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Offbeat partners: Melanie and Eric Morgridge
Date and location: 10/22/2022 at Seven Ponds, Summit, NY
Last week we featured Melanie and Eric's beautiful, heartfelt vows (heed our words: you will cry equally beautiful tears). We now present to you the main event!
Our wedding at a glance:
Our wedding included elements of medieval and fantasy with much inspiration from The Lord of the Rings, a favorite of both mine and Eric! The location was a farm in upstate New York on a hilltop overlooking the Catskill Mountains.
The ceremony was atop a hill down a romantic walkway by a lake surrounded by willows. We enjoyed a warm and sunny October Saturday.
Our bridesmaids wore elegant rust-colored gowns that complimented the autumn mountain colors, and they each carried a lantern trailing with ivy instead of a bouquet.
Their gifts were elven-like leaf earrings, and green hooded capes to wear in the evening.
The best man donned the ‘Hand of the King’ pin from Game of Thrones.
Guests were encouraged to wear tasteful medieval accessories, like crowns and fairytale jewelry and dressed in earthy colors.
We did a “first look” on a path by the pond under a willow tree with the Catskill mountains in the background on the most beautiful, warm October day. I didn't want a ‘tap on the shoulder' reveal – I wanted to walk towards him and have him see all of me for the first time in a fairytale way.
From Eric: I was stunned by Melanie's wedding dress. I knew she had wanted something elegant without being flashy, voluminous without being cumbersome and flattering without being distracting, and with this dress she accomplished all of that!
I could tell from her smile and the way she moved how in love she was with the dress and how it made her feel. It accentuated her inner and outer beauty and allowed her to be the best, most confident version of herself on our wedding day.
Tell us about the ceremony:
The pre-ceremony music was filled with instrumental versions of fantasy movie and video game music themes. We personalized our non-religious ceremony with our own vows, and included many nods to Tolkien – for instance, we had a “House Sword” specially forged for the ceremony!
During the ceremony, the best man stuck the sword into the ground, allowing it to serve as a ring holder.
We wrote our own vows. Here's an excerpt (read the rest here!):
Melanie: Eric, my favorite thing is that you fully see me. After years of longing for someone who shares my adoration for other eras, to understand who I was in my heart, you do, and you never stop calling me your Elf.
From going all-out in our medieval engagement shoot, to archery competitions at Ren Faires, to buying a forest and turning it into a magical refuge, you are there to join me in fantastical adventures.
I’d like to end with a quote spoken from an elf to her ranger, and have Dave help translate for the non-elvish speaking folk among us:
Mel: Ae ú-esteli-o ach nad…
Dave: If you trust nothing else…
Mel:. …estelio han –
Dave: …trust this –
Mel: estelio ammen.
Dave: trust us.
We were introduced as ‘Lord and Lady’ after our kiss!
Tell us about the reception:
At reception, each wedding party couple come in with with a silly entrance to one of our favorite movie themes, from Star Wars to Harry Potter.
Our first dance was a choreographed waltz to Once Upon a Dream from the film “Sleeping Beauty”.
The seating was determined by way of watercolor paintings on each table of locations in Middle Earth – the Shire, Gondor, and Rivendell, and so forth, decorated with moss, ferns, floating candles, fall flowers, lanterns, and fairytale-themed wine charms.
Our photo booth had Viking and Harry Potter props:
The barn doors were left open to the crisp fall evening and trees draped in fairy lights, and a huge bonfire was lit for guests to enjoy.
What was the most important lesson you learned from your wedding?
Personalize it! Write your own vows and pick a theme that reflects you and your partner.
A wedding is so much more special when it's unique to you. Our guests haven't stopped raving about all the medieval wedding aspects, how it screamed ‘us' in the best way, and all in all how memorable it made the day for everyone!
Don't miss the prequel to their adventure over here!
Vendors:
- Venue: Seven Ponds Farm IG: @sevenpondsfarm
- Bride: Melanie Rose IG: @melanierosebud
- Groom: Eric Morgridge
- Photographer: Jessie Casey Photography IG: @jessiecaseyphoto
- Makeup: Leah Francesca IG: @leahfrancescamakeup
- Hair: Brittany Burl of Krystal Rose Studios IG: @krystalrosestudios
- Florist: Amanda Kingsley of Allora Farm & Flowers IG: @alloraflowers
- Dress: Martina Liana Bridal IG: @martinalianabridal
- Alterations: Selene Alterations IG: @selenebridalalterationsnyc
- Bridesmaids Dresses: CreatiVision Weddings
- Officiant: Goldstein Weddings IG: @comicgoldstein
- DJ: Matty Stuart of MD Music & Entertainment IG: @mdmusicdj
- Videographer: Hans of Behold Films IG: @beholdfilms
- Wedding Video: https://vimeo.com/780880535
Photo Gallery:
About the Author: Offbeat Weditors
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