Ryleigh and Logan Bever’s Fall Wedding at The Ponds Venue: A Perfect Blend of Family, Nature, and Love

Not long after meeting each other’s families, Ryleigh Butler and Logan Bever realized something: The dynamic felt comfortable.

“I was like, Wow. This is somebody that I can really see myself with and a family that I feel comfortable with,” Ryleigh says. “It just felt like home.”

Ryleigh, a third grade teacher, and Logan, a factory manager, first met on a dating app in 2018. The couple found common ground in their love for the outdoors, especially going hunting and off-roading. Soon, Logan asked Ryleigh’s mother for her blessing. At a family party in July 2022, he popped the question — using a ring custom made with gold from Ryleigh’s late father’s wedding band and diamonds from her mother’s engagement ring.

“He proposed to me right there, in front of all of our friends and family, which was super, super special,” she recalls.

Replete with calming neutral tones, thoughtful touches and the splendor of nature, the now Kent residents’ Oct. 27, 2023, wedding at the Ponds Venue in Beach City officially united the couple — and their families — as one.

From the Bride

Jump In: When we pulled up to the Ponds, it was immediate. Both of us looked at each other, with his mom, and we were like, Oh, this is it. … The pond that we got married in front of is completely surrounded by trees, and we were getting married in the fall, so that was something that we were really looking for.

Quick Change: I wanted two dresses. … I wanted it to be fun and funky because my other dress was so clean and sleek. … My personality is definitely over the top. Anything that I do, I want it to be big, and I want it to be shocking. And so, I figured, What is more shocking than A — a second dress — and B — a second dress that is completely sparkly?

Love Boat: I had known a little bit ahead of time that we were getting in the boat, and we were going to take a picture. And I knew it was going to be awesome, but I had no idea it was going to be as great as it was. … Two of the groomsmen were out there with us, and they did such a fabulous job to hold the boat steady.

Brand New: I wanted to do something different for the unity ceremony. … How cool would it be if we could figure out how we could brand this cowhide rug, and then that could be a piece in our home that we use? … My aunt bought us the rug as a wedding gift, and so that felt super special too. She got to be a part of it. … It ended up working out flawlessly, and the brand on the rug looks great.

From the Groom

Hang Out: Me and all of the groomsmen … we got to shoot skeet for the first two hours. That was really cool. There was a pond there, so we all got our rods and stuff, and we had an hour to catch fish.

Alone Time: We did a first look. That might have been the best part, because it was just us two.

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