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Wedding Inspiration | Magazine

Julie Allen and Jared Tibbs’ Dreamy Oklahoma Wedding Captured by Sarah Libby Photography

At the historic Hall at the Railhouse amidst romantic candlelight and creamy hues of ivory and blush, high school sweethearts Julie and Jared said “I do” and began a wonderful new chapter. With the help of some incredible Oklahoma wedding vendors Julie and Jared truly had the celebration of their dreams. Julie found her stunning gown at Bella Rose Bridal and completed her look with accessories from Prescott Bridal and hair and makeup by Lexi Faught. Her maids were lovely clad in mix-and-match gowns from Prim. With a hint of watercolor, the invites from Paper + More set a whimsical tone for the day, while soft and dreamy florals from Emerson Events and rentals from Marianne’s Rentals Special Event Solutions and Ruby’s Vintage Rentals perfectly complemented the industrial space. Their guests dined on delicious catering by Abbey Road Catering and the tastiest wedding cake and assorted pies from Amy Cakes. When it came time for the big exit, the happy couple made their way to the waiting limo from King’s Limousine and set off on their next big adventure! Cheers to Julie and Jared and thanks to Sarah Libby Photography for capturing every gorgeous detail!

Photos // Sarah Libby Photography

Written by Abby Broyles

The bride and groom glowed under strings of cascading lights in a room filled with warmth, joy, and the nostalgic smell of homemade apple pie. The setting was romantic and soft with just a touch of rustic charm in the exposed brick walls. The couple’s look was classic. The bride had Manolo Blahniks on with her elegant lace gown, and the groom wore a dapper navy suit. Dancing to the timeless “Unforgettable” by Nat King Cole, it was as if time stood still for the couple celebrating a milestone in their story together.

Julie and Jared were high school sweethearts. They met at Ardmore High School and were friends for a year before they started dating. “Jared is the most kind and giving person I know. He is always willing to sacrifice things he wants for everyone else,” Julie says. “He is always the listening ear for everyone and is willing to take the time and effort to be a support system for everyone around him.” Jared was also drawn to Julie’s kind heart and care for others. “She is the most thoughtful person when it comes to people and their wants or needs. I can’t imagine I would be where I am today if it weren’t for her compassionate heart,” Jared says. Julie and Jared are one of those rare couples who are able to say they saw each other grow up, from teenage birthdays to football games, graduations, and eventually, budding careers. Jared went to Southeastern for college, while Julie went to Oklahoma State University, but they maintained their long-distance relationship well. They eventually found themselves in Oklahoma City after graduation.

For all of Jared’s great qualities, Julie is the first to admit he’s terrible at surprises! Accepting that as a challenge, Jared made it his mission to make his proposal to Julie a complete surprise. One weekend in April 2016, Julie had planned a trip to Tulsa for a friend’s bridal shower. Jared offered to go with her and spend time with a friend of his up there as well. Julie’s girlfriend suggested the two of them take a walk through the Tulsa Rose Garden where her grandmother was on the board. They chatted while taking pictures of the beautiful roses, all while Julie was completely unsuspecting of what was about to unfold. “I knew she would say yes because the discussion of marriage and rings and everything had been going on for some time by then. I just wanted everything to be perfect and for her to feel absolutely special and loved,” Jared remembers. Julie was completely surprised when she saw her best friend had written lyrics of a country song in calligraphy on a sign posted to a tree. It was a song she and Jared found to be special, and then she saw him. With a sparkling diamond ring in hand, he asked her to spend the rest of her life with him. “I just kept thinking how I couldn’t believe the day had finally come. My mind was going a million miles a minute, and I couldn’t believe I was so lucky to get to spend the rest of my life with my best friend. I couldn’t say yes fast enough!” Julie says.

The couple took a couple weeks to soak in the engagement and celebrate with friends and family. But once Julie started emailing venues, she knew she was in for a big undertaking trying to plan a wedding while working full time. That’s when she hired wedding planner Ariana with Aisle Be With You, and everything started clicking. Since the majority of their families live in Ardmore, they didn’t want to pick a venue too far north. Once they visited the Hall at the Railhouse in Norman, they instantly had a favorite venue. Conveniently, Abbey Road Catering owns the venue, and Julie had them at the top of her list for catering the reception. The couple worked with Ariana in selecting colors and fabrics that kept the hall from looking too industrial to capture the romantic look they desired.

April 2017 came quickly for the couple together ten years before the special day. After a fun rehearsal dinner of swanky barbeque at Iron Star in Oklahoma City, everyone was ready for the main event. By 6:00 on April 15, 2017, loved ones had taken their seats in chiavari chairs surrounded by the soft setting glowing with candlelight and natural light streaming through the windows. Julie and Jared were so ready for the big moment after the first look they had done with Sarah Libby Photography before the ceremony. The bridesmaids wore floor-length gowns in shades of soft pink with varying styles, while the groomsmen wore navy suits and blue ties. The result was a pretty pop of color splashed across the floor-to-ceiling ivory draping at the front of the ceremony. When it was time for the bride’s big entrance, she stood nervously arm-in-arm with her mother before taking her first step down the aisle. “All I could think about was everyone staring at me,” Julie remembers. Her nerves faded away though when the curtains were pulled back and she saw Jared. “I remember feeling a sense of calmness but pure joy. I just saw his big smile and died a little,” Julie says.

Escorted down the aisle by her mother, the bride wore a breathtaking long-sleeve lace gown with an open back and sweeping tulle veil by Jenny Voo and Hayley Paige. “I absolutely loved the back of my dress and the train. Before I went shopping, I kept saying I didn’t want anything too ‘stunner.’ But when I tried my dress on and saw how the back was so incredible, I immediately started crying,” Julie says. The ceremony reflected the personalities of the bride and groom. They had done marriage counseling with their officiant before the wedding, so he knew them well and articulated little personal stories throughout the ceremony. After exchanging rings and traditional vows, Jared kissed his beautiful bride, and they led the wedding party back up the aisle to an evening full of lively celebration.

Guests were treated to cocktail hour while the ceremony site was “flipped” for the reception. The area where the rows of chairs had been was transformed into white-covered tables with gold charger plates and creamy centerpieces with table numbers etched on glass. While loved ones sipped wine and mingled, Julie and Jared had some time to themselves to soak in the evening. Then, they made their grand entrance to plenty of smiles and applause, and that unmatched voice of Nat King Cole sounded for their first dance. “We took some time picking out our song, and I knew I wanted something timeless. I knew we got it right when my grandmother said that my great-grandparents would be smiling from ear to ear with the song choice,” Jared says.

The reception was full of dancing and dining. After a few sets on the dance floor, guests were treated to decadent catering by Abbey Road including lemon thyme grilled chicken, roasted potatoes, and sweets from apple pie to rich peanut butter treats. The celebration was lighthearted from the Theta song sung in honor of Julie’s sorority at Oklahoma State to the Garth Brooks music that had everyone singing along. To end the night, the couple had chosen a song, but something happened at the last moment with the music, and “Unforgettable” came over the speakers again. It was fitting, really, for a couple who had shared so many unforgettable moments throughout their decade together and had so many more to look forward to in the decades to come.

Other Local Vendors: King's Limousine & Private Jet, Emerson Events, Bella Bridesmaids, Sarah Libby Photography, Prescott Bridal, Ruby's Vintage Rentals, Lexi Faught Hair and Makeup