While attending The University of Alabama, Grace Osborn and Jason Howard first met at a dorm party, with Jason confirming they had an “effortless comfort” with one another. “It was as if we had known each other for ages… our connection felt refreshingly genuine and natural from the start,” he adds. 

Before long, he sought the blessing of her family and proposed with her great-grandmother’s ring while on vacation. “I went through a whole scavenger hunt with notes given to me by friends and family that surprised me in the Bahamas,” Grace remembers of the dream proposal, followed by a surprise engagement party. “It was one of the best days of my life!” 

Desiring a ranch wedding surrounded by all of their loved ones, the pair spent one year planning a five-day extravaganza at a luxury dude ranch in Wyoming that provided their guests with onsite accommodations, as well as all-inclusive gourmet farm-to-table meals and a choice of daily activities across 30,000 acres. Wedding events included an intimate family wine-cellar dinner on Wednesday, a welcome reception for all attendees on Thursday, a country-chic rehearsal dinner on Friday, a black-tie wedding on Saturday, and a farewell dinner and pajama party on Sunday. 

On the day of the alfresco ceremony, friends and family took their seats on either side of a wooden aisle lined with white roses. Grace was a vision as she made her way down the aisle to meet her groom beneath an incredible floral-embellished structure showcasing hundreds of blooms in cream and blush tones. “Seeing Grace radiate beauty and joy as she approached me was a moment I’ll cherish forever,” notes Jason. To honor his upbringing on a cattle farm, the nuptials included a unity ceremony where the couple branded a cowhide with their monogram, which appeared on various paper goods and décor throughout the wedding week festivities. 

Attendees enjoyed a joyous cocktail hour in the gardens after Grace and Jason walked out of the ceremony space as husband and wife – one of Grace’s most memorable moments of the day. “Getting to see all of our loved ones cheering for us and just being so excited to officially be married is something that I will never forget,” she says. Guests discovered their reception seating assignments beneath suspended pendants and spheres of white roses on a tall display dotted with ivory debossed leather keychains with gold hardware that detailed table numbers. 

“It was so pretty and everything I could have hoped for and so much more.”

Once the couple and their guests traversed the wooden walkway that led to the steps up to the reception space, they were in awe of both the extraordinary structure and opulent décor. A glass tent had been erected in the middle of a horse pasture, offering views of the surrounding ranchlands around the perimeter until the sun set, when twinkling lights overhead brought guests’ eyes upwards to view the starry night sky through the clear-top tent. Ivory drapery softened the space, and lush ceiling installations of white florals and crystals created a dramatic wow factor. 

“It was so pretty and everything I could have hoped for and so much more,” Grace affirms of the elegant setting for the celebration of a lifetime. The newlyweds were seated with their nearest and dearest at a long head table adorned with a cascading floral runner, glimmering candlelight, and towering centerpieces, and other loved ones were seated at round tables decorated with solid or patterned neutral linens, fluted candleholders and elegant votives, as well as high and low arrangements of roses, orchids, and additional frothy blooms in vanilla and pale pink. A delicious farm-to-table dinner was served, followed by slices of a marbled wedding cake. 

The rest of the night was spent celebrating with attendees on the white-and-gold dance floor, with entertainment provided by famous country stars, including singer-songwriter Charly Reynolds, Restless Road – who performed “Growing Old With You” for the couple’s first dance, and Alabama. “Our wedding music perfectly captured our love for the band,” confirms Jason, adding that Alabama performed iconic hits such as “Dixieland Delight” along with lesser-known gems. When their set was complete, a DJ ensured the dance floor was packed all night long. 

Even after nearly a week of nuptial celebrations, Grace and Jason admit their wedding flew by and urge other engaged pairs to step back and really take it all in once the festivities begin. “I had the absolute time of my life but wish I had taken more time to look around and appreciate everything that was going on,” shares Grace. “The five-day extravaganza felt like 24 hours!” However, when it came to the memories made during their exquisite ranch wedding surrounded by family and friends, Mr. and Mrs. Howard agree they wouldn’t change a thing.

This real wedding was originally published in the Summer 2024 issue of Inside Weddings magazine. 

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