Ironically Cassie Hartline and Robert Sieker met on Valentine’s Day while they were out with their respective friends, never imagining they would meet their future spouse at the other end of the bar. “I remember her walking in… she was wearing a pink dress and had the prettiest, most-natural look and smile I had ever seen on a girl,” describes Robert. “She was breathtaking.” Cassie found him equally captivating. An amorous romance ensued, and years later Robert found himself proposing to the love of his life during a Hartline family trip to Australia. He presented her with a gorgeous diamond engagement ring he had carefully selected with the help of Cassie’s mom. 

The following two years were spent wedding planning. Though the couple had wished the time frame were shorter, they weren’t able to allot too much time to the details, as Cassie was finishing her surgical residency while Robert was busy starting his new company. “I was so glad to have my mom and Ann Whittington as our planner, as I knew she would take care of everything,” confides the bride. 

Having always dreamed of getting married at her family’s ranch, Cassie wanted the celebration to feel personal and relaxed with beautiful details and colorful flowers. “I also liked the idea of not having to move around from place to place the day of!” she admits. “We were able to get ready in our outdoor kitchen right behind the house, feed the horses and donkeys treats, greet family as they arrived, watch the setup progress for the reception, and overall have a laid-back, comfortable, and fun day.” 

Cassie had hoped for the sun to be setting over the trees of the property for the ceremony, and Mother Nature complied. The groom describes the setting as so picturesque, it was “like God painted the scene.” The bride and her father made their grand entrance from the front door, which had been bedecked with lush floral arrangements, and walked directly towards the tree-lined path and down the aisle. As a surprise for the groom, “Southside of Heaven” by Ryan Bingham – the first song Robert performed on guitar for Cassie, and one of his favorites – played as the father-daughter duo processed. The bride was a vision wearing a lace gown with a sweetheart neckline and carrying a feminine bouquet of blush florals paired perfectly with bold anemones. Her bridal-party members were radiant in mismatched long dresses in shades of light blue. 

"I could not speak higher of Ann [Whittington]and her team – they literally took care of everything and nothing went amiss."

The bride and groom met at the altar where a stunning floral arch marked the spot for the vow exchange; and the extraordinary structure framed the view of the lake perfectly. To keep the service warm and personal, the couple had asked Cassie’s eldest brother to officiate the nuptials. He taped his heartwarming speech inside the pages of the bride’s childhood book Goodnight Moon making the moment even more special. “I loved the ceremony – the way my brother was able to put his thoughts on marriage and partnership into words and how it applied to us was amazing,” shares Cassie. 

Guests made their way over to the reception area where a giant white open-air tent had been constructed. Suspended from the ceiling were garlands of eye-catching greenery and twinkling lights. Tables cloaked in luxurious white linens were surrounded by either X-back wooden chairs or plush varieties in a powdery blue tint, while all tablescapes were magnificently decorated with impressive arrangements of punchy florals. “Because of the pandemic, it was important to have space. Families were seated together, and we made sure the tables weren’t full. Overall, I wanted everyone to feel safe and have a good time, along with delicious food and drinks,” illustrates the bride. 

Cassie reveals that not one moment, but the whole day became a memorable moment: “My dad was very sick with a new cancer diagnosis leading up to the wedding, so very little of my family’s thoughts were given to the actual logistics and planning.” She adds, “This is why I could not speak higher of Ann and her team – they literally took care of everything and nothing went amiss. It was such a gift to be able to forget about the hardships of my dad and the pandemic, and simply enjoy the day.” 

The newlyweds’ advice to those engaged is to focus on the important things and don’t sweat the small stuff. “I certainly did not sweat the details (okay…I did pick up every pinecone in that pasture the day before… but that was it), and everything turned out perfectly.”

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