Dana & Hayden’s Lively Country Summer Wedding | Whispering Oaks | Valley View, TX

Weddings

May 22, 2021

As the music began to softly play there was so much anticipation in the air. I stood at the front near the altar where Hayden was anxiously awaiting his fiancé, Dana. Everyone was so excited to see the bride make her big entrance, and then I turned and looked at Hayden, whose lip was beginning to quiver. His eyes began to water and turn red, for he knew Dana was going to take his breath away. As everyone rose to their feet and Dana walked down the pathway arm in arm with her Father, Hayden’s face lit up with joy and beamed with pride and honor. You could see the love and excitement he felt all the way from the back row. They greeted one another with warm smiles, as Dana’s father graciously gave his daughter away to her dream man, barely able to utter the words “her mother and I do” without crying. As Dana and Hayden exchanged vows and rings, they laughed as they reminisced the moments they knew each other was “the one” from their days at Texas Tech University, and cried as they looked into each other’s eyes, seeing the start of a brand new life together. Hayden wiped Dana’s cheek as a tear gently streamed down her face, and shortly after, they were officially pronounced husband and wife.

Dana and Hayden live in Ohio for Hayden’s job, so I didn’t get to meet them in person until their wedding day, but we got to FaceTime and chat about their wedding about a month before their big day. When I arrived at their venue we instantly felt like friends, and that we had already met before. That’s how friendly and welcoming Dana and Hayden are. It’s no question they had the best group of friends stand by their side that day. Before the girls headed downstairs to get Dana married, the bridesmaids gathered in a circle with their mimosas and white claws and made a toast to their dear friend and her soon-to-be husband. Everyone cried as they talked about how special Dana was to each of them, and how most of them had been friends with her since middle school. I thought to myself, Dana sure is one special girl, and incredibly blessed to have so many great friends speak so highly of her. It was beyond sweet.

Dana and Hayden’s wedding day was filled with many memorable moments like these, with many different emotions. From Dana’s sweet Mom, Debbie, and Maid of Honor, Emily, buttoning Dana into her dress, to the countless white claw showers during the reception, to cranking the music up to Cardi B as loud as possible as the bridesmaids sang to Dana. This was definitely not a boring wedding! Everyone was so much fun and full of energy, and this was for sure a party to remember. I also loved that Dana and Hayden chose things for their wedding that were unique and different and special to them, such as signature cocktails named after their fur babies, Dez and Bailey, but my favorite was definitely the ice cream truck! It was nice to get the two of them to sneak away from the party for a few minutes and share a sundae together, and laugh as Hayden rubbed ice cream onto Dana’s nose. As the night came to a close it was time for the big exit. Dana changed out of her gown and boots into a short, shiny ensemble and heels, and she and Hayden made their way into the classic muscle getaway car waiting for them. Their friends and family cheered them on as they tossed tortillas at them (Texas Tech alumni will totally get this!) and set off into their new beginning.

Dana and Hayden, thank you so much for having me be a part of your wedding to remember! It was my honor to be there to celebrate with you and witness and document so many beautiful moments from your day. Looking through your wedding photos make me smile, laugh and tear up, and I hope they do the same for you for generations.

XOXO

Alyssa