How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. 
Calan and I met 17 years ago when I was five and he was eight at The Storms Field. I cheered and he played football. Throughout the years, our families remained close, with my brother working under his dad at the fire station and our moms remaining friends. When I was 18, I was coaching at The Storms Field when I found out Calan was coaching there as well. We were close friends throughout the season (I thought he liked a close friend of mine) but I never thought we would start dating two years later. We’ve been inseparable ever since.
Tell us all about the proposal! 
I had been giving Calan “subtle” hints about the color, cut and style of diamond ring that I had been wanting for a few months before he proposed. My mom’s not a very good secret-keeper and kind of let the cat out of the bag the day he bought the ring. As a normal girl who can’t wait for surprises to just happen, I went in search for the box. Calan isn’t a very good hider, considering it was under the bathroom sink! He asked me later that night while lying on the couch and I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
When did y’all get married? 
February
How many friends, family, and loved ones attended your wedding? 
150
Did you decide to do a “first look”? 
Calan is a very shy person and wanted to do the “first look” from the moment our photographer told us about it. I am so glad we did because it got the pre-wedding jitters out of our systems and the pictures from that moment turned out to be some of my favorites from the wedding.
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? 
Corinthians 13
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. I love music so I played this part out in my head non-stop. I decided to have my bridesmaids walk down the aisle to “Till Kingdom Come” by Coldplay. It fit so perfectly and had a great beat for my best girls to walk to. From the start, I knew I wanted to walk down the aisle to “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri. If you’ve heard this song, you know it’s just amazing. Calan doesn’t like dancing, so when it came to our first dance I had to make sure it was quick and painless for him. I chose “That’s When I Love You” by Aslyn. It was probably the shortest love song I could find, but the words made me embrace this song even more. I’m so glad we went with it.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? I think just staying on track and making deadlines. My mom was here with me to whip me into wedding planning shape, which helped a lot. I managed to make most of the deadlines we set for ourselves.
What range did your wedding budget fall into? 
$25,000-$50,000
What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? 
PHOTOGRAPHY!! Hands down. Stacy is amazing and I am so happy we went with her. In the end, all you’re left with is pictures. Let me tell you, I have some stunning photos.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? 
Don’t stress the little things, and the sooner you get things booked and done, the better off and less stressed at the end you will be. At the end of the day, you get to marry your best friend, so no matter what just remember that.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? 
We are going to be continuing renovations on our house (Anthropologie here I come!) and taking care of our two pups. Calan is in EMT school at the moment and will be starting fire school in the fall to become a firefighter. God has blessed us with each other, great friends and amazing families. Wherever he takes us, we will be happy just to be with each other.

Oh y’all! I’m so excited to share today’s Real Wedding with you. Not only is our bride absolutely cute as a button, but she is talented, and just as much a doll as she looks. Yes, it’s true, I know her! Today’s bride is one of our darling sponsors, and the owner of the fantastic accessory line MOLLYGEEdesigns! Oh yes, and Justin’s new wife!

I knew when I clicked into Molly Gee + Justin’s wedding that I’d be in for a real treat. Together with their uber-talented planner Kendall Poole (another fabulous sponsor!), and the creative styling direction of Lesley at Tulip, MG + J created a glamorous but comfortable celebration for five hundred people. Five hundred people talk about a big ol’ Southern wedding! I’m sure Molly Gee took her own advice when she said, “If the wedding doesn’t flow exactly as you planned, you are still marrying the one person you care the most about!” Exactly!

Big hugs to B. Mo Foto for sharing this sweet day!

Even though I work in the wedding industry, I had no idea what my dream dress would be! I fell in love with two completely different styles: a cafe Watters ruffled ball gown and a blush Allure lace and tulle mermaid style. I chose Allure and added my own tulle straps and beaded sash. I also styled the dress with a tulle veil and organza flower clip from my collection. What was supposed to be my farewell dress turned into my reception dress as well once the dancing started. I wore a 1950′s vintage tulle and lace tea-length party dress that I happened to find in Austin, TX for $40! I added my Russian netting headband and glittery gold heels as well.

Did you decide to do a “first look”?
 Yes. Justin and I both wanted to have all our photos taken before the ceremony and to relieve ourselves of those initial wedding jitters. I loved having a quiet moment with Justin to take in the day. Our first look is when it began to ‘feel’ like our wedding day.

My bouquet was wild and unstructured, composed of dusty miller, agonis, cafe au lait dahlias, antique lavender roses, pink astilbe, amaranthus, and thistle.  The stems were wrapped in a nude-toned antique lace. Each bridesmaid carried a different bouquet, but all had the same unstructured, wild feel.  Each bouquet was composed of a combination of dahlias, pink protea, thistle, caramel roses, and gold-painted seeded eucalyptus. Nude-toned lace and gold ribbon accented each bouquet.

I am having a serious swoon-fest over this simple pew tie! That lace is perfection!

Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding.
 Since our ceremony was not held in a church setting, we had complete control over our music choices. Each song was very thoughtfully chosen and our amazing musicians made our day even more special. They were able to adapt to any song with their mix of acoustic guitar, cello, and mandolin. Prelude songs included Chris Rice’s “Untitled Hymn,” Tom Petty’s “Wildflower,” “Amazing Grace,” Alexi Murdoch’s “All My Days,” and “On Eagle’s Wings.” The wedding party walked to The Beatles’ “In My Life,” and then, my dad walked me down the aisle to an acoustic guitar version of Sondre Lerche’s “Family Theme.” It was a beautiful transition from the wedding party to my entrance. Our first dance was to The Arctic Monkey’s cover of “Baby I’m Yours,” which is totally us! Instead of hiring a DJ or band, we used a Spotify playlist and sound system for our reception. It was perfect, and we were able to include all our favorites!

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? Fresh Cut Catering created a delicious display of Southern comfort foods complete with a mashed potato bar and all the fixings (Justin’s main request!), and of course we had mint tea and cranberry punch.

The centerpieces were modern white vessels filled with wild arrangements of dahlias, pink protea, antique roses, thistle, and astilbe accented with gold-painted eucalyptus. The tables were accented with items such as mid-century brass candlesticks, rose-colored candle votives, silver mercury glass, and wooden tree stumps for a rustic touch.  White lace tablecloths adorned each table.

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: There are so many wonderful details, it is hard to narrow down! I loved the overall decor of romance with a touch of vintage, especially the candlelit aisle for the ceremony. A beautiful dusty rose pink chandelier hung above and a draped cream curtain with tree branches on each side stood behind us.

I love the little painting of Molly Gee + Justin – what a fun piece to have in their home after their big day!

The bride’s cake consisted of a center, two-tiered cake, and two small cakes on each side, all in a textured buttercream icing. The cakes were a mix of traditional wedding cake, strawberry, and carrot cake. The cake topper was a set of white lovebirds, and blush dahlias decorated the sides. Justin’s cake was a rich Dutch chocolate, complete with chocolate shavings, strawberries, and a decorative W. Surrounding the cake were photos of our parents and grandparents on their wedding days as well as Arsenal premier soccer league memorabilia (Justin’s favorite team!).

The most memorable part of the reception was the dance party, and Justin and his brother even started a dance off. The photo booth was also a blast I handmade each decorative prop. The photos that came from the booth are very special. We even applied custom ‘Molly Gee and Justin’ labels to every beer and wine bottle (with the help of our friends) for a special touch!

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. The Lord’s plan for our lives is so much greater than our own. Justin and I met a few times throughout college and shortly after. Just after graduation, I moved to New York to pursue a career in fashion, which is where I started my wedding accessory business. Around the time I decided to move the business to my hometown in Mississippi, Justin was making his move to Barcelona, Spain. I still remember seeing Justin for the first time in years and thought he was so good looking! When he said he was moving out of the country in one week, I was a little disappointed. When he moved back months later, I made the first move and gave him my number. I wasn’t pushy but showed my interest, which is when he took over from there.
Describe the proposal. 
It didn’t take us long to fall in love and know this was a serious relationship that was meant to last forever. Justin and I first talked about marriage in the spring of 2011. We knew we loved each other very much, but also wanted to be sure we were established in our professions before making such a big decision. Looking back, I now know that Justin wanted his main surprise to be the timing of the proposal. So, when he said sometime in 2012, I believed him! On December 23, 2011, my sister called to say she needed me to babysit my nieces while she finished last minute Christmas errands. She seemed flustered, but I figured it was just stress from a long ‘to do’ list. I called Justin to tell him my plans, and he mentioned taking me out to dinner that night. We decided he would pick me up at my house once I was done sitting. I take my dog, Fern, with me most places. So after babysitting, I parked in my garage, unloaded Fern and my other belongings, and headed inside. My first reaction? “Oh no! My Christmas tree lights exploded everywhere!” Fern tore through the foyer ahead of me, sliding on the dozens of candles that were set up and generally making a mess. I dropped my bags and just stared at Justin (who was on one knee) from across the room. He had to ask The Question from a distance, and finally said, “Can you please walk over here?” I, of course, said yes! It’s fun to find out the little details afterward, isn’t it? Justin requested my sister’s help in getting me out of the house for two hours, but in the end, only needed about 30 minutes to get everything set up! (He watched Christmas Vacation on my TV while waiting with his car parked down the street!) My sister relaxed at my parents’ house while baking Christmas dishes… not running errands!
In what month did you get married? October
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? 
We were on a tight budget and had to be very careful about spending. It was difficult to narrow down our must-haves and things we could live without. In the end, everything turned out perfect and we didn’t even notice some of our cut corners. The reception was a blast and the most important part was that we were now married and celebrating with family and friends!
What range did your wedding budget fall into? 
$10,000-$25,000
What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? 
Photography and Videography. With this documentation, we are able to relive all the details and emotions of our ceremony and reception! Save the Date video: http://vimeo.com/41858697 Wedding Video: http://vimeo.com/61850876
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? 
I remember Justin telling me he was going to dip me during our first kiss…well with the emotions of our ceremony I completely forgot and when the time came for our kiss, the dip was a special surprise to say the least!
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? 
We all want our day to be perfect and it’s understandable to focus on making that happen! Even through all of the planning and decisions, remember it is only one day of your life. If the wedding doesn’t flow exactly as you planned, you are still marrying the one person you care the most about!
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? 
Justin and I now own our first house and are spending time in the yard this spring, planting flowers and making it our own special space. We have set goals for travel in the next few years and just overall enjoying our first year of marriage! As for adding to the family, we have talked about getting a second dog so our pup, Fern, can have a best friend.

Kendall Poole and Molly Gee Designs are delightful members of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

I tried on about 20 wedding dresses with just my mom and Katherine. Terri and Krista at the Gown Boutique of Charleston were a dream team. They helped me to find my dream dress on my first and only day shopping for my dress. Everything about my Augusta Jones silk organza Tina dress was beyond perfect for me!

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. 
We fell in love when I was playing the wingwoman for my friend and Tobi playing the wingman for his friend at a bar lounge in New York City. They became deeply engaged in a conversation and sent us away to the bar to get drinks. We went and waited for drinks to arrive for us to carry back. We started to talk to each other to be polite. Then, a very long time passed and we didn’t even realize that we had gotten no drinks, our friends were looking for us and the bar was closing! Tobi called me two days later and asked if I would like to grab dinner sometime. I gladly said yes and the rest is history! Our friends are both happily dating others and were the bridesmaid and groomsman at our wedding.

What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? 
I John 4:7-8 “Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God, and he who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God; for God is love.”

The most memorable moment of the day was when we got to Lowndes Grove for our reception immediately after the ceremony. Tobi and I got off our trolley first about 10 minutes before the rest of our guests did. The first trolley had already dropped off a batch of guests 20 minutes earlier. The minute Tobi and I stepped off our trolley, we just stood on the gravel, several feet away from our guests, and just watched everything from a distance: from the jazz band his dad surprised us with and all the beautiful shades of pinks, peaches and golds surrounding the plantation, to our closest family and friends chatting away over Pimm’s Cups and Arnold Palmers. Knowing that everyone came to this one place from all over the place just for us made us so amazed and we felt so much joy in our hearts. It was also the only 10 minutes we got to take it all in, just by ourselves, before being swept back into the storybook night again! I will never forget those 10 minutes and the beautiful mental snapshot.

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? 
So many things! In summary: Charleston, Arnold Palmers served in mason jars, a low country menu and dance cards, Southern hearts, hospitality and the love we all shared that day!

I wanted the wedding cake to resemble the top part of my wedding dress. It had a soft and beautiful layered petals look to it. We also tinted the cake to a very subtle blush. Other than the beautiful design, the flavors were the best and everyone loved it even those who weren’t cake fans! Th bottom tier was spiced cake with ginger butter cream icing, the next tier was a lemon cake with almond butter cream icing, the next tier was a hazelnut cake with spiced butter cream and the top tier was a hazelnut cake with spiced butter cream.

What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? 
I had always dreamed of my wedding sendoff to be me waving goodbye to our loved ones from a white horse carriage with my husband. When my wedding planner told me that regulations and traffic in the plantation’s neighborhood made this vision nearly impossible, I was devastated and could not believe that this would be not become a reality in Charleston! Then, the following morning, Katherine pulled the rabbit out of her hat and found me the white horse carriage that I’d imagined since I was 6!

Describe the proposal. 
Tobi proposed over a home-cooked meal the weekend after the weekend he planned to propose! Here is the short version of the story/original plan: We were taking a day trip to Richmond on a beautiful summer day because I had always talked about wanting to visit. He planned the entire day and was going to propose over a champagne dinner at the Jefferson Hotel except I had gotten into an argument with him while on our way to dinner because I was wondering if and when he would ever propose! I had no idea that was supposed to be the day!

In what month did you get married? 
September

How many guests attended your wedding? 
86

Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding. 
Our first dance was Let’s Stay Together by Al Greene

Describe your wedding flowers. 
The flowers were AMAZING and I cannot do them justice by trying to describe them here!

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: 
The kissing bells that everyone also used as sendoff bells with pink, peach and lavender ribbons!

What range did your wedding budget fall into? 
$75,000-$100,000

What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? 
Definitely the gold flatware!

What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? 
1. Know that you have every right in the universe to get everything you’ve ever dreamed of for your wedding day! It IS about your vision. Also know that the “perfect” wedding, like the “perfect” man, is one that is perfect for you, who you are, and what you stand for. Don’t let the pursuit of “perfection” get in the way of progress! 2. Stress as much as your body and mind can tolerate as long as you’re still having fun! 3. Do ask for your dude’s thoughts on things that he probably does have an opinion on, like music/entertainment and food. Definitely do the tasting together as a fun date especially if y’all love to eat! It’s his big day, too, and he’ll love you more for caring about what he thinks.

What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? 
We are just feeling happy and grateful for where we are in life at this moment, and really cherish all the bliss, memories and faith that our love, family and friends have gifted us. In the immediate future, we are very much excited about building our life and creating wonderful memories, together, one day at a time. We also hope to welcome our first puppy to the family by our one year anniversary!

Remember that gorgeous light I spoke about in Part I? Here it is again in these divine portraits from Adam Barnes! Absolutely dreamy!

A mini-food fan, I know our Emily was completely smitten when she first peeked at Tami + James’ reception. I love how T + J not only served adorable and yummy food, but it came complete with a story the best part! Each course was a customized culinary trip through their lives, from “Childhood Favorites,” “Southern Comfort” and “Old Bay,” all the way to “The City That Never Sleeps.” What fun!

P.S. Be sure to scroll all the way down and read about T + J’s Great Gatsby moment! So cool!

What was your reception like? It was a tented reception where guests enjoyed our personalized four-course dinner and dancing afterward.  When planning the wedding, I wanted to incorporate something that would blow James away, and decided to surprise him with a cigar roller and scotch bar, which ended up being a huge hit at the reception!  The cigar roller did his thing on the patio, just outside of the tent, where many of our guests congregated after dinner to enjoy the last few minutes of sunlight and socialize among the trees and carriage house.  For an added unique touch of evening ambiance, we projected a romantic 1920s silent film in the background against the carriage house. The scene of bow-tied gentlemen enjoying cigars while entertaining each other and their lovely ladies was magical, drawing a comment from one guest likening the evening to one of the many painted by Scott Fitzgerald in The Great Gatsby.

Food is a big part of our lives. Growing up, we both had family dinners on Sundays and everyone always seemed to be in and around the kitchen enjoying the food and drink that day’s host was preparing. As a continuation of our quest to make our wedding personal, we took the opportunity to come up with a menu that reflected the path of our lives. We started with a “Childhood Favorites” course of Lobster corndogs, grilled cheese and tomato soup shooters, and a side of gold fish crackers. Then on to “Southern Comfort,” a nod to my Southern roots with white cheddar, gruyere and truffle oil mac and cheese, a country biscuit with Virginia ham, and shrimp and grits. The third course was “Old Bay,” a nod to James’ hometown and late night college years with Maryland crab cakes and a mini philly cheesesteaks with shoestring fries. To finish the meal and kick off the toasts, we ended with our fourth course, “The City That Never Sleeps,” which was a manhattan, the city where we currently make our home.

Describe some of the decorations or décor elements you used: We used vintage scales, vintage cigar boxes, homemade painted wooden signs, ball jars with burlap wrapping, homemade burlap silverware holders with individually sewn flowers, and a homemade “sweets” sign over the dessert bar
Describe your centerpieces: They were a mix of pale pink peonies, hydrangeas, dahlias and roses in vintage wood boxes, vintage tins and apothecary jars. They were arranged around stacked antique books and vintage tea cups with tea light candles inside.  The table number signs were designed to reflect specific parts of our personalities and story, including a Christian Louboutin pump, a bull and bear (James works on Wall Street), golf clubs, a Virginia peanut, and more.

My favorite detail of the wedding was the custom farm table my mother and father built for us to serve as the “head table.”  We weren’t allowed to see it until the day of the wedding and we were truly blown away. The most special part was that they engraved T + J on the top! It is something we can’t wait to move into our home (once we leave the cozy confines of the West Village) and incorporate into holiday family traditions. 

What was Southern about your wedding? Everything from the country music playing in the background, the sweet tea served pre-ceremony, and the “Southern Comfort” menu complete with shrimp and grits, mac and cheese and a delicious country biscuits with Virginia ham.
What was the most memorable or touching moment about your wedding day?  James’ speech, welcoming everyone to our wedding and hearing him talk about the first time he saw me and how he knew good things were to come.  It was quite the tear-jerker for all of the ladies at the wedding.
What were some of the highlights? The personalized menu was a hit with everyone definitely something bespoke that had the intended effect of sharing with our guests the formative times in our lives. Our guests also loved the scotch bar and cigar roller!
What was the funniest moment?  What was the scariest? The funniest moment was trying to get the ring bearer to sit with the wedding party for group pictures.  Lou, James’ best man ended up grabbing the back of his overalls to keep him from exploring the gardens! The scariest moment was standing up in front of all our family and friends and taking the leap!
Were there any family traditions you included in the reception? No, but James’ father gave a beautiful blessing before dinner.
Did you toss the garter or bouquet? Both.  James tossed my garter to Jimi Hendrix’s “Foxy Lady,” a fitting tune, especially given James’ love of the guitar and Jimi Hendrix in particular.  His college band mates got a kick out of it!
Tell us about your grand exit. As a parting gift, and to keep the party rolling, we made s’mores kits for all our guests.  We all piled into a trolley enjoying whatever cocktail happened to be in our hot little hands at the end of the night and proceeded to the fire pit at the resort where everyone was staying.  It was the perfect way to end the evening, where guests who hadn’t had a chance to catch up could banter about their latest happenings and new friendships made that evening were solidified.  James and I were a few of the last to leave, enjoying everyone’s well-wishes and hearing about their personal evening highlights.
Groom’s favorite detail of the wedding:  The custom cigar labels Tami had made for our scotch and cigar bar!!
What was the biggest challenge you faced when planning your wedding?  Time management. We wanted everything to be perfect and spent a lot of our time focused on the details.  As the date neared, we weren’t quite sure we could get it all done.  But, thanks to a combined family effort, everything went off without a hitch!
What range did your budget fall into?  $25,000-$50,000
Did you take a honeymoon?  If so, where? We took a wonderful trip to the Amalfi coast in Italy, spending time on the island of Capri and the coastal towns of Ravello and Positano.  We loved the casual glamour of the Mediterranean, and of course the food and wine!
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future?  We are tremendously blessed with many opportunities that may either keep us in New York, or take us somewhere new.  But, for now, we can’t wait to make the most of our time as a young couple in New York City.

Adam Barnes is a delightful member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

Tell me a bit about the wedding ceremony. We had a traditional non-denominational ceremony.  Our officiant, Gil, who was recommended by my boss, felt the same as us and focused the ceremony on God’s beautiful creation, love, and how to nurture, honor and enjoy it.
Who participated in your ceremony? We had two readers, our friends Allison Black and Claire Vorhees.  My 14-year-old sister, Niki also sang Ave Maria during the ceremony a performance people are still raving about!
Did you try anything new or untraditional? I walked down the aisle to Jont’s “Sweetheart,” a song that when I heard it, reminded me of James.  We had a very fun parting song, Barry Louis Polisar’s “All I Want is You” that set the tone for a perfect outdoor cocktail hour.

Our summer wedding was on June 23, 2012 at the Thomas Birkby House in Leesburg, Virginia. Even though we lived in New York, we are both Southern at heart – I with my Southern roots, and James with his country club gentleman style – so we thought Virginia would be the perfect spot.  It just felt like home.  When we visited the Thomas Birkby House, we were both blown away at the detail and care Ron and Judy put into maintaining the venue.  We also loved the old-time Virginia feel of the house and gardens.  As a logistical bonus, the house was 15 minutes away from my parent’s house – the perfect staging area for our farm table, flowers and centerpieces and the resort we used to spend time at while dating.  That weekend, our guests were able to enjoy the pool during the day and James had a prenuptial golf tournament with his father, uncles and groomsmen – one of his few requirements for the weekend.

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story.  James and I met in 2007 while working for the same company in Northern Virginia.  We worked in separate offices and would have never met if fate wasn’t on our side. One summer afternoon, a mutual friend and colleague invited us both to lunch.  When James arrived at our office to meet for lunch, he saw, as he says, a “bouncy blonde” walking down the hall and instantly prayed, “Oh please God, let that be the friend I am going to lunch with!”  Luckily it was, and after a long lunch filled with laughter, our relationship began.  Unfortunately, time was not on our side as James was due to leave for business school in Chicago just six weeks after we met. We dated long distance for his two years at school, including a summer in New York.  While it was challenging at times, we enjoyed the sparks that flew each time we reunited and the dream of living together in New York City after graduation.
Describe the proposal: In 2009, we settled in to our first (and tiny!) New York City apartment in the West Village, which is where James popped the question.  It was a Thursday evening when James walked through the door of our apartment with a box of my favorite cupcakes from our neighborhood bakery, Magnolia.  I opened the box and to my surprise, there was the most beautiful engagement ring right next to a cupcake!  After proposing, James told me to pack my suitcase. I was shocked.  Not only had he planned a romantic trip for us, but also arranged the vacation days with my boss without me knowing.  We spent the long weekend drinking and eating pool-side, enjoying couples massages and lounging on the beach – the perfect way to celebrate our new engagement!
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Vintage, personal, Southern.
What was the weather like on your big day?  Perfect – 85 degrees, sunny with a gentle summer breeze
How many guests attended your wedding? 100
Tell us about finding your wedding dress.  What is your favorite thing about it? I purchased my wedding dress from a little bridal boutique in NYC called Adriennes.  The designer is Jim Hjelm.  Since we were having a vintage-inspired wedding, I knew I wanted a lace dress.  What I loved specifically about this dress was the design of the lace.  It wasn’t your traditional Chantilly lace, it was more of a crochet lace.  I thought it was unique and I loved the way the mermaid style showed off my curves.
How did you spend the morning or afternoon before your big day? I spent most of the day with my bridesmaids getting our makeup and hair done.  James was running around making sure our guests were enjoying themselves by the pool.  On Friday, James had a golf tournament with his dad, uncles, friends and groomsmen, jokingly referred to as the Prenuptial Open.

Adam Barnes is a delightful member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding. I found an amazing orchestral version of “Secrets” by One Republic mixed with Beethoven’s 5th Symphony by the Piano Guys to walk down the aisle to. It’s such a beautiful song and had the most perfect build up it still gives me chills! On our way back down the aisle we played “Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours,” by Stevie Wonder. Jared actually picked this one, and he couldn’t have been more spot on. Our first dance was to a James Taylor song, “Smiling Face.” It’s one of our favorite songs, and just fits us.

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. 
The two of us met during our freshman year of college at Charleston Southern. We were in the same public speaking class and shared glances at each other for a few weeks before Jared worked up the nerve to walk me to my dorm after class. We shared several walks over the next few weeks until he finally asked me to be his girlfriend, and several years later his wife.
Describe the proposal. 
Jared planned a surprise for the two of us during the SEWE weekend in Charleston. He had only hinted at one thing, “It’s something you’ve always wanted to do.” Well boy did that make my head spin. There were tons of things I had always wanted to do! As I was enjoying the Jack Hannah show and patiently waiting to see the cheetah, he informed me that we were late for our “thing,” and had to leave. I was pretty disappointed due to the fact that the show wasn’t even halfway over, but we made our way to the car and began the drive to Patriots Point. I had a sneaking suspicion he was taking me to see my old teammates, as they were playing against College of Charleston, but again I was wrong. We passed the softball fields and continued on, parking near the docks. At this point, I was wondering what the heck we were doing, and then we met the Captain of the Firefly. Jared had chartered a sailboat for the two of us to cruise the harbor on. I was dumbfounded and thought that this in itself was the surprise! We then skimmed atop the Charleston harbor enjoying wine, cheese, and fruits for quite some time until Jared insisted that I come to the bow of the boat. It had been raining off and on and I wasn’t too keen on getting wet, but I eventually obliged. We did the cheesy “Titanic moment” and as I turned to head back to cover, Jared was down on one knee with a beautiful ring asking me to marry him. After answering with a yes, we then took cover as the Captain showed me that he was taking pictures of the whole thing! I couldn’t have asked for anything better.
In what month did you get married? 
October
How many guests attended your wedding? 
200
Tell us about finding your wedding dress. 
I found my wedding dress the first day I went shopping. I didn’t have much of an idea what I was looking for until I put it on. I was actually debating between two dresses that were significantly different, but was so happy with my final choice.
Did you decide to do a “first look”? 
We decided not to do a “first look” as we are both pretty traditional. We were looking forward to first seeing each other down the aisle we didn’t want to miss that dramatic moment.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: 
There were way too many to count them all. I absolutely loved our venue, our ceremony site, the driveway, and the backyard. It is so naturally beautiful. I also was over the moon for how our centerpieces turned out. I could go on, but everything was just perfect.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? 
A big challenge for me was planning the wedding two hours from home where Jared lived. It was slightly difficult trying to orchestrate everything that needed to be done, especially while trying to also spend some non-wedding time together on the weekends. We didn’t want every weekend to be all about the wedding since we only saw each other every week or so, but there are some things that aren’t easy to decide over the phone.
What range did your wedding budget fall into? 
$10,000-$25,000
What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? 
I wouldn’t say I splurged on any particular thing, but I cannot say how happy I was with our photographer. She truly did an amazing job capturing our day. I couldn’t have asked for better.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? 
Don’t let it stress you out, and add a little time to your wedding day schedule. We had a very padded schedule and it worked out so well. The groomsmen and groom were a little late to their pictures, but we weren’t rushed because of great planning.

With a relationship stemming from minor league baseball chatter on Twitter, it’s safe to say Jessica + Chris did not meet in the most traditional way. But, when it came to their sweet Southern wedding, tradition was deeply woven into every detail. My favorite detail is the Bible Chris’s mother carried into the ceremony it was his late father’s, and it served as a reminder of his presence and his support for their marriage. What a lovely way to honor and remember him.

On a sweet note, I would be remiss not to mention that Jessica + Chris made their own peach preserve wedding favors with the help of Jessica’s mom and step dad! Says Jessica, “It was a great bonding experience, and we were so proud of the ‘fruits’ of our labor!”

We’re sending lots of thanks to Chris Isham for snapping J+C’s big day!

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. 
My mom and I went everywhere in Greenville looking for the perfect dress. I would find one that I really liked the shape of, but find something I didn’t like about the fabric, or vice versa. Finally we decided to drop in at David’s Bridal, where I immediately spotted the dress. I knew it would be mine before I even tried it on the texture and flow were just perfect for me.

My mom, my five amazing bridesmaids, and my mother-in-law and grandmother-in-law decorated the entire reception area the night before. A true labor of love! We used a mix of white hydrangeas, blush and white garden roses and baby’s breath for both the reception and the ceremony. The buds were arranged in hand-decorated mason jars and small vases to create a vintage Southern feel simple, sweet, and comfortable elegance. We took fabric flower pieces from my mom’s veil and attached them to my bouquet as my something old; it was a wonderful way to carry a piece of her wedding day with me.

Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding. A friend of ours, Johnathan, played guitar during our ceremony since access to power or a piano really wasn’t an option in the middle of a farm field. For the processional, he played an amazing acoustic edition of “Everlasting Light” by The Black Keys. Chris and I went to a Black Key’s Concert early in our relationship and have always loved this song. For the bridal entrance, we selected “Make You Feel My Love” by Bob Dylan and for the recessional, “Here Come The Sun,” by The Beatles. Our first dance was to “You Are The Best Thing” by Ray LaMontagne. Chris and his mom danced to “I Hope You Dance” by LeeAnn Womack, and my dad and I danced to “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra. On our RSVP return cards we asked our guests to “Be the DJ” such a great idea! Our reception music was an eclectic mix of music that kept everyone on the dance floor all night long. Plus it was great to see when a guest’s song came on and see them rush to the floor in excitement for “their pick.”

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? 
Our wedding was full of Southern charm. We wanted our guests to feel comfortable and at home so that they could really enjoy themselves. Our guests rode up to the ceremony site on tractors hay ride style! One of the most Southern details was the food. Our wedding was held on an organic working farm, so the dinner we served was farm-to-table style using as many ingredients as possible from our surroundings. We served crostinis with goat cheese and pepper jelly, a salad with organic greens, slider burgers with fresh greens and cheddar, corn lollipops, a mashed potato bar with all the fixin’s, and BBQ chicken over collard greens. Plus, every drink at the wedding was served in a mason jar with a paper straw. We had a fire pit in the reception barn where guests could warm themselves in a rocking chair or toast marshmallows for s’mores. We were all about Southern comfort and good ‘ol hospitality!

When you get down to the final weeks and days of planning, you’ve done everything you can do up to this point to make your day unforgettable. If things don’t turn out quite like you planned, just roll with the punches and don’t sweat the things you can’t change. Improvise and laugh about it it’s not worth getting upset over. It’s your big day savor every moment!

We always love a good father/daughter dance, but this photo of Chris and his mama dancing encompasses so much emotion!

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. 
Chris and I met on Twitter, but before you think that’s crazy please read on! We started communicating with one another periodically about small stuff in late 2009, talking about the local minor league baseball team, our distaste for speeding tickets, and the fact that we were both from Virginia and living in South Carolina. Eventually, that led to the need for more in-depth conversations, so we exchanged phone numbers and figured that it was time to meet each other in early 2010. We both knew that the other person could possibly be a serial killer (only kidding!) but we took a chance and found that there was a definite attraction. We’ve been inseparable ever since!
Describe the proposal. 
One summer Saturday morning, I got up early and started getting ready to go look for treasures at a local neighborhood yard sale. Chris is not a morning person, so I was pretty shocked when he wanted to join me on my 7 am excursion. After a couple hours of looking at tables upon tables of junk, we made our way back to our apartment. All morning, Chris had been asking what I wanted to do for the rest of the day, and I replied multiple times that I had no plans. After being asked the question again, I was beginning to get a little annoyed. I turned to Chris and in a very annoyed and sarcastic tone grumbled, “You keep asking me what I want to do, clearly you have something in mind, so what do YOU want to do today?” He dropped to one knee and said, “I want to make it official.” My mouth dropped open and I immediately felt terrible about what I had just said. The rest is history! We were going to have a much more romantic engagement story, but I mistakenly ruined Chris’s grand plans by inviting one of our friends along for dinner the night the proposal was supposed to happen. But I honestly couldn’t be happier with our story… it is very “us”!
In what month did you get married? 
October 2012
How many guests attended your wedding? 
150
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? 
Evan added 1 Corinthians 13:4-8,13 to the wedding message at our request and my stepfather, Jim read Romans 12:9-21 during the ceremony.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? 
I am a very detail-oriented person and it was hard to narrow down the things I wanted to include in our special day. Eventually, I had to decide what mattered most and eliminate the all the piddly things that weren’t as meaningful to us.
What range did your wedding budget fall into? 
$10,000-$25,000
What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? Our photography. I was especially picky about what I wanted to look back at years from now and see. After looking up every photographer in town, I just knew I wanted Chris Isham to capture all of the little moments during our big moment. His relaxed style was just perfect and he really made Chris and I feel at ease. We could have had a few of our friends capture the day for little to nothing, but this was the best choice we could have possibly made!
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? 
We are excited for what is ahead! Shortly after we returned from the honeymoon in Jamaica, Chris interviewed for a new position and received a promotion at his company at the end of last year. I am in the process of preparing for and applying to graduate school programs and I just changed career paths. We are looking forward to settling into our new house and starting a family in the next few years.

Chris Isham is a delightful member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

Dom is a big collector of matchbooks, so we had custom matchbooks made with our married monogram!

Did you have a cocktail hour? If so, what was it like? Our cocktail hour was fantastic.   As you entered the house, you saw a gorgeous old-fashioned champagne tower.  There was also an oyster bar, cheese trays and delicious shrimp and grits in edible spoons.

I’m smitten over these chargers – the cut-out detail is simple yet ornate all at the same time. I can see pairing them with my grandmother’s vintage china for an Easter brunch!

Tell us a bit about your first dance. We danced to “Stand by Me” by Ben E. King.  We went back and forth on many different songs as we wanted as we wanted something that was a little upbeat.  “Stand by Me” turned out perfectly.
Favorite design element of your big day: My whole idea for dinner was to have the feeling of an intimate dinner party surround by friends.  That was executed with the long tables, lit candles, and the beautiful chandeliers hanging from the tents.
What was the funniest moment?  What was the scariest? Our funniest moment was when one of our friends was dancing on the stage with the band and jumped up and came down into a split.  The crowd could not believe it and when he showed up at our brunch the next day, the room gave him a standing ovation for his incredible dance moves.
What was Southern about your wedding? The location, the plantation, the food, and the specialty cocktails.

Looking to make your own Charleston welcome tote? Check out our tips (and free download!) here!

Oh my beautiful paper! I’d like to lay this out on my coffee table and just stare at it all day!

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story.  We met at a mutual friend’s birthday party.  We talked throughout the party, but then when Dom asked for my phone number, he got my name wrong! I soon learned he is terrible with names but on that night I was not sure I would hear from him again.  I was wrong. We started dating and we both knew early on we had something special.  We dated for three years before getting engaged.
Describe the proposal: We went to Jackson Hole for my birthday because we both love to ski and our first-ever trip together was to Vail, Colorado. Ski trips hold a special meaning for us.  We got there mid-day and got our ski stuff together so we would be ready early the next morning.  We got back to the room and there were flowers all over, which I thought were for my birthday.  I turned around and he was on one knee in front of the fireplace proposing! I could not have been happier.  My sister and other friends also joined us on the trip later that day and they had no idea Dom proposed.  When we saw them, we were able to share the news with them in person, which made the whole night even more special
Tell me all the basics of your wedding! Our wedding was in the spring in Charleston, SC at Lowndes Grove Plantation. We knew that Charleston was the most likely place we wanted to get married as I had been visiting there for years after my mom relocated there eleven years ago.  When we saw Lowndes Grove Plantation in person, we knew we had found the venue that could host the type of wedding we envisioned.  It wasn’t until we met the team at Soiree that we knew we had all the pieces to the puzzle. We knew that they would be able to create the vision we had for the entire event.  They surpassed anything we had even expected.
Three adjectives that describe the day are:  Spectacular, elegant, intimate.
What was the weather like on your big day? Cloudy but the sun broke through
How many guests attended your wedding? 136
What was the design inspiration for your wedding?  Why was this design special to you as a couple?   We really wanted to maintain the Southern plantation feel, but to add modern touches, too.  We saw photos of a wedding in Italy that was both formal and intimate at the same time and we felt that really went well with the vision we had for our wedding.
How did you spend the morning or afternoon before your big day?  I spent the morning getting ready with my mother, mother-in-law, sister and best friends. I had given my bridesmaids robes as part of their gift and we all lounged around in our robes and relaxed to having lunch and drink champagne while getting our hair and makeup done.  My sister had little surprises for me, like a pin to wear on my bouquet and a hanger with the wedding date that she had ordered for my wedding dress.  She thought of everything and I could not have gotten through the day without her.
Who participated in your ceremony? We also had a close friend Dom went to college with do a reading from the book Tuesdays with Morrie, which is a personal favorite of both of ours.
Did you write your own vows? We wanted the ceremony to be very personal, so we wrote the entire ceremony, including all of our vows.  The entire ceremony from start to finish was beautiful.
Were there any family traditions you included in the ceremony? Yes, in Jewish ceremonies you break the glass at the end of the ceremony to signify the frailty of life and to show that as the glass shatters, it is permanent – the same as our marriage.  Dom broke the glass at the end of the ceremony. 

Last week, I was having a highly-excited conversation with a friend of mine who is headed back to North Carolina (we’re both currently in Arizona). In addition to everything else she had to look forward to from her trip, I just knew hushpuppies had to be on the list after all, we are both obsessed with the Cook-Out version! Y’all, I once drove all the way from Florida to North Carolina, and once I crossed the state line my first stop was Cook-Out, just for hushpuppies!

No surprise then, that today’s Southern Delicacy is one of my very favorite foods of all time. I actually judge the Southern-ness of restaurants on the quality of their hushpuppies (and fried pickles!).

Gourmet hushpuppies photo by Harwell Photography via Southern Weddings and hush puppy pie plate signage photo by Dave Lapham via Southern Weddings

A hushpuppy (or fried cornbread ball, for my Northern friends) is a savory treat made from cornmeal batter that is deep fried or baked in small ball shapes. Frequently served as a side dish, usually at seafood restaurants or barbecues, these yummy little bites supposedly originated in the 1800′s in Native American cooking. (Fun fact: Lots of food we consider traditional Southern fare, like grits, actually originated from Native American tribes!)

With a little more research, I also found that some say hushpuppies originated in the settlement of Nouvell Orleans (later called New Orleans) in the 1700′s, created by a group of Ursuline nuns from France. The nuns used cornmeal to create a delicious food they called croquettes de maise. These croquettes spread rapidly through the Southern states and eventually came to be known as hushpuppies!

Shrimp and okra hushpuppies, hoppin’ John hushpuppies, shrimp and okra hushpuppies, and crab cake hushpuppies

Beyond the delicious taste of these little guys, I love the story of their name. According to Southern folklore, the first recorded reference to the word “hush-puppy” dates to 1899. The name “hushpuppies” is attributed to hunters and fishermen, who would fry a basic cornmeal mixture and toss it to their dogs to “hush the puppies” during cook-outs or fish-fries.

Other hush puppy legends attribute the term “hushpuppies” to the Civil War, during which soldiers supposedly tossed fried cornbread to quell the barks of Confederate dogs!

Red velvet hushpuppies from Best Friends for Frosting and apple cider hushpuppies from The Cozy Apron

Aren’t these sweet varieties so fun? They look delicious!

No matter the origin, I just love the stories behind this delicacy! I think they would make a fun cocktail hour ‘pass,’ or I’d love to see a hushpuppy bar with all the different variations. Mmm, I’m thinking a Southern road trip is in order!

Where are your favorite hushpuppies from? I’d love to try a different version, so share your favorite hushpuppy-serving restaurants in the comments below!

Harwell Photography is a delightful member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

What was your reception like?  Fun, easy, kid-friendly!
Did you have a cocktail hour?  Yes we did! The open bar kept all of our guests happy while the room was flipped.
What kind of food did you serve during the cocktail hour, dinner and dessert? Sliders, petite deserts and finger foods.
Favorite design element of your big day: I would have to say that it was probably the dinner tables and the candy “guest favors” station. The cotton candy was like nothing I had ever tasted before! Coming from a town where the yearly fair was “must do,” you could probably guess that I have eaten lots of cotton candy!
Describe your wedding cake: It was all white with white cake and had a large white garden rose that cascaded down the side.
What was the scariest? When I first walked out with my dad. I wasn’t sure if I was going to smile or cry! I made it with no tears and was surprisingly relaxed!
What was the biggest challenge you faced when planning your wedding? Trying to keep the budget down. We had to decide what was important to both of us for our special day. As a woman, you realize quickly that all of those wedding fantasies you’ve had in your head for all of these years really aren’t necessities, especially when you’re over budget!
What range did your budget fall into? $50,000-$75,000
Did you take a honeymoon? Yes! We went to the Amalfi coast of Italy!
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future?   We are raising our sons, working on one more addition to our family and working hard to maintain successful businesses in our community.
What advice would you give to someone planning his or her wedding?  Relax, try not to sweat the small things, and remember that if you don’t have it done by the week of, not to stress yourself out. Just let it go. Things will still turn out perfectly!

Harwell Photography is a delightful member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

Today’s gorgeous bride described the couple’s Atlanta wedding as “unpretentious, fun-loving, and perfect!” Of all the adjectives that our darling brides have used to describe their weddings, Eddie’s three not only encompass her big day exactly, but they might be my favorite I’ve ever read. While tradition and formality are important to us as Southerners, we believe weddings are supposed to be personal, and a meaningful start to a long-lasting marriage. And for Eddie + Jordan, keeping their big day relaxed and enjoyable for everyone kids and adults alike was the ultimate representation of their personalities!

Based off the ear-to-ear grins on the faces of Eddie + Jordan and their guests, I’d have to say they achieved their goal. Special thanks to Harwell Photography for capturing the joy of their day!

Look at that stunner! My bouquet was an all-white delinquent handmade giant garden rose. The bridesmaids had a beautiful mix of gorgeous flowers with pops of purple, and the boutonnieres were unique and timeless, with just enough color.

One word for these handsome fellows: dapper! Love all of the pattern mixing going on!

I loved how handsome my two sons looked once they were dressed. Jordan’s suit definitely blew me away as well. He looked so handsome and perfect! To think, I didn’t even get anyone dressed they did such a good job on their own!

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We’ll be back with more from the reception in just a bit!

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story.  We met at a supper club back in 2006 that was the known spot for “social singles.” Jordan was sent to our table to chat us up. Long story short, after a year and never returning his calls, I did run into Jordan again. I didn’t remember him initially but he remembered me and vowed that day that he wouldn’t be shaken off so easily again! Needless to say, he had severely changed his tone and the rest is history.
Tell me all the basics of your wedding! We chose Memorial Day weekend because it was important to us both that our guest would be able to travel from far away and have an extra day to still enjoy the festivities of our wedding. With the holiday Monday built into that, it really made a beautiful weekend. We chose to have our wedding at a venue called The King Plow Arts Center. The wedding started at 5:30pm.
What was the weather like on your big day? It had to be about 85-90 degrees. HOT!!
How many guests attended your wedding? 125 guests
What was the design inspiration for your wedding?  Why was this design special to you as a couple? Our design inspiration was something that we were both very familiar and comfortable with. We both grew up in small towns with humble beginnings so that sense of easiness and things that feel familiar had to be incorporated into the space old school candies, a high school-style DJ, simple but elegant décor. We wanted to convey to our guests that yes, this is our special day and things look so pretty, but we are going to have a stinking good time still! Neither of us like spaces where you feel like things are so posh that everyone tends to be uptight all night! NO BUENO! I like to think of it as a posh-yet-weathered setting with touches of nostalgia that created a sense comfort and intimacy.
Bride’s favorite detail of the wedding: I also thought that my planner was Jesus for about 10 minutes while I stuffed my face with the food she and her staff packed for me and Jordan to eat back at our room that night. That detail alone was a lifesaver because neither of us got a chance to eat at the wedding. Thank you for taking care of us, Michelle!
What did the groomsmen wear? They wore charcoal grey tuxedos with no tie to convey the relaxed feel of our event, with off-white shirts and off-white leather shoes. It worked in perfectly with our wedding, however I wouldn’t suggest that anyone wear that without at least three other guys that are dressed the same!!
Who participated in your ceremony? Six of my best girlfriends were my bridesmaids, and my two older sisters were my honorary bridesmaids. Jordan’s niece was our beautiful flower girl, and his groomsmen were made up of two of his brothers, one cousin and two of his best friends. My oldest son, Jackson and our son Myles were our ring bearers.
Who was one of the most special guests at your wedding? Jordan’s grandmother. I had not met her before that day and since both of my grandmothers are not with us any longer, I was so pleased and honored that she was able to make it!

Harwell Photography is a delightful member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

The divine lace details and soft pink palette definitely stuck out to me when I first laid eyes on Chanda + David’s wedding I’m a sucker for feminine classic Southern style, and C + D’s wedding fits the bill perfectly! But, the loveliness gave way to meaning when I read about Chanda’s exquisite veil it was her late mother’s, and, to quote the bride, wearing it was “a feeling I just can’t describe.” Now I can’t help but get a little choked up every time I look at Lexia Frank’s portraits of Chanda. Isn’t she radiant?

Finally, I decided that I would make a trip to visit my grandmother and pick up my late mother’s veil. I returned to Brides by Demetrios to try on the dress again with my mother’s veil and that is the moment I knew that it was the one.

I adore the photo of Chanda’s grandmother looking on over the hustle and bustle of the gals getting ready! Chanda said the day was also not complete without a retelling by her grandmother of a favorite story the Christmas Chanda received her first string of pearls, and her grandmother remarked that now, as a Southern girl, she could work on her sterling silver!

I had my heart set on pink and white peonies for my bouquet and the bridesmaids’ bouquets. I was so disappointed when Alta, our florist, told us peonies weren’t in season in February. She suggested ranunculus, garden roses and spray roses, and they turned out to be romantic and absolutely beautiful wrapped in burlap and lace!

What a stunning spot for a wedding ceremony!

What was Southern about your wedding? We were married on a ranch! I don’t think you can get more Southern than that! Our reception was held in the rustic old barn, and everything was wrapped in burlap and lace. We used mason jars for decoration, and our Southern lemonade was spiked with Jack Daniels. Chicken and waffles were passed during our cocktail hour. Guests made s’mores by the bonfire and played horseshoes. I also gave personalized handkerchiefs as gifts to my grandmother, my mother in-law and father in-law right before the ceremony.

I love the bows sprinkled throughout Chanda + David’s celebration!

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. 
David and I met through mutual friends at a concert. I heard Ben Harper for the first time while driving home from the beach with my girlfriend. Several weeks later, I saw Ben Harper was coming to town. I immediately contacted my girlfriend Faye and told her we should get tickets to the concert. David was not a fan of the artist, but was tagging along with his friend Paul. To this day, David swears we had a moment during the concert when our eyes met. It breaks my heart to admit, but he had the better viewing spot, and I kept looking over to him thinking that if he were a gentleman, he would offer me his spot. Which he did. After the concert, I wanted nothing more than to go home and go to bed, but Dave and my girlfriend were going to have a couple of drinks at the local brewery. As I turned to go home, I thought maybe I should stick around. After all, I thought Dave was hysterically funny, charming and devilishly handsome. Truth be told, I didn’t want my girlfriend to see what I had seen. The night came to an end and we parted ways. Several days later, we ran into each other again amongst friends. It was Cinco De Mayo. After several minutes of casual conversation, out of nowhere Dave asked me out on a date. In complete shock, my immediate response was NO! As he walked away defeated, I knew that was the last time I ever wanted him to walk out of my life. I spent the next several weeks chasing him, and with help from our mutual friends Cristi and Darren, I finally got a second chance for a first date. Very early on in our relationship, I knew he was the one and I told my dearest friend Robyn, “You know when you know, and I know.”
Describe the proposal.
 I can remember several weeks leading up to the proposal, David kept asking me to go on a trip. Every other night he would try and sell me on a destination. It was hot and we were expecting a beautiful baby boy in the upcoming months he couldn’t get me to go anywhere. On a Monday, David told me to come straight home from work because he was making us dinner. As I walked in our living room, it was filled with roses and balloons. He got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. Then we danced. It was perfect. I then asked him if my grandma knew, and unbeknownst to me, he had visited her days before to ask for my hand in marriage. Later that evening we celebrated at our one of our favorite restaurants.
In what month did you get married?
 February
How many guests attended your wedding?
 100
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding. We spent a lot of time picking the perfect music. We wanted it to represent who we are. The groom and groomsmen walked in to the instrumental version of “Hallelujah,” one of Dave’s favorites. I walked down the aisle to the instrumental version of “Thank You” by Led Zeppelin, one of my favorite bands of all time. We walked back up the aisle to Al Green’s, “Love and Happiness.” David played it the night he proposed. We danced to Ray LaMontagne’s song, “You Are The Best Thing.” It reminded me of when we first met and we would listen to him and dance in the kitchen. Our last dance was Van Morrison’s, “Crazy Love.” It is a great love song, selected by the groom. We exited to Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire.” Who doesn’t love Johnny Cash?
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: There are so many to choose from! First, the venue. The veil was another favorite. I wore my late mother’s antique lace, cathedral length wedding veil. It’s a feeling I just can’t describe. I also wore an estate piece of jewelry over 150 years old from my late great grandfather’s jewelry store. Our food was another great detail. David is from the Philadelphia area, so during cocktail hour mini cheesesteaks were passed. We also loved our favors. We purchased plantable skeleton keys to attach to our escort cards from Recycled Ideas on Etsy. I hope that as the flowers bloom, people are reminded that love will continue to blossom over time.
What range did your wedding budget fall into? $25,000-$50,000
What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? I would have to say the photographer, Lexia Frank she is just amazing and incredibly talented. Everything she captures is beautiful. We also splurged on the videographer. The day goes by so fast it is very surreal. I am so happy we decided (literally the week before) to have it documented. I am looking forward to having the video to watch for years to come. Lastly, we splurged on the food. Our caterer Puff n’ Stuff did a phenomenal job.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? The groom and I agree that the most memorable moment was when I walked down the aisle and our eyes met. It’s a feeling I will not soon forget. Our ceremony was beautiful.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding?
 If you can budget for one, hire a wedding designer/coordinator. It’s worth every dime! Throughout the day, take a moment to take it all in, because it goes by so fast! Don’t forget to excuse yourselves from guests and go dance with your groom!
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? Traveling with our little family, including our two dogs, in an RV throughout the United States.

Both our ceremony and reception were outdoors in the gardens. Dancing and dining al fresco immediately followed the ceremony, while the sun was setting.

How cute is that monogrammed clutch?!

The entry gates displayed a moss-covered monogram. Mason jar centerpieces filled with hydrangeas, garden roses and geraniums ran along our burlap runners. We had vintage table card numbers, mattress ticking striped napkins, and hand-crafted thank you notes at each guests’ place setting. Hundreds of votive candles and personal family framed photographs were arranged throughout the space. Margaritas served in burlap-wrapped jars with pink and white striped straws completed the look.

We danced to “Crazy Love” by Van Morrison for our first dance. Rhet is quite the accomplished dancer. He led me across the dance floor with enthusiasm, great style and a few dips and twirls. Everyone danced the entire night, thanks to such an amazing band!

So sweet!

Oh my lanta! I can’t get over which is cuter! The little guy with a bow tie or the monogrammed bib?? (And, I’m sure the girls in the office have a bet on whether I comment on this! How can I not, right?)

Dinner consisted of action stations including a macaroni and cheese bar, sliders with signature sauces, a French fry bar, a sandwich wrap station, and a salad in a glass station. Dessert was a variety of peanut butter and chocolate, red velvet and s’mores cupcakes.

Get ready for an epic exit don’t y’all just want to experience what Hailey + Rhet were feeling in this moment? Pure joy, from the looks of it!

Did you have a cocktail hour? Yes, during our cocktail hour, we passed hors d’oeuvres and a signature grapefruit margarita in honor of the date, Cinco de Mayo.
Tell us about your grand exit. We left under the Super Moon in a shower of confetti. Rhet picked me up and carried me off to a night of more dancing with our wedding party!
What is the one thing that made your wedding different from anyone else’s wedding? All of the personal touches and the opportunity to take amazing photographs at the new Billy Reid store.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? We are heading to Destin, Florida where Rhet will be serving as an Air Force physician.
What advice would you give to someone planning his or her wedding? Hire vendors you can trust to carry out your vision and give them plenty of detailed information on what you really want.
Who was your favorite vendor and why? We loved Lauren Larsen for her photographic talent and eye and Lori Holley for her out-of-this-world flowers.
What was the most memorable or touching moment about your wedding day? During our first dance, Rhet surprised me by scooping me up and twirling me in the air. I was so thrilled to be his wife.

Can y’all believe we’ve had two pink wedding gowns in two days on the blog? If it’s a trend, then I’m on board! Hailey herself described her dress as “oatmeal-colored” doesn’t that sound glamorous and homey feeling all at the same time? Not to mention she looked absolutely stunning!

The fabric heart sewn into Hailey’s dress belonged to her sweet grandfather, who always wanted to dance with her at her wedding but sadly passed away before he had the chance. I love that she found a way to incorporate his presence into her big day anyway.

My mom and I went shopping and I chose several white dresses that I thought were beautiful. My mom pointed out this oatmeal colored dress, and coaxed me into trying it on. I humored her by putting it on first. To my surprise, it was the one! Because I had such a large wedding party, I didn’t want my bridesmaids to have matching dresses. I chose the color ivory and let my very stylish friends each pick their own dress. They did a fabulous job, and they all came together with hand-made belts I gave them as a gift.

My inspiration for our wedding came from my desire to express my personal style and make sure everyone felt welcomed. I threw in a splash of mattress ticking, vintage pocket squares and my mother’s creative eye. My favorite element was the big, fat, white garden flowers!

Our flowers were plump, lush, ivory blooms with touches of blush. My bouquet had all ivory peonies with burlap and pearl wrapping. The bridesmaids’ bouquets were white and dusty pink roses with scabiosa pods and geranium leaves. The boutonnieres were scabiosa pods with willows.

Hailey and Rhet chose to take post-wedding photos at the Billy Reid shop in Houston an unconventional choice, but one that seems to fit this handsome couple just perfectly! The gents also got dressed at the shop!

Our groomsmen wore tan suits with blue Sperrys. They each chose their own plaid bow-tie to fit their character.

Love these sweet little seating tags to mark reserved spots for loved ones!

I co-wrote the ceremony with our dear friend, Rhet’s colleague and mentor. He became ordained in order to serve as our officiant and shared several personal stories about both of us. His wife read a verse from Ecclesiastes, and one of my college roommates shared a quote from the book we read during our pre-marital counseling to honor our love and faith.

Such gorgeous photos from Lauren!

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story.  We met at a party when I was dating one of Rhet’s underclassmen from med school. Eventually we broke up, and I kept running into Rhet in random places. It seemed like it was meant to be.
Tell me all the basics of your wedding!  Our wedding was held on May 5, 2012 as summer was just approaching. We chose the Gardens of Bammel Lane in the River Oaks area of Houston, Texas. I instantly fell in love with the charm and uniqueness of the gardens and conservatory and the enchanting details the venue had to offer. The wedding was held at 5pm, so we could enjoy the golden hour before sunset in the gardens. Bammel really touched my heart because it reminded me of my grandmother’s lush California garden, where she taught me an appreciation and love of flowers.
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Personal, intimate, enchanting.
What was the weather like on your big day? Sunny and hot
How many guests attended your wedding? 140

Describe your wedding flowers. 
They were perfect! I wanted a romantic, spring look and what we got was 100 times better than what I ever expected. The peonies were full and fragrant, the roses were perfectly bloomed and the orchids, ranuculous and hydrangeas were the perfect shade of pink! My bouquet was exactly what I wanted full of peonies, roses, and rhinestone-studded stephanotis all wrapped up with a tulle tutu! I had saved a photo of this bouquet from Southern Weddings before Pinterest and my florist made it better than I could have imagined! All the arrangements were large, full and soft perfectly accenting the ceremony and reception.

Y’all, Angela’s pink tutu bouquet inspiration is right here! Gorgeous!

There were a lot of family heirlooms used throughout our day. The alter was an antique hutch that my great grandparents had when they were young; I had it refinished for the wedding, and now it’s our favorite piece in our house! We also used a cake knife that everyone in my family used at their weddings. I wore my great grandmother’s necklace that all the girls have worn in their weddings, and carried my grandmother’s handkerchief with me down the aisle. My something blue was a sorority tradition, and Colby changed bow ties and into a white dinner coat after the ceremony. We also served individual Frito pies as our late night snack!

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. 
(From the groom) Classic romantic stories do not apply to us whatsoever. In fact, if someone had told my wife that she would be marrying me after we first met, she probably would have punched them. Well, maybe not punched, but she definitely would have given them the stink eye. When I was relocating back to TX, we were introduced at a local Houston watering hole by mutual friends who were dating at the time. I was seeing someone, and she was wrapping up her college career. It wasn’t really a set up to begin with, but I was a bit of a jerk, and she made it very clear that I was acting as such. At the end of the evening, we went our separate ways. Six months later on my 25^th birthday, I had finally moved back to Texas and found myself freshly single (as in,  we broke up on my birthday) and hanging out with the same mutual friends in Austin. Angelica was also in attendance, and while she was still convinced I was a bit of a pompous jerk, she knew that I was in the middle of a quarter-life crisis and was extremely compassionate. She helped me through a pretty bad birthday weekend. Over the remainder of that summer we stayed in close communication and began dating. The rest, as they say, is history.
Describe the proposal. 
I was supposed to fly to Dallas with my boss for a day trip to go shopping for clients. We got to the airport, and right as we’re about to go through security, my boss turned to me, handed me a sealed envelope and said, “This is where I leave you. Colby is waiting for you.” I went to find Colby and was shocked. I didn’t pack anything but he assured me that everything was okay, that I had luggage, and that my mom was on her way to Austin for the weekend to watch our dogs. He promised no more surprises, and I was so relieved and happy. On Saturday morning, we had a lovely brunch at Farmer Brown and then walked all over the city. Colby kept saying, “Let’s go over there and take pictures,” which I found weird since he really doesn’t like getting his picture taken. Later, we walked down to the water at Baker Beach and it’s at this point when Colby starts texting someone and checking his watch. It was getting a little annoying, so I said to him, “Why do you keep checking your watch? Is something magical going to happen at 4pm?” Apparently so. A few moments later he looked at me and said, “You know how I said no more surprises? I lied” He got down on his knees and said, “I have something to ask you. Will you marry me?” I’m bawling at this point and he’s smiling from ear to ear. Of course I said yes! He pulled the most beautiful ring out of his pocket and put it on my finger. I turned around to see some people walking over. It was my best friend Carmen and her dad with cameras! Colby had them in on the surprise, too!
In what month did you get married? 
May
How many guests attended your wedding? 
120
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: 
For me, it was the sequined linens and our custom monogram. The linens were something that I had dreamed about for so long, that when they arrived and I saw the room come together, it was magic. Our monogram was splashed all over the wedding and now, our home. It’s traditional, but fresh. For Colby, his favorite detail was his Rolling Stones-themed grooms cake and the home-brewed Honey Basil Wheat Ale that he brewed as our favors! It was a huge hit!
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? 
Keeping all the families happy (also known as the battle of the bride’s side versus the groom’s side). I won’t go into detail, but make sure that when you talk to each side of the family, that you make sure they know the wedding is about you and your fiancé, and the joining of two families, not anything or anyone else. We had a few moments of sheer insanity a week out and it was really hard to look past that. Luckily for everyone, we decided not to run off and elope! The wedding went on blissfully and even if certain people decided not to speak to us the entire weekend of the wedding, it was perfect!
What range did your wedding budget fall into? 
$25,000-$50,000
What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? 
Lighting and our videographer. We waited until about two weeks before the wedding to add lighting and it really transformed the room. I couldn’t have imagined our reception without it! Our videographer was amazing. At the end of the day, you’re left with photos and video. Photos are amazing, but seeing and hearing the day is even better!
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Colby’s favorite moments are a tie between seeing me walk down the aisle and leaving up the stairs in a swarm of flutter-fetti while everyone cheered for us. For me, if was standing in front of all our family and friends saying our vows. It was such a special moment.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Relax, don’t procrastinate, go with your instinct, and if you can afford to do something you really love, splurge. You’ll regret it if you don’t. Also during planning, stop every now and then to remember WHY you are getting married. Planning has a tendency to get carried out of control. Once a month or so, Colby and I would go to the ceremony site and talk about how excited we were to be spending the rest of our lives together.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? 
2012 was a BIG year for us! We got married, settled, and uprooted! In December we moved to the Bay Area for Colby’s new job. For now, we are enjoying being married, traveling and exploring our new home! Starting a family is in the future, just not anytime soon. We have our hands full with our two dogs right now!

Muffuletta photos from Robyn Lee via Serious Eats and Celebration Generation (including a recipe!)

The muffuletta is both a type of round Sicilian sesame bread and a popular submarine-style sandwich that was created in New Orleans (using muffuletta bread, of course!). A traditional style muffuletta consists of a muffuletta loaf split horizontally and layered with marinated olive salad (homemade is best!), capicola, mortadella, salami, pepperoni, ham, Swiss cheese and provolone. WHEW!

The original muffuletta was born at the Central Grocery in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Sicilian farmers selling their produce at the nearby farmers’ market would come in for lunch and order some salami, ham, cheese, olive salad, and either long braided Italian bread or a round muffuletta loaf. Tradition had the farmers eating everything separately while sitting on crates and balancing their meals on their knees not the easiest set-up. Seeing their daily struggle, Central Grocery’s owner suggested cutting the bread and putting everything on it like a sandwich. The farmers found that the thicker Italian bread proved too hard to bite, so the softer round muffuletta loaf won out. Soon the farmers came to merely ask for a “muffuletta” for their lunch, and a NOLA classic had arrived!

Mini muffulettas from Southern Living; mini muffuletta crostinis from Thrifty Foods; muffuletta bites from Rhubarb and Honey; and muffuletta squares from Three Many Cooks

They may not be identical to the original, but we think these mini variations are just the cutest, and perfect for a wedding cocktail hour! Have y’all ever had a muffuleta? I’m dying to try one!

What’s your favorite Southern Delicacy? I’d have to go with beignets!

AnnaKathryn (even her double name is Southern!) + Ryan’s big day was filled with intentional details and sweet surprises, but the thing that stood out most to their fabulous planner from RiverOaks was the number of loving family hands that went into this wedding: “there was a uniqueness to the willingness of all involved in the planning and execution of this wedding in that so many wanted to serve – in a real humble and sincere manner.” Wow, now that is some Sweet Tea Society goodness! Keep a lookout for thoughts from AnnaKathryn, her Momma, and the gals of RiverOaks throughout this post they all wanted to chime in!

Now, as a big fan of horse and buggies (BDK and I rode off in a carriage from our own wedding!) I loved that the bride and her father’s carriage entrance was a complete surprise to everyone, setting the tone for an evening where details unfolded slowly and with purpose.

Big thank yous to Hunter McRae for capturing all the loveliness of AnnaKathryn + Ryan’s celebration!

From the RiverOaks ladies: We used orchids, sweet peas, parrot tulips, hellebores, garden roses, peonies, lilac, ranunculus, and various gathered foliage such as ferns, pods, and hostas to make the floral elements unique to this day. The bride’s bouquet was adored with a simple pearl cross fashioned from the corsage pins on the stemmed handle. The bride and her mom told us they wanted a gathered look, as though objects were taken from a home to prepare for a wedding. The bride’s mother asked that the elements be simplistic, strong, and elegant, like her daughter. So, the twenty-plus guest tables were topped with a collection of ceramic urns with herbs, lanterns on rye grass, bouquets on tree stumps, glass cloche terrariums, bundled candles, and handled pitchers with florals. The cocktail area had grapevine and moss balls topped with orchids hanging from the trees.

From AnnaKathryn’s mama: AnnaKathryn hadn’t spent time dreaming and thinking about her wedding, so when the time came she had no clue about wedding gowns and styles. Shopping was a precious time with her maid of honor, a sweet friend of 20 years, and her mom. Knowing that her wedding would be outside, she wanted a gown that moved with her. We were overjoyed when she was confident she found her dress! Her maid of honor tried on a few bridesmaid dresses, too, and AnnaKathryn surprised us again when she decided on her bridesmaids’ dresses and the colors all during our first visit to a bridal shop. Typically, AnnaKathryn labors over decisions, but with the wedding, she seemed to have the mindset that things would be beautiful, which carried her through planning with joy and ease, never having the weight of the need for things to be perfect.

What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? My father is a pastor in Mount Pleasant, and it was so special to have him marry us.  He spoke his homily from Isaiah 61:3, “They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.” This is a verse he and my mother have prayed for their children and generations to come since their own marriage.
From the RiverOaks ladies: The brother of the bride opened the wedding with the reading of Psalm 103 by standing in the aisle amid all the guests. The bride and groom asked everyone sharing the joyful occasion with them to please pray the words of Romans 15:5-6 for them, as they desire their marriage to be founded upon the Gospel of Christ and anchored in the Word of God.

From the RiverOaks ladies The ceremony, although outdoors, was truly set in a sanctuary. The contemporary worship leader at the bride’s church thoughtfully prepared music of praise to set the tone, which was important to this couple and their families as they entered into a Biblical marriage. Hymns such as “Come thou Fount of Every Blessing” and “How Firm a Foundation” were played throughout the ceremony and during communion (using the groom’s parents’ communion cups). The horse-drawn carriage bridal entry arrived to the powerful tune of “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.” Lastly, it was fitting for the wedding guests to sing “And Can It Be” together, as everyone who knows the bride’s father knows it’s his favorite hymn.

From the RiverOaks ladies: The three flower girls continued their role as sign bearers throughout the wedding. In order to transition the guests in a delightful way, the girls took turns frolicking through the reception with beribboned pennants such as “cut the cake,” “first dance,” “sweet treats,” and “goodnight.” Additionally, as wedding planners we like to build in something special for the groom that is all about him. The traditional military Sword Arch (the groom graduated from The Citadel) was brought to RiverOaks as the couple departed through sparklers. The bride also handed off her bouquet to the groom to carry while she “walked the line” with a football in honor of her linebacker!

What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Entering by horse-drawn carriage with my dad to Highland Cathedral on the bagpipes and seeing Ryan at the altar. Also, before cutting the cake, Ryan thanked our guests for coming, and then really blessed me publicly with a short toast.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Planning a wedding, especially in Charleston, can be overwhelming.  Find a good wedding planner and communicate your desires, expectations, and limitations.  Planning the details can be super fun, but don’t let the small things steal the joy of the process.  At the end of the day, you will still be married to your love!

Oh my, these desserts sound delicious! From the RiverOaks ladies: Dessert was one of the best toasted coconut cakes we have ever tasted! It was made with gluten-free love for the bride. A church member made 25 additional coconut cakes from the bride’s favorite recipe that were the talk of town. As if that weren’t enough, Chef Bob prepared berry cobblers for each family style table as well, topped by table service al la mode! The mother of the bride also made mini ice cream sandwiches with homemade gluten-free gingersnaps filled with various coconut milk ice cream flavors to pass as a late night snack on the dance floor.

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration?  What was Southern about your wedding? Shag dancing under the lighted live oaks.  We also surprised Ryan with a Citadel-style sword arch as we headed for our get-away boat.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? It was a challenge to balance the wedding planning with finishing my last semester of nursing school.  I passed my boards the week before the wedding.  My mom and the RiverOaks team were incredible and picked up my slack in the planning process!

From the RiverOaks ladies: The outdoorsy Mr. and Mrs. who love boating the low country departed by boat with Thai lanterns overhead provided by the grandfather of the bride who resides in Thailand and couldn’t make the wedding. After some reflective time alone on the river and the dispersal of the guests, the couple returned quietly to their venue and departed by limousine to historic downtown Charleston for a “mini-moon” before their trip to Europe a few months later.

How did the two of you meet?  Tell us your story. Mutual friends introduced us, but we really hit it off when Ryan asked me and two friends on a triple-date with his brother and a football teammate from the Citadel.  The date consisted of a 3-on-3 basketball tournament which the girls won! We had so much fun getting to know each other during dinner at Poe’s Tavern afterward.  A few weeks later, Ryan took me to a show at the Sottile Theater, which sealed the deal.
Describe the proposal. Right at the beginning of our relationship, Ryan told two of his best friends that I would be his wife.  It took about 7 months, but he proposed to me at the scenic grounds of Alhambra Hall in the Old Village of Mt. Pleasant on September 17, the day before my birthday.  Unbeknownst to me, he planned a birthday party for me that same night.  When our friends and family yelled “surprise,” we surprised them right back with a ring on my finger!
In what month did you get married? May 2012
How many guests attended your wedding? 220, with a large wedding party!
Did you decide to do a “first look”? Ryan did not know that I would be entering by horse-drawn carriage with my father.  Because we had this special entrance planned, we did not do a “first look.”  It was a special moment when we made eye contact that we will not soon forget.
Describe your wedding cake or dessert: We served peach and blueberry cobbler for dessert, but our far and away favorite was the coconut wedding cake.  I only wish that some had made it into our limo that night!
What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? We are so happy we chose to go with Hunter McRae; she captured the beauty of the day and was so sweet and helpful during the whole process.  It was a last-minute decision by my mom, though, to have Leslie Buhler do videography.  We are so happy she did.  The compilations she put together for us really take us back to that day.
What’s next for you as a couple?  What are you looking forward to in the future? I am back in school at MUSC to be a nurse practitioner and Ryan is working as an engineer.  We love to explore the natural beauty of Charleston and spend time with other newlyweds.

I was so excited when I saw a Southern Tradition feature on our calendar, as tradition in any form is one of my favorite things! I especially love how strong and deep tradition lies here in the South it’s woven right into the fabric of our days.

When it comes to Southern wedding traditions, I find the groom’s cake to be an especially fun one! Groom’s cakes can be traced back to England’s Victorian era, when there were three cakes at a wedding the wedding cake, which was served to the guests, the groom’s cake, which was served to the groomsmen, and the bride’s cake, which was served to the bridesmaids.

The earliest groom’s cakes were actually fruitcakes – ick! Thankfully, fruitcake no longer rules as the flavor of choice, but groom’s cakes are still usually made of dark chocolate with fruit and/or liqueur, maybe to contrast with the wedding cake, which as y’all know is usually white or light colored.

We’re happy to say that even after the popularlity of groom’s cakes lessened elsewhere in the U.S. after making the hop over from England, this sweet tradition is still going strong in the South. We like that it’s a special way to give recognition to the handsome beau on a day that can be a bit bride-centric.

Clockwise from top left: Chocolate and fruit cake photo by Picotte Weddings via Style Me Pretty, chocolate and peanut butter cake via Ashton Events, petite chocolate cake photo by Tanja Lippert via Southern Weddings, Guinness chocolate cake by Call Me Cupcake

Clearly, you can’t go wrong with a chocolate cake! These days, though, we’re seeing an influx of groom’s cakes customized to the gent of honor’s favorite hobbies and flavors. Think the red velvet armadillo (or armadilla, as we say around these parts) cake in Steel Magnolias. Alma maters and favorite teams are ripe for the picking, too!

Georgia cake photo by Scott Hopkins via Southern Weddings, Alabama cake photo by Spindle Photography via Southern Weddings, Texas cake photo by Dustin Meyer, Tennessee Titans cake photo by Kristyn Hogan via Southern Weddings

When researching this Southern tradition, we dug up this funny little fact: apparently, the groomsmen used to be responsible for decorating the groom’s cake the day of the wedding! Can you imagine?? I don’t know if they’d be able to replicate some of these fabulous designs…

Book cake photo by Jonathan Canlas via Southern Weddings, soccer cake photo by Ali Harper via Southern Weddings, sandwich cake photo by White Rabbit Studios via Southern Weddings, gator cake by Stephen DeVries via Southern Weddings, ham cake photo by Oh, Darling via Southern Weddings

Have a groom that doesn’t love cake? (My handsome hubby is in that camp!) We love these clever groom’s “cakes” that earn their quotation marks a crepe “cake” on the left, and an Oreo “cake” on the right!

Crepe cake photo by Eric Kelley via Southern Weddings and Oreo cake from Martha Stewart

Like most traditions, the groom’s cake has evolved over the years, and sometimes, it’s not a cake at all! Try serving his favorite dessert, or ask his mom to whip up some of his childhood sweets, like MarLa and Sager did, below. I could definitely get on board with those Krispy Kremes!

Childhood sweets photo by White Rabbit Studios, mini banana puddings photo by Landon Jacob, and Krispy Kremes photo by The Schultzes

Wondering when the perfect time to serve the groom’s cake is? Many couples prefer to offer the groom’s cake at the rehearsal dinner, a fitting time, since the groom’s family often hosts that evening. That way, you also won’t have to worry about the aesthetic of the wedding and groom’s cake clashing, since they’re often very different!

Our final favorite, hilarious piece of lore surrounding the groom’s cake is this: Legend has it that if an unmarried woman sleeps with a slice of groom’s cake under her pillow, she’ll dream of her future husband. Not sure how your single friends would feel if they were singled out (haha) for a boxed slice of cake, but it could be cute to tie on a little tag explaining the tradition!

What’s the craziest groom’s cake (or groom’s sweet) you’ve seen? The last wedding I went to, the groom had a life-size guitar made of cinnamon roll cake – it was divine!

Landon Jacob, Scott Hopkins, Spindle Photography, Ali Harper, and Ashton Events are delightful members of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

Here’s how: Since it’s the very last day of February, that also means it’s the last day to jump on board with our February #SouthernDoin Challenge. Our Emily is one of the best gals you’ll find around these parts and she’s got a heart of gold when it comes to giving back. We love this gal’s passion for kindness, love and community. We’d love for y’all to honor this lovely lady’s birthday with something sweet. Nope, not with a cupcake or some red velvet cake, but with a random act of kindness or a surprise sweet gesture for someone you love. Don’t forget to use the hashtag #SouthernDoin and wish this pretty girl the best birthday yet!

Happy Birthday, Emily! Lots of love and hugs, Marissa, Lara, Nicole + Kristin

Describe your wedding flowers: I was obsessed with all of them. I love contrasting textures/shapes, so chose billy balls for my pop of color and had them hand-painted orange. I incorporated gorgeous white peonies into my bouquet as well as scabiosa pods to add the contrast. I kept the bridesmaids’ bouquets simple with just billy balls and dusty miller and LOVED how they came out so simple, but still very quirky and unique. For the church flowers, I scattered antique teal jars throughout with one or two peonies. They were understated and beautiful, which added to the overall rustic feel of the ceremony.

How did the two of you meet?  Tell us your story. “We met at work” simply does not do our introduction justice. Not to mention, it’s very difficult to define our actual introduction…so bear with me! Travis and graduated from different colleges in 2007 and got jobs working for the same PR firm, Lois Paul & Partners. On my first day of work, I decided to hop on the company directory to look up some employee profiles and acclimate myself with the “who’s who” of the company. Well, during this quest I stumbled upon a profile (and picture) of one, Travis Williams. I stopped dead. “Helleeeww, Travis!” I said in my head (literally). It was only moments later that the HR head popped into my cube to take me on tour of the office and do introductions. Clearly, the first thing that popped into my head was, “I wonder where Travis sits!?”  After about 30 introductions and no Travis to be found, we had come full circle back to my desk. Disappointed, I hopped back on his profile and noticed a very important detail I had overlooked: “Travis Williams, location: Austin, TX.” I was in the Boston office, and he was in the Austin office. Fast forward seven months. LP&P was pitching a new video conferencing technology and Travis and I were both chosen for the pitch. As soon as I saw the roster, feelings from my first day at work came flooding back. Luckily, because the business we were pitching was a video conferencing technology, we actually worked on the pitch via web cam. Seeing Travis “in person” officially sealed the deal for me. I was one smitten kitten! But seriously, what could be in the cards for two people living 2,000 miles apart? Fast forward two months. We lost the pitch. Not going to lie, I was more disappointed that I wouldn’t be working with Travis than actually loosing the business. However, what a perfect opportunity to email Travis and say how great it was working with him! So, I made the first move (Travis may tell you different) and sent Travis a message via Facebook. After several casual (yet slightly flirty) Facebook emails, I was busy at work one day when our internal IM system popped up on my screen with a message from Travis. “Hi”, he said. I broke into a sweat. Grinning like a 12-year-old, I replied, “Hi.” Little did I know that this simple exchange was the start to something amazing. Fast forward (another) two months. Our IM-ing had eventually developed into a daily occurrence. He learned that I grew up in a small town in Vermont, and I learned that he was born outside Los Angeles and grew up near Dallas. We had a connection unlike anything I had experienced.  By this point it was around June 2008. One day we were chatting and Travis said, “What are you doing for July 4th? I’ve never been to Boston.” And so, Travis booked a flight to Boston (his first time ever to the East Coast) for the fourth of July. The first time I actually “met” Travis face-to-face was when I picked him up from Logan airport. I could go on for much longer than I already have about our official introduction at the airport (I may or may not have been so nervous that I lost my car in the parking lot and backed into a BMW). To sum it up, it was quite literally love at first sight. Travis officially asked me to be his girlfriend that first week on July 7th, 2008 (I don’t need to tell you what my answer was). To most, the idea of starting a relationship long-distance was crazy – and if the situation were reverse, I would have agreed – but we both knew that what we had only came once in a lifetime.
Describe the proposal. Travis and I were in Vermont over Christmas. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much snow on the ground, and Travis insisted on reminding me of this every hour. Travis: “When is it going to snow?!?!” Kristen: “Seriously, Travis? We’re not here just to snowboard, we’re here to be with family!” Little did I know, Travis had other reasons for wanting the snow. Finally, on the night of December 26, we got the snow storm that Travis had been waiting for. Once it started coming down pretty hard, Travis suggested we go outside to play. We got all bundled up, and trudged down to my frozen pond. After a few minutes and several snow angels, Travis got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. After I stopped crying and screaming “Are you serious?!?” my response was, “OF COURSE!” My second response was, “Can I see my ring now?!” (Unfortunately, it’s VERY dark in my back yard at night. Fortunately, we had a flashlight!) When we got back to the house, my parents were waiting with big hugs and a toast. It was perfect.
In what month did you get married? June
Did you decide to do a “first look”?  Nope. I wasn’t opposed to a “first look” because I liked the idea of knocking out some photos (hence leaving more time for us to enjoy cocktail hour!), but Travis didn’t want to see me until I the moment I stepped onto the aisle, which I thought was really cute and romantic.
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding. We had an acoustic guitar player for our processional/recessional music, which gave a super intimate and rustic feel to the ceremony. I wanted to keep the ceremony music traditional. There is something about “Here Comes the Bride” that just pulls at my heart strings. For our first dance song, we wanted something personal (obviously), so we picked “16 Maybe Less” by Iron and Wine (an Austin-native band, which is where we live).
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? I planned the entire wedding from Texas! In the 18 months I was engaged, I only made it up to Vermont three separate times. My sister lives in Boston, and my parents are only in Vermont for the winter, so it was definitely a challenge.
What range did your wedding budget fall into?  $25,000-$50,000
What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? That’s easy – the photographer! The day of the wedding is such a blur already. I seriously wish that I could have been in 50 different places at the same time for every second of that day. I’m SO happy that I had an amazing photographer to capture all the details and hard work that went into the wedding itself, and also the many moments among family/friends that I couldn’t be a part of.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? My advice is two-fold. The first is to stay as organized as possible. I started the process with a strict list of what to do and deadlines to get them done by (theknot.com has a great list to reference). Part 2 is far more important. The day of your wedding, LET GO OF THE PLANNING AND HAVE FUN! No one will know if there was supposed to be a tiki torch lit at 8:30pm, or if the ring bearer was supposed to have a different color bow tie on. Everyone is there to celebrate your marriage, not your event planning skills.
What’s next for you as a couple?  What are you looking forward to in the future? 2012 was a busy year for us. We got married, but we also bought a house and got a dog! For now, we are just looking forward to enjoying our lives together, traveling, and being in love. Babies are definitely in the future, and we are looking forward to that next adventure, but not for a couple more years.

Kristin + Kyle are not only a good lookin’ couple (dying over KNW’s Southern bump!), but they have the best hearts. I know that Kristin worked to create a wedding that was not only beautiful, but a celebration of their marriage. And, I’m sure the food wasn’t bad either: K + K served Thanksgiving dinner, complete with turkey, mashed potatoes and dressing according to the bride’s special family recipe. As Kristin says, “Thanksgiving is one of our favorite meals, and represents a time when we gather around people we love and celebrate all that we are thankful for, which is exactly what we wanted to do on our wedding day.” Yes, ma’am!

Big thank yous to Martha Manning for being there to capturing all the joy that I know surrounded this day.

Describe your wedding cake or dessert: Kyle and I aren’t really big fans of cake but we come from a family of cake lovers so we wanted to make sure they didn’t miss out on this wedding tradition.  Our cake was a simple four-tiered beauty; each layer was a different flavor.  We had original white cake and buttercream frosting, white cake with fresh strawberry filling and chocolate with chocolate ganache (a crowd favorite).  Admittedly, my favorite dessert is a homemade chocolate chip cookie.  Baking is also that tangible way that I love on people, especially Kyle.  When we were dating, I would spend Thursday evenings baking, in anticipation of our weekend visits.  I am rarely without the supplies to make a fresh batch of cookies or Rice Krispy treats, so we decided to incorporate this sweet expression of love into our wedding day.  My amazing family spent hours the week of the wedding making dozens upon dozens of chocolate chip cookies, Rice Krispy treats, peanut butter cookies and shortbread.  The guests nibbled at the sweets table all night and then were able to make a treat bag to take home for a midnight snack! Apparently, my father-in-law never got to the wedding cake because he snagged a cookie every time he passed the table he lost count at seven. 

How did the two of you meet?  (From the groom) It took 7+ years to get to this point. Here’s the (abbreviated) love story: Three years at Carolina were full of fun times and great friends for both of us.  So many times our paths crossed – through classes (always for Kristin; sometimes for me), games (always for me; sometimes for Kristin), church, campus organizations – and we didn’t know it. For three years, we lived both perfectly content college-kid lives, never knowing the other one existed, until August 24, 2004. We were both Communication Studies majors and were set to take back-to-back upper-level Comm classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays the first semester of our senior year.  Kristin entered the first of those classes with her usual pep and zeal, ready to take on the world. I was, surprisingly, already in class, but (not surprisingly) half asleep in the back row with my hat pulled down over my eyes.  In fact, I barely lifted an eye when my roommate of four years said hello to the cute blonde in the bright green shirt and white skirt.  After somehow staying awake through the first class, we headed to our next stop.  After settling in near the back with a couple of friends, I began to take in the scene around me when that same cute blonde dropped her pen two seats in front of me.  “Awww, sad face,” she said aloud as she reached down to pick up the pen.  For the first time, I really took notice of the girl who would, one day, become my wife. After some time getting to know one another in class, our friendship started to grow. I planned a ‘first official’ date to the NC State Fair, but a serious case of strep throat prevented Kristin from going.  (From the bride) We wound up spending that evening at my house. He came over to check on me and brought me diet coke, gummy worms and cotton candy from the fair.  Yes, he sent someone to Raleigh to buy cotton candy so he could bring it to me.  Needless to say, even though I was terribly ill, I was smitten.  (From the groom) Our official, official first date would turn out to be a Friday night dinner at Chili’s (come on, we were on a budget here) and a Haunted House trip for a sorority function. Senior year was filled with many more special memories: meeting the parents, meeting “the sissy” (Hi, Kimberly), attending formals, winning a National Championship in basketball, and, of course, graduating.  Little did we know that this would be the only time in our dating relationship that we would live in the same city.
Describe the proposal. My sweet husband proposed juuuust after the ball dropped on NYE.  He asked.  I said yes.  Simple and sweet; the rest is history.  I would be remiss, however, (and totally unlike myself), if I didn’t take a sweet, simple story and gussy it up with all the yummy details. We were at the beach. After getting back to the house from a busy day and sitting around dressed up for a few minutes, I decided it was perfectly acceptable to put on my pajamas and curl up on the sofa for the remaining 83 minutes of 2011.  A few minutes after midnight, the groom managed to drag me outside to the deck of the beach house as everyone was shooting off fireworks. I was freezing and had no plans to actually go outside. It took a little coaxing + an afghan + a faked ‘step on a nail’ injury to get me outside. Alas, as I turned to go inside, IT happened. Down on one knee + lots of sweet words + a ring, and poof, it was official. We headed inside because it was freezing; he proceeded to scoop me up and started to pray for us (our relationship, our marriage, our future children, grandchildren, etc.), which would be the point of the blessed event where I sprung a leak.  I hadn’t shed a single tear before that point of the evening.  Then, there in the dark of the living room, all by ourselves, we danced.  It is exactly what we did on our very first NYE back in 2004.  This time it wasn’t quite so calculated on my part to sneakily have a cheesy country CD in the stereo system. Instead, he had Josh Groban on pause, ready to belt out one of my favorite songs of all time.  Be still my heart. Then all the fun started with calling both of our parents and my little sister around 12:30 a.m. (Imagine my surprise; my parents that are normally in bed by 9pm sharp were wide awake and sitting by the phone.  I think it made to half a ring). I called my mama the moment I woke up on Sunday to tell her that I was not, in fact, dreaming, but that there was a sparkly little diamond sitting on my left hand, and I was ready to officially start planning.
In what month did you get married? June
How many guests attended your wedding? 225
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony?  Colossians 3:12-17 and a very beautiful Love reading.  It was a back-and-forth interpretation (gracefully read by two of my dear friends from college) that incorporated many special scripture verses about love.  It was definitely a highlight of our ceremony, and I am so glad we decided to include it.
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding.  Music was an important part of the ceremony experience.  I was bound and determined to have more than just a ceremony; I wanted to have a worship service.  My aunt and uncle sang Amazing Grace during the prelude.  I could hear them as I was standing just outside the church doors. They also sang “Surely the Presence” during the ceremony.  We were blessed to have one of my favorite singers from the church I attended in Cary sing two solos as well.  I always joked that when we got engaged, I was going to figure out how to meet Autumn (note: my church in Cary is 9,000+ people) and ask her to sing at our wedding.  After a little digging and networking, I managed to track down her email address and wrote her a lengthy note that included asking her to sing at our wedding.  She graciously agreed and I couldn’t have been more thankful.  She sang Be Thou My Vision as an interlude and Twila’ Paris’ “How Beautiful” during the lighting of our unity candle. There was something special about including a few traditional songs for the processionals and recessionals.  Kyle’s mama played the organ for the local church while he was growing up, so she had played at many weddings and had a few favorites. The mothers and grandmothers processed in to Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring,” the bridal party processed in to Pachelbel’s “Cannon in D,” my daddy and I walked down the aisle to Clark’s “Trumpet Voluntary” and Kyle and I processed out, as husband and wife (yay!), to Mendelssohn’s “The Wedding March.”
Describe your wedding flowers:  Simple perfection.  My bouquet consisted of several Southern delicacies:  ivory roses, white peonies, white hydrangeas and white freesia.  They were even able to turn the bonnet that Kyle wore home from the hospital into a flower and tuck it into my bouquet.  Kyle’s mama had saved it to give to her daughter-in-law; she even has a sweet poem that accompanied the bonnet to talk about its significance. My bridesmaids carried similar bouquets, composed of roses, peonies, hydragenas and hypericum berries in pinks and coral, wrapped in the same fabric as the guys’ bow ties. For the groomsmen, we tried for something a little heartier that could withstand the pre-ceremony hugs from the wedding guests and the late June afternoon humidity.  The florist crafted lovely peach hypericum berries, tied with raffia.  I think that the groomsmen looked dashing, and their boutonnières stayed intact all night!
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Time or a lack thereof.  After becoming engaged on New Year’s Eve, I knew that I wanted to get married in June, leaving a little over five months for everything to fall into place.  We ran into a few scheduling challenges with some potential vendors but managed to enlist just the right ones to help make our day magical. Oh, and budget.  But isn’t budget always a challenge?  Having a vision is one thing.  Making your vision match your budget is a totally different story. I was very deliberate in prioritizing what was most important and had to be comfortable letting a few other things go.  It was also a great and constant reminder that, at the end of the day, the most important thing was the fact that Kyle and I were getting married.  When I focused on that piece, the budget just didn’t seem to matter as much.
What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? Absolutely, a videographer.  Every time I watch our wedding highlights film, I cry.  It immediately transports me back to that day.  I am so grateful to have live footage of both sets of parents and my grandmother.  It is something I will treasure forever, and I am already anticipating watching it with our children and grandchildren!
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Well, they say that nothing ever goes exactly as you planned.  As someone who tends to be a tad type-A and a bit of an over-planner, I promised Kyle that I would just “be” on our wedding day.  After all, the most important thing was that we were getting married.  So, when our departure candles could not be located mere minutes before our planned departure, I took a deep breath, grabbed a glass of champagne and sent the wedding party on a reconnaissance mission.  The result was one of my most favorite moments of that day.  The guests went outside, the wedding party went hunting for the candles and Kyle and I wound up all alone (with our favorite DJ) in the reception hall.  Deana Carter’s “Strawberry Wine” started pouring out of the speakers, and Kyle took my hand and led me to the dance floor. For the next few minutes, we danced in the candlelight, causing me forget about what was going on outside. The song ended, and I noticed my baby sister, standing at the edge of the dance floor with happy tears streaming down her cheeks.  She didn’t want to interrupt our moment, so she had waited to happily share the news that the candles had been located, and we could proceed with our planned departure.  What a special, albeit totally unplanned, moment!
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Oh mercy!  I have so many things I would love to share. Constantly remind yourself that you are planning your wedding to celebrate your marriage.  When you feel yourself over-extended or stressed, remind yourself WHY you are planning a wedding.  And be true to yourselves. As Kyle likes to say, “do you.”  There are traditions and etiquette rules that are important, but it is equally important to make sure the day reflects you, the couple.  Thanksgiving in June?  Four solos during the ceremony?  Thirty-one members in the wedding party?  Yes, please!  One of the biggest compliments that someone paid to us during the reception was how much they felt “us” throughout the whole day – in all the details.  Finally – and I feel most importantly – remember to stop and smell the (proverbial) roses. Remember to take the time to stop, take a deep breath and take it all in.  Then, do it a second time. And a third. It is a very special day, a day that you have put your heart and soul into making happen.  Look around, make memories, and enjoy each and every moment!!
What’s next for you as a couple?  What are you looking forward to in the future?  After dating long-distance for nearly six years, we are happily settled into newlywed life, which includes weeknight meals around the dinner table, afternoon naps on Sundays, and day-dreaming about our first family dog, who will be named Murphy, in honor of the building where we first met!

I have to agree with Carissa, her wedding to Ryan at Boone Hall Plantation WAS coastal Southern to a “T.” From the oyster wreathes to the yummy pies, each detail that went into their big day not only fell in line with the their theme, but was created as a labor of love by themselves or their family and friends. Even her stunning Justin Alexander gown fit perfectly into the feel of their wedding the lining of the dress was called “oyster”! But Carissa’s favorite detail makes my heart happy: the table that held photos of all their grandparents.

Big hugs to our sweet friend Paige Winn for not only capturing the gorgeous details, but the fun that C + R’s guest had!

My mama, sister and some bridesmaids came into town one weekend to go dress shopping. It was a long weekend and I must have tried on over 20 dresses. I had flagged a Justin Alexander dress in a magazine early on in our engagement and after the unfruitful weekend, I kept thinking about it. I looked up where the designer was sold, went with one of my lovely bridesmaids and tried it on. It was perfect and exactly what I was looking for with a vintage feel, Venetian lace and the color of the lining of the dress was even called “oyster.” That sold me and I purchased the dress that afternoon.

Our wedding was coastal southern to a “T.” We had oysters everywhere, from the food to the décor. We had mason jars for everyone to grab, write their name on the tag strung to it, use and take home. We also used mason jars for decoration. We got married outside under one of my favorite century-old oak trees by the water and then had our reception in the Cotton Dock. We got married at Boone Hall Plantation, a Charleston institution run by a dear friend and one of the sweetest men in town.

The wedding was a labor of love not only from my family but from close friends in the area as well. We had so many helping hands in preparation for and during the day. Two dear family friends coordinated the day-of details and set up, Mama, myself and various bridesmaids made all the decorations, Stono Café are dear friends and were tremendously helpful, as well as the plantation owner and band. All in all, Ryan and I were overwhelmed by all of the help, love and support we received from countless people. The wedding truly would not have happened without them. Despite its growth, Charleston is still a “small town” full of big hearted, close-knit people.

Describe your wedding cake or dessert: We had a dear friend make several different cakes and pies. They were delicious! The cake topper was made by my sister.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: There were so many to choose from. My mother and I spent months on the details. I spent hours and hours on wrapping wine bottles in burlap, twine and lace, making oyster centerpieces and collecting old books and mason jars. I suppose my favorite detail was the table with pictures of our grandparents. My Nanna was the only grandparent that was able to physically be there and it meant a lot to us to have every grandparent there in photographs.

My most memorable moment about the wedding day was the private oyster roast that we had for Ryan, myself and the bridesmaids and groomsmen after the ceremony and before we were all introduced at the reception. I just remember thinking how wonderfully happy I was to be married to my best friend and surrounded by all of the friends we accrued throughout our lives and who will be by our side for many years to come. It was just a moment of pure joy to have my husband by me, with our friends surrounding us shucking oysters.

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. Ryan and I met while we were in school at the University of Georgia. We started to catch each other’s eyes in the first semester of our junior year. One night after hanging out with friends, Ryan asked if I wanted to “borrow” some wood from a construction site on the way back to his apartment to build a table together, as he knew we both enjoyed building things. We started building the table but it was really an excuse for us to hang out together. One night in November, it was too cold to stay outside and work on the table so he asked me on our first date.
Describe the proposal. Ryan picked me up from work to take me on our third anniversary date. He took me to see the movie “Hugo” and then we were going to dinner. After the movie, he took me by his neighborhood’s clubhouse we were shared our first kiss three years ago to the day. I still was not expecting anything because we had revisited the spot many times before. We got out of the car and the porch where we first kissed was decorated with flower petals, lanterns, and candles. He led me up onto the porch to a canvas picture of Boone Hall Plantation’s Avenue of Oaks (a very special place to my family and the place where we got married!). He knelt down and I immediately started bawling. He had one of our dearest friends hiding, taking pictures of the whole proposal. After the proposal, I tried to call my family but no one picked up. Ryan drove us back to his house where all of our family and close friends were waiting to surprise us. That is why we went to the movie, so he could kill time as my family drove in from Charleston, South Carolina. It was the most amazing thing to share the moment with them!
In what month did you get married? January
How many guests attended your wedding?  150 guests
Did you decide to do a “first look”? Yes, we did decide to do a first look. We wanted to get beautiful pictures of just the two of us that weren’t rushed after the ceremony. We were hesitant to do the first look, but it was a great move for us as it really calmed us down before the ceremony and gave us a moment to soak up each other before things got crazy.
Describe your wedding flowers: I wanted a very natural, meadow-like look to all the flowers. They were beautiful and consisted of a lot of wildflowers like lavender, mums and bells of Ireland.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? My father has had health issues for years now but got very sick during the period of planning the wedding. We were unsure about whether or not he would be able to walk me down the aisle. It put a lot of stress on our family but it also put the wedding in perspective and made us aware that, while the day is important, it’s about Ryan and I coming together first and foremost.
What range did your wedding budget fall into? $10,000-$20,000
What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? My shawl that I wore day of. It was an Etsy purchase that I did not budget for. The Etsy designer made it custom for my dress and it was my favorite accessory that day.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Pick one, two or even a handful of things that are really special or important to you. The rest is negotiable.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? We just bought a house and started new jobs recently. I’ll think we think concentrating on nesting and relaxing for a while. Who knows, the world’s our oyster!

Paige Winn is a delightful member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

We love every bride we have the pleasure of featuring on Southern Weddings, but today’s bride is particularly special because we know her personally! And y’all do, too! Or at least our long time readers do. Some of you may recognize Caroline’s pretty face from V3′s hot air balloon shoot. We loved Miss Caroline so much we asked her back for a V4 shoot, and this time, her boyfriend Lionel came along, too. While we were hoping Lionel would propose at the shoot (no luck), we did hear that he had popped the question a few weeks later, and we’ve been waiting to see their wedding photos ever since!

The photos are in, and now we get to share them with you! From Caroline’s relaxed waves and adorable braid-halo to the absolutely stunning light in Melissa Schollaert’s beautiful photographs, I love the organic and fresh feeling of Caroline + Lionel’s jewel-tone nuptials. Aside from each and every pretty detail you can see on this page, I can’t pass up mentioning how fun and unique C + L’s music was! Caroline said they chose music from their favorite movies, including Legends of the Fall, Father of the Bride, The Cider House Rules, and Braveheart. Such a fun way to incorporate their personalities into the fabric of their big day!

WOAH, nelly! Can we please stop and stare at Caroline’s grandmother’s to-die-for ring she rocked on her big day?

Okay, moving on!

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: For me, it was the ceremony. It couldn’t have been more perfect the setting on the lake, the cross, the weather, the breeze, the music and of course, marrying Lionel! Tyler, my brother-in law who introduced us, was the officiant. He did an awesome job lightening the mood with his humor. I remember his first line: “Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today to witness my debut as a wedding officiant!” We also loved how the tent turned out. The lighting was so beautiful along with the farm tables and mahogany chairs! We brought the ballroom outside!

How did the two of you meet?  Tell us your story. We meet through my brother in-law, Tyler, who was trying to play matchmaker. Tyler and Lionel had a mutual friend in the Army and would often hang out together. Both of my sisters had already met Lionel and approved so I was less hesitant. Lionel, however, thought the safest way to communicate with me was on my birthday through Facebook, a week before his deployment to Afghanistan. In Lionel’s words, “Upon Caroline accepting my friend request and looking at her pictures, I immediately regretted waiting so long to communicate with her, Tyler had obviously done a poor job describing her.” Lionel arrived in Afghanistan and was excited to have email connections so he could communicate with me. Long story short, Lionel decided to write me an email hoping for a response, and we ended up writing each other every day throughout his three-month deployment! The first weekend he got back, we met for the first time and the rest was history!
Describe the proposal. I’m an avid golfer so the first weekend we met, I insisted that we play golf. We made a bet that if I won, then he owed me a date in Charleston where I didn’t have to make any decisions. Well I won the golf match and almost a year later I got my surprise weekend date in Charleston where Lionel proposed on the beach. It’s kind of cool to think the bet we made on our first date ended with me wining a proposal!
In what month did you get married? October
How many guests attended your wedding? 100
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? I did all the planning throughout the entire engagement. There are so many details and tasks to accomplish right before the wedding that can become stressful. We did hire a coordinator/planner for the day of so that was helpful for me!
What range did your wedding budget fall into?  $25,000-$50,000
What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? The lighting, tables and chairs, videographer, and photographer!
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Make a list of what’s most important for both the bride and groom. For me, it was the pictures, ambiance and food. For Lionel, it was the atmosphere, wine and the food. Also, take pictures from magazines and Pinterest to every vendor appointment so everyone is on the same page. When the caterer asks you how you want your napkins folded, you already have thought of it and have a picture!
What’s next for you as a couple?  What are you looking forward to in the future?  We are looking forward to Lionel graduating in May with his MBA. We will be moving to Houston, TX where Lionel will start work. I continue to travel a lot with my modeling career. We are seeing a house full of kids happening in a few years once we get settled.

Melissa Schollaert is a delightful member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

Have you caught the love letter bug? Check out More Love Letters, an organization after our own hearts. Their goal? To turn your best love letter into a lamp to light the path of someone who needs to read it. Find out more here.