Christine and Johnathon’s Relaxed Summer Vineyard Wedding in Missouri by Miles Witt Boyer Photography

Today I am delighted to bring you this gorgeous wedding from Missouri, this stunning summer Vineyard wedding of Christine and Johnathon who were married at Sassafras Springs Vineyard. With a vision centered on creating a relaxed and romantic atmosphere, Johnathon and Christine incorporated soft summer tones, natural greenery, and vineyard-inspired elements to complement their setting. The celebration seamlessly blended American and Vietnamese traditions, from heartfelt dances and toasts to interactive table greetings during dinner. Every little detail, from their carefully chosen attire to a thoughtfully planned menu, contributed to a day that felt both elevated and personal. Surrounded by loved ones, their wedding became not only a beautiful event but a genuine reflection of their relationship: intentional, joyful, and rooted in connection. Big thanks to Miles Witt Boyer Photography for the gorgeous photos.

From a Blind Date to Forever

When Johnathon and Christine were married, their wedding day reflected a deeply personal and curated celebration rooted in faith, family, and shared experiences. The couple first met on a blind date arranged by their family members in their hometown of Joplin, Missouri. This would be the beginning of a meaningful and beautiful proposal inspired by their travels together, culminating in a ceremony at a glass chapel in Bella Vista, Arkansas. Their wedding unfolded as a warm and sunlit day filled with joy, beginning with a traditional Catholic ceremony and continuing into an elegant yet inviting reception designed to feel calm, cozy, and full of light.

How did you meet?
Jonathan and I met during a blind date set up by Johnathon’s mom and my sister. We met in our hometown of Joplin, MO.

What is your proposal story? 
Jonathan invited me to the glass chapel in Bella Vista, Arkansas, under the sneaky pretense of family photos. Our first trip together was to see the glass chapel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. We saw the glass chapel in Hot Springs the year after that. Johnathon saved the closest and most special for last.

Can you describe your wedding day? 
The day was very sunny and warm. There were very few clouds and it felt great outside. Golden hour had a nice wind and it was just perfect. The day was full of joy, light and love.

We wanted a calm, cozy, well-lit space that felt relaxing and soft for the reception, and we got it! Our wedding day felt like a wonderful dream. We are so grateful for the presence of so many family and friends. It was simply beautiful and so much fun!

The ceremony was at noon at the church where we got married and celebrated a catholic mass presided by my uncle and two priest family friends. There was space in between the ceremony and reception to take some photos at Sassafrass Springs, our reception venue. Cocktail hour started at 5pm, where we hung out on the beautifully decorated and relaxing veranda. A cellist and violinist played a mix of classical and popular music (my favorite was when they played Colors of the Wind)! We had a grand entrance for the reception, followed by our first dance to Alphaville’s Forever Young, father-daughter dance, and mother-son dance. Our reception had a tasteful mix of American and Vietnamese wedding traditions. During dinner, we not only had some toasts and speeches, but we also did Vietnamese table greetings, where we went table to table to receive toasts and gifts. We cut our cake, snuck away for sunset photos, danced, and got sent off in Johnathon’s Corvette. The most fun we have ever had at a party!

How did you approach the food and dining experience?
We had two delicious meals to choose from. The first was a steak meal with harvest vegetables and mashed potatoes. The other was a gluten-free spinach lasagna. The kids were served a fun meal of mac and cheese and chicken tenders.

What did you choose for your wedding cake?
We loved our cake and how beautiful it was! Our wedding cake from Shelby Lynn’s had white cake with brown butter pineapple cream. A 3-tier, formally decorated cake. The decoration matched the reference we provided perfectly, with pastel pressed flowers and greenery from top to bottom, as well as some fresh flowers from Althea Wiles with Rose of Sharon Floral Design. We also had some other flavors: white cake with hummingbird cream, chocolate cake with Bavarian cream, and carrot cake with cream cheese. The groom’s cake was a gluten-free white cake with lemon cream. So delicious!

What was the inspiration behind the floral design?
We wanted decorations to match the vineyard exterior to make the place feel green and natural. We liked summer colors like soft peach, blush, and yellow florals for our wedding in June. We wanted it to feel light, natural, organic, romantic, lush, and whimsical.

What was your inspiration for the fashion?
I chose the softest and lightest wedding dress that I had ever seen and felt. It also had a subtle, beautiful layer of shimmery sparkle. Tesori asked the designer for her, and the designer kindly removed the ruffles at the top of the original dress design. Anita’s Fine Tailoring added a soft off-the-shoulder sleeve to the dress. At the end of the night, I changed into a cute, comfortable dress from Reformation.
Johnathon chose a navy suit from Hubbard’s to match the season and color palette we had planned. Made to fit him, the suit looked amazing on him

Do you have any budget-saving tips for other couples?
Definitely write down your budget and figure out what you want to spend in each category. Do your research on how much things typically cost in your area. Buy what you can from Facebook marketplace, and check out bin and thrift stores for amazing deals.

Supplier Shout Outs

• Ceremony Venue: St. Joseph Catholic Church, www.sjfay.com/
• Reception Venue: Sassafras Springs Vineyard, www.sassafrasspringsvineyard.com/
• Wedding Planner: Mary Vu (with Alexis Stone as our wedding day manager)www.alexisstoneevents.com/
• DJ: Brock Entertainment, www.djbrockentertainment.com
• Catering: Catering Unlimited, www.cateringunlimitednwa.com
• Florist: Rose of Sharon Floral Design Studio, www.roseofsharon-eventflorist.com/
• Rentals: Alchemy Event Rentals, alchemy-event-rentals.com/
• Officiant: Rev. Jimmy Pham, CRM
• Hair Stylist: Blossom Beauty (for bride), www.blossombeautyar.com
• Hair Stylist: NWA Occasions (for bridesmaids), www.nwaoccasions.com/
• Makeup Artist: Blossom Beauty, www.blossombeautyar.com/
• Photographer: Miles Witt Boyer Photography, www.mileswittboyer.com
• Invitations: MintedInvitations, www.minted.com/wedding-invitations
• Wedding Dress Designer: Beccar, atelierbeccar.com/
• Wedding Dress Store: Tesori Bridal, www.tesoribridal.com
• Bridesmaids Dresses: Birdy Grey, www.birdygrey.com
• Groom’s Suit/Tux: Hubbard Clothing Co, hubbardclothing.com
• Groomsmen Suits/Tuxes: Men’s Wearhouse, www.menswearhouse.com
• Wedding bands: Eden Garden Jewelry, edengardenjewelry.com
• Bride’s engagement ring: Newton’s Jeweler’s, newtonsjoplin.com
• Cake: Shelby Lynn’s Cake Shoppe, shelbylynnscakeshoppe.com
• Cello: Cello by Austin (for reception cocktail hour), www.cellobyaustin.com
• Photobooth: BrightBooths Photobooth (at reception), brightbooths.com