{A Classic Black/White/Green Wedding at The Toast | Ankeny, IA}

If you had asked me before this wedding what I was most excited about, I probably would have said the venue. Toast had been on my photography bucket list for a long time, and getting to photograph my first wedding there felt incredibly exciting! But I’ve been sitting here trying to figure out how to put Cassidy and Grant’s wedding day into words. Because yes, it was stunning! Yes, every detail was beautifully designed! Yes, Toast was transformed into what felt like an elegant garden party with candlelight, towering florals, and disco balls sparkling overhead. But somehow…none of those things are what I keep thinking about. My thoughts have solely been centered around the laughter! The kind that fills every room. The kind that’s so contagious it spreads from one person to the next until everyone’s cheeks are hurting. Because that’s who Cassidy and Grant are! They’re the kind of people who make everyone around them feel like they’re exactly where they’re supposed to be. By the end of the night, the venue wasn’t what stayed with me…it was them! Beautiful venues are easy to find. A couple who loves each other (and everyone around them) with the kind of joy and wholeheartedness that Cassidy and Grant do? That’s so much harder to come by!

As guests entered Cassidy and Grant’s ceremony space, they were welcomed by breathtaking arrangements of white roses, hydrangeas, orchids, and gladiolas layered with tropical greenery. It was timeless, fresh, and beautifully unexpected. The celebration continued into the reception where every detail reflected the same intentionality. Black linens paired with glowing candlelight reflected through beautiful glass vases, elegant glass stemware at every place setting, rich green velvet accents, and florals that seemed to bloom from every corner of the room transformed Toast into an unforgettable setting! I can’t forget to mention the disco balls gracefully hanging above the dance floor that was stamped with a C & G logo made just for them!

But if you ask me…the best part of the day wasn’t something you could see. It was something you could feel. Cassidy and Grant have a way of making people feel known. Whether it was a warm hug from Cassidy, Grant’s contagious smile, or the way they made every single guest feel like an important part of their day, their joy was impossible to miss! One of my favorite things to watch was how present they were. They weren’t rushing from one moment to the next or worrying about whether everything was unfolding perfectly. They were simply soaking it all in. Laughing with their friends. Holding onto each other a little longer. Celebrating with the people who have walked alongside them. And I think that’s what made the day feel so special. It never felt like they were hosting an event. It felt like they were inviting everyone they love into one of the happiest days of their lives.

As the evening unfolded, the dance floor quickly became the place to be. Under a ceiling full of sparkling disco balls, surrounded by family and friends who never seemed to run out of energy, the celebration carried on exactly the way it should have…a full dance floor, and no one wanting the night to end!

Cassidy and Grant, thank you for trusting me with one of the most meaningful days of your lives! Thank you for welcoming me in with open arms, for the endless hugs, for the contagious laughter, and for becoming my friends! Your day was one I know every guest will be talking about for a long, long time, and I couldn’t be happier for the two of you! Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Carroll!!

Loved working with:

Dress Designer: Eva Lendel
Dress Boutique: Anna Bé
Venue: Toast
Planner: White Willow Events
Florist: White Willow Events
Hair: Nicole Smith
Makeup: Shayla & Sydney Goche
DJ: Mic Drop Entertainment
Catering: The Clubhouse
Groom and Groomsmen Attire: Skeffingtons Formal Wear