Where Love Blooms

A surprise Christmas proposal leads to a wedding at Stone House Lavender

Jatanna Brittany Bolyard & Ryan Ezekiel Couch
Fairmont | 6.4.22

PHOTOGRAPHY BY THE OBERPORTS
Written by Meggan Huff

When Jatanna Bolyard and Ryan Couch were scheduled to work the same shift in the spring of 2018, Jatanna, a morning person, greeted Ryan, a night owl, with a very chipper “Good morning!” Ryan needed to be up a little longer before he was ready to chat with anyone. It wasn’t until the pair went out for lunch later that day that they started to get to know one another a little bit. “He was just such a gentleman,” the bride smiles. Neither of them realized that it was their first in a lifetime of shared meals.

Ryan and Jatanna exchanged phone numbers but, since they lived in different cities, it was another month before they would spend time together again. When they made plans to meet in Pittsburgh, Jatanna brought her best friend along in case the second date didn’t go as well as the first. The backup wasn’t necessary. The pair spent the evening strolling around the city, taking in the view from the Duquesne Incline, eating and drinking some of the city’s best offerings, and enjoying every moment.

By the end of that summer, Ryan and Jatanna couldn’t stand living apart anymore and moved in together in Fairmont. They soon started to discuss “making it official”—but COVID-19 had other plans. Coming at the close of that stressful and tumultuous year made Ryan’s surprise Christmas 2020 proposal even more special. Jatanna, who loves Christmas and everything that goes with it, was shocked to find that she had “one last special gift”: a sparkling diamond engagement ring tucked among the flocked branches, lights, and ornaments of their tree.

The couple chose Stone House Lavender in Fairmont for their ceremony and reception. When the big day finally arrived in June 2022, guests were treated to charming vintage decor adorned with whimsical, fairytale-like floral displays created by Jon Shay of Shay Floral. The bride wore a fitted satin ball gown with a stunning lace bolero over-piece and an intricate diamond belt, and her attendants wore dresses of their own choice in shades of taupe and champagne. The groom and his groomsmen all wore royal blue suits with champagne ties to perfectly complement the rest of the wedding party.

Guests were seated in the outdoor garden area, where they were surrounded by beautiful flowers and a graceful altar of greenery and flowers. The bride was escorted down the aisle to the song “I Get to Love You” by Ruelle by both her father and her stepfather. She remembers having a feeling of overwhelming love before she and her husband-to-be exchanged handwritten vows in front of the most important people in their lives.

Following their nuptials, Mr. and Mrs. Couch danced their first dance as husband and wife to “I Choose You” by Amanda Jordan, then invited their guests to join them on the dance floor. For dinner, guests were treated to their choice of entrée and sides. The couple made a point of spending time at each of the guest tables, which were decorated with charming custom vignettes of the couple. “We really wanted to see everyone who came to our wedding, so we tried to visit each table and at least get a picture with each person in it,” Jatanna says. Guests enjoyed the many dessert options on the sweets table, including mini-cakes, cheesecakes, cookies, and jams, and everyone danced the night away to the musical stylings of DJ Steve Barrett.

Jatanna and Ryan chose to honeymoon at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, where Jatanna used to work as a character performer. “Working at Disney was an amazing job, so I have always loved it there,” she says. “When Ryan and I started dating, we went to Disney and had such a wonderful time that we decided that we wanted to go back for our honeymoon.” After returning from Florida, Ryan was offered a job in his hometown of Waynesville, Ohio. The Couches decided that they would relocate for Ryan’s new position. Ryan and Jatanna now reside with their goldendoodle, Oakley, in Waynesville, Ohio, where Ryan is employed by LINK Industrial services as an operations manager.