Vintage Ballroom Wedding | Brooklyn + Justin

Amanda Watson Photography //

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Brooklyn + Justin’s vintage ballroom wedding in Oklahoma City is classic, definitely a must see for any bride planning a traditionally elegant soiree. Read more about their big day below, and check out the Oklahoma wedding vendors who made Brooklyn’s dream day come to life!

Brooklyn came recommended by a friend – to cut Justin’s hair! It was only a few days after his appointment in November 2010 when Justin called Brooklyn back and asked her on a hot chocolate date. Three years later on the Fourth of July, Justin woke Brooklyn up at six o’clock in the morning with the promise of a surprise. Justin took his animal-loving girlfriend to the Tiger Safari in Tuttle, Oklahoma, where they got to hold an owl, baby lemur, baby kangaroo and other animals. Then the zookeeper said they had one more animal to see – a lynx! Justin admitted he had one more surprise, too, and pulled a ring out of his pocket as he knelt down on one knee. Surprised and elated, Brooklyn accidentally threw the cat over her shoulder!

Luckily the lynx landed on its feet, and Brooklyn hit the ground running planning their late winter nuptials. Brooklyn Emily Harsha married Justin Ryder Wilson on February 22, 2014, at the Meinders Hall of Mirrors at the Civic Center in Oklahoma City. Ali and Danielle Soltani played the violin and piano during the ceremony. “As Time Goes By” from the movie Casablanca was played during the processional and made for an extra-special moment for the couple because that was the first movie they ever watched together.

The bride was escorted down the aisle by her father, Mark Harsha, in a Maggie Sottero gown. It featured ivory lace and tulle with a V-neckline and cap-sleeves with a separate slip gown of gold Vogue satin worn underneath the slender trumpet silhouette with chapel-length train. A birdcage veil adorned Brooklyn’s head, and she added sparkle to her ensemble with her late grandmother’s gold and emerald necklace and diamond stud earrings. She clutched a bouquet of peach spray roses, berries and Juliet garden roses. The white anemones added the perfect amount of drama against the lighter floral and foliage. The bouquet was hand-tied with ribbon streamers and adorned with a vintage brooch.

Brooklyn’s sister, Julie Harsha, was honored to serve as the maid of honor with Emily Roush and Laura Kottlowski serving as bridesmaids. All the women wore black floor-sweeping black gowns of their own choosing. They carried bouquets that were similar to the bride’s but with more foliage. Kris McDonald stood by Justin’s side as his best man, while Justin Ash and Trevor Matlock supported as groomsmen. The men wore black tuxedos and black bowties.

The wedding reception was also located at the Meinders Hall of Mirrors and was hosted by the bride’s parents, Mark and Kay Harsha, of Oklahoma City. DJ BTP Productions kept guests happy and grooving to the music all night long. Brooklyn and Justin took the floor for the first time as husband and wife to “Marry Song” by Band of Horses.

In lieu of a traditional guestbook, Brooklyn and Justin decided to do a guest card activity. A small table held a stack of cards and a vintage green suitcase to place them in after they were filled out. The cards read, “Please share your best wishes, marriage advice and favorite memory of us or a funny sketch.” These cards provided the couple with hilarious, heartfelt and insightful keepsakes from their friends and family on their wedding day; Brooklyn felt they really captured the emotions and special moments of her and her husband’s unforgettable evening.

One of the most memorable moments from the wedding was a mishap gone right! During the send off after the reception, Brooklyn and Justin’s family and friends lined the walkway outside the venue waving tassels and homemade flags, directing them to their get-a-way car, a vintage 1950’s Porsche. When they finally made it to the car to make their grand exit, the ignition wouldn’t start! The guests were so elated from the night of celebrating that everyone found it a hilarious moment. Luckily, the groomsmen leapt into action and pushed the car, couple and all, away from the clamoring onlookers.

The excited newlyweds jetted off to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, for their honeymoon. They currently reside in Oklahoma City where Brooklyn works as a hairstylist at Van Cleef Salon and Justin is a non-profit fundraiser for The Mercy Health Foundation.