Tara + Ben {wedding}

Tara and Ben had an amazing wedding at the Salt Lake Temple followed by two gorgeous receptions.  Tara and her family and friends did a lot of the details. Read below more about her wedding, the inspiration, and all the love and work that went into it.

I love that her bridesmaids will be able to wear their outfits again and again.  They had one of their friends make these cute belts.  I showed Tara how to make the paper flower balls (she borrowed a few of mine) and then made some herself, along with a half one that she put on top of her hat box card holder that she made.  Tara and her mom made her unique and gorgeous brooch bouquet.

She found frames and a  lot of her other decorations at thrift stores.  She went there often, but it was worth all of her hard work when you see how she put it all together.

At her reception in Holden her dad loved his little girl so much that he wanted her wedding day to be perfect. She was having her second reception in the small town of Holden, Utah, population about 400 people. There was a barn there that had been used for a reception five years earlier. The problem was that it had a dirt floor and dirt all around the barn. So this sweet dad laid a wooden floor, piece by piece, until the entire barn had a beautiful finished floor. Then he hand planted grass around the barn and everyday from spring until her wedding in August, went and hand watered that grass so this girl wouldn’t have to walk in the dirt in her wedding dress (although this girl was born in the country and walked on dirt roads barefoot all the time!)  I seriously get a little teary when I think about this dad and his relationship with his daughter 😀  They also displayed their moms and grandma’s wedding dresses along side their wedding pictures for all to see.

Tara and Ben gathered wedding pictures from their close family and friends and printed them in black and white with their wedding dates on them to frame and display on their wall.  They printed their wedding pictures in color to add to the wall.   One guest commented that they never felt such love at a reception before.  I agree.

Her dad also wrote Ben a poem and gave him a gun as a gift.  I loved the poem so much I need to share it with you!!

“Benjamin my boy, my new son-in-law, lets you and me chew the fat.

I recon, as your poppy-in-law, its time we had this chat.

You se, ol son, Miss Tara Mae, your beautiful bride to be,

she’s also my oldest daughter, boy, and she means the world to me.

Now I ain’t blamin’ you for chasin’, those eyes of crystal blue:

that golden mane of thick blond hair, all under five foot two.

She won Miss Millard County, Ben, a day her mom and I re-live.

She’s faithful to her Lord above and to the Church has much to give.

She’s sure enough a keeper, that’s for shore, can dance the soles plumb off her shoes.

When stacked against them other gals, the others are gonna lose.

But I didn’t drag you out here son, to rehash whats already said.

I figger you know in this here Lemon clan, by all the critters we shot dead.

She’s a pure-bred Lemon, son, comes from pioneer stock, and a hunter through and through.

Shoots a Sako mag, her scatter gun, and occasionally, her 22.

Always hits what she aims at, Caint ever recall her miss-in a shot.

Don’t know the number of critters she’s plugged.  But Boy, it shore been a lot.

She growed up in the great outdoors, learned to love this great big land.

Got her schoolin done, and her growin too, she’s turned out to be a hand.

But most of all she’s a lady, Ben.  She’s tender, sweet and true.

And without a doubt for the rest of your life, Tara Mae’s in love with you.

So it looks like your joinin our outfit.  Here’s hopein you’ll ride for the Brand.

Share the peace and wonder of the great outdoors, in the glorious Utah land.

So with that said, Ben here’s a present.  Something to help you share in our fun.

It’s from all of us, given to you with TRUST, It’s a brand new 270 gun.

It’s a good one boy, it’s top of the line, guaranteed to shoot straight and true.

So take care of it son, just like your wife, remember she shoots better than you.

So as an outfit we’re all acceptin, knowing the trail you both will ride.

We’re glad to have you in the family, Ben.  Something we all look at with pride.

So with our blessin here’s my baby girl, forever and ever to be your wife.

May your trails be straight and your faith be strong.

and together you build a life.

WELCOME TO OUR FAMILY

Here is the poem and the gun given to Ben at their luncheon:

Vendors:

Photography/Invitations: Magnifique Photography

Videography: David Perry Films

Photobooth: Smile Now! Photobooths

Dress: Gateway Bridal & Prom

Cake: Barbara Bennett

Catering: Leatherby’s Family Creamery

Flowers: Flower Mill