Casey & Leah Mitchell
December 2, 2017
The Engagement
Casey and Leah dated for a year-and-a-half before he proposed on January 5, 2017, in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Leah comments, "It only took two dates for us to figure out that we had finally found the person God created just for us." In October 2016, unknown to Leah, Casey began planning the engagement. For three months, he spent his rare free time designing the ring, choosing the wedding date, and securing Stone Bridge Farms (her dream venue) for their perfect day. He also coordinated the filming of the engagement video. In January 2017, Casey accompanied Leah and her family for a mini-vacation to Gatlinburg. On the second night of their trip, Leah and her sister planned a surprise late anniversary party for their parents. It was Casey's and Leah's job to pick up the cake at a local bakery before heading to the dinner venue. Leah shares, "As we traveled to the bakery that night, Casey kept complaining that he wasn't feeling well. I remember being somewhat irritated because his slow pace and delays were causing us to be late to dinner. Finally, as it started to snow, we arrived back at the cabin to drop off the cake before meeting everyone at the restaurant. I hurriedly ran up the stairs to get inside, but Casey asked me to wait so he would walk me in to make sure I didn't slip on the snow. I reluctantly agreed. As he opened the door, there were candles lighting up the entire living room and fireplace of the cabin. In the center of the room, a trunk covered with my grandmother's handmade quilt held a laptop, and was adjacent to a chair. Confused, I sat down and Casey began the video and I slowly realized he was proposing. The video was THE MOST thoughtful and precious thing I had ever seen. It took him days and lots of help. He read our favorite scriptures from our most loved places where we'd spent time together during our relationship: the farm, church, and outdoors. He included photographs of our relationship since its beginning, but the most touching part was video of him with my family (he knows how close we are) and he took time to get down on one knee and ask my big sister if he would ask me to marry him. He also visited the graves of my late grandfather and uncles to "meet them" and ask their permission for my hand. After 15 minutes of crying, I finally see him one one knee beside me where he asked if I would marry him. After saying yes, our families and the photographer emerged from the loft of the cabin to celebrate with us!
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The Wedding
"December 2, 2017, was the most perfect day we could have ever dreamed of," continues Leah. "Casey and my Mom had picked the wedding date and venue, but it was my job to make the rest of the decisions. Luckily, the staff at Stone Bridge Farms took my simple ideas and made our ceremony and reception surpass all of my Southern belle dreams. Casey and I stayed on the property in separate houses with our groomsmen/bridal parties and families the night before the ceremony. We spent the morning of the wedding day with those closest to us. I remember laughing, getting pampered, and savoring every moment that I could. Casey's only request was that we not have a 'first look.' He wanted to see me for the first time walking down the aisle to him. It seemed like days has passed before I took my daddy's arm and heard, "Tale as Old As Time" play as my cue to walk to my husband. At the altar, we exchanged vows and dedicated our hearts as servants to Christ and one another by a foot-washing ceremony. It was everything I had dreamed. My Daddy officiated the wedding. My sister stood as Matron of Honor, and my Mother sat on the front row looking on with love.
After finishing the ceremony, we excused guests to the reception for appetizers and drinks while we finished taking photos. The reception was the most beautiful sight I could have hoped for! Pastel flowers and Christmas decor mounted everything that stood still! Guests enjoyed their dinner, cake, and the photo booth until it was time for the fireworks display and sparkler exit. Stone Bridge Farms took our wedding dreams and turned them into a fairytale for us!" |