According to Jack Keffler, he knew who Haylie Paige Jackson was before she had a clue who he was. A year prior to their meeting, he saw a picture that her best friend had posted of her on Instagram and replied with a fire emoji. Though he was met with no response, months later, fate took its course. “I was easily smitten with Jack when we first met at our friend Tucker’s lake house,” remembers Haylie of their initial encounter. “Jack is the funniest person in any room he is in… and he had me smiling and laughing the entire time.”

When a lead photographer from John Cain Photography called Jack asking if he could utilize his family’s ranch for a project he was working on, it gave Jack the idea of faking a second shoot with the photographer and proposing to his girlfriend, Haylie. She was as shocked as she was elated at the surprise proposal, and happily agreed to marry her beau.

Haylie is the owner of Haylie Paige Events, so she knew what to expect out of the planning process, yet she admits that it was still so different being the bride. “I have always loved a tented wedding and cowboy boots, and knew I wanted to work with all of my favorite vendors, so when we thought of Jack’s beautiful ranch, it was a no-brainer!” she shares of how she and Jack settled on a wedding venue for their whimsical big day.

When she woke up the morning of the celebration to torrential rain and a 100% chance for the entire day, Haylie knew she had to move forward with her rain plan and change the evening ceremony time to earlier in the day. “We ended up having a smaller wedding with just our family and wedding party at my parents’ house at 3PM, and it could not have been more perfect!” she confides.

The intimate ceremony took place on the porch of the bride’s family home and was decorated with grand cathedral arches covered in striking tiny blooms in yellow – the bride’s favorite color and the primary hue in the color scheme. Though the structures needed to be sized down to fit in the area, they were just as beautiful as Haylie had remembered.

She was a fairy-tale vision wearing a gown embellished with floral appliqués in colorful tones that matched her bouquet of garden roses, ranunculuses, peonies, and daffodils. “I broke down… and the screech I made sounded like a car that needs new brake pads,” Jack admits of the moment he saw his bride. “Haylie looked perfect.”

“I wish I could relive it a million times over… thank goodness for John Cain Photography and Candlelight Films!”

A religious service that focused on God, their relationship, and their families was important to the couple during their vow exchange. However, since they didn’t perform their nuptials in an actual sanctuary, the site allowed Haylie a little more freedom in her song selections. “I chose the traditional ‘Canon in D’ for the seating of the families and wedding party, ‘Prayed For You’ by Matt Stell for my bridal procession, and ‘On Top of the World’ by Imagine Dragons for the recession!” she shares of her eclectic playlist performed by a live quartet.

Originally guests were set to arrive for the ceremony at 5:30 p.m.; instead, they arrived and the newlyweds were ready for the festivities. “We went straight into party mode!” exclaims the bride. Haylie admits she loves color, so she envisioned the celebration to be bright and happy, deciding on a palette of pink, yellow, orange, and green. “I ended up choosing what I called ‘citrus colors,’” she illustrates of the joyful blend of tones. “I let my floral-and-design team run wild with creativity, and it was the best decision I made because everything was better than I could have dreamed.”

The elevated ranch-style “Texas Black Tie” wedding theme embraced all of the country details and intermingled them with classic elements – for example, floral arrangements showcased bull horns and Texas wildflower blooms with timeless flowers, such as roses and peonies. Guests enjoyed a plethora of fare: smashburgers, brisket fried rice, bean-and-cheese burritos, and late-night Philly cheesesteaks. Between the diverse menu, energetic vibe, and the downpour outside, the groom felt guests were able to let their guard down. “You’re already soaking wet, maybe a little muddy, what do you have to lose by not just letting go and having fun?!” he quips.

Reflecting back on the dream day, Haylie confides that her most memorable moment was the ceremony. “Being at my parents’ house, surrounded by the most important people to me and Jack, and seeing Jack’s reaction as I walked down the staircase towards him was the most unexpected, special moment for me,” she says. “I wish I could relive it a million times over… thank goodness for John Cain Photography and Candlelight Films!”

There isn’t a single thing that the bride wishes she would have done differently, and she offers wisdom as both a bride and a wedding professional: “My best advice is to have fun and hire a planner and vendor team that you can trust! The wedding-planning process should be filled with joy getting ready for one of the most special days of your life, and I think the best way to do that is by having a wonderful group of vendors on your team.”

This real wedding was originally published in the Spring 2025 issue of Inside Weddings magazine. 

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