There’s nothing quite like a sweetly pastel North Carolina wedding to brighten an otherwise rainy day here at SW.  Emily + Arch, college sweethearts who met during their freshman year at Davidson, were married at the quaint Little Church on the Lane where they attended weekly Sunday services as students.  Thanks to the photographs from Bill Broere, we love how the light pinks, yellows and greens of their springtime bouquets from Elizabeth House Flowers seem to pop against the all-blue background of the bridesmaids’ Badgley Mischka frocks.  The bride, in a vintage-inspired Rivini lace gown and chapel length veil, was the perfect complement to her tuxedoed groom.  Naturally, as the black-and-white aficionado I am, my favorite part of the couple’s black-tie reception at the Charlotte Country Club has got to be the dramatic B&W marble flooring set against the gold chiavari chairs.  I’d ask for a piece of the couple’s almond and butter cream cake from Cathy Allen, but think the four-tiered flower-covered confection looks too good to eat. 

How did the two of you meet?  Tell us your story.  We met at Davidson College during our freshmen year.  Though Arch had caught my eye during orientation week, I officially met Arch through his roommate, Taylor. After a few awkward encounters with shy Arch, I decided to ask him to be my date to our first social function, “Bungle in the Jungle.”  I was over the moon that he agreed to be my date!  I went as a pink panther and Arch wore a rubber zebra outfit.  We started dating officially on Valentine’s Day of our freshmen year and dated for the rest of our time at Davidson.  In those years, our relationship strengthened as we enjoyed date nights walking through campus, going for ice cream, movies and dinners.  Davidson will always be a special place for us, since it’s where our story began.
Describe the proposal.  Arch’s favorite place in the world is Northport Point, Michigan.  It’s is a beautiful, peaceful place where Arch and his family spent many of their summers.  Northport Point is also very dear to me, since it is where I first fell in love with Arch and began imagining our lives together.  On my 6^th annual trip to Northport Point, we decided to take our normal walk around the point.  As we reached the end of the point, we sat on benches overlooking Lake Michigan and talking about how much we loved each other and how we couldn’t wait to spend the rest of our lives together.  Before I knew it, Arch was down on one knee and asking if I would spend the rest of my life with him.  Of course, I said, “Yes!”  We walked home to share the great news with our parents before celebrating our many blessings at a morning church service.
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Purposeful, magical and joyful.
What was your favorite design element of your big day? My favorite design element was using the color and design of the light blue periwinkle hydrangeas in all our favors and flowers.  Our water bottles, save the date cards and favor labels all included the same beautiful design element.
Tell us about finding your wedding dress: I chose my wedding dress from Nitsa’s in Charlotte, NC.  My mom and mother-in-law drove down to Charlotte with me for our second day of dress shopping.  I knew I wanted a lace gown and the bridal gown specialist, Naomi, already had a dress in mind for me.  When I put it on, I immediately knew I had found my dress. My mom was smiling from ear to ear and my mother-in-law was in tears. I was so pleased and excited that I did not need to look any further. I now know that the sayings are true: I did just know when I found the right dress. 
Describe your wedding flowers: My wedding flowers looked like a beautiful Spring painting.  The main colors for my wedding were periwinkle, yellow and green.  Since my bridesmaids wore periwinkle dresses, their bouquets consisted on periwinkle hydrangeas, green orchids, yellow roses and green buds.  My bouquet was absolutely stunning. It included several blush pink peonies, green orchids, and yellow roses, and light blue delphiniums.
Describe your wedding cake: Our wedding cake was absolutely breathtaking. It was a four-tiered round cake with ivory butter cream icing and alternating almond and butter cream filling. The cake was decorated with lace and little icing beads outlining each of the four layers.  It was also decorated blue delphiniums and yellow and white roses. The cake was truly a work of art and somehow tasted even better! T he best part is that we got to keep the flowers! 
Were there any wedding traditions or new ideas you included in the wedding?  Arch was completely clueless about my dress, which made for a fun surprise.  He also did not see me between the rehearsal dinner and the actual ceremony.  When we finally saw one another in the church, we were both blown away.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day?  The most memorable moment of my wedding day was seeing Arch’s eyes when I walked down the aisle and knowing that he would be my first, my last, and my only for always.  After our memorable ceremony, we had a blast with our first dance to James Taylor’s “How Sweet it is to be Loved by You.”  
What’s next for you as a couple?  What are you looking forward to in the future?  Currently, we are enjoying being married and living in a big city.  Our hope is to return to Chapel Hill, North Carolina and for me to pursue a Ph.D in Public Health.  Arch hopes to continue working as a broker in a Southern city.  We are looking forward to several fun weekend trips and hopefully a trip to Eastern Europe in the Spring of 2010.

Congratulations, Emily + Arch!  Best wishes for your new life together.

Welcome back to another spectacular Wanwisa Wednesday! Be sure to check out her previous posts I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII, XIII, XIV, XV, XVI, XVII, XVII, XIX, XX, XXI, XXII, XXIII, XXIV, XXV, XXVI, XXVII, XXVIII, XXIX, XXX, XXXI, XXXII, XXXIII, XXXIV, XXXV, XXXVI, XXXVII, IIXXXX, IXL, XL, XLI, XLII, XLIII, XLIV, XLV, XLVI, XLVII and XLVIII for more fabulous wedding inspiration!

Last week was all about creating a “gold rush” look. Today, I bring you the other end of the spectrum…less “in-your-face” than golden hues, cool and shimmery silver details add elegance and charm. Let these inspirations warm you up to some frosty shine!

First Row: metallic nets hold gorgeous silver-foil-wrapped chocolate dragees {via Martha Stewart Weddings}, adorable tart pans are perfect containers for a delicious stack of cookies wrapped in parchment paper and topped off with a sweet silver star {via Martha Stewart Weddings}, shimmery send-offs help end your celebration in style {via Martha Stewart Weddings}, and divine silver accessories add a stylish touch to your wedding day look {via Martha Stewart Weddings}

Second Row: Boxed rock candy gets a touch of fun with silver string ribbons {via Martha Stewart Weddings}, marshmallows wrapped in cellophane and adorned with a silver strip of paper and metallic cords make excellent favors {via Martha Stewart Weddings}, a chic non-floral centerpiece design in silver and white bring whimsy and elegance to a table {via Martha Stewart Weddings}, silvery sequin ribbons wrap a glamorous bouquet featuring glittery fabric leaves {via Martha Stewart Weddings}

Third Row: Silver draggees adorn a simple three tier caked topped with crystal stars {via Brides.com}, a pewter-hue cake wrapped in white-piped netting is modern and vintage {via Brides.com}

Bottom Row: A chic tabletop design highlights a stylish cream and silver combination {via Brides.com}

Have a shimmering week – until next Wednesday! Xoxo, Wanwisa

Anyone who takes their wedding party portraits on a real-life Kentucky racetrack is okay by us!  We love (love!) the simple Southern elegance of these shots at Keeneland (courtesy of Bella Grace Studios) and can’t get over how perfect the venue was for an authentic Kentucky wedding like Katie + Craig’s.  But what really takes the cake (no pun intended) at the newlyweds’ swanky reception are the two fabulous confections from Judy Myers.  The four-tiered mint julep cake with quilted icing and delicate floral details is everything a Southern wedding cake should be while the groom’s adorable lab coat cake (complete a stethoscope and real lollipops!) was the perfect way to honor Katie’s doctor-husband.  Congratulations to the new Dr. and Mrs. Alexander!

Describe your wedding cake:  My wedding cake was a four-tiered Mimosa cake with quilted icing and draped fondant.   the icing was quilted with pearls and draped fondant. It was beautiful and delicious!  The  chocolate groom’s cake was a surprise for Craig.  It was made to look just like his white lab coat with a stethoscope and real lollipops.  It was adorable!
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: Since Craig is a doctor, we had little RX prescription cards printed that said, “Prescription for a happy marriage.” Guests wrote us well-wishes and then hung them on a tree with hydrangeas and curly willow.  We had so much fun reading them after the wedding!
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding?  Our reception was held in several different areas rather than in one big room.  We wanted to make sure everything flowed.  It turned out perfectly!  We had an outdoor cocktail hour, a lovely dinner in the ballroom and then hit the dance floor in the party room!  Keeneland is a big space but it still felt very intimate.
The most unexpected event on our wedding day was:  Craig rented a vintage Bentley for us to drive away in!
Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite verse, phrase or line?  We didn’t write our own vows, but the preacher had us write letters to each other months before the ceremony.  He used these letters for the sermon and it was very sentimental.  We were also honored to have Craig’s dad read our scripture verses.
What’s next for you as a couple? Craig has a long road ahead finishing his residency and fellowship.  We will be leaving the great state of Kentucky for a few years but are looking forward to the adventure!  We’re also excited about starting a family of our own.

Congratulations, Katie + Craig!  Good luck on your travels!

We all know the Kentucky Derby is about as Southern as they come, so Katie + Craig’s decision to host a derby-inspired wedding at famed Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky was a moment of pure Dixieland genius.  An extra big hug for Josh Meredith at Bella Grace Studios for sharing this Kentucky wedding, planned and designed by Leann Shields of Wedding Bliss.  Katie, in a stunning lace-trimmed Alfred Angelo gown and Craig, in a classic black bowtie,  exchanged their vows in a traditional ceremony at the First Methodist Episcopal Church.  We love the subtle splash of color in the bridesmaids’ sea-blue Watters & Waters halter-neck sheaths and the pink bouquets from Chambliss Design.   Check back soon to see the reception details and even some bridal party portraits on the Keeneland race track!

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story.  Craig and I met at the University of Kentucky eleven years ago.  While we were living in the same apartment complex, we became friends and had lots of mutual friends.  We reconnected in 2007 tailgating before a CATS game at Commonwealth Stadium. The rest is history!
Describe the proposal: I had been planning Craig’s surprise 30th birthday for months.  I was feeling very distracted with the party and was trying to leave the house when all of a sudden he drops down on one knee and proposes. This was early December.  He had said he was going to wait until Christmas Eve and do something special, but he decided he could not wait and proposed on a whim! We both ended up surprised that day!  It was so fun to celebrate his birthday and our engagement with all of our friends!
What was the design inspiration for your wedding?  My design inspiration was our reception location, Keeneland, which is one of the most beautiful landmarks in Kentucky. It’s a very classic, historic and, of course, Southern venue.  We incorporated horseshoes, hydrangeas, magnolia leaves and horse racing wherever we could.  My favorite colors, blue and green complemented the venue perfectly!
Favorite design element of your big day: Everything Kentucky!  I loved the julep cup vases, horseshoes, and the “Daily Racing Form” my father surprised us with.  The reception location , of course, was just breathtaking.
Tell us about finding your wedding dress: I found my dress at the first place I went shopping. I had a dress in mind when I went shopping, but when I put on the dress I just knew it was the perfect one for me.  It was very classic, traditional and had a very vintage look to it.
Describe your wedding flowers:  My flowers were blue and green hydrangeas, green roses, white and pink roses, pink and white lilies and curly willow branches.  My bouquet had blush roses, ivory roses, stephanotis, hydrangea, ranaculus and lisanthus.  I attached the bracelet my great-grandmother wore to her own wedding in 1914 to my bouquet.
Three adjectives that describe the day are:  Happy, genuine and classic.

Check back soon for Part II of Katie + Craig’s Kentucky wedding!

Considering our roots in the Tar Heels state, it’s not surprising that we love North Carolina weddings, and this little gem from Whitebox Weddings, is no exception.  Katy + Ryan’s afternoon ceremony at Luola’s Chapel at Orton Plantation is everything a Southern wedding should be: sweet, natural, and wonderfully personal.  Planners Jennifer Rose Sandy and Laura Willt from Salt Harbor Designs helped create a true Carolina wedding with light yellow, white and green bouquets while the bride’s sister (and lone bridesmaid) added a splash of color with her self-designed and custom-made blue frock.  So lovely!  How fitting is that romantic and ultra-feminine Enzoani gown for a bride as naturally beautiful as Katy?  Our very favorite detail about the couple’s homespun reception at The Balcony on the Dock are the perfectly Southern mason jars of sweet iced tea and pitchers of fresh lemonade.  Of course, it wouldn’t be right if we neglected to point out that too-good-to-eat three-tiered confection from Alison’s Cakery.

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. Ryan and I met in college. We were introduced through my older brother, Joe, and became good friends. Many picnics, long walks and late-night conversations later, we realized we had become much more than friends. Four years later, Ryan proposed!
Describe the proposal. So many of our first conversations as a couple occurred over a picnic. Determined to keep the proposal a surprise, Ryan picked me up the day after my birthday (after he’d already given me great gifts the week before) and took me on a picnicatour favorite park. He’d already set up a beautiful picnic when we arrived with layered blankets and rose petals scattered everywhere.  After eating, Ryan handed me a book he’d made himself. Every page had a picture he’d taken of our most memorable locations with a description underneath (where we met, where we first held hands, our first date, our first kiss, etc.). On the last page was a picture of the park bench right behind where we were sitting with the caption ‘where we got engaged’. Confused, I re-read the caption several times, glancing back and forth from the park bench back to the caption. By the time I looked up at Ryan, he’d already dropped to one knee!
Tell us about finding your wedding dress: Finding a wedding dress proved difficult for me until I stumbled into ‘A Carolina Wedding’ in downtown Wilmington, NC. I was dress shopping alone since I found it less stressful to choose a dress that I really loved without worry about other people’s opinions. Itwas also a lotof fun to surprise my family and friends with the ‘mystery gown’ on my wedding day. A great sales-rep asked me about my personal style and thetypeof the wedding I was having. She pulled dresses she thought would compliment that andI ended up finding -and loving-my Enzoani gown.
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Peaceful, heartfelt and intimate.
Were there any wedding traditions or new ideas you included in the wedding? Ryan and I did our best to be at peace on our wedding day. We both wanted to savor the special moments of the day and to not allow them to pass by too quickly. I spent an hour alone when I woke up before all the primping began. I wanted to first prepare spiritually and emotionally before anything else.
Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We altered traditional vows only slightly. A favorite moment was when our friends read our favorite Bible verses in the middle of the ceremony and Ryan’s sister sang’Faithful’ by the Worship Circle.
What was your favorite design element of your big day? Jennifer of Salt Harbor Designs helped incorporate details of our dating relationship into our wedding day. It was more than a combination of “pretty things;” she was able to truly tell our story. Not only did she make everything beautiful, but shesincerely cared that our day was everything we’d hoped it would be.
Describe your wedding flowers: I chose garden roses, lilacs, sweet peas, tulips and scented geranium. The smell was breath taking!
Describe your wedding cake: Alison, Ryan’s cousin, designed our wedding cake after my grandmother’s wedgewood jewelry box she left to me after she passed away. The cake topper was Ryan’s parents’ from their own wedding day.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: Too many to name just one! I really loved our table names. Each one was named after one of our favorite spots. I also loved our flowers. They were beautiful and smelled amazing! Our photo booth was such a fun thing for our guests and the pictures were hilarious to sort through!
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? Far more thrilling than planning our wedding was planning and preparing for our marriage. Currently we’re busy moving in to our new apartment, beginning new jobs and settling into life as a married couple. Long-term plans include many more trips overseas, mission work and eventually starting a family.

Congratulations on your marriage and new life together, Katy + Ryan!