Nikki & Tom
September 4th, 2020
Our Story
How We Met
Tom and I were actually setup on a blind date by his sister (also named Nikki) who I had been working with at the time. We had both been striking out doing some online dating and felt we had nothing to lose- and I’m so glad we did! Our first date went well and the next one after that and the rest is history!
The Proposal
Tom proposed to me while we were on vacation in Disney World in February of this year, while we were posing for a photo in front of Cinderella’s castle! This was so special for me because I am a huge Disney fan and for him to propose on Main Street in Disney World was such a surprise and was amazing!
Why We Chose Running Horse Farm
“Running Horse Farm was the first venue we had scheduled to tour and come to find out- Tom had done some of the work on the barn refurbishment! After touring a few other venues, we kept comparing them all to the Running Horse- having fallen in love with all the beautiful woodwork and the relaxed feel of the venue, so we knew our wedding had to be at the Running Horse Farm! Luckily, there were a few dates left at the time (this was before the craziness of the pandemic) and we decided on Friday, September 4, 2020.”
Vendors
They also did a great job and we loved our cake! They provided a cake tasting prior to booking and helped us decide on cake sizing once we had to downsize a bit for the venue. Cakes to You offered a delivery service which was great, although they were a little late from the delivery time but still delivered prior to start time. Would recommend for a wedding because of the delivery service.
Additionally, for dessert we had Italian cookies provided by Verdi’s Italian Market in Mentor. This was a special treat and the cookies were delicious!
My wedding dress was one of the first few that I had tried on. I had a special moment once the dress was on, having a clear vision in my thoughts of my grandma (who is sadly deceased) and it helped me decide on that dress, having felt like she was choosing it when I saw her clearly in my mind while trying it on.
Photographer: Lindsay Zilke, of Lindsay Dawn Photography
“I cannot recommend her enough- our photos came out fantastic. She has combo packages that include an engagement photo session in addition to the wedding package. She was thoughtful and played into our interests/personalities, was professional, and knew how to use the setting and lighting to her advantage. We are looking forward to utilizing her for photos in the future. “
“They also did a fantastic job on our flowers. We didn’t order any additional flowers for decoration, simply choosing to do bouts for the guys, corsages for the gals, and bouquets for myself and my MOH. The florist Megan delivered the flowers promptly at 12:30 on the day of the wedding. Would highly recommend her shop for any occasion requiring flowers.”
“They also did a fabulous job. They arrived early to setup, helped with appetizers during cocktail hour, and provided hot delicious BBQ! We received a lot of positive feedback about the food after the wedding. The communication leading up to the event was also great with the catering manager. Would highly recommend for a wedding or any other event.”
Bartender: Gregory with the Thirsty Filly He was absolutely fantastic! His outdoor setup with the revamped horse trailer was so amazing and the theming fit so well with the Running Horse. At the time the new outdoor bar area was not yet finished at the farm, so having one outdoor bar location to go along with the indoor bar was nice. Gregory was attentive and thoughtful and went above and beyond his duties all night. Additionally, after the wedding he gave Tom the recipes for our signature cocktails: Blackberry Orange Bourbon, Vanilla Peach Bourbon, and Blueberry Vodka Lemonade. We received a lot of positive feedback after the event for Gregory and the other bartenders. Tom and I hope to utilize the Thirsty Filly for a future event!
Utilizing the Running Horse beauty room- we had ladies from Jennifer and Company on site for hair and makeup for the bridal party. Margo and Tory did a fantastic job- they arrived early and stayed until just the moment I was getting ready to walk down the aisle. They efficiently did hair and makeup for the bridal party and provided a sense of calm for the getting ready process. Doing the hair and makeup on site was so nice! Cannot recommend the Jennifer and Company services enough!
“We didn’t particularly have a theme, instead we kind of focused on fitting everything in with the style of the Running Horse. My dress was more vintage and laid back and we used décor that was offered with the Running Horse, only adding a few other details. But it was important for Tom and I to not overdo any of the décor, and instead highlight the beautiful woodwork of the barn and the tables that were part of the farm.”
I DO!
First dance: Makin’ Plans by Miranda Lambert.
This was a special song for me, and it felt really on point with Tom and mine’s relationship; I had been saving that song for our first dance early on! Dancing upstairs under the soft lights surrounded by our family and loved ones was such a special moment for us.
Tom and I felt everything went so well on our wedding day- from the perfect weather (75 and sunny!) to the vendors that made our day special. We both felt the whole day went by so fast and just wish we could’ve enjoyed it a bit more, spending time with our guests more, and spending time with ourselves a bit more! But overall, we felt the Running Horse was the perfect venue for us, and would recommend to anyone for an event, but especially for a wedding. Having everything included in the pricing is what really sets it apart from other venues in the area (chairs, tables, linens, décor, etc.) and being able to have both the ceremony and reception in the same location was convenient to us and to our guests. It’s a unique venue that is on point with today’s higher demand for vintage barn weddings! Megan Acord was a delight to work with and was available at any time of day. Tom and I loved this venue and our wedding was awesome!