This Wedding Had a Beautiful Outdoor Setting Complete With On-Site Cabins

Their Story

Emily and Austin tied the knot on October 7, 2023 at Magnolia Streamside Resort in the Poconos. The pair met while both were in college at Monmouth University during a party where some banter about Jeeps (she owned and did work on one) and wolves (her parents own a wolf preserve) led…nowhere, until a year later when they ran into each other again. “At the end of the night, our hug goodbye turned into a ‘the rest is history’ moment when we realized our friendship had turned into a lot more,” she says.

The Proposal

Unbeknownst to Emily, Austin was planning to propose while the couple was on a trip with friends to California and Lake Tahoe. The day before they were set to leave Yosemite National Park, Emily twisted her ankle.

“After a few hours, my ankle had swelled to the size of an orange, and my friends and Austin seemed very tense. We got some ice, propped it up, and I went to bed early, while they all panicked that I wouldn’t be able to do the hike the next morning,” she remembers. “I woke up and Austin had gotten medical tape. His days of football and visits to the trainer paid off, because he wrapped my ankle up nice and tight and I was able to stuff it in my boot and do the hike.”

At the top, on August 16, 2019, Austin proposed.

Choosing the Venue

Magnolia Streamside Resort was everything the couple wanted in a venue—a beautiful outdoor setting, with cabins for them and a number of their guests to stay in for the entire weekend. The ceremony space within a tree clearing between a stream and pond was so peaceful, and the open reception pavilion had just the amount of rustic they wanted.

They were able to have their rehearsal dinner and Sunday morning brunch onsite, and the farm-to-table-style menu options were impressive and delicious. The venue coordinator, Cheyenne, also played a large role in their decision.

Details of the Day

“We fell in love with the location of our venue and wanted the design of our day to enhance, rather than take away, from the beautiful natural surroundings,” says Emily. “Early on in planning and designing our save the date, Austin and I chose warm earthy tones and carried that through to our day. We used shades of forest green, sepia, terracotta, amber, mauve, dusty blush and small hints of deeper burgundy for our early October date.

“Being an owner of a floral and event design company, Stems Floral & Event Design, the tablescapes and florals for the day were definitely a top priority,” says Emily. “My partner and I created a design with plenty of flowers, plenty of candles, and even stylized with extra touches like mushrooms, figs, cheesecloth napkins and decorative mauve water glasses.”

She and Austin made welcome bags with goodies including custom Camp Kugler cookies and maps of the property. Favors were cocktail infusion jars with dehydrated fruits and spices, and custom labels with the couple’s logo.

Favorite Moment

“Five days before our wedding, my mom was admitted to the hospital. After many stressful days of not knowing what was going on, we got news the day before that she would likely need surgery on the day of the wedding unless her condition drastically changed,” says Emily.

The couple’s families planned to set up Zoom to stream the ceremony, “but we were all crushed that she wouldn’t be there.” “Long story short, my mom checked herself out of the hospital and walked right outside… I was outside with my bridesmaids popping champagne and taking photos when we saw her walk up, and we all immediately broke into tears. My amazing make-up and hair vendors waited for her arrival, got her all made up, and she was able to attend the ceremony in person, and after a nap, even made part of our reception,” says Emily.

Detail They Couldn’t Live Without

” I like to think—and have been told—that I kept any ‘bridezilla’ tendencies completely hidden. I lasted through the week with my mom in the hospital, designing my own flowers with my partner and team, and all of the ups and downs of a wedding week, with only a few meltdowns. The one thing I forgot was fresh figs for the tablescapes—something I simply couldn’t do without. I texted my bridal party, and immediately got back responses that they’d all go out shopping for figs. It was such a ridiculous detail in the grand scheme of the day, but I was very happy to see them on our tables!

“In the grander scheme of things…our band! We saw the Suyat Band live and immediately knew we were booking them. We opted for an eight-piece band with the inclusion of a female singer, and it was truly the best decision. We are still getting compliments months later on how amazing the music was, and how guests literally danced the night away.”

Advice for Other Couples

“Choose your vendors wisely!! Austin and I both said so many times the week of our wedding and through the entire weekend how grateful we were for our vendor team. Everyone we worked with was beyond accommodating and made a very stressful week so much easier for us.

“Being a vendor myself, I gained such a different perspective as a bride and all of the emotions you go through. Vendors with the most Instagram followers and likes are not always the best fit for you. After talking to vendors, the ones we chose were ones we had a genuine connection with.

“Our photographer had so many similar designs from her own previous wedding and was so bubbly and fun. Our planner was someone I had worked with years ago, and just got the vision and expectations for the day and coordinated seamlessly with our venue coordinator and other vendors.

“The beyond talented hair and make-up ladies made everyone feel their absolute best, while chatting and laughing through the morning.

“The band added in special touches—like serenading my parents for a special slow dance—and truly cared about our taste and selections. We had nothing but great things to say about the people we hired, because we picked people we felt comfortable with, and ultimately had a ton of fun with during our day!”