Flying Dove Ranch | Ridgway, PA

UGH! Planning with Jenna and Kyle went by WAY too fast. These two booked Blue Bon over a year ago and have been recommending our business ever since – before even working with us! We knew working with them was going to be fun, but it absolutely surpassed that. We had a blast! We literally laughed through every single meeting. Jenna may have hired us just to light the candles before the reception, but we were happy to provide that and much much more for this fabulous couple and their loved ones. Enjoy some of our favorites from their wedding (while I crawl under my desk and cry that we don’t get to meet anymore.)

ten. the venue
I’d never heard of the Flying Dove Ranch until this wedding, but oh my goodness, if it isn’t just the most perfect place. The amount of perfectly photographic spaces that there are on the property are unreal. Are you looking for a field? Check. What about a magical patch of trees? Also check. A pond to nail that perfect reflection shot? Well of course. The only thing we were missing was a canoe, but honestly that’s probably for the best. Plus, they have multiple cabins for key players AND a bunkhouse for if any of the guests have a bit too much to drink. It’s a fabulous option for a fun and outdoorsy weekend event, and I can only hope to get to work there again soon.

nine. a diy late night snack
Late night snacks have quite the range – from bags of chips to catered dishes, you never know what you’ll get. When these pretzels were brought out from the kitchen with an array of mustard and cheese options for dipping, I swear the guests’ eyes literally lit up brighter than the glow sticks on the dance floor. There was a crowd around the table before everything was even fully set up. A fabulous and may we add ✨ delicious ✨ way to end the night.

eight. the leaf aisle
You know we love fall, but there’s not a chance I was about to let a bride walk down a leaf covered aisle. I fell three times over rocks that I couldn’t see because of the coverage – and I was not in heels. Cue the “Other duties as assigned.” Did I spend way too much time raking the leaves into a lovely aisle? Probably. Did I look like a weirdo fluffing them to make them look somewhat natural? Absolutely. But it ended up being so beautifully fall, and without the tripping hazard.

seven. the activities
During set up, I heard a family member ask why there was a word search on the back of the program… ummm… why not? I absolutely loved this small detail they included among the many other activities they offered for guests. From the customized beer pong table (hello week-of craft projects..) to the decks of cards, photobooth, and cigar bar. And let’s not forget the packed dance floor with glow sticks galore – there really was something for everyone!

six. the accesories
As if we haven’t talked enough about the extremely thought out details that were put into this big day, it would truly be a crime if we didn’t mention alllllll of Jenna’s accessories that truly added to the energy of the day. First, he personalized “Mrs. Leonard” jean jacket, which was so eloquently hanging on the back of her chair at the sweetheart table, mere feet away from her white crocs that were fully equipped with bride jibbitz – because obviously. Then, to share the style with everyone, she also had enough colorful sunglasses for the whole bridal party, which were brought out at the perfect time when we were starting to hand out glow sticks and matched perfectly with the vibe of the evening.

five. cheesecakes
Being a bridesmaid comes with plenty of responsibilities to begin with, but on top of that, Jenna’s bridesmaid Ellis also agreed to make the dessert.. and , these were the best mini cheesecakes I have ever had in my life. Four fabulous flavors, coffee, cinnamon roll, vanilla, and my personal favorite, pumpkin were handmade into bite sized pieces that made it impossible to only have one.

four. Gizmo
There are so many different ways to include your pets in your big day – from cake toppers to photobooth props, but none of them are as special as having them there with you, and getting to take pictures together. Jenna and Kyle honored their pets, Buddy and Gizmo, through the names of their signature drinks, but that just wasn’t quite enough. Lucky for them the Maid of Honor, Sam, was more than willing to run to their house to bring Gizmo to the venue so they could have their kitty there for photos. The dedication that went into that moment shows how loved baby Gizmo is, and I cannot wait to see how the photos turned out.

three. hide-and-seek
During our many meetings, Jenna had mentioned that since they didn’t have a ring bearer, she wanted to have a surprise one and have the rings be hidden under one of the guest’s chairs during the ceremony. I’d seen this online before, but never in person, and she gave us the honor of choosing the chair. After a couple games of “pick-a-number,” the rings were securely duct taped to the bottom of a chair. We grit our teeth while guests took their seats, and had a huge sigh of relief when that seat was chosen. Watching the ceremony take place and include this surprise was so much fun, and a great way to get guests involved in the ceremony. Many of the other vendors had never even heard of this, and the guests seemed shocked as they checked to see if they were the chosen one. It was equal parts special, intimate, and exciting, and I only hope to have more spontaneous couples that include this in their big day.

two. pie smash
This was a new one, for sure. I have to be honest in saying that I was a tad worried when I was first told about the potential for a pie-in-the-face during our timeline meeting. They made it a fun alternative to the dollar dance by having two jars out, and a sign explaining that whoever made the most money would have the honor of getting pied at the end of the night. When the time came, I counted up the cash, only to find that Jenna had more money in her jar. No way. I was not about to allow the bride, who paid to get her makeup done just hours before, have it ruined. Luckily, there are always a couple of guests who always seem to be around and make the night interesting, so we had no problem fundraising for Kyle’s jar and making it so he would be the one to get pied, if that’s what you want to call it. It turns out he forgot to purchase a pie, so cheesecake and whipped cream came to the rescue! A makeshift pie and a very exaggerated delay made for a super fun video of this celebratory moment, followed by multiple kisses, and even Jenna helping him wash his face after. It ended up being the cutest moment of the entire day, and it was definitely a unique one that we’ll always remember.

one. ceremony entrance
The grand entrance of a bride into the ceremony is arguably one of my favorite moments. The guests are all in anticipation, the bride and her parents both nervous and excited, it’s a physical emulation of “the moment you’ve all been waiting for.” This makes it all the more nerve wracking to be the one cue-ing when the bride makes her appearance, making sure it’s at the exact moment in the song she chose to meet her vision, and make the statement that she deserves, and this one did just that. Jenna was hiding behind a tree, waiting for the beat drop in the song. We had only had time to practice it once during the rehearsal, and we were cutting it super close, but the bridal party understood the assignment and made up for the time we needed, leaving a perfect 15 second lead up. Jenna stepped out at the exact moment that the beat changed, and it truly felt magical. I all but jumped up in the air with excitement for how perfect it was. We couldn’t line it up that flawlessly again if we tried.

Honorable Mention: Jenna’s Maid of Honor Sam was truly a gem. We spent the entire day spouting snarky remarks at eachother, starting with her smacking me with flowers (less than 5 minutes after my getting there) for laughing at her when she called the napkins “cloth thingys.” Having a fun crew makes our job that much better and she certainly did. The shoutout in her speech, thank you note she wrote, and review for our business were also nice touches. I guess I’ll forgive her for hitting me with flowers…

Jenna and Kyle’s beautiful October wedding truly turned out to be the best day, and I am thrilled to share a wedding anniversary with such a fun, caring, and wonderful couple. Congratulations again Mr. and Mrs. Leonard!