A Dramatic Ozarks Glass Chapel Destination Wedding

I’ve done three photo shoots of Betsy over the years, and she is a photographer’s dream. Put a camera in front of her and she naturally morphs into America’s next top model, without even realizing how gorgeous she is. Add to that the sweetest and most fun personality, and it’s no wonder Dave fell head over heels for her. Who wouldn’t?

Betsy was one of the most thoughtful brides I’ve photographed. I flew from Seattle to Fayetteville, Arkansas where I picked up a rental car to drive the rest of the way to Eureka Springs. When I got to my room in the middle of the night I found a goodie bag and a gift waiting for me on my bed. (It took a lot of self control not to eat the cookies that night.)

Since we were living on opposite sides of the country at the time he proposed, I didn’t get to know Dave until the wedding weekend. And yet it’s impossible to meet Dave and not feel like you’ve known him for years. I first saw him in a group and identified him instantly by his vivid American flag shorts and enormous, beaming smile.

It’s hard to imagine a more adorable couple than Betsy and Dave. Their personalities fit perfectly together and each brings out the best qualities of the other.

Betsy & Dave’s wedding ceremony took place in a magnificent glass chapel tucked into the Ozarks outside of Eureka Springs, Arkansas. What a place! The elegant, clean-cut grandeur of glass and beams juxtaposed against rugged trees, rich with leaves the color of flames, was the perfect illustration of this wedding’s ambience.

It was a mix of sleek high fashion and the cozy feeling of mulled wine by the fire. A blending of New Englanders and Alabamans, of dropped r’s and “bless your hearts.”

It was a truly beautiful day, and I was honored to be a part of it.

Want to see what the opposite of Bridezilla looks like? It looks like Betsy, doing her flower girl’s hair.

THE BRIDE’S PERSPECTIVE:

Working with Glorianna was a true joy. The most important thing for me was not just that my pictures turned out to be beautiful works of art, but that they looked and felt like me. I often see pictures of myself and don’t recognize the girl reflected, but I can honestly say Glorianna was able to capture pure, genuine moments. I not only feel I look like myself, but that I look like my best self.

My husband and I got married at Thorncrown Chapel, an all-glass chapel nestled in the Northwest Arkansas Ozark Mountains. Glorianna was not able to see the Chapel prior to the wedding date. She didn’t know how the light would reflect or the shadows the trees would cast; however, Glorianna is the wonder woman of photographers. She was prepared for everything, despite having to travel! I was so impressed with her go-with-the-flow and we’ll-make-it-work personality. What a gift that is to a bride! My understanding is that these photos were not the most fun to edit (turns out the shadows in a glass chapel aren’t photo friendly), but you would never know.

Another stand-out part of the experience was family portraits. Glorianna was time-conscious and ready to snap those photos! With a tight time constraint, she was organized and herding the families was a breeze for her (or at least she made it look like it was). With a family with sensitive relationships, she spent time going through all the photos I wanted and stuck to only the list we put together. She was thoughtful on order and family positioning. I could not be more grateful for a photographer that was considerate enough to think about all these different elements and get through the portraits efficiently. And the best part? Every single person in the family loves how they look in the pictures! How is that even possible? I’m not sure, but Gloriana got the most genuine smiles from people she has never met. What a gift.

Glorianna is kind, thoughtful, easy-going, and TALENTED. She far exceeded any expectations of a photographer. Even writing this I get a bit misty-eyed. I am beyond grateful for not just the photos that I will cherish forever, but also for the experience Glorianna provided. I have never felt so beautiful.

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Ceremony Venue: Thorncrown Chapel
Reception Venue: Sassafrass Springs Vineyard
Salon: Salon 7
Florals: Arloh Flora
Dress: Jenny Yoo NYC, purchased at Birch on Main
Cake: Rick’s Bakery
Stationary: The Knot
Perfume: Tiffany & Co.
Rings: Grogan’s Jewelers
Bride’s shoes: Keds
Headpiece: Vow’d Weddings by Altar’d State
Suit: Indochino
Tie: Tie bar

Also, Betsy and Dave without question win the wedding hashtag game. Dave Depatie married Betsy Baker and became #depatiecakebakersman. My mind is still blown by the perfection of it. Absolute perfection.