They say the best way to a person’s heart is through their stomach. Well, the second best way is probably through their sense of adventure. That’s why a romantic tented mountain wedding is the perfect way to win over your partner and create memories that will last a lifetime. Can you imagine anything more thrilling than saying your vows surrounded by the majestic peaks of the Rockies? Or confessing your undying love while camping under the stars?
For Brianna and Patrick’s wedding day, the couple did a hometown approach to their wedding, hiring an amazing team of professionals to help make their vision come to life. The family spent countless hours throughout the pandemic transforming their mountainous property in central PA into a dream personalized wedding venue. Their catering company was part of the culinary arts school attached to Penn State University, so they were able to involve students who were missing hours for their program due to COVID. The spectacular florals from the ceremony were given new life for the reception before being donated locally afterward. After dinner, guests were surprised with a firework show played to music to end the celebration.
How did you meet?
In 2013, Patrick and Brianna both ventured to our nation’s capitol to explore all that it had to offer. Patrick was just beginning his nursing career on a psychiatric floor living in his aunt’s basement and Brianna started her masters in forensic psychology while rooming with her adventurous cousin. Being from central PA, Brianna hadn’t eaten at a Five Guys, gone to a professional baseball game, or heard of online dating apps (a bit sheltered one could say). Thanks to her cousin, all of that changed after Brianna moved to DC.
After creating her dating profile, Brianna stumbled across a young man’s page who was helping an orphan learn how to walk in South Africa… Yes, that was Patrick. Oddly enough, Brianna was in South Africa around the same time. Sharing many similarities, both of these PA natives ‘swiped right’ and unbeknownst to either of them, they would become husband and wife 7.5 years later.
From being introduced to loving one another, from living with relatives to moving in together, from traveling to PA to traveling to Europe, from finishing a degree to starting a new one, Patrick and Brianna had experienced quite a bit with one another…..Then, on a beautiful summer day in July 2018, Patrick got down on one knee and asked Brianna to marry him. He meticulously planned each detail to include a photographer hiding in the vineyard and pulled off the surprise of a lifetime at their favorite winery!
What is your proposal story?
Patrick asked Brianna’s father for his blessing on the same property where they would marry one another three years later. Throughout the pandemic, the family spent countless hours together working to transform a mountainous property in central PA into a dream personalized wedding venue– whether it was excavating a hill, cutting down trees, or removing rocks to plant the grass that would grow in the ceremony space, their love for one another shone through.
One common theme throughout their relationship is the value of being a good teammate. Patrick has selflessly supported Brianna during many months of work-induced separation, encouraged her to achieve her dreams, and forgiven her for not drinking a full beer before she met him. Brianna has tirelessly supported Patrick during his doctorate program, encouraged him to pursue his desire to serve our country as an officer in the United States Army, and forgiven him for bringing her to his family beach house 3 months into dating. By building each other up and helping one another in times of need, this couple became teammates for life on a beautiful day in Central PA.
Tell us a little a bit about your wedding
Our entire “venue” was a DIY so I really enveloped myself in the idea of a blank canvas. I enjoyed creating this vision and then brainstorming with my family certain ways to make it become a reality.
Tell us about your attire choices.
I (Brianna) shopped at a couple locations in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area but found my dream dress at a shop in Wilmington, DE (Claires). My shoes were a pearl Camellia Bow Loeffler Randall heel. My favorite part aside from my dress, is that my grandmother let me wear her blue sapphire bracelet.
Patrick had custom suits tailored and made for himself, all of our groomsmen, and our fathers. The suits were made by Charles X Block, which is a family-owned store thats been in business nearly a century. I’ve never seen a better looking crew!
What were your favorite parts of the day?
We loved being able to surprise our family, friends, and loved ones with a fireworks show after dinner that was played to music. We ran into the field we had been working on as a family for the last couple of years to take photos underneath the fireworks and could see all of our guests huge smiles. At the end of the show was a pop up sign that lit up with our last name “The Booths” and could hear all of the claps/cheers it was so cute and still makes us smile!
We also had a cigar roller at the wedding who taught guests how to roll their own cigars! We loved seeing guests not only become immersed in our amazing band and great music but learning something new.
Please describe any DIY, handmade, or personal details.
Sunflowers happen to be my favorite flower ever since I was a little girl. Unbeknownst to me (and probably all of our guests), my father spent weeks consulting plant/soil experts, grooming a field, and planted sunflowers on our family property that were supposed to bloom during our wedding week for our venue backdrop. Sadly, we had terrible storms leading up to the wedding that delayed the official bloom. I found out on our honeymoon (after my dad sent photos) that the sunflowers had bloomed! After a few tears of shock were shed, we considered it our good luck charm!
Do you have any advice for couples planning their weddings now?
Focus on one another! You are a team! Tackle the problems together.
We really tried to do a hometown approach to our wedding. All of our vendors were truly amazing individuals and companies. When we look back on the years leading up to the wedding we couldn’t be happier with who we shared our special day with. We loved that our catering company was part of the culinary arts school attached to Penn State University. All of the students who were missing hours for their program due to COVID became involved in our wedding and it truly was such a neat concept. Their staff and chefs were unbelievable and it was a second to none experience!