Jessie & Dylan's Elegant Galway Downs Wedding

What do you get when you have a couple in love, a gorgeous wedding venue, an expert planning team, and a potential tropical storm brewing? Jessie and Dylan's wedding day! The couple exchanged vows at Galway Downs on a cool Sunday in February, surrounded by 144 of their loved ones. Meet Dylan and Jessie:

Discover the behind-the-scenes stories of their special day, along with stunning photos and a video of their day captured by their photographer and videographer, Astray Photo:

With that glimpse into their special day, let's dive deeper into the behind-the-scenes stories and incredible photos!

Dylan and Jessie shared what led to them choosing Galway Downs for their wedding day: 

"The venue in its own right is so beautiful. Visually it was everything and more that Jessie had dreamed of. It was the first - and only - venue that we toured. Jessie wanted an outdoor ceremony and indoor reception, but knowing that we had the backup plan of moving the ceremony indoors if needed because of weather (at no extra unanticipated cost!) was what sealed the deal for us.

When we sat down and looked at the packages, the ability to really tailor them to what we wanted, coupled with the team's help in making choices that would maintain our vision but also be conscious of costs, was so appreciated. We both knew that our parents would jump in to help set up or do anything that was needed for us. Nevertheless, we wanted them to be present with us on the day of our wedding. We knew that with the Galway Downs team overseeing everything, our parents would be able to enjoy the weekend because all of the details - big and small - were being handled."

With the venue secured, Jessie turned her attention to the overall aesthetic of their special day. She elaborated on her vision:

I wanted classic and timeless - with a bit of a twist. The venue is so stunning that I went with neutral colors to complement and enhance it. As soon as we booked with Galway Downs, I began following them on Instagram. I watched their stories to get an idea of what other people had done with the space on their days!

On the wedding day, Jessie and Dylan arrived at Galway Downs by Wedgewood Weddings in the morning to relax and unwind with their respective wedding parties. They chose not to see each other before the ceremony, saving that special moment for when they first locked eyes at the ceremony.

Reflecting on their day, the couple shared their favorite aspects:

"The best thing about our wedding? The person at the other end of the aisle. Being able to celebrate the love we have for one another while surrounded by family and friends with the most incredible weather in such a beautiful location was more than we could have hoped for."

They added, "We have been told by multiple guests that it was the most beautiful wedding they ever attended. Now, maybe they have said this to other people - who knows? With that being said, we may be biased, but we tend to agree. It was perfect."

Their ceremony was stunning, with the couple exchanging vows in front of a semi-circle of flowers provided by Soiree Floral Design.

The naturally beautiful backdrop of The Meadows ceremony site, combined with the gorgeous white flowers, created a breathtaking setting. The couple shared their vision for the floral arrangements:

I took screenshots of flowers that I liked and made notes on tweaks that I wanted to ask the florist about. I also knew going in that I wanted a semi-circle on the ground during the ceremony, so I spent time talking that through with the florist to see how we could repurpose those arrangements for the most impact at the head table and other locations during the reception. It was important that wherever we spent money on the ceremony was able to be reused in some capacity during the reception. I wasn't too set on any particular flowers except for a couple of gardenias in my bouquet for my grandma. I explained to our florist the flowers that I liked, and then we went with flowers that were in season.

After they broke the glass and shared their first kiss as husband and wife, the newlyweds headed off to celebrate before cocktail hour began.

Guests gathered in the indoor/outdoor cocktail area, enjoying lawn games outside at Oak Falls. Inside, they grabbed drinks at the spacious bar. The couple chose the Premier package, which included six delicious appetizers:

• Chicken & Waffles with Bourbon Syrup
• Crispy Mini Vegetable Egg Rolls with Sweet Chili Dipping
  Sauce
• Fresh Mozzarella & Grape Tomato Caprese Skewer
• Mac & Cheese Panko Croquettes
• Roma Tomato & Fresh Basil Bruschetta
• Spicy Jamaican Jerk Chicken Skewers

 

 

The newlyweds made a dramatic, showstopping entrance with their first grand sparkler moment of the night. Shortly after, everyone enjoyed the buffet dinner the couple had carefully selected.

When asked about their favorite items from their custom wedding menu, the couple shared:

"If we each had to pick - Dylan's was the Panko Parmesan Crusted Chicken with Sherry Cream, and Jessie loved the Harvest Grain-Stuffed Bell Pepper. But it was all great!"

The full menu included:

• Panko Parmesan Crusted Chicken with Sherry Cream
• Harvest Grain-Stuffed Bell Pepper
• Five Cheese Tortellini Pesto Parmesan
• Seasonal Vegetables
• Herb Roasted Red Potatoes
• Fresh Bread and Butter

The Carriage House reception space was transformed by Jessie and Dylan's personal touches. They opted for a mix of round and rectangular farm tables, adorning the tables with runners, ivory napkins, and silver charger plates. Centerpieces, provided by Soiree Floral Design, alternated between round vases on circular tables and bud vases with candles running down the middle of the farm tables, all featuring eucalyptus and ivory flowers.

Family members also contributed to bringing the details together. Jessie explained their approach to décor:

Pinterest and TikTok were great for inspo when it came to certain details. My dad helped make the table numbers based off of a video I saw on TikTok. I wanted to make sure that we didn't over-commit to DIY projects because I knew there would be a lot of other moving pieces the closer we got to our wedding date. I did all of the signage (seating chart, welcome table/guest book signs, thank you notes on tables, dessert signs, buffet signs, bathroom signs, etc.) through Zazzle and Canva so that the fonts were cohesive but cost-effective.

For dessert, the couple offered a sweetheart cake and a delicious assortment of mini desserts, both provided by Bo Cakes. They also included additional vegan chocolate chip cookies to cater to all dietary needs. They shared their dessert vision:

For desserts, we wanted a dessert bar to have options available for individuals with different dietary restrictions. Over the year that we were engaged, my mom collected depression glass platters from estate sales and garage sales for us to plate the desserts on. I loved how these looked during our reception, and I love having these to always use from our wedding day! 

The evening continued with heartfelt toasts, special dances, and plenty of open dancing. To enhance the festive atmosphere, the couple provided glow sticks for their guests to bring to the dance floor. They also added a photo booth, which is always a guest favorite.

The celebration culminated in a second grand sparkler moment set to Taylor Swift's iconic song "Long Live."

Reflecting on their experience, the couple offered advice for those currently planning their weddings:

Don't sweat the small stuff - or the big stuff. When it all comes down to it, it is about the person at the other end of the aisle. Of course, you have your vision, but at the end of the day, the flowers, the food - those are all extras. Enjoy the process and have fun.

We had a literal tropical storm hitting the weekend of our wedding, and if we had spent every moment worrying about the weather on our wedding day, we would have missed out on all of the other amazing moments and memories made over the weekend. There are things that are just out of your control so breathe through it and know that it will all be amazing and perfect. 

The couple also expressed their gratitude for the support they received from the Galway Downs team:

Austin helped us in our final meetings and answered many texts from Jessie leading up to this point. Every time he assured her that her concerns or questions could and would be easily addressed and handled by the team. We felt more than confident showing up for our wedding weekend.

Amanda was the most incredible at walking through everything on rehearsal day. On the wedding day, she checked in and kept us updated throughout the morning and just kept everything easy. We could not have asked for two more wonderful people to help us navigate those last meetings and the day of the wedding. 

To wrap up this beautiful wedding story, we asked Dylan and Jessie if they would change anything about their special day:

"Nope. Jessie has already asked to do it again in five years - same situation on repeat."

We're truly grateful to Jessie and Dylan for sharing their wedding journey with us. Their story is a testament to the power of love, careful planning, and the ability to embrace whatever comes their way - no matter the forecast! Their positivity and joy are infectious, and we're honored to have been a part of their celebration.

To all couples embarking on their own wedding planning adventures, may you find inspiration in Jessie and Dylan's story. Remember to focus on what truly matters - the love you share and the memories you'll create.

And who knows? Maybe we'll see Dylan and Jessie renewing their vows in 2029!

As Taylor Swift would say, may their love "Long Live!"

THANK YOU TO OUR VENDORS!

Florist: Soiree Floral Design

Dessert: Bo Cakes

DJ: Austin Murray Entertainment

Photographer: Astray Photography

Videographer: Astray Photography

Venue: Galway Downs by Wedgewood Weddings