Today we are featuring a gorgeous Wedding at Top of the Rock, part of Big Cedar Lodge in Ridgedale Missouri (near Branson). Big Cedar Lodge is a really special wedding venue in the Ozark Mountains but is also an extraordinary vacation spot for so many families. I’ve stayed there many times, in addition to photographing many weddings at the Rustic wedding venue. Terrica and Nick elevated their wedding by bringing in a dream team of vendors (see the list at the bottom of today’s post). That, and the couple has impeccable style and taste. This classy, black-tie wedding at Big Cedar shows how great the space can look. Let’s get started.

Some of these images you saw yesterday in the details post, but I wanted to throw in a photo collage of the wedding details to set the scene for this wedding day. It was a beautiful vibe, carried throughout the wedding day and into the wedding reception (also at Top of the Rock).

For more details from this wedding, check out yesterday’s post: Big Cedar Wedding Details.

I had to shoot this shot, because I photographed the same type of image during the couple’s engagement photos. Note to brides and grooms: if you’re going to wear great shoes, we are going to need to take great photographs of those shoes.

Okay… in that shot above, who else sees Mickey Mouse? It’s a little nod to all my Disney lovers out there.

Next up, here is a mini photo collage of the wedding preparations and first looks. I love bridesmaid’s first looks almost as much as a bride and groom first look.

Then of course we had ourselves a Wedding at Top of the Rock. The chapel is really beautiful (and also really bright). I do like how light just wrapped around the couple when they were saying their vows.

Okay… oh my goodness. We are moving on from the Wedding at Top of the Rock and into the reception. LIke I said yesterday, Amanda Reed Weddings slayed this reception setup. Also, Shelby Lynn’s Cake Shoppe in Springdale Arkansas made an all-black wedding cake to fit the couple’s color palette.

Oh, let’s back up a second before our big finale. If you’re going to have a Wedding at Top of the Rock, we are going to be using that gorgeous sunset light for some benny backlight images. I love the warm glow of the sun as it sets over the Ozark Mountains.

Okay, and finally, here is the big finish for this dreamy event. The crazy thing about this fireworks image is that lighting was striking in the distance at the same time, which lit up the sky. I thought that was a really cool addition to this photograph. After all, love is electric, right?

I do have one more post from this wedding that I’ll share soon. It will be a post for photographers about timing and how to get the perfect shot with milliseconds are critical. Stay tuned for that!

Talk to you soon,
Dale

For more weddings and events shot with Amanda Reed Weddings, check out the posts below:
Bridgerton-Inspired Wedding Styled Photoshoot
Carnall Hall Wedding and Reception

Big Cedar Lodge Wedding at Top of the Rock Dream Team:

• PLANNING + DESIGN – AMANDA REED WEDDINGS 
• VENUE – TOP OF THE ROCK CHAPEL AND WINE EVENT ROOM
• CATERING, BARTENDING – BIG CEDAR LODGE
• Hair and Make up –  BOUN VANG
• Luxury Wedding Photographer – BENFIELD PHOTOGRAPHY 
• VIDEOGRAPHER – DAVE AND A CAMERA
• RENTALS – NUAGE LINENS, BBJ/LA TAVOLA LINENS, BRANSON PARTY RENTALS
• FLORIST – SAMANTHA’S GARDEN
• CAKE – SHELBY LYNN’S 
• CEREMONY, RECEPTION MUSIC, LIGHTING – UNIQ PRODUCTIONS – DJ DERRICK
• RECEPTION MUSIC – UNIQ PRODUCTIONS – DJ DERRICK
• INVITATIONS, PAPER GOODS – SHINDIG