From a mountaintop proposal to a gorgeous garden wedding, nature was the perfect backdrop to this love story.

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

Sara shared the story of how they met saying that they “both went to the same college but never officially met while at school.” She said she “was a server at a local restaurant, and Derek often sat in my section. He knew me as ‘that cute waitress’ but never had the courage to introduce himself. Fast forward to 2012, when he saw a photo of me with a mutual friend on Facebook, and he took that as his cue to finally say hello! So, basically Derek slid into my DMs wayyy back before it was a thing.”

HOW HE POPPED THE QUESTION

Derek pulled off a wonderful surprise proposal! Sara said, “We were on vacation in Colorado, and our first stop was an epic trip up the Manitou Incline in Colorado Springs. It’s an intense hike, and we were both out of breath when we made it to the summit. Little did I know, my breath was about to be taken away again when Derek got down on one knee! It was such a beautiful day, and it feels even more significant because we ended up moving to Colorado shortly after we got married. Talk about the best hike ever!”

WHERE TWO BECAME ONE

They tied the knot on May 18th, 2019 in Fishers, IN at the gorgeous, historic Ambassador House and Heritage Gardens.

CHERISHED MOMENTS

Sara said that her favorite moment was “when I turned the corner and saw Derek at the end of the aisle — It was pure joy! Our dear friend was playing the processional on acoustic guitar, the sun was shining, and the seats were filled with all of our family and friends. Seeing his face and knowing I was walking toward my husband was a feeling I’ll never forget.” She also said that “a close second was right after the ceremony when we got to take our first official photos as a family (with our dogs, of course)!”

TIPS FOR FUTURE COUPLES

Sara said, “Someone else gave me this advice, and I’m so grateful. The day will be a blur, so try to remember at least three times throughout the day to stop and really capture the moment into your memory. Pausing and taking in those moments will help you hold onto some really fantastic memories for life!”

VENDORS

Photographer: Tessa Tillett Photography
Venue: Ambassador House and Heritage Gardens
Florist: The Flower Boys
Wedding Planner: Blue Llama Events
Bakery: Taylor’s Bakery (Cake) & Amelia’s (Cookies)
Hair & Makeup Artists: Something Blue Stylists