Matlyn + Zach
A Colorful Garden Party Wedding at The Barn at Bay Horse Inn
Matlyn and Zach’s wedding day was filled with color, faith, and the kind of joy that makes even an unpredictable Indiana forecast feel like part of the story. With a pastel garden party vision, an outdoor ceremony they had dreamed about from the beginning, and thoughtful details woven throughout the day, their celebration felt unmistakably like them.
And while Mother Nature kept us on our toes, one thing remained certain: if there was a way to make their dream ceremony happen outside, we were going to find it.
The Vision
From the beginning, Matlyn and Zach envisioned a colorful garden party filled with soft pastels, beautiful florals, plenty of candlelight, and lots of personality.
Even some of the smallest design details had a personal touch. Zach is an engineer, and when they needed a way to keep the taper candles perfectly straight inside their hurricane vases, he did what an engineer does: he designed a solution. Zach 3D printed custom candle holders to sit inside the bottom of each hurricane vase, meaning there wasn't a crooked taper candle in sight.
Our Navi rental collection also fit naturally into their vision. The greenery backdrop created a beautiful focal point for the celebration, while our cake stand gave another special detail its perfect place in the room.
Their faith is also an incredibly important part of who they are individually and as a couple, so they wanted their ceremony to reflect their shared love of Jesus. One of the most meaningful moments came during their unity ceremony. Together, they tied three cords to complete a cross, creating a beautiful representation of the faith at the center of their marriage.
Their ceremony details were paired with modern touches like phone wedding programs, bringing together meaningful traditions and details that felt completely personal to the two of them.
Bringing It All Together
Navi Coordination completed the full setup and tear down of Matlyn and Zach’s decor, and Matlyn made our job a dream by putting our organization tips and tricks to work before wedding day. Everything arrived organized, labeled, and ready for our team to bring their colorful garden party vision to life.
Our team set each table, filled the hurricane vases for the floating candles, styled the decor, and made sure all of those carefully planned details were ready before guests arrived.
While we were bringing the space together, Matlyn and Zach were creating some pretty special memories of their own.
They chose to incorporate several first looks into their day. Matlyn shared one with her bridesmaids and another with her stepdad, while Zach had a special first look with his mom. Finally, Matlyn and Zach shared their own first look together.
Beyond creating some incredibly sweet moments with the people closest to them, doing these first looks allowed so many of their photos to be completed before the ceremony. Once they said "I do," there was no need to spend a huge portion of cocktail hour working through a long photo list. They could get to the celebration they had been waiting for.
But first, we needed Mother Nature to cooperate.
In true Indiana fashion, the radar made an outdoor ceremony look nearly impossible. Because we always prepare for the possibility of a weather change, Plan B had already been created well in advance. At the same time, we had made Matlyn and Zach a promise: if there was a safe window to have their ceremony outside, we would do everything we could to make it happen.
Less than 30 minutes before guests were scheduled to arrive, the radar shifted.
It was go time.
We quickly updated the vendor team and began moving everything needed for the ceremony outside. Florals were relocated, their ceremony cross was moved into place, the unity ceremony details were reset, and aisle florals were transferred. Their DJ had already set up beneath the covered patio, holding onto the same hope we had that Mother Nature might just cooperate.
And she did.
Getting to tell Matlyn and Zach that their ceremony was going to be outside was one of those wedding-day moments that reminds us exactly why we do this. Their pure joy was worth every last-minute trip back and forth.
From Ceremony to Celebration
With the weather on our side, Matlyn and Zach were able to have the outdoor ceremony they had envisioned from the very beginning, surrounded by their loved ones, colorful florals, and the faith that had been intentionally woven throughout their day.
And because they had intentionally completed so many of their photos beforehand, once the ceremony ended, the celebration could begin.
Matlyn and Zach shared a choreographed first dance that was a true crowd pleaser before each sharing the dance floor with a parent for two especially meaningful dances. It was the perfect transition from the emotion of their ceremony into a reception filled with celebration.
But wedding-day problem solving wasn't quite finished yet.
Matlyn had planned a second look for the reception and, while changing, realized she had forgotten to pack socks for her personalized bridal sneakers.
Naturally, we offered the socks off our own feet.
There was just one tiny problem. Earlier in the day, while setting up, Navi owner and lead coordinator Hannah had cut the back of her ankle and bled into her shoe and sock. Matlyn, of course, knew absolutely nothing about this because brides should be blissfully unaware of bleeding coordinators and any other behind-the-scenes hiccups on their wedding day.
But we had a second look to make happen, and Hannah had a pair of socks.
So off they came.
Consider it a lesson learned: several brand-new pairs of socks now have a permanent home in the coveted Navi emergency kit—for future brides, forgotten footwear necessities, and, apparently, Hannah's future bleeding ankles.
The Final Result
Matlyn and Zach's day was the perfect example of why a wedding can be beautifully planned while still requiring flexibility in the moment.
Their colorful garden party vision came to life in everything from the soft florals and candlelit tables to a tiny 3D-printed detail designed by the groom himself. Their ceremony remained centered around their faith, and despite a forecast that initially seemed determined to change their plans, they got to say their vows outside just as they had always imagined.
They were intentional about making time for the people they loved, shared meaningful first looks with some of the most important people in their lives, and planned their timeline so that once they were officially married, they could actually enjoy the celebration alongside their guests.
They ended the evening beneath the glow of a sparkler send-off before climbing into one seriously snazzy getaway car and driving off as husband and wife.
Some wedding days go exactly according to Plan A. Others require Plan B to be waiting in the wings while you hold out just enough hope that Plan A might still be possible.
Matlyn and Zach's day was the latter—and we wouldn't have had it any other way.
THE DETAILS
Venue: The Barn at Bay Horse Inn
Coordination, Setup & Tear Down: Navi Coordination
Officiant: FamilyFriend
Catering: City BBQ
Photography: Jordan Childers Photography
Videography: Tyler Pierle
DJ: Family Friend, James Lawler
Glam Team: Kloe Nuenschwander + Stephanie Robbins
Linens & Napkins: A Classic Party Rental
