by Alyssa Bullock, Contributing Writer
Spring is just around the corner, which means wedding season is swiftly approaching. The newness of spring beckons brides choosing a wedding date, and venues with dates available for spring or summer weddings start disappearing as soon as a year beforehand. While planning a wedding can be an exciting process, it can also be incredibly stressful, whether due to a short engagement, limited budget, or specific expectations. One of the most difficult things for a bride, other than finding the perfect dress, is selecting where her envy-inducing, dream-fulfilling, fairy tale wedding is going to take place.
Until recently, brides in Stillwater were presented with a limited selection of venues if they dreamt of keeping the wedding festivities local. Churches and a handful of other places in Stillwater house ceremonies, but you’d be hard-pressed to find more than a couple of locations that host wedding ceremonies and receptions, have a contingency plan for the unpredictable weather of Oklahoma, and are large enough for an expanded party; an outdoor wedding is lovely, but wind and rain can ruin months of planning in minutes, and electricity and facilities can pose problems as well. Brides of all ages seeking style, elegance and that Oklahoma charm on a budget had few places to turn; however, that is changing.
In October of 2015, Ryan and Shelby Rogers opened Rosemary Ridge, a wedding and event venue on their family property. Located on West 6th Street, just outside Stillwater, this charming barn venue offers indoor and outdoor ceremony options, and a spacious reception hall. Engaged in spring of 2013, Ryan and Shelby wanted to get married on his family’s property, but had many things to consider, such as electricity, seating, and facilities, not to mention accommodations for the weather. The couple prayed about building a wedding venue on this property so they could bless others with a beautiful place to celebrate the joy of marriage, and two years later their venue, Rosemary Ridge, is up and running. While operating a wedding venue is not what they had in mind for their future, they are so thankful for Rosemary Ridge and excited for all that is to come.
Sparrow is another new wedding venue that will be opening in Stillwater. Located off 177, this venue offers a modern, yet rustic barn in a peaceful countryside setting. Sparrow was founded by Susan Hartford, a mother who had two daughters get engaged around the same time. Susan and her daughters Katie, Shelby, and Jessica had many ideas and expectations of perfect weddings, but soon discovered there was not a place in Stillwater to meet their vision; instead of becoming discouraged, these determined women found a piece of land and made their vision a reality. Construction began in early February and the venue is scheduled to be up and running by late November or early December, just in time for gorgeous winter weddings.
If you are a bride looking for a charming wedding venue in Stillwater, Oklahoma, you now have two more beautiful options to consider!
