Benjamin + Jennifer | Married

NO, THIS IS NOT A DRILL. I repeat. This is not a drill. After more than 10 years in the wedding business, I finally manifested a HALLOWEEN-THEMED WEDDING!!! If you’re thinking my excitement seems over-the-top, then you must not know about my literal obsession with this awesomely-dark holiday. Just drive by my house on September 1st any given year, (lol no I can’t even make it to October, I’m that excited), and you’ll see cobwebs, skeletons, and witches galore! This wedding was one I’ll be living for all year long, and I’m so excited to share all of their ghoulishly-awesome details with you today!

Reminisce with me on my favorite photos and moments from their wedding, as well as details on how the couple met, how they got engaged, and the tea on which vendors they chose to hire. Let’s get into it!

I had never worked at The Barnes at Kanak, so I didn’t really know what to expect before I arrived. Pulling up to their wide-open property was the most breathtaking surprise. When I tell you this venue has everything, I really mean EVERYTHING. Between their incredibly-helpful staff and all of the endless photo possibilities this place had to offer, I couldn’t believe I hadn’t yet heard of it before. The Barnes at Kanak team made sure I had everything I needed from start to finish, and they made me feel so at home and welcome throughout the entire day. The reception barn was such a wow-factor and provided the perfect atmosphere for a big celebration with all the works. I can’t express to you how much I hope to return again in the future- this venue is certainly a diamond in the rough.

When I met Jennifer and Ben, I knew from the beginning they were my kind of people. Anyone who’s bold enough to embrace their love for halloween on the same day they get married is most certainly the reaching the level of holiday-enthusiasm I’m in support of. By the end of our first meeting, I was already daydreaming about the potential of what could be, and like the rockstars they are, they blew all of my expectations out of the water. No stone was left unturned – this celebration turned out to be SUCH a treat for all involved.

In the following interview, Jennifer gives us more insight into her and Ben’s love story. Don’t let her brief answers fool you – this girl is anything but quiet and ordinary. Jennifer’s exciting and bold personality is the perfect compliment to Ben’s hilarious comedic timing, and together, they keep their friends and family laughing and on their toes.

Let’s dive into all those juicy details we’ve been dying to know! It’s time to check out Jennifer’s interview answers!!

Question: So Jennifer, how did you and Ben meet?
Jennifer’s Answer: Ben and I met at Buelah swim and tennis, his second year of lifeguarding and my first. We quickly became best friends.

Question: What’s your favorite thing about Ben and why?
Jennifer’s Answer: My favorite thing about Ben is that no matter how old we get, he is my favorite goofball. 

*Ashley’s Note: Without even knowing your background, it was easy to pick up on the genuine friendship the two of you share. This is something I cannot emphasize enough: laughter is the best medicine. No matter where you two find yourselves in life, knowing that you’ll forever have a best friend who can give you a good dose of laughter is SUCH a blessing. There’s so much in life that we can’t control, but our attitude is something we get to choose every day. Watching you and Ben interact with each other, your friends, family, and even with your vendors was such a joy, because you both never missed an opportunity to share a joke or a simple laugh with others. Keep sharing that healing, fun energy with the world, and let it be a compass that leads the way in your marriage, as well.

Question: How did you get engaged? We want details!
Jennifer’s Answer: We got engaged at our summer vacation at the Outer Banks! We were at the beach in the early morning, just enjoying the waves and spending time with each other, and he starts writing something in the sand. Of course, I didn’t think anything of it, until I actually looked to see what he was writing. “Will you marry me” was spelled out in the sand. My first thought was that he was picking on me, but when I looked at his face, I knew this was really happening. Of course, I practically tackled him screaming “YES!” 

*Ashley’s Note: I have alllllll the heart-eyes for this beautiful engagement story! I absolutely LOVE the element of surprise, and I’m honestly impressed Ben was able to pull this one off. (You’d laugh at the amount of (adorable) stories I hear about engagement surprises not exactly going as-planned lol.) What I love about this story is how Ben was sure to create an intimate memory for the two of you to share in such a sweet and genuine way. A proposal by the sea sounds like something out of a fairytale, and I can’t imagine a better way to ensure you’d enjoy the rest of your vacation! Talk about taking the best trip of your life!

Question: Tell us a short story about a core memory you took away from your wedding day. 
Jennifer’s Answer: On our wedding day, my goal was to focus on the love between my soon-to-be husband and I, and not to stress or worry about anything. Not only was I engulfed in the love with my soon-to-be-husband, I was overcome and surrounded by nothing but love and encouragement from my family and friends. I truly felt as though my whole world was at peace and I was the happiest I’ve ever been. Nothing could stop me from smiling, and I felt as though my heart could explode. I wish I could bottle that and hold it forever. A core memory for me was my first and my last dance with my husband. The world melted away. I felt no anxiety. I didn’t see anyone else around me. It was just him and I. 

*Ashley’s Note: This is exactly what every bride deserves from their wedding day, and I’m SO glad you walked away with such fond memories of your big day. You bring up one of the reasons I’m huge on making sure you hire a professional to take your wedding photos; because these photos will act as a time-capsule from that day, forever more. You may not be able to bottle up the feeling to hold onto forever, but you can easily tap into it anytime you want with the simple flip of an album page. These photos will transport you to a time when your fairytale became your reality, and to me, there’s nothing quite better than that. Your last dance was extremely memorable for me, as well. I would highly encourage future brides to consider adding this to their reception game-plan. Take as many opportunities to slow down time and just BE in the present moment.

Question: Do you have a favorite memory from working with Ashley Dorton?
Jennifer’s Answer: ASHLEY! This amazing, talented beautiful women sacrificed her Halloween to be with me on my special day. Not only did she make me feel so beautiful, she was on top of everything to make sure everything went so smoothly and perfect. She never missed a beat, she was calm, cracking jokes with my family and I, and laughing along with my husbands goofy-ness. She stayed till the very end and, made sure I got every picture I wanted, and more. I will always recommend her to anyone and everyone. I will forever be thankful and so blessed to have had her be a part of the best day of my life. 

*Ashley’s Note: Jennifer- thank you SO MUCH for these kind words. It truly means the world to me to know that you had such an awesome experience as an ADP Bride. You made the process so fun and exciting, and your vision was an absolute dream of mine to be a part of. Your family, friends, and new husband are all such kind and genuine souls, who made me feel right at home, right along with you! It was an absolute joy to work with you both, and I wish you nothing but the brightest future ahead, as Husband and Wife. Best Halloween ever, in my book!

Question: When planning the wedding, how did you pick each vendor?
Jennifer’s Answer: I thankfully had the help of my family in the picking of each vendor, the venue was a big choice as I wanted everything to be perfect but at the same time work with everything we needed and at good price.

*Ashley’s Note: I HAVE to brag on these vendors and give them all a major shoutout. It was truly an honor to work with each and every one of them, and I would HIGHLY recommend them to any future brides who might be reading this blog:

Venue: The Barnes at Kanak– As I’ve expressed earlier in this blog, I WOULD NOT HESITATE on booking this wedding venue if you’re looking for a stunning, well-kept secret barn venue with everything you could possibly need. Their team was top notch from start to finish, and they took care of everything like a well-oiled machine. The versatility and endless possibilities of this property just totally blew me away. I certainly hope to be invited back to shoot here again soon!

DJ Company Name: Black Tie Entertainment– Wowowowow. I cannot express to you how impressive this DJ, Justin was! I’ve worked with hundreds of very professional entertainment companies before, but there was just something special about the one who worked this wedding. He did several things that I’ve never seen done before, and he was sure to get everyone up on their feet to have a good time. I literally plan to hire them for my own future wedding, one day – they were THAT good.

Cake Company Name: Silvia’s Cakes– I loved the themed cake Silvia came up with for Jennifer and Ben’s Halloween wedding! She and her team created such an elegant, yet perfectly-themed cake, and it tasted OUT OF THIS WORLD. (Ya’ll know I never miss out on an opportunity to taste the cake lol) They also created a gorgeous display, complete with delicious cupcakes as well. I loved the way they tied the gorgeous florals and overall theme into this cake, so they get an A+ from me as well!

Officiant: Corinna Barret Lain– Corinna provided the most awesome ceremony, complete with a special ceremony I personally haven’t ever captured before. Jennifer and Ben decided to take a shot together at their altar, and the look on Corinna’s face was priceless when the couple handed her a shot to take as well. She was such a good sport in the moment and gladly obliged, which won her tons of extra brownie points in my book. She delivered a very memorable ceremony that will always stand out to me. If you’re looking for an officiant who allows you to “make it your own”, I would certainly recommend Corinna.

Caterer: Boka Tako Food Truck– Yummmm. For those of you who don’t already know, I’m totally a Taco Belle at heart. There’s nothing a delicious taco can’t solve, in my book, so when Jennifer told me her plans to hire Boka Tako to cater, I was more than thrilled lol. All of their guests agreed- Boka Tako was the BEST call for this fun wedding, and I would absolutely love to be invited back to any wedding they are working. 5-Star experience, and so unique!

Photographer: Ashley Dorton Photography– That’s me 😉 This wedding was a literal dream to work, and I’d love to be a part of more themed weddings in the future. If you’re looking for a laid-back, hard-working, up-for-anything kind of photographer, I’d love to chat with you about your big day. I strive to ensure my couples have FUN on their wedding day, and I enjoy creating lifetime friendships with my couples, as they grow their love and families. Now booking for 2023-2024!

To Jennifer and Ben,

Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to live out my Halloween wedding fantasies vicariously through you. Every last detail was absolutely spooktacular, and best of all, you two seemed to have had the BEST time celebrating your union as Husband and Wife. Your wedding will always go down in history as one of my most creative couples, yet, and I’m SO honored to have been a part of your big day. Here’s to having fun at your own wedding, and to celebrating the beauty of saying “Til Death Do Us Part”.

Xo,
Ashley




(Blog designed & Written by Sarah of Aligned Artists)