Her Dad Flew In from the Mission Field to Marry Them

There are moments in a wedding that stop everything. Not because they are scheduled into the timeline, but because they are true in a way that cannot be planned.

Corrie and Ryder’s wedding at Davis and Grey Farms in Celeste, Texas had one of those moments. It happened partway through the ceremony.

The officiant asked the family to gather. And Corrie and Ryder stepped down from where they were standing and moved toward the people who have loved them longest. Their immediate family surrounded them — a circle formed in the middle of the chapel in the middle of a wedding that had already been full of joy and beauty.

And then they prayed together.

Not a scripted pastoral prayer for the congregation. A real one. Intimate and earnest and completely specific to the people inside that circle. The kind of prayer that only happens when faith is not a formality but the actual foundation of a family.

Corrie’s parents are missionaries. They came from the mission field to be there. For them to be present — for her father to be the one who stood before Corrie and Ryder and officiated the ceremony that made them husband and wife — was not a given. It was a gift. And everyone in that chapel felt the weight of it.

We have photographed hundreds of weddings. Certain moments stay with us long after the gallery is delivered. This one will.

The Venue: Davis and Grey Farms in Celeste, Texas

Davis and Grey Farms holds a genuinely special place in our portfolio — and this is our sixteenth wedding documented on these grounds. Every time we return, the property gives us something new.

Located in Celeste, Texas in Hunt County — approximately one hour northeast of Dallas — Davis and Grey Farms is one of the most naturally beautiful wedding venues in all of North Texas. The property is defined by its open fields, its white buildings, and a particular minimalism that makes it an extraordinary canvas for any aesthetic.

As a photographer, this venue consistently rewards. Here is why.

The Open Fields

Corrie said it perfectly in her venue notes: the open fields are her favorite feature and she’s right to love them. The fields at Davis and Grey Farms stretch behind the chapel and across the property. The long summer grass, the wildflowers that emerge throughout the season, and the wide North Texas sky above create a backdrop that photographs with a lushness that feels genuinely pastoral rather than manicured.

At golden hour, those fields are extraordinary. For couples who want their outdoor portraits to feel alive and natural rather than posed against a constructed backdrop, Davis and Grey Farms delivers this completely.

The White Buildings

The white buildings throughout the property serve as one of the most consistently beautiful portrait backdrops in North Texas. Clean, minimal, and architectural — they create a natural contrast against the surrounding greenery and a brightness that photographs beautifully in every season. Furthermore, the interiors provide soft, directional natural light that makes getting-ready coverage and detail photography extraordinary without any additional lighting.

For couples still building their North Texas venue shortlist, our Dallas and suburbs wedding venue guide covers Davis and Grey Farms alongside many other beautiful venues across the Metroplex.

The Design: Berry Purple, Natural Greens & Garden Party Elegance

Corrie’s vision for her wedding design was as clear as her vision for the venue: nature-first, romantic, and just whimsical enough to feel like summer.

The color palette — berry purple and natural greens — was a stunning choice for a summer wedding at a property this lush. Berry brought depth and richness to the palette without ever feeling heavy. It was saturated without being dark, romantic without being moody. Natural greens threaded through every arrangement as the living connection between the florals and the landscape surrounding them.

The overall vibe — classy, romantic, elegant, and whimsical — was executed with a precision that honored both the couple and the venue. Nothing overdone. Nothing that competed with the natural beauty surrounding it. Just the right amount of color and abundance to make the space feel celebrated without feeling overworked.

The Ceremony: Faith, Family & a Circle of Prayer

Corrie and Ryder’s ceremony was officiated by her father and that fact alone carried more meaning than any decoration or detail could.

Her parents are missionaries. They travel, they serve, they give their lives to something larger than their own comfort. And they flew home to be there and to stand beside Corrie on the most significant day of her adult life, and for her father to be the voice that spoke the words that made her marriage official.

The ceremony unfolded with the kind of warmth that only comes from a community of people who know each other deeply. Guests did not attend as observers. They attended as family — because for Corrie and Ryder, that distinction matters. Faith, family, and the people who show up are the foundation of who they are as individuals and as a couple.

As photographers, we are always ready for the expected moments. The vows, the first kiss, the processional. What we love most is being ready for the unexpected ones. The ones that could not have been scripted. The ones that come from who a couple actually is — their faith, their family, their specific and irreplaceable story.

This was one of those moments.

The First Look Advantage: How Corrie + Ryder’s Gallery Got Its Variety

Something worth naming specifically about Corrie and Ryder’s wedding day is a decision they made during planning that had a significant impact on their final gallery: they chose to do a first look.

First looks are a personal decision — not every couple wants them, and both approaches are completely valid. However, for couples who do choose a first look, one of the most significant benefits is rarely discussed. It allows portrait time to be distributed throughout the day rather than compressed into a single cocktail-hour window.

Corrie and Ryder’s first look allowed us to spread their couple portraits across three distinct lighting conditions: the harsh, directional light of mid-afternoon before the ceremony, the softer midday tones during the transitional window between ceremony and reception, and the extraordinary golden hour light of the Davis and Grey Farms fields at sunset.

Three different times of day. Three different lighting qualities. And, three completely different visual environments within the same property.

As a result, their gallery has a range and variety that a single cocktail-hour portrait session simply cannot achieve.

Furthermore, spreading the portrait time across the day meant that no single window ever felt rushed. Each session was intentional, unhurried, and fully present. Corrie and Ryder were never pulled from their guests for an extended period at one time. And the images show what that ease looks like.

For couples planning their Davis and Grey Farms wedding and weighing the first look question, this is our photographer’s perspective: this property has enough portrait variety to make a distributed timeline genuinely extraordinary. Talk to your photographer about how to use the full day to your advantage.

Davis and Grey Farms Summer Wedding Photos

From Cedar Hill to Davis and Grey Farms: Their Full Story

Before the open fields, white chapel and the circle of prayer, there was Cedar Hill State Park on an October evening.

Corrie and Ryder’s engagement session was in a landscape that looked nothing like Texas and felt like somewhere far from home. Golden autumn light, open terrain, the two of them completely natural in front of a camera that they seemed to forget was there.

That session told us everything we needed to know before we arrived at Davis and Grey Farms. We already knew their rhythm. We already knew what their real laughter sounds like and how they move around each other when they feel comfortable. By the time the wedding day arrived, we were already old friends.

You can see their full engagement session at Cedar Hill State Park here →

a warm and sincere thanks to the creative team…

Venue: Davis & Grey Farms; Celeste, TX

Photographer: Kyrsten Ashlay Photography

Florist: Fully Flourished and Co.

Catering: Five Star Event Services

Content Creator: Videos by Vivian

DJ: DJ Connection

Hair + Makeup: Beary Bridal

Coffee Cart: Bro Dude Coffee

Looking for a Davis and Grey Farms Wedding Photographer?

Davis and Grey Farms is a venue we return to with genuine excitement every time a couple chooses it. We know where the light falls at every hour, which field locations produce the most extraordinary golden hour frames, how the chapel photographs at ceremony time and what the white buildings offer for portraits in between.

If you are getting married at Davis and Grey Farms and are still searching for your photographer and filmmaker, we would love to be part of your day. We bring both photography and film to every wedding because your love deserves to be seen and felt, in every form.

We are currently booking 2027 weddings. Davis and Grey Farms dates fill across every season, and we would love to hold yours.

Check your date with us →

Timeless photos & films, crafted with heart. Where every moment becomes art.