This Summer Wedding Is a Real-Life Fairy Tale

Our very own senior editor Shannon Vestal had a woodsy Summer wedding surrounded by lush greenery and her closest loved ones — it's the stuff dreams are made of. When Shannon and Dave were planning their big day, they wanted to make sure that most of it was outdoors — Graf Barn in Oxnard, CA, served as the ideal location. The venue's owner made sure that jaw-droppingly good food and a sense of intimacy was incorporated into the wedding. She also provided gorgeous antique furniture, china, and linens that added romance and a homeyness to the reception. Another extraspecial detail — the couple's photographer, Stephanie Hogue, shot her sister's wedding photos 17 years earlier. Shannon loved the shots so much she used Stephanie for her own ceremony.

"Everything came out better than we hoped, and the setting was just incredible, from the ceremony under the trees to the original barn that housed the reception," Shannon said. "The whole day was just happy and sweet and overflowing with love from us and our family and friends." Make sure to check out every detail of the couple's big day.