We love it when we see wedding “Plan Bs” turn out to be just as beautiful (or even more) as “Plan As”! That’s precisely what happened to this romantic and rainy ceremony in the barn on the grounds of the Mulberry in Florida.
As a Pacific Northwesterner and a Pacific Northwester, when my friends from childhood begin planning their weddings, I always urge them to prepare for rain. Even in the middle of summer, the weather can change and turn stormy for the most disastrous. If my friends like this style, I will always suggest the possibility of a barn wedding as a great option. Most often, they have lots of outdoor space to enjoy perfect sunshine. Barn wedding venues typically offer a cozy and comfortable indoor space should you need to change plans in a storm. There are no tents required!
It’s the same for Florida brides and grooms! They are often greeted with afternoon storms; Quyen & Cole knew a rainy wedding might be on the cards. The wedding day dawned with dark clouds of storm. Their wedding planner prepared The Mulberry’s barn to host a romantic and cozy indoor ceremony. The last-minute change wedding, bride Quyen declares, “We ended up having our Plan B ceremony, but it was only fitting for me and Cole as many of our dates early on took a turn due to unforeseen weather.”
The day was so romantic, and we loved the unique details that honored Quyen’s Vietnamese tradition!
Our Love Story
Cole and I met in 2012 during our first year at Central Florida University. University of Central Florida.
While in my dorm, I heard loud noises from the room across the street. It sounded like somebody was banging on the wall using a ball or other device. After a while and the sound reverberated, my roommates and I went to the next room and requested that they quiet down. It was here that I encountered the boy next to me, Cole. It was fate that Cole’s bedroom wall was the same as mine.
A few weeks passed in which Cole and I would bump across one another increasingly and more. After many encounters between classes in the hallways, Cole eventually asked me if my roommates and I would like to attend a football match with his roommates. This was when our friendship began. After countless movies, football games, late-night trips to Steak Shake and Steak several months of company, Cole finally asked me to become his girlfriend in the spring of 2013.
The Proposal
Cole and I were in a relationship for six years before Cole proposed to me. We were in a long-distance romance for a few years after graduating from UCF. I relocated from Fort Lauderdale for grad school, and he relocated to Bradenton to pursue a job. It wasn’t until the fall of 2018 that Cole and I finally got to stop long-distance, and Cole was promoted and relocated to Fort Lauderdale with me.
On my birthday, Cole delighted me by gifting me an excursion to Disney. Disney Springs has always been an essential place for us, a popular place to spend our dates in the early days of dating. We had been enjoying a drink in the middle of Epcot. The next evening, Cole informed me that he’d reserved a table at one of the newest restaurants at Disney Springs.
On our way to dinner, Cole passes in front of the parking garage where we usually park. I questioned Cole’s perception of direction but brushed the issue off as it was not something that was unusual for Cole to do. We finally found a parking space near the opposite end of Disney Springs, and Cole was quiet as we walked out our car. I began to be suspicious and started making jokes about his pockets; however, Cole was ready and grasped my fingers before I could do it.
He began leading me toward the lake, and I saw a photographer hidden behind trees within the corners of my vision. I instantly burst into tears. I knew that this could be the perfect moment. Both of us blacked out when the proposal was made. However, all I can remember is the moment he got to kneeling, and I was unable to think of a word, so I simply said, “yes.”
The Venue
Our wedding was always planned to be simple and adorned with greenery, white flowers, and twinkle lighting. We picked our venue because of a variety of reasons. We liked that it provided everything we required in one place. A stunning outdoor ceremony could be held beneath an oak tree, followed by a reception held in the barn. The barn was spacious and beautiful, with doors that were a barn, an open area large enough to accommodate our guests comfortably, and an outdoor and indoor bar with a counter constructed out of a fallen tree that was on their property. It was not like a typical barn wedding. The location was perfectly created to create a contemporary and classy setting.
The Dress & Attire
The color scheme we chose for our wedding party was one of the most challenging choices. I knew that I wanted to keep the decor simple, focusing on white flowers and greenery, and I did not want my choice of color to dominate the overall wedding look.
From the beginning, Cole wanted him and the other guys in navy-colored suits. I was okay with this since blue makes his eyes sparkle! For my daughters, I knew that I wanted neutral colors so that it wouldn’t clash in the same way as navy. After a lot of fabric swatches, I settled on a dark mauve. It wasn’t a bright shade, and I was sure it would look fantastic on my girls.
The dress I chose for my wedding I knew the style I wanted, but I did not have my eyes set on something else. I also planned on using a veil my mother made for my sister before she was getting married, and the primary requirement for my dress was it had to match the cover. I tried on six dresses in total, and the dress I tried was the one I liked best. It was a dress created by Emmy Mae Bridal with an unflattering back and a form-fitting long train.
