Real Wedding · September 2023

Shelby & Cole Todd

On September 3, 2023, Shelby and Cole Todd said “I do” at The French Farmhouse Venue — an elegant fall wedding filled with stunning details, a world-class vendor team, and a love story that filled every corner of the space.

In Her Own Words

“Our favorite day! Cole & I are high school sweethearts, after meeting in 6th grade and becoming close friends until finally making it official when we were 16! We had the privilege of marrying on our 7 year dating anniversary. After working in the wedding industry for a couple of years, it was so special to experience my own. Our favorite moment was our first touch & private vows, something that calmed our nerves and reminded us of the feeling of home each other’s presence provides. After that, our favorite memories were our delicious dinner (which we have made a tradition of — each year, Catered Roots comes to our home to prepare our same wedding dinner!!!) and then partying with our loved ones after! Can’t recommend having a band more — it truly felt like a private concert! It was the best day and we are so grateful for the FFH team!”
— Shelby Todd, Bride

The Morning Of

Getting ready inside The French Farmhouse bridal suite — pearl robes, matching PJs, the gold mirror, and all the girls together before the big moment.

Shelby having her makeup applied inside The French Farmhouse bridal suite, wearing a white pearl-embellished robe, her long brunette waves styled down, the ornate gold vanity mirror and warm Edison bulb sconces glowing behind her

Shelby and her bridesmaids in matching champagne pinstripe pajama sets getting ready together inside The French Farmhouse bridal suite, reflected in the ornate gold floor mirror, the teal velvet accent chair and white shiplap walls surrounding them

First Touch & Private Vows

Shelby and Cole shared their private vows through the antique door — holding hands, reading letters, and calming each other’s nerves before the ceremony. Just as Shelby described: a moment that felt like home.

Shelby and Cole standing back to back on either side of the antique distressed white door inside The French Farmhouse, holding hands around the door frame while reading their private vow letters, the curved staircase and angel statue visible behind Cole, Shelby smiling softly at her letter in her lace fitted gown

Close-up of Shelby beaming as she reads Cole's private vow letter, her lace fitted gown and pearl necklace glowing in the soft natural light, Cole in his navy suit visible behind her through the antique door frame, their hands still intertwined

The Bridesmaids

Champagne satin, coral and blush bouquets, and the most joyful bridesmaids reveal — these girls were absolutely glowing.

Shelby surrounded by her six bridesmaids in champagne satin gowns inside The French Farmhouse bridal suite, all laughing and looking at each other, holding lush bouquets of coral, blush, peach, and cream garden roses, dahlias, and ranunculus, the ornate white mirror and floor-to-ceiling windows with oak trees glowing behind them

Six bridesmaids in champagne satin gowns lined up against the white shiplap wall of The French Farmhouse bridal suite, mouths open and screaming with joy as Shelby in her white lace wedding gown turns to reveal herself for the first time, the reaction completely unscripted and electric

The Ceremony

The chapel was filled with lush greenery, blush and peach florals, and candlelight — the antique arch draped in climbing roses and vines against the floor-to-ceiling windows and summer oak trees. Absolutely stunning.

Wide shot of The French Farmhouse chapel set for Shelby and Cole's ceremony — soaring cathedral ceilings with exposed wood beams, crystal chandeliers, white Chiavari chairs lining the aisle, lush blush and peach floral clusters with pillar candles at each row end, the antique carved white arch flanked by tall floral columns at the altar, floor-to-ceiling windows with summer oak trees glowing behind

Close-up of the antique carved white arch at the altar of The French Farmhouse chapel, draped in lush climbing greenery, blush garden roses, peach ranunculus, and white flowers cascading down both sides, pillar candles in glass cylinders at the base, the floor-to-ceiling windows and summer oak trees glowing in the background

Wide aerial shot of Shelby and Cole sharing their first kiss at the altar inside The French Farmhouse chapel, soaring exposed wood beams and floor-to-ceiling windows framing the moment, lush blush and peach floral columns flanking the antique arch, groomsmen in navy suits and bridesmaids in champagne gowns standing on either side, white Chiavari chairs and candlelit aisle florals filling the chapel

Aerial shot looking straight down the aisle of The French Farmhouse chapel as Shelby and Cole share their first kiss as husband and wife, blush and peach floral clusters and pillar candles lining both sides of the aisle, guests in black tie seated in white Chiavari chairs on either side, the light wood floors and soft natural light creating a dreamy overhead perspective

Couples Portraits

Golden hour beside the chapel — that warm September light wrapping around them like it knew exactly what it was doing.

Close-up of Shelby and Cole pressing their foreheads together outside The French Farmhouse chapel, Shelby's hand cradling Cole's face, her pearl-edged veil cascading over her lace gown, Cole's navy suit boutonniere with a blush peach rose, warm golden backlight flooding the frame with a soft lens flare

Shelby and Cole embracing in front of The French Farmhouse chapel exterior, Cole holding her close with his hand on her back, Shelby's cathedral veil billowing behind her lace gown, the white board-and-batten chapel with Gothic arched windows and mature oak trees glowing in warm golden afternoon light behind them

Cocktail Hour

Guests spilled out onto the lawn as the sun went down — white draping, gold chandeliers, and the stone fountain glowing in the evening light. The French Farmhouse grounds at dusk are something else entirely.

The Reception

Blush florals in bud vases, gold charger plates, crystal glassware, and towering acrylic candelabras — and the Jordan Kahn Orchestra set up in front of the antique barn doors for what Shelby called “a private concert.”

Reception tablescape at The French Farmhouse Venue shot through the back of a cross-back chair, table 14 set with white linen, gold-rimmed charger plates, crystal goblets, blush and cream garden roses in bud vases, a gold table number stand, and votive candles, towering acrylic candelabras and cross-back chairs filling the reception hall behind

The Jordan Kahn Orchestra stage set up inside The French Farmhouse reception hall — Pearl drum kit, saxophone, trumpet, and guitars arranged in front of the ornate antique carved wood barn doors with marquee bulb lighting, white and gold geometric stage facade panels in the foreground, soaring floor-to-ceiling windows flooding the space with natural light

One of our all-time favorite seating chart experiences — Shelby did a “Pick Your Seat” floral escort card wall where every single guest got to walk up and pull their own card from a flower stem. Interactive, beautiful, and something every guest talked about all night.

Shelby and Cole's floral escort card wall seating chart display at The French Farmhouse Venue — a lush arrangement of blush, peach, and cream garden roses, ranunculus, and greenery with individual wooden escort card picks tucked into the blooms, each bearing a guest's name and table number, the entire display mounted on a white lattice frame with a 'Pick Your Seat' sign at the top

Shelby beaming in the center of her bridesmaids in champagne satin gowns on the dance floor inside The French Farmhouse reception hall, all holding glowing foam batons and glow sticks, laughing and posing for the camera, guests dancing in the background under the warm Edison bulb lighting

A guest in a navy suit and straw fedora completely losing himself on the dance floor at The French Farmhouse reception, mid-spin with a foam baton balanced on his shoulder, colorful uplighting washing the room in blue and purple, Shelby in her lace gown visible dancing beside him

The Send-Off

The Jordan Kahn trumpet player led them out the arched doors as the entire crowd lined the courtyard — and Cole dipped Shelby into one final kiss while everyone went absolutely wild. The perfect ending to the best day.