Love stories unfold everyday, but it is not everyday that we get to witness such a glorious celebration of godly love. Recently on Instagram, our hearts were captured by the stunning photos from Ethan and Sophia's dreamy wedding. We are delighted to be able to feature their special day.
When the Elms decided to tie the knot, they knew they wanted a wedding that was uniquely theirs. From a beautiful wedding dress exhibit to elegant decor throughout, their day was a beautiful reflection of their personalities and love story. Join us as we dive into all the special touches that made their wedding truly unforgettable.
DJ: How would you describe your wedding decor/theme/vibe?
SE: Our wedding day was designed and planned to feel as deeply romantic as possible, and it was nothing short of that. It was filled with rich, passionate reds and the most dreamy florals I could have imagined that created a breathtakingly enchanting atmosphere. One of my absolute favorite design elements in our décor was the majestic row of hanging trees that lined the entryway of the aisle. We also incorporated the most elegant, regal touches throughout all the décor, from our three stunning tiered cakes, to the grand floral installations that framed our ceremony and reception. Every detail of our day was carefully chosen to deeper reflect the beauty and depth of Ethan’s and my love story.
DJ: What are some of your favorite or special memories of your wedding day?
SE: There were truly so many unforgettable moments from our wedding day, but one of the most meaningful had to be our wedding dress exhibit. This was a special display that we featured, that held the wedding dresses, cherished pieces, and portraits of both Ethan’s and my mothers and grandmothers. It was such a heartfelt tribute to the incredible women who have so shaped Ethan’s and my life. It was such a beautiful testament to the living legacy of faith-filled marriages. All of the eight wonderful, godly women that were displayed are still married to their original spouses today! They each serve as an inspiring reminder of the foundation that we are building together as husband and wife.
SE: Another standout memory was our incredible wedding party! We were surrounded by genuinely so much love with our 15 bridesmaids, 15 groomsmen, AND 14 children playing special roles within our ceremony. Among the children we had beautiful fairies, elegant ballerinas, princess flower girls, the cutest carriage babies, and our handsome little bell boys. Each added fun and whimsically joyous touches to our day. The individuals within in our wedding party mean the absolute world to us, and celebrating alongside them made the entire day even more special.
SE: One of the most unforgettable parts of our wedding was by far the music in the ceremony and reception. We come from very musical families and were so blessed to have so many dear loved ones share their voices and talents throughout the entire day. Our reception was a full blown concert, with our friends and family singing, playing instruments, and simply filling the room with worship and pure celebration. The music we had made everything feel even more powerful and emotional; it created an atmosphere of pure joy and praise to God! It was one of the most special gifts to us, and we will cherish those moments forever.
DJ: Were there any funny moments or things that didn’t go according to plan?
SE: One of the most delightful surprises for our guests happened during the wedding ceremony when we decided to introduce an unexpected ring bearer. Instead of having a designated person as ring bearer, we arranged for someone to secretly place the ring box under a random guest’s chair. When the moment came within the ceremony to exchange rings, we asked everyone to check under their seats… and my sweet, slightly timid second cousin found it! The entire room applauded him as he bravely marched down the aisle to deliver our rings to us! I’m so glad the surprise was successful and that it was a fun moment that our guests could enjoy.
DJ: How did you find the perfect wedding dress?
SE: When looking for the perfect dress, I had originally planned to take my mother, sister, grandmother, mother-in-love, sisters-in-love, and my best friend on a serious wedding dress shopping journey… I was truly expecting to search high and low for my perfect gown. But what started as a casual day out with my mom and sister, trying on dresses for fun, turned into me finding the dress of my dreams!
I had always envisioned wearing a grand, and intricately beaded ball gown with a simply timeless and modest elegance. After only trying on four dresses, one captured my eye and heart… I could not stop thinking about it. This Nicole & Felicia couture dress was THE one. After purchasing the dress we added an extra 3 1/2 feet to the dress train, making it nearly 6 feet long! I believe what made it even more special was the love and care poured into the dress after purchasing it. A wonderful woman of God from our church, Cheri Tummond, spent countless days and hours hand-sewing and tailoring the gown to perfection. She adding the most beautiful sleeves and back detailing and completely brought my dreams to life. I will forever be grateful for the hours spent, her incredible craftsmanship, and kindness towards me.
DJ: Do you have any advice for future brides?
SE: My biggest piece of advice to future brides is to enjoy the wedding process. After months of planning, the countless decisions, and all the little details that go into creating your unforgettable dream wedding, try to never lose sight of the beauty of being a fiancée. This is such a special, fleeting season of life; be sure to cherish it. Being a wife is an incredible gift from God, and being engaged is simply an added blessing. I am so grateful that Ethan and I took time to dwell within the excitement of our engagement season. In the midst of all the venue visits, the floral choices, and menu tastings, make sure to take time to simply be with your future husband, soaking in the anticipation, enjoying this once in a lifetime journey together, hand in hand. Like Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, “Everything is beautiful in his time.” Seasons come and go, enjoy the beauty of today, with the man you are going to get to spend every tomorrow with.
DJ: Is there anything else in particular that you’d like to share about your wedding or your love story?
SE: One of the absolute memorable and entertaining moment from our reception was the bridal party game that also included all the guests in the crowd. The game was a mixture of both musical chairs and a scavenger hunt. It worked very simply: our MCs would call out a random item, and our bridesmaids and groomsmen had to race to find it, simply by asking the guests! Whether they found the item from a guest purse, pocket, or even wallet, they had to search the room and convince a guest to hand it over as quickly as possible. Whoever returned to their seat last was eliminated from the game! The competition got very intense, the girls' heels were off, and the crowd was cheering them on! It was so fun to watch from our table and truly such an enjoyable way to get everyone engaged and made for the most incredible memories!
SE: A beautiful moment within our story included our engagement. It was nothing short of a dream, and Ethan put so much thought into making it deeply meaningful. After three years of dating, he carefully planned every detail to create a moment I would never forget.
Ethan proposed to me at Melbourne Beach in Melbourne, Florida… this was so special because it was the exact same beach where my dad had proposed to my mom 27 years ago. Us standing in the same place where my parents' love story began made the moment more meaningful than I ever could have imagined. As soon as I said yes, our families, who had been secretly watching from a distance, all rushed out onto the beach to celebrate with us. So many happy tears, seeing all of them there, sharing in our joy, it made my heart so full.
After the proposal, Ethan had arranged for both of our families to have dinner together at The Chart House in Melbourne, which was also the same restaurant where my parents had celebrated their own engagement years ago. He planned out every detail so intentionally and heartfelt, and I genuinely could not have imagined a more perfect way to begin this next chapter of our lives.
Photographer: Joshua Kane Photography