The hair and makeup for the wedding were done first, followed by the arrival of the groom and his groomsmen around noon. The photographer and videographer were also present to capture every moment of the day. The bride and groom exchanged letters and gifts before the ceremony. Derek gave Heidi a round solitaire diamond necklace while Heidi gifted Derek a photo album of her boudoir photo shoot and a Winchester model 61 .22 rifle gun. After everyone was ready, they took photos separately with each bridal party member. Derek and Heidi chose not to do a first look, and Heidi couldn’t do a first look with her father, who passed away in 2019.
The wedding ceremony was very emotional, filled with love and happiness. Heidi was escorted down the aisle by her older brother, and both the bride and groom shed tears as they exchanged vows. Their unity ceremony consisted of branding a framed piece of cowhide with a personalized brand they created to represent them, coming together as one. The ceremony, officiated by Reverend Jim Taylor, was brief but filled with meaning and ended with the announcement of Mr. and Mrs. Derek Trainer.
After the ceremony, guests were invited to the venue for the reception, where they enjoyed a charcuterie table while family photos and pics of the entire bridal party were taken. The matron of honor and best man gave speeches, and Derek and Heidi shared their first dance as husband and wife. Heidi surprised her mother with a slide show of pictures of her father and family while they danced to Will Dempsey’s song ‘Beat You There.’ Derek and his mother danced to ‘Mother’ by Sugarland. The cake was cut, and the bouquet and garter toss took place. The couple also played the bride and groom game with their shoes and the longest-married couple/advice game with their wedding guests. The reception ended with a sparkler send-off and lots of dancing and drinks. Cheers from the new Mr. and Mrs. Trainer!