This Modern Barn Celebration is Full of Rustic Elegance: The Real Wedding of Jaclyn Gentis and Dominic Banas

Dominic and Jaclyn first met when Dominic moved to Jaclyn's school in fourth grade, and they both had a crush on each other for a while. They began dating in middle school, meaning this July is thirteen years together! While vacationing in the Tennessee mountains, Dominic proposed to Jaclyn, surrounded by breathtaking scenery. "It was more perfect than I ever could’ve imagined!" Jaclyn gushes.
 

Instead of going the traditional route of trying on dresses in a bridal shop, Jaclyn decided to shop another way. She utilized an at-home try-on option from an online retailer. "I absolutely loved that they offered this option and how easy the process was," Jaclyn raves. " I actually had a completely different style dress in mind but after trying them on and not being satisfied or falling in love, I started to look and order dresses that were not my typical style, and I’m so glad I did!" We love her Art Deco-inspired gown! The delicate beading on the gown gives it a unique air of elegance that was unrivaled by the other dresses Jaclyn tried.
 

When they first started wedding planning, it was easy for Jaclyn and Dominic to get a little overwhelmed with the details. Thankfully, their photographer helped them by giving samples of timelines and plenty of advice. One thing they knew from the beginning was that they wanted to get married with an outdoor ceremony and an indoor barn reception. Jaclyn and Dominic ended up finding a relatively new and updated barn venue that was family owned and operated and exceptionally stunning. Once they had that, everything started to fall into place!
 

For their color scheme, Jaclyn and Dominic decided to go with some of their favorite colors, selecting navy, dusty blue and lavender to accent the greenery around them. They ended up creating a wedding with juxtaposed themes as well. With the barn venue, they had modern and rustic touches. However, the décor they chose created an elegant and slightly boho vibe along with some vintage details. To create a more elevated experience, Jaclyn and Dominic asked all their guests to wear black-tie formal attire, which amplified the elegance of their celebration.
 

 

What We Love

Like many couples, Jaclyn and Dominic dedicated a table at their reception to hold photos of those who unfortunately couldn't be there on their wedding day. For keepsake purposes, Jaclyn and Dominic also included an audio guestbook where guests could leave voice messages instead of little notes. They also included a car that they bought together and Dominic fixed up, which also made an appearance in their engagement photos. Our favorite detail, though, is that their specialty drinks were named after their dogs, who weren't there to celebrate their big day!
 

 

Advice from the Couple

Jaclyn advises, "Your wedding day is all about you and your soon-to-be-spouse! Meaning, don't let too many outside opinions waiver your decisions. I know this can be difficult in the moment, but it is so worth it at the end of your special day! Stick by each other's side as much as possible and don't let others split you up in different directions. There is so much going on during a wedding and the day goes by so fast! Once again, the day is dedicated to you two and your love so stay by each other's side the whole night! My husband and I stuck with this plan and we absolutely loved it! Don't forget to take several moments throughout the day to just pause and take everything in! You’ve worked so hard for this moment so take some time to enjoy and appreciate everything! When planning your wedding, make a budget and stick to it! There are so many unexpected expenses that can add up very fast so really try to stick to a budget that works for you!"
 

 

 

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