a pro like Amidst the Daisies or Willow Co Preservation! The floral preservation studio will take your bouquet, press the flowers and arrange the dried blooms in beautiful work of art (shown above). The floral preservation expert will work with you to create the design of your choice into a framed heirloom for your home.
Dry them
Drying your flowers keeps them in their original shape and is easy to do! There are multiple approaches to this as well. The most common is tying the bouquet together tightly and hanging them upside down somewhere temperate, dry and preferably dark to preserve color and perfume. Covering them with silica gel in an airtight container also produces a beautiful dried flower! After they’re dry, frame them how you’d like or put them in a cute silk bag as a keepsake.
Turn them into a paperweight
Another popular idea is to preserve them in epoxy resin and turn them into a globe or paperweight! This allows your flowers to look exactly the same as they did on your wedding day! It’s possible to do this from home by getting a prism, sphere or cube mold, placing your flower in it, and filling it with resin. Most do the process in layers. Put the resin in first, then the flower, then add more resin until the mold is filled up. To prevent ruining your flowers, try it first using non-sentimental flowers or just take your flowers to a florist or business that does flower preservation.
Dip them in wax
Dipping the flowers of your bouquet is another great way to preserve your beautiful blooms. However, keep in mind that wax only extends a flower’s life temporarily, not permanently. The process first includes melting the wax using boiling water and then letting it cool to a warm temperature. Next, gently dip the flowers one by one into the wax, pulling them out right after. Hang them upside down to dry and allow all excess wax to drip off. Then, voila! Your flowers will thrive for another six months or so!
Paint them
While painting your bouquet isn’t preserving the flowers themselves, it still preserves the memory of your flowers in full bloom in an artistic way. Search around for a local artist that does custom paintings or drawings of bouquets. There are several artists on Etsy as well that do a magnificent job!
If you are interested in preserving your dress, check out some of our bridal gown salons that provide preservation services here!
Our 14th annual Looks of Love Contest has been beyond exciting! One lucky finalist received the most votes, and we’re excited to announce our 2022 Looks of Love Contest winners are Courtney + Sam! Their gorgeous photos were captured by Blayke Z Photography, and we couldn’t be more smitten! We are thrilled to gift this couple with a dinner date for two at a restaurant of their choice on us! If you missed their story, check it out along with all the other finalists by visiting our Looks of Love finalists page! Sam took Courtney out on a sailboat ride on Lake Hefner and proposed in front of Red Rock’s patio where her friends and family were there cheering them on! Thank you so very much to all those who entered and voted! Happy Valentine’s Day!
Our inboxes were flooded with so many adorable submissions for this year’s Looks of Love Contest! It was unbelievably difficult to narrow it down to 8 finalists, and we can’t imagine trying to pick a winner, which is why we’re enlisting the help of our followers! This year, we’re letting YOU decide – pop over to our Insta Story at @bridesofok to vote on our Elite 8 finalists March Madness style (or Bachelor fantasy league style – whichever you prefer!). We’ve made the bracket – you tell us whose story is your fave! Each day we’ll eliminate half the couples so that on February 13th, the final two Looks of Love contest finalists go head-to-head. So check in daily to vote for your favorite couples, and read each duo’s adorable story here!
The couple with the most votes will be crowned the Brides of Oklahoma 2022 Looks of Love winners and will be treated to a dinner date for two at a restaurant of their choice on us!
Check back on Valentine’s Day to see the 2022 winners, and tell your pals to follow @bridesofok to vote!
