Makena Lautner & Jacob Moore's Wedding at Ramble Creek — A Love Story Three Hours from Home

Photos by Victoria Bonvicini Photography

Every couple who comes through Ramble Creek brings something with them — a vision, a story, an energy that makes their day entirely their own. Makena and Jacob brought all of that, plus a pandemic, a backyard ceremony, and one of the most beautiful do-overs we have ever had the privilege of being part of.

We asked Makena to share her story in her own words, and we are so glad she did.

She Found Us Looking for Something Else

Makena will be the first to tell you that her venue research didn't exactly go as planned.

"When my husband and I first started talking about our dream wedding, I researched hours upon hours on Instagram for the perfect venue," she shared. "That's when I stumbled upon Ramble Creek. It had everything I ever wanted and more. Their beautiful white barn is what originally caught my eye. I loved that the venue had a beautiful piece of land — I've always dreamt of an outdoor wedding — and I also loved that it had a stunning indoor option as well."

Like a lot of couples, Makena's biggest fear was weather. The Grand Hall at Ramble Creek — with its soaring white-washed wood beams, natural light, and floor-length fireplace drapery — turned out to be the answer to that fear before she even asked the question.

"It was so comforting to know that Ramble Creek had the most amazing indoor option if need be," she said. "From the barn to the outdoor space, the bridal suite, the groomsmen suite, and all the amenities — it was a no-brainer."

There was just one small detail. When Makena went to map directions to this dreamy East Tennessee venue she'd found on Instagram, she discovered it was three hours from Nashville — not exactly the local venue search she'd been running.

"Apparently I didn't do a great job with my research for Nashville wedding venues," she laughed. "But by that time, I was already hooked. It didn't matter that it was three hours away. I gave up all my original plans just to have this place as our wedding venue — that's how much I loved it."

Planning from a Distance

Planning a wedding at a venue hours from home comes with its own set of challenges, and Makena was upfront about that.

"Obviously planning a so-called 'destination' wedding is a little stressful, just because you don't personally know the vendors in the area or can't visit as easily," she said. "The Ramble Creek staff was amazing and always welcomed my questions and put my mind at ease."

This is exactly why Ramble Creek was built the way it was — to take the coordination burden off couples, especially those traveling from out of the area. With in-house catering, floral,hair and makeup, DJ services, and a dedicated planning team walking alongside you from the moment you book, the distance becomes far less daunting than it sounds.

Then COVID Happened

Makena and Jacob were planning a May 1st wedding. And then 2020 happened.

"When COVID ruined all of our wedding plans, it was quite literally the most heartbreaking thing I've ever gone through," Makena shared. "I've dreamt of my wedding day since I was a little girl, and I basically had everything already planned out on my Pinterest board."

The weeks leading up to May 1st were a blur of changing plans and difficult decisions. But through all of it, one thing stayed constant.

"Jake and I knew that no matter what, we were going to get married on our wedding day. We just didn't know what it was going to look like."

They ended up exchanging vows on May 1st in her parents' backyard, with only their immediate families present. It was small. It was simple. And it was exactly what it needed to be.

"Although it was heartbreaking, it brought reality into perspective and really stripped down all the beautiful things that come with a wedding — the flowers, the dress, the dancing. It really showed us what marriage is all about. We wanted to be united as husband and wife, and nothing else really mattered."

Through every twist, Makena says Ramble Creek walked right alongside them. "The one thing that calmed my mind was how patient and generous Ramble Creek was with us through that heartbreaking process."

The Celebration They Always Deserved

About four months after May 1st, with the worst of the pandemic restrictions easing, Makena and Jacob finally made their way to Ramble Creek. This time with their closest friends and family in tow.

And it was everything.

Special moments woven throughout the ceremony — praise and worship, a prayer together, heartfelt speeches — gave the day a depth that only comes from a couple who already knows exactly what their marriage is built on. (Makena's best friend is her brother, which may be one of the sweetest things we've ever heard.) The love in the room was palpable, and we mean that in the literal sense. You could feel it.

It was one of our favorite weddings ever. Not because everything went according to plan (it very much didn't) but because of what Makena and Jacob showed us about why any of this matters in the first place.

We could not be more grateful they chose Ramble Creek for their celebration. And we could not be more thrilled for what came next: a few months after their wedding, Makena and Jacob announced they were expecting a baby boy. That little one is already so lucky.

Watch Makena and Jacob's wedding video: Light Cannon Films

Vendor Team:
Planner & Event Stylist: Ninth and Everett, Josiah Carr
Photographer: Victoria Bonvicini
Videographer: Light Cannon Films
Floral Design: Sarah Oakland
Dress & Suit: Olia Zavozina

Thinking about making the drive to Ramble Creek? A lot of our couples are glad they did. Schedule a tour →