Makayla first stumbled across my work on Instagram, and almost instantly, we both knew we were speaking the same language. She reached out with this vision—classic, timeless, editorial, romantic, old money—and those words felt like home to me. I couldn’t help but think, “Yes, this is exactly what my camera was built for.” Enter Dresser Mansion, with its old Italian Renaissance bones, with quiet elegance. It was the perfect match for her heart and her style, like the venue had been waiting for her all along (and maybe a little for me, too).

What I loved most was how her vision was the kind of aesthetic that seeps out of someone naturally, rather than something borrowed. I wanted to honor that. So I leaned into the mansion’s texture—the way the stone caught the light, the way the architecture created frames—and let those details become part of their love story. My goal was to show how her vision and this venue belonged together.

A Family-Centered Dresser Mansion Wedding in Tulsa

Makayla and Jon’s wedding day was small by design—just 40 or 50 guests. Her sisters were the unofficial wedding planners, quietly keeping everything on track. Honestly, they could give some professional coordinators a run for their money, but in a sweeter, more sisterly way.

So, about the heat. It was one of those Oklahoma summer days where the air feels like soup, and not the comforting kind. High 90s, humid, the whole deal. If we’d attempted hours of outdoor photos, we’d all have melted into puddles—mascara and bow ties included. So we leaned into Dresser Mansion’s interiors instead, which turned out to be the best decision. The stone staircases, arched windows, and richly detailed rooms gave the photos an editorial, old-world quality. The result was a gallery that feels timeless and cool, despite the weather doing its best impression of a sauna.

Oklahoma Wedding Details

Makayla poured herself into every inch of this wedding. Truly, she was the planner, stylist, makeup artist, and designer all wrapped into one. She crafted the invitation suite by hand, designed the name card holders for each table, did her own hair and makeup, and still managed to float through the day with grace. Every detail reflected her.

And then, the food. Olive Garden. It was a tender nod to their first date, their beginning. Choosing that for their wedding meal was special. It reminded me that weddings don’t have to follow any rules but the ones you write for yourselves. Sometimes “old money” style comes with a side of fettuccine Alfredo, and honestly, I love that for them. This was a story of a couple who made choices that were bold in their simplicity, romantic in their honesty, and timeless in a way that only real love can be.

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