Ashlyn & Shawn Client Success Story
credit: Elizabeth Harris Photography
Meet Ashlyn & Shawn
Ashlyn and Shawn are a fun-loving couple that had a country-rustic wedding with Elizabeth Harris Photography and they hired us to provide their videos.
We talked with Ashlyn about the wedding day and asked her about her experience.
Hello Ashlyn, thank you for taking the time to chat with us today about your wedding and your experience with me.
I truly enjoyed covering your wedding and you and Shawn were such a treat to be around too, can you tell the audience a little bit about your wedding, its style, and what you did to prepare for the day?
Absolutely! Shawn and I were engaged in October 2019 and wanted about a year to plan the wedding. Due to COVID, we had to make a lot of changes to our original expectations. It was pretty touch-and-go for a while because it was an unprecedented time that was constantly changing back in the early days of 2020. As the wedding date became closer and closer, we decided to cut our guest list drastically in order to respect the safety of our families and friends. We wanted a laid-back feel, and I think we are able to accomplish that with our venue choice.
I loved that you chose The Barn at Back Creek Farm, it’s a great venue nestled back in the woods. Why did you choose that venue?
2020 was a very popular year for weddings! We had trouble finding a venue with dates open in October, so I did extensive research to find a venue that had any fall openings. I ended up finding The Barn at Back Creek Farm's Facebook page, and I fell in love with the outdoor lighting over the ceremony space. Shawn and I toured the facility a few days later, found out they had our date available, and we decided to book almost immediately. The space felt very intimate, and we loved that it was off the beaten path. The staff at The Barn was phenomenal! The day-of coordinator was very experienced, and I had complete confidence in her. She made the morning of the wedding stress-free for me which is vital.
I remember that you chatted with Elizabeth Harris, the wedding photographer about hiring a videographer. She is such a sweetheart and a joy to work with, as well as Kate, her second shooter. Can you tell everyone reading about your experience with me and what you enjoyed about me as a vendor and the videos that you got too?
I am so thankful I asked Elizabeth about videographers! It was something I was considering at the time, but I wasn't completely sure I wanted to hire one. After initially speaking to you on the phone and looking at your previous weddings on YouTube, I was sold. Shawn and I cut our guest list from almost 200 guests to about 75, and we really wanted all of our guests to have a virtual option to attend. When you mentioned being able to live-stream our ceremony, I was ecstatic! We had a way to professionally allow people to still be a part of our ceremony virtually.
After the wedding, receiving our video footage was like re-living the day. I have heard that photos capture how your wedding looks, but video captures the feeling. I can attest to that! Being able to re-watch our ceremony and reception is amazing. You really captured so many emotions of the day.
credit: Elizabeth Harris Photography
I know that your day went by fast, it typically does. Can you talk about the speed of the day and what were the best parts that you remember?
As most brides can probably say, my day started early and ended late. Some of the best parts of our day were my first look with my bridesmaids, saying our vows during the ceremony, and eating the delicious food at our reception. Shawn and I opted to be driven out on the property after our ceremony to have photos taken, and if your venue has a similar option, I highly recommend you take it. Having those few moments as husband and wife to ourselves was a great feeling.
Now that you’ve gone through the wedding process, what advice would you give other couples out there getting married?
While being a COVID-bride was a unique experience, I can offer some advice to couples who are not experiencing this type of wedding planning. While cutting our guest list was very difficult, I think it ended up being a great decision and not only for health concerns. I was able to interact with every guest who attended which was very important to me. Because I was able to speak to everyone, I didn't feel pressured to mingle during dinner which meant I actually ate! If you are considering a smaller wedding, I say go for it!
Finally, is there anything that you would have done differently if you could go back and change anything?
Looking back, I'm happy with how everything unfolded. I don't think I would change a thing. No wedding will be 100% what you planned, and it's important not to get caught up in the mishaps. At the end of the day, you will be married!
Well Ashlyn, thank you so much for chatting with me today about your wedding day, I truly appreciate you sharing some experiences with me and the readers today.
