Jennifer and Matt were planning on having over 100 guests and a large wedding party for their spring wedding at the Wildhorse at Parker Farms wedding venue. We were all told at first that the COVID-19 coronavirus wasn’t going to be a big deal in the US, but as the March 21st wedding date approached, things kept looking worse. A few weeks before, they told me the wedding was still on, but the guest list was going to be much smaller.
Soon after that, all the groomsmen, except for the best man, had to drop out because of flight and social distancing restrictions. By the time the wedding actually happened, it was just very close family and a few friends that could make it. However, Jennifer and Matt didn’t let this get them down and they still had a beautiful wedding.
Memorial to everyone that didn’t make it to the wedding because of the coronavirus – Wildhorse at Parker Farms
Jennifer had made little skateboards as wedding favors for each table. With so many guests not able to come, they laid all the favors out on the fireplace so everyone could still be at the wedding in spirit. You might also notice, in the detail pictures below, the AOL messenger logo pin on the groom’s jacket and the blue mailbox on the table. Matt said that he and Jennifer had met 20 years ago on AOL. Many years later they rekindled their relationship and now were getting married!
My thoughts on the Wildhorse at Parker Farms wedding venue
This was my first time shooting a wedding at Wildhorse at Parker Farms. It’s about a 30 min trip from Myrtle Beach to Longs, SC. This is really not a bad distance at all and it’s an easy drive. If you look on Google Maps at the pin location for their address, it looks like nothing is there. You have to drive about 1/4 of a mile past where the pin is located and you will come across the wedding venue and farm. When I first pulled into the location, I was thinking it would be a difficult place to shoot pictures of the bride and groom. All I saw at first was the barn and an open field.
As you will see in the pictures below, once I started exploring around the property a bit, I found some great spots for pictures. The reception area is very elegant with a large dance floor and stone fireplace in the background. There are also hanging lights over the dance floor and a beautiful stained-glass window above. At the Wildhorse at Parker Farms, they recently built new bathrooms and a getting ready room for the bride. Many venues have a really small and unattractive area for the bride and groom to get ready. But the bride’s room and even the bathroom/locker room area is very beautifully decorated with wood plank walls and lots of mirrors. You can check them out in the pictures below.
The farm owner will call over the horses which all come running and are very friendly. I even got a cute picture of one of the horses trying to eat the bride’s bouquet. There is also a beautiful marshy area with lots of trees growing from it. I got some fantastic pictures of the bride and groom with the sunset filtering through the trees and light reflecting off the marsh. Because the wedding ended up being so small, I had some extra time for flying around my drone as well.
I hope you enjoy the pictures below. If you are planning a wedding at the Wildhorse at Parker Farms venue please let me know. If your wedding ends up being smaller than you planned, try to stay positive and you can end up having a great time and getting fantastic pictures as well.
Dress hanging in the barn doorway – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsFlower girls looking at bride’s dress – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsLet’s Dance – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsTable decorations with mini skateboards – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsBest man helping groom with his boutonniere – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsAOL Messenger pin on groom’s jacket – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsGroom and his best man; all the other groomsmen dropped out because of social distancing – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsAOL mailbox – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsFlower bed monograms of bride and groom – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsButtoning up the dress – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsBridesmaids helping with the bride’s dress – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsMom checking out the bride – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsDetail picture of the flower bouquets – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsToasts with the girls – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsStained glass window inside reception area – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsTable details – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsLove is sweet cake details – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsWelcome to our wedding sign – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsPutting on the bug spray, the gnats were a nightmare – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsDrone pictures of the reception area – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsDrone pictures of the reception area – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsDrone pictures of the reception area – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsBest man helping with the tie – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsMemorial to everyone that didn’t make it to the wedding because of the coronavirus – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsDetail picture of the cake table with stained glass window in the background – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsLa Grande Dame champagne – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsFlower girls throwing the flowers – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsFlower girls throwing the flowers – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsFirst look at the bride – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsHappy bride and father walking to the ceremony – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsBride and groom listening to the ceremony – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsWide angle picture of the ceremony and reception area – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsBride giving vows to the groom – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsGroom and best man giving vows to the bride – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsPutting on the rings – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsBride putting ring on the groom – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsFirst kiss – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsBig hug after ceremony – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsHappy bride and groom after the ceremony – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsFather walking with granddaughter after ceremony – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsBridesmaids with just one groomsman – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsHorses running to meet us – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsEveryone loved the horses, the gnats were just eating us – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsEveryone loved the horses, the gnats were just eating us – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsEveryone loved the horses, the gnats were just eating us – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsRing bearer tried to walk through the mud – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsWedding party in front of the horses – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsBride and groom kissing with horses in the background – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsBride and groom kissing with horses in the background – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsHorse trying to eat the bride’s bouquet – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsSweetheart table – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsFlower details on the sweetheart table – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsHorse pillow on the bench – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsBride and groom introductions – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsFirst dance – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsFirst dance – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsFirst dance – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsPortrait of bride in front of the marsh – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsBig smiles with the bride and groom – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsKiss in front of the marsh – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsCasual portrait of the bride and groom leaning against the fence – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsKiss leaning against the fence – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsBride laying her head on the groom’s shoulder – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsKiss in front of the sun – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsGroom pulling bride in for a kiss at sunset – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsGroom pulling bride in for a kiss at sunset – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsCouple smiling in front of the sunlight filtering through the trees – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsBride and groom looking into each other’s eyes in front of the marsh – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsKiss in the sunset – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsKiss in front of the marsh with sun reflecting on the water – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsBride’s arms around the groom in front of the marsh – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsKiss in front of the marsh with sun reflecting on the water – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsGroom lifting the bride into the air – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsDip back in front of the marsh with 35mm lens – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsI got my own little skateboard! – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsToasts with bride and groom at sweetheart table – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsNighttime pictures of the reception barn – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsNighttime pictures of the reception barn – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsBride and groom having fun with the cake cutting – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsBride and groom having fun with the cake cutting – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsBride and groom having fun with the cake cutting – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsBride and groom having fun with the cake cutting – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsBaby pig on the farm – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsSparkler exit – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsJust a little bit of dancing under the circumstances – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsJust a little bit of dancing under the circumstances – Wildhorse at Parker FarmsCloseup ring picture – Wildhorse at Parker Farms
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