I had the privilege of working with Madeline Stuart and it was an incredible experience. Although we received a lot of praise for "breaking boundaries," it was never our intention. I've noticed that many brides and grooms are challenging traditions, standing up to their families and thinking outside the box. So, I want to take a moment to give a shout-out to some amazing women who did just that. The Rixey Family brides were all unique and each rocked their wedding in their own way. While I could tell you about each one, it would take all day, so I'll highlight just five! To see more stunning photos, please visit our website.

5. Stephanie's Porch Ceremony

Stephanie and Alex are a lovely couple who stood out for many reasons, but what really set them apart was their ability to think outside the box. When the weather threatened to rain on their outdoor ceremony, they faced a dilemma. Normally, in such a wet weather circumstance, the wedding would be moved indoors to the ballroom. However, Stephanie was determined to be surrounded by nature and suggested having the ceremony on the front porch. There was some scrambling to make it happen, including the removal of storm doors, but the result was spectacular. Though Stephanie didn't have a long aisle to walk down, the moment she tapped Alex on the shoulder and he burst into tears, there wasn't a dry eye in the house.

4. Steve and Ali's Wedding Compromise

It's not uncommon to see brides excitedly planning their weddings while the groom takes a more passive role. However, this was not the case with Steve and Ali. While Ali would have been content with eloping, Steve wanted the experience of a traditional white wedding. In the spirit of compromise, they decided that Steve would plan the wedding with the help of a planner. The couple decided to break with tradition and have a two-hour cocktail hour instead of a sit-down dinner. The wedding featured a rooftop sunset ceremony and Ali wore a reworked version of her mother's wedding dress. Despite these non-traditional elements, the couple had a wedding for our history books!

3. Gwen's Homemade Dress

The title says it all: wedding dresses, like brides, come in all shapes, sizes, and styles, and for some brides, it can be difficult to find "the one". While designing your own wedding dress with your mother may not be an option for everyone, as it requires a mom who can sew, it can be an amazing experience to create the dress of your dreams.

2. Brunch for a wedding

I want to give a shout-out to two wonderful couples who served up some delicious food at their parties. They both served scrambled eggs, gravy, and fried chicken, which was a hit with all the guests. Remember the famous saying, "it's your party, you can cry if you want to"? Well, the same holds true for the food. If you love brunch, then have brunch at your party. It's your day, and your guests are there to celebrate you. So, go ahead and have that donut cake or any other dish you desire. Also, don't forget this rule applies to tacos, lasagna, tandoori, or any other favorite dish you may have.

1. Halloween wedding

The men had their own hair and makeup, and the costumes were specially commissioned for the occasion. The Manor was transformed into a massive haunted house, complete with an animatronic fire-breathing dog. The couple and their equally amazing friends and family were fully committed to the theme and celebrated in style.