Liza Holley & Jonathan Kosier
Married
Aug 8, 2026
Versailles ,
Kentucky
Photo Credit
Emily Nester, Rooted In Wild Photo
Style Guide
Color Palette
Style
Formal
Season
Summer
The Proposal
After three years together, an engagement was on the horizon. Liza had always given Jonathan one very specific request: she did not want anyone in sight. Family and friends could be hiding somewhere nearby, but when the moment came, she wanted it to be just the two of them. Jonathan managed to give her exactly that—and then some.
On June 21, 2025, Liza thought she was celebrating the birthday of her best friend and future maid of honor, Preslee. The girls had planned an evening at Harkness Edwards Vineyards in their hometown of Winchester, one of their favorite places for wine, charcuterie, dips, and pizza. Preslee had been unusually insistent that everyone dress up so they could take good pictures.
Around 6 p.m., Preslee picked her up and drove her to Harkness Edwards. When they arrived, Preslee told Liza she needed to stay behind for a minute to talk to her boyfriend and that she would meet her inside.
Liza walked in alone.
Waiting for her was Jonathan, surrounded by white hydrangeas, with no one else in sight. The second Liza saw him, she dropped everything in her hands and ran to him. Jonathan took her hands and began saying what they both remember as the most beautiful words—although neither of them can remember exactly what those words were. They were simply too caught up in the moment.
Jonathan asked Liza to marry him. She said yes, and he picked her up and spun her around. For those few minutes, it was exactly what Liza had always wanted: just the two of them. Then they turned around.
Jonathan had worked secretly alongside both of their mothers and Preslee to plan another surprise. Nearly 100 of Liza and Jonathan’s closest family members and friends were waiting to celebrate with them. What began as the intimate proposal Liza had always dreamed of became one of the biggest celebrations of their lives. The vineyard was filled with custom cookies, live music, beautiful charcuterie, delicious wine, and, most importantly, the people they loved most.
In Preparation
Wedding planning began almost immediately. By early July 2025, only weeks after the proposal, Liza and Jonathan were already beginning to imagine what their wedding day would look like.
Liza initially decided she could plan it herself with the help of her family, particularly her mom, Ashley. The two had talked about Liza’s wedding for as long as either could remember. Liza is Ashley’s only child, and the two are incredibly close, rarely going a day without talking multiple times. There was no one more excited to help bring the wedding Liza had imagined to life.
Finding the venue became the first major undertaking. Liza knew from the beginning what she did—and did not—want. A barn wasn’t the vision, nor was a hotel ballroom. She had always pictured an outdoor, garden-inspired wedding followed by a reception beneath a big white tent. Liza had a feeling almost immediately that they had found their venue when they visited Village View. They toured a few others, but their minds kept returning to Village View. Then the farm’s owner, Dee Dee, shared one detail that made the decision even easier: in late summer, the ceremony site would be framed by enormous blooming white hydrangea bushes – exactly what surrounded Liza and Jonathan during their proposal. For the newly engaged couple, it felt meant to be.
While Liza naturally gravitated toward the visual details, Jonathan played an important role in shaping the celebration as well. A huge music lover, he was especially involved in choosing the music and creating the atmosphere they wanted throughout the day. He also helped find the perfect venue and had a hand in selecting the meal and cake flavors they would serve their guests. From the beginning, they wanted their wedding to be more than beautiful. They wanted their guests to have an incredible time.
A string quartet would play throughout the ceremony and cocktail hour before a live band took over for the reception. Cocktail hour included games, cocktails, and passed hors d’oeuvres such as mini crab cakes, bruschetta, and mini Hot Browns—a nod to Kentucky. Dinner was plated, featuring pesto-crusted salmon and Bluegrass chicken with mashed potatoes and roasted vegetables.
When picking her gown, Liza began working with Renee’s Bridal in Lexington in October 2025. Her original inspiration came from influencer Olivia Stallings’ wedding gown, particularly its silhouette and statement bow, but Liza also knew she wanted a drop-waist design. That October, Liza said yes to the beginnings of her dress: an ivory silk, strapless drop-waist gown with a pleated skirt and a bow at the top.
Then, only weeks before the wedding, Liza changed her mind. In July 2026, she came across a gown on Instagram with a similar silhouette but beautiful floral beading. She immediately knew she wanted to take her own dress in a new direction. Miss Renee added intricate floral beading along the bottom of the gown, continuing around the front and across the back of Liza’s long train. The same beading was added around the edge of her veil, tying the entire look together. The change took the gown to another level. For Liza, it became more than her wedding dress. It was—and always will be—her favorite dress in the world.
After more than a year of planning, sourcing, fitting, tasting, designing, and anticipating, August 8 finally arrived.
The Big Day
For the entire week leading up to the wedding, the forecast called for rain. But on August 8, it never came. Instead, Liza and Jonathan woke up to sunshine—and plenty of Kentucky summer heat.
The women began their day at Village View Farm at 7 a.m. Liza, her bridesmaids, mothers, and grandmothers gathered at the venue for a relaxed morning of catered breakfast, music, hair, and makeup. Despite everything that had gone into preparing for the day, the morning itself felt surprisingly calm.
Liza had chosen personal gifts for the women who had been part of the journey with her. Her bridesmaids received pajamas and earrings, and she gave her mom a particularly meaningful personalized locket containing a photograph of Liza as a baby alongside a photograph of her as a bride. Her mom was also carrying another special role that day as Liza’s “something blue.”
Liza and Jonathan chose not to see each other before the ceremony. They had written personal vows to one another that they exchanged privately, but for the ceremony itself, they wanted to preserve the tradition of Jonathan seeing Liza for the first time as she walked down the aisle.
Guests filled rows of dark mahogany chairs beside an aisle lined with flowers. The sun was shining as the bridal party made its way toward the ceremony site. And at the end of the aisle, exactly where Dee Dee had promised they would be, were the white hydrangeas in bloom.
Their pastor led a ceremony that was traditional, intimate, and true to who they were. Ruth 1:16–17 was read alongside meaningful prayers, and Liza and Jonathan exchanged traditional vows in front of nearly 300 of the people they loved most. The newlyweds walked back down the aisle together to Ray LaMontagne’s “You Are the Best Thing.”
While Liza and Jonathan took photographs, their guests moved into cocktail hour. The string quartet continued playing as cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres circulated and guests enjoyed the games the couple had planned. Every part of the timeline had been considered with their guests in mind. Liza is traditional at heart and wanted the wedding to feel timeless, but she and Jonathan also wanted the people who had come to celebrate them to genuinely enjoy themselves. From cocktail-hour entertainment to the timing of dinner, speeches, special dances, and music, the evening was planned so there was always something for guests to enjoy.
Liza and Jonathan entered and went directly into their first dance to Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.” Soon afterward, they cut their vintage-inspired white wedding cake and welcomed their guests, taking a moment to thank everyone for being part of the day. As dinner was served, some of the wedding’s most meaningful traditions unfolded. Liza danced with her father and then her stepfather, followed by Jonathan’s dance with his mother. Heartfelt speeches from their maid of honor, best men, and Liza’s father kept guests entertained throughout dinner before the live band officially opened the dance floor.
One of Liza and Jonathan’s favorite moments of the night came when they climbed onto the stage with the band during “Don’t Stop Believin’.” Looking out at a dance floor filled with their family and friends singing along, it felt like something out of a movie.
Later, their guests lined up outside with sparklers, creating a glowing tunnel for the newlyweds to run through. But they weren’t ready for the night to end. After the sparkler exit, Liza and Jonathan went right back inside and danced with their guests for another hour. When the music finally stopped and everyone began making their way out, there was one last thing on the timeline: a private last dance. With the reception finally quiet, Liza and Jonathan danced together to Frank Sinatra’s “The Way You Look Tonight.”
The Retreat
Two days later, Liza and Jonathan traded the rolling hills of Kentucky for the turquoise water of Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. It was their first trip outside of the country together, and they spent a full week at Sanctuary Cap Cana.
They spent their days by the pool beneath clear blue skies and went to dinner together every evening. The weather was beautiful throughout their stay, giving them an entire week to simply enjoy being newlyweds.
Hallmark Wedding Vendors
Photographer: Emily Nester, Rooted In Wild Photo
Contributing Vendors
Photographers: Joia Lyn Photo & Rooted in Wild Photo | Bride’s Shoes: Dolce Vita | Bridesmaid Dresses: Elliatt | Caterer: Sweet Lilus | Venue: Village View Farm | Wedding Cake: Kristens Kreations | Entertainment: Best Kept Secret Live Band | Flowers: Fields in Bloom | Gown & Reception Dress & Veil: Renees Bridal | Groom’s Tux: Genos | Hair & Makeup: Flawless Hair and Make up Artistry
