After meeting in college, Baranda and Lincoln’s long-distance friendship withstood the test of time. Years later when they both finally called the same city home, that’s when their love truly blossomed. See their lovely at-home wedding and share their love!
Baranda’s bridal glow was absolutely infectious. Wasn’t she a lovely bride?
Baranda’s friends and family were on site to lend the beautiful bride a helping hand on her big day. Kudos to her dream team! “I did my own hair, and my maid of honor and godmom did my makeup,” she says. “It was so cool.”
“The veil was a result of my longterm fascination with Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis,” says Baranda. “I love history and historical figures, especially iconic women. I’d always been enamored with the classic and timeless look of her lace veil. I decided that if I were going to have to have a wedding then I needed to find a veil that was similarly trimmed in lace.”
Wedding dress shopping was a breeze for Baranda. “It wasn’t difficult to find at all. I met my godmother and best friend in Chicago for a weekend. In one Saturday we had three different appointments set. We went to two of them, stopped for lunch, decided we liked the second one I tried on, canceled the third appointment and spent the rest of the afternoon shoe shopping and getting lost in the splendidness of the Spice House in Old Town.”
“I think the fact that he and I got back together, and are together now, is because I believe in love, and I believe that everyone and everything is redeemable, if they choose to do the work, and choose to choose again,” says Baranda. “That faith in love is what made him, us, more than a possibility.”
“Lincoln shares that unshakeable belief in the power of love and God,” says Baranda. “He’s willing to do the work every day to be and know love between us. Nearly every day, I discover or am reminded of some quality he possesses that will make the things work that I’ve always wanted out of a partner and a shared life. That’s the closest thing to the one I think we can get. Thank God, I’ve got it.”
“A dear friend of Lincoln’s, Brandi Russell, has a design and clothing company called Sacred Heart Collection,” says Baranda. “I love her stuff, and I’ve always just wanted nearly everything. It’s a fun and chic and Brandi is just a supportive, amazing woman. I wish I could have convinced her to design my dress, yet had to settle on the amazing specially designed Juliet Jumper – and if splendid and gorgeous is settling then I’ll take it any day. I chose the color because I knew I wanted the flowers to be vibrant and that dark blue was just stunning, and a great backdrop for the flowers. I also wanted to be sure the ladies could wear this again and again. I don’t believe in having things with only one use, it’s just silly.”
The blue suits for the groom and his guys were an instant hit in our book.
“I felt like the man, who from that day forward, would have an amazing woman by my side,” says Lincoln, when asked how it felt to be a groom on his big day. “It was definitely how I dreamed it would be, especially when I saw the smile and laughter on her face.”
“To have family and loved ones enjoy themselves and make memories in our home as a part of our wedding day story, and the ghosts of memories in our home, was more beautiful and meaningful than any venue on earth,” says Baranda of their decision to wed at home.
“I nearly refused to have a wedding if we couldn’t do it at our house,” says Baranda. “There were a few other venues I’d considered — his family’s’ ranch land in East Texas, a few historic places in Dallas. But, ultimately I wanted it at the house.” And, so it was!
“I told the florist that I didn’t want white flowers at all, that I’d like as much green as possible wherever one might usually see white, and that whatever was used must be in season, and that I wanted great vibrant colors like oranges and reds since many things in season would be that color,” says the bride. “Luckily she’s a good friend and an amazing artist, so they looked splendid. They also kept beautifully. When we returned from our honeymoon to a house full of wedding decor the bouquets and centerpieces had dried beautifully and some were still alive. I was delighted all over again.”
“We had 83 guests in attendance at our wedding, including our neighbors,” says Baranda.
Fans for everyone! A great favor for guests at an early fall wedding.
The couple’s fron yard was a cozy and ideal location for a celebration of their love.
Here come the bridesmaids, all dressed in fierce blue. A lovely bunch on a lovely day. Everyone was all smiles on Baranda and Lincoln’s big day.
The groomsmen carried lanterns down the aisle.
Baranda and Lincoln chose a vintage 1920s chic theme for their wedding day.
Baranda walked down the aisle to “Simple Gifts, The Shaker Hymn.”
“We both know a number of pastors, reverends and elders that could have married us,” Baranda explains. “It was difficult to decide. Yet, we ultimately settled on a dear friend of ours that is much like a brother to us both. He is actually Lincoln’s fraternity brother. He gets us, both of us, our love, our life, how we see the world, and our call, as a couple. He understands us in a way no one else does, so ultimately it just made sense. He doesn’t typically marry his friends however, so we were so glad he made an exception.”
“God has got some pretty awesome promises previously inspired, so we kept it simple when it came to our vows,” says Baranda.
“I have always known that God had a plan for us, but I did not think that it would come so quickly from dating in July to being engaged in September and married a year later,” says Lincoln.
“I don’t believe there is a shortage of love in the world,” says Baranda. “I’m a bit of hippie that way. Love is abundant if we’re honest and open, true love takes work and sometimes we don’t want to do that work.”
“I love that she seeks out God’s will at every turn,” says Lincoln. “I love looking into her eyes when we first wake up and the sun is shining.”
A perfect kiss for a perfect couple.
“She has a natural beauty and innocence that I feel privileged to be the only one to see,” says Lincoln. “I love that she lets me see her for who she is and accepts me for who I am.”
Sweet favors for even sweeter guests. Baranda and Lincoln customized every aspect of their wedding day.
Bench style seating at the reception created a casual elegance to be remembered.
Join us as we congratulate Baranda and Lincoln on their beautiful “I dos.” Leave the happy couple a little comment love below!
