We’re introducing something new (#throwbackthursday blogs) so we have an excuse to feature some of our not-so-new weddings that we never got around to blogging or that took place before we even started blogging! Our very first #throwbackthursday blog is of Mason and Dan’s 2016 wedding which is STILL a favorite! Mason and Dan met as white water rafting guides. Mason from the North East and Dan hailing from New Zealand! The wedding took place at Mason’s family’s river house estate in Matthews County, Virginia where many of their friends and family from New Zealand and all over the U.S. traveled to celebrate their wedding day!

This couple and their families totally won me over and they still have a special place in my heart. Mason was one of four girls (one of her adorable sisters later interned with me – a total gem) and if you could have seen the way they interacted with one another and their parents it would have melted your heart too. Mason’s Dad said the sweetest things to her right before they walked down the aisle and the way he looked at his girl was just so sweet and full of love.

Since their wedding was located on their property we were able to pull heirloom pieces from the home to use as wedding décor (baskets, jars, a vintage bike, etc.) and include their family pets in the day as well! Ya’ll, I die at the pictures of their pets with floral collars on. Scroll through until you see them all. Enjoy!

I mean… have you ever seen anything as cute as their black cat dressed up for the wedding with that floral collar?

Love this directional sign post. Did you notice the top one? It says how miles to New Zealand. So cute.

Scroll below to see Mason and Dan’s fun alternative to a flower girl. They had their best man and maid of honor walk down the aisle and line up just like the rest of the bridal party, and then they surprised everyone when they ran, in either direction, around the ceremony chairs, meeting back up at the back of the aisle where they each picked up a basket and skipped down the aisle sprinkling lavender. It was so fun. The guests loved it.

Greeted at the end of the aisle by one of their four legged family members.

There were a few options on the property for the ceremony location; overlooking the water, or centered on the gazebo, but Mason and Dad said that as they walked through the property one day they caught a glimpse of this spot from this angle, through the trees and with the water backdrop in the distance, and they knew this was the spot.