After an engagement in the Catskills on a camping trip, Brooke and Nicole planned their entire DIY Forest Wedding in just ten days. And, despite a broken ankle, the wedding went off without a hitch.
How long have you been together, and how did you meet?
B: We have been together for just over two years now. My friend was supposed to visit me from Texas for my birthday, out of the blue, band storms formed, forcing her to turn around in Detroit and go back to Texas.
I was so upset, so my sister and a few friends took me out mid-week. We ended up at a bar I had never gone to, and that’s where I met Nicole. It took me months to get the courage to hang out with her finally.
N: I went out to a bar after a softball game with a bunch of people and happened to stand next to this girl (Brooke) celebrating her birthday, she was adamant that she knew me, and we figured out that we had met at a bar a couple of months prior, where she also tried convincing me that she knew me. I remember thinking, ‘I think she’s flirting with me.’ She put her number in my phone. And for the next couple of months, we probably texted every day. Once we finally hung out, I knew that I wanted her by my side for everything.
What a tale of fate! Tell us about your camping proposal!
B: Nicole proposed to me in the Catskills while we were camping. She beat me to it- I said, “Yes! By the way, your ring is in the car!!” I knew Brooke had a ring because she kept asking weird questions like, ‘Are we going to be hiking anywhere private?’, and she told me to lock the car door, which she never does.
N: I had the ring in my pocket and was so worried I’d lose it. We took our dogs for a walk, and she had me pose for a picture on a bridge. That’s when I popped the question. We shed many happy tears.
And, tell us how quickly you planned your wedding…
We planned our wedding in just ten days. We found a photographer who we loved, and we had interviewed her for next year. About a week later, I asked her if she were free in two weeks. She was, but if she weren’t available, we would’ve waited a year.
10 days to plan a wedding! That doesn’t leave a whole lot of time to get an outfit!
B: Because we gave ourselves ten days to plan, so we went online. My dress luckily fit perfectly and I loved it. Nicole had a little more trouble. Her first dress came in, and she quickly realized the importance of reading the details as it was velvet. She then purchased a beautiful maroon skirt and a lace top, which came in two days before the wedding.
N: While a velvet dress might be for some people, it definitely wasn’t me. But, it did make me realize that I didn’t want a white dress. Brooke found the lace top online, and then we found a skirt to go with it. Brooke’s favorite color is maroon, and she had maroon shoes on, so we matched perfectly.
….and we know there was DIY project involved.
The whole thing was DIY! Brooke and her brother put together centerpieces in one night. Her brother was also at our house the morning of the wedding arranging the flowers for our wedding arch. Her sister catered the whole event on her own. The night before, my brother, his girlfriend, and my cousin set up the entire backyard with lights and made it look magical. Planning this thing with our siblings made it extra special.
Tell us about the wedding day, and your favorite moments.
Despite Nicole’s broken ankle, we started by taking pictures in our favorite hiking spot with our photographer. We got back to the house and anxiously waited for the guests to arrive. Their reactions were so genuine and beautiful. Nicole’s cousin Josh married us and made it that much more meaningful. The ceremony was perfect as it was, but our dog, Pedey, made it even more special by deciding to stand right between us the entire time.
Some of our favorite moments are definitely watching our family’s reactions as they realized it was more than just dinner. The ceremony was amazing, and we were both a mess saying our personally written vows.
I loved having time before the wedding before everyone got there to take photos with just Brooke in the woods near our house. It was nice to have those moments to ourselves before the surprise. Our families didn’t sit on their “designated” sides during the ceremonies; everyone was mixed together and we loved that!
And, lastly, what does your new married status mean to you?
It shows me how far I’ve come. It means having my best friend by my side for the journey that is life. And, it means dancing on solid, stable ground.
Having my person by my side through life makes the hard times more manageable and the good times 1000x better.
Photographer Love Sunday Photo
Cake The Savour Cafe
Catering The Rustic Cafe
Ceremony & Reception Venue Our Home
Engagement Rings WR Metal Arts, Northern Gem
Entertainment Ryan Svec
Florist Mar Floral
Gown Designer David’s Bridal , Jcrew , Jenny Yoo
H&MU Salon Belle Vie
Marquee Happy Days Vending and Rentals
Officiant Josh Stark
Pet Accessories Petco
Signage Shannon Burdick
Wedding Rings Jared’s
