Ashley and Michael’s wedding day at Four Oaks Country Club in Dracut was filled with sweet family moments, a little bit of rain, plenty of laughter, and one very packed dance floor. We spent the day watching the weather closely, but even a little mist couldn’t get in the way of these two officially becoming Mr. and Mrs. Tulley!

The morning started downstairs in Four Oaks’ newly renovated bridal suite, where Ashley got ready surrounded by her bridesmaids and some seriously adorable flower girls. The entire crew wore matching hydrangea-print pajamas, which made for the cutest getting-ready photos before everyone changed into their wedding-day looks.

It was time to get Ashley into her gown. Her dress was sleek, elegant, and absolutely beautiful on her. Once everything was in place, we gathered the bridesmaids together for a final reveal. Ashley stepped out to show them the complete look, and their reactions were exactly what you hope for... huge smiles, excitement, and plenty of love for their girl.

Meanwhile, upstairs in the tavern, Michael and the guys were hanging out and getting ready for the afternoon ahead. With everyone dressed and ready to go, it was officially time for first looks.

Ashley’s first was with her dad, and it was such an emotional moment between the two of them. There is always something special about that first moment a dad sees his daughter as a bride, and this one was no exception.

Next, it was Michael’s turn.

Ashley made her way over for their first look, and the second Michael turned around, you could see just how stunned he was by her. It was such a touching moment between the two of them and gave them a few minutes together before the whirlwind of the rest of the day began.

One of the biggest perks of doing a first look is being able to tackle a huge portion of the formal portraits before the ceremony, so that is exactly what we did! We moved through wedding party and family combinations, getting as much accomplished as we could so everyone could relax and enjoy the celebration once the ceremony was over.

The ceremony took place outside in Four Oaks Country Club’s beautiful courtyard, with the flowing fountain creating the prettiest backdrop behind Ashley and Michael as they exchanged their vows. We had managed to dodge the rain for most of the day, but Mother Nature decided to give us just a little mist during the ceremony. Thankfully, it stayed light enough that everything could continue outdoors as planned.

Their ceremony was short and sweet... and just like that, they were officially married!

Afterward, we hopped onto golf carts and headed out to one of the nearby greens for a few more portraits of the newlyweds. And somehow, I ended up behind the wheel of one of them! I’m pretty sure this was my first time actually driving a golf cart, and I was giggling like a little kid the entire time. Sometimes it’s the random little moments on wedding days that end up being the most fun.

We may not have gotten a dramatic sunset, but honestly, we didn’t need one. The overcast sky gave us the most beautiful soft, filtered light across the course, which was perfect for portraits. We spent a little time wandering the green, grabbed some final photos of Ashley and Michael together, and then I officially released them from formal-photo duty for the rest of the night!

Cocktail hour was waiting back at the clubhouse, with guests enjoying drinks and plenty of delicious bites out on the patio. Ashley and Michael also had some really fun alternatives to the traditional guest book. Guests could take their own selfies with an instant camera and add them to a book with messages for the newlyweds. There was also a hand-painted tree created by a friend, where everyone added their fingerprints as leaves... such a personal keepsake from the day.

Then it was time to party.

The wedding party kicked off the reception entrances carrying individual letter signs that came together to spell THE TULLEYS, before Ashley and Michael came bursting into the room and went straight into their first dance.

After their dance, the Maid of Honor and Best Man took over the microphone for speeches before everyone settled in for dinner. Later in the evening, Ashley and Michael cut their wedding cake and shared their parent dances.

Ashley’s dance with her dad had an especially sweet surprise. Partway through their dance, she stopped and invited her uncle onto the dance floor to share the rest of the song with her. It was such a meaningful moment and one of those little pieces of a wedding day that feels so much bigger than just a dance.

Once the formalities were finished, the dance floor absolutely took off.

At some point, someone’s belt became a limbo stick... because apparently that is what belts are for at weddings. Even Michael’s mom joined in! Between the limbo, flashing foam lights, loud music, and some very enthusiastic dance moves, the party stayed going strong.

Ashley eventually snuck away for one final surprise... a dress change!

She traded her sleek wedding gown for the cutest little mini dress draped in pearl details, and when she made her way back onto the dance floor, the crowd went crazy. It was the perfect party look to finish out the night, and she jumped right back into the celebration with everyone.

Ashley and Michael, thank you so much for trusting us to capture your wedding day and all of the moments that came along with it. Congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs. Tulley!

And a huge thank you to the wonderful staff at Four Oaks Country Club for taking such great care of everyone throughout the day, along with all of the talented vendors who helped bring Ashley and Michael’s celebration together. It takes an incredible team to make a wedding day happen, and I’m always so grateful to be a small part of it.