Walker and Shyann Edwards
TELL US ABOUT YOUR LOVE STORY!
How did you meet?
Walkerand I met in high school through a mutual friend and dated for seven years before getting engaged!
How did you know he was “The One”?
Everyday we fell more and more in love. I knew I didn’t want to spend my life with anyone else!
How did he propose?
Walker mentioned wanting to go out to eat somewhere fancy. So, I figured something was up. I patiently waited throughout dinner for him to ask me, and… nothing. After dinner, Walker told me we had one more stop to make. He said we had to take care of a few things at our friend’s lake house. When we got there, to my surprise, there were string lights hung, candles lit, a bunch of our polaroids, a scrapbook, and champagne. He proposed and, of course, I said YES!
Describe your wedding planning process
Did you hire a planner or day-of coordinator?
Yes! Jessica with Heavenly Sent Events made the day run SO smoothly! Walker and I loved being able to enjoy our wedding day without having to worry about anything.
Did you DIY any aspect of your wedding?
Yes! My sisters, mom, and I made all our signage, our rig box, and our floral “E”. My dad and I personalized corn hold boards, and my students made the cutests wedding books!
Did you have a specific theme?
We decided on a classic theme with a light blue color that reflected our personalities.
Where did you save the most?
We saved the most with catering, decorations, and desserts. Catering was a big area where we saved thousands. We were getting some pretty expensive quotes, and it was very overwhelming. We decided that food wasn’t our biggest priority. We finally found a place that we both liked and that offered us a great price so it was a win-win. We also saved on decorations by making a bunch of items on our own. We aren’t big cake people, so we didn’t want to spend a whole bunch on cake. We ended up getting a cake from Sam’s that was delicious. Another way we saved money was by having our wedding on a weekday versus on a Saturday. People were able to party from the 3rd through the 4th of July which made for a really fun couple of days.
Where did you splurge?
We splurged on photography. We knew pictures were going to be the most important category we wanted to spend money on. It was worth it! We absolutely love our photos. The Witte Photography crew were amazing and made sure to capture every picture we were looking for.
Why did you choose your venue?
When we toured The Preserve, we absolutely fell in love with it! From what we saw in the Hill Country area, they had by far the prettiest ambience. We also were set on having a summer wedding, and The Preserve had an indoor chapel so it checked all our boxes.
Did you incorporate any special traditions or sentimental details in your ceremony or reception?
During our ceremony, we did a sand ceremony to represent our families joining.
What was your most stressful decision?
The food was our most stressful decision. All of the places that we received quotes from were super expensive. While the food we tasted wasn’t bad, it was just getting hard to justify that for a meal. A lot of places were also either booked or unavailable due to it being so close to a holiday. We decided that something like Cracker Barrel would be fun because they offered the same dishes that other places offered but for far cheaper. We got so many compliments from our guests because we didn’t serve the “typical” chicken and vegetable medley most weddings serve.
What turned out to be your best decision surrounding the big day?
Getting a day of coordinator was hands down our best decision. We didn’t have to worry about anything the day of. It was nice to just focus on each other and have fun!
Is there anything you would have done differently?
We should have booked our coordinator sooner. Jessica Posey, from Heaven Sent Events, brought up things that we hadn’t even thought about and just knowing we had someone to take care of the little things throughout the day took a lot of stress off of us.
Tell Us About...
Your dress:
My dress was a strapless ballgown, with a big beautiful bow on the back. I added an extra sparkly belt to it to give a little pop.
Your flowers:
We had a mix of blue and white flowers. Roses, carnations, hydrangeas, and a few others. Our florists did a great job at mixing and matching the flowers to make our vision come to life.
The food:
We had chicken-fried chicken, beef tips, mac-n-cheese, green beans, mashed potatoes, and biscuits. The mac-n-cheese was my favorite!
The cake:
We had a two-tier white cake with white icing and sugar sprinkles. We also added some flowers for decoration and had a stopper that said “The Edwards.”
Recap your big day for us
What made you laugh?
The toasts were great and hilarious! The photobooth was also a lot of fun. My nephews also got a kick out of the dance floor. It was super funny when they randomly laid down on the floor and took turns jumping over each other. Then Walker and a couple of his groomsmen got involved, and they were all taking turns jumping over each other!
What made you cry?
I’m not a big cryer, but I did tear up when I saw my dad getting emotional during the first look.
What were the most memorable moments?
Everything! It truly was the best day ever!
Did anything unexpected happen?
We had no idea if anything went wrong! Our coordinator, Jessica Posey, did a great job at handling any issues that arose.
What’s the best advice you can give a bride and groom planning their wedding?
Don’t try to please anyone! The only opinions about your wedding that matter is your’s and your fiance’s! Also, don’t forget to HAVE FUN!
What did you look forward to most as Mr. and Mrs.?
We just looked forward to spending the rest of our lives together! Also the HONEYMOON! Who doesn’t love a good vacation?
Featured Vendors:
Local Vendors:
Wedding Venue: The Preserve at Canyon Lake
Reception Venue: The Preserve at Canyon Lake
Wedding Coordinator/Planner: Heaven Sent Events – Jessica Posey
Photographer: Witte Idea – Kimberly Witte
Caterer: Cracker Barrel
Florist: Viola’s Flower Shop – Patricia Thornton
Bridal Shop: Celebrations Bridal and Prom
Makeup Artist: Jolie Belle – Devyn Mohler
Hair Stylist: Jolie Belle – Devyn Mohler
Bartending/Beverage Service: The Preserve at Canyon Lake
Music/Entertainment: Hesson Entertainment – Michael Hesson
Photo Booth: Hesson Entertainment – Michael Hesson
Wedding Music:
Processional: What I’ve Been Looking For – Brent Morgan
Bride’s Entrance: Wildest Dreams – Duomo
Recessional: Accidentally in Love – Counting Crows
First Dance: Can’t Help Falling In Love – Elvis Presley
Father/Daughter Dance: I Loved Her First – Heartland
Mother/Son Dance: What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
Last Dance: Yours (Wedding Edition) – Russell Dickerson
