Field of Dreams

Natalie Kline and Jeff Conley pledge their love at Glade Creek Farm. 

Natalie Kline & Jeff Conley
Cool Ridge | 05.20.23

PHOTOGRAPHED BY Jessica Ellis Photography
WRITTEN BY julie perine

Growing up, Natalie Kline didn’t dream of her wedding, but she did dream about her husband. “I prayed a lot about who my husband would be—that he would have qualities that were important to me,” she says. 

On May 20, 2023, she and Jeff Conley were married at Glade Creek Farm on a rainy, yet perfect day. “I didn’t even notice the rain much. I was just so excited for the day,” she says. The weather didn’t faze her, because she was marrying the man of her dreams. “He is one of the kindest men I’ve ever met, truly. He’s very caring for others. He’s respectful, and he’s just a humble man. That’s what attracted me to him.”

Natalie met Jeff when he was her brother Adam’s roommate at Alderson Broaddus University. He was great about showing her around campus, and they spent time together at Adam’s basketball games. Eventually, the young men worked together near Natalie’s hometown of Winfield. That’s when things took a turn. “I knew she was the one because of how she cares for everyone, how hard she loves, and how strong she is,” Jeff says. “She’s the perfect match for me in every way.” 

They loved the time they spent together, whether it was traveling and fishing, playing church league volleyball, building puzzles, or playing cards. Jeff even introduced Natalie to the other love of his life—Red Sox baseball. For his 30th birthday, in 2022, Natalie planned a Fourth of July weekend visit to Boston to attend a game. Yet, she was the one who ended up surprised. Before the game, as they walked by the stadium on their way to grab some food, Jeff dropped to one knee at the entrance to Fenway Park, ecstatic to hear a positive answer to his very important question. 

Saying “I Do”

When it came to choosing a wedding venue, the couple wanted something traditional—but Jeff liked an outdoorsy feel, and Natalie was looking for elegance and charm. Glade Creek Farm checked all of the boxes. “The 100-acre property has ponds, which initially attracted Jeff. And the chapel had a traditional church feel; its chandeliers and stained-glass windows making it the perfect blend,” Natalie says. “It was the first place we looked at that Jeff said he could imagine me walking down the aisle.”

Friends and family traveled from several states and even Japan. “It felt really special to us that people were making such an effort to come be part of our beginning,” Natalie says. “We wanted the atmosphere to be romantic, but also full of love and fun.”

Before the ceremony began, Natalie and Jeff shared a private moment. Together, they stood at a corner of the wraparound porch that circles The Manor House at the nearby Resort at Glade Springs. Jeff stood on one side and Natalie on the other, their hands connecting them as they read personal vows to one another. “We’re traditional, but we’re also private people in a way,” Natalie explains, “so we wanted to make our private promises.” 

Jeff first laid eyes on his bride when she walked down the aisle; he had long imagined this moment, and it didn’t disappoint. “She looked gorgeous, for sure. It gave me butterflies,” he says. She was escorted by her dad to “Somewhere in Time,” the same song played at her parents’ wedding. 

The bride’s gown featured floral appliques, satin buttons down the back, and a floor-length veil. She carried a bouquet of fresh flowers with attached blue cufflinks that had belonged to her late grandfather. The borrowed and new items were her mother’s diamond necklace and a tennis bracelet gifted by her groom. Her gift to Jeff was Red Sox cufflinks, which matched the Red Sox patches sewn inside his navy blue suit. 

They exchanged traditional vows in a ceremony officiated by Natalie’s cousin, Rev. Chris Britton. He offered advice to the couple and expressed his excitement to watch their love grow. Jeff and Natalie handed out roses to family members who served as pillars in their lives and helped shape them into who they had become. “Then we placed the remaining white roses in one vase, showing our unity as one under God,” Natalie says. 

A Touching Celebration

Exiting the ceremony, the couple ran into the rain and shared their first kiss as husband and wife. A renovated barn on the Glade Creek Farm property carried the romantic atmosphere of the wedding into the reception. Food was served on the patio, suiting the couple’s love for the outdoors. Signature drinks were named after their dogs, Copper and Pedro. 

Natalie and Jeff’s first dance was to “You” by Dan + Shay. As the evening progressed, all of the guests got in on the dancing action. “We made these ribbon wands in the colors of the wedding. We passed them out, and they were such a hit,” Natalie says. “My nana and all the kids were waving them the entire time.”

Natalie feels very blessed that her grandmother was with her on her special day. “Leading up to the wedding, she told me she was hanging around so she could be there,” Natalie says. “She passed away a month later.” Tribute was paid to the memory of her late grandfather, as his Bible was placed on an empty seat. That gesture, as well as distributing roses and the reading of a prayer for the couple, were among Natalie’s favorite moments. 

Jeff had his, too. “I loved that just the two of us took pictures after the wedding. It was so special and so much fun. The two of us sitting together at the head of the table, just watching everyone, was also special. It was the perfect day.”

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