Pink + sparkly Kate Spade dancing shoes, a perfect Southern bump, a custom monogram, lush pastel peonies… oh my heavens, y’all, I’m in heaven! Pink sparkly heaven! Angelica + Colby’s romantic Texas nuptials were filled with some of my very favorite wedding details, but classic and romantic didn’t always describe A + C’s relationship. In fact, Colby told us, “If someone had told my wife that she would be marrying me after we first met, she probably would have punched them.” We’re sure glad that after awhile the two reconnected for a more amicable time, and of course, this sweet day. Plus, I don’t actually believe Colby: check out his face as Angelica comes down the aisle. That’s one smitten kitten!

Big hugs to Jake Holt for not only capturing all the pretty details, but also such awesome moments (dying over the thumbs up shot!).

If I had these Kate Spades, I’d wear them to the grocery store! Scouts honor!

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. 
If I said it was the first and only dress I tried on, you’d think I was kidding, but I’m not! We had gone to Joan Pillow Bridal “just to look.” I browsed the dresses and saw one I liked. “This will do,” I told my mom. Since we had some time to think about it, she told me that if in a month I was still dreaming of that dress, it was mine. A month later we made an appointment, tried the dress on, and ordered it! It was the perfect dress for me, my body, and my dream wedding. My consultant at Joan Pillow was told me I could try more dresses on for fun if I wanted! So I did, just so I could say I tried on more than one!

Angelica, your Southern bump rocks my world! Pure Southern hair perfection!

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!

We love that Angelica brought a photo from Southern Weddings to her florist, but I’d have to say this floral goodness below is out of control!

Come on, Colby’s expression is absolutely my favorite detail of this wedding! A-dor-a-ble!

Did you decide to do a “first look”? We did not do a first look. All during the planning, Colby had insisted on seeing me for the first time when I walked down the aisle in my dress. I knew it was his day too, so we skipped the first look. He is very traditional when it comes to certain things and this was a non-negotiable! It was so wonderful walking down the aisle and seeing him as happy as ever. The raw emotion was 110% worth it, but it was SO hard not telling him about and showing him my dress!

Did you write your own vows? 
I wanted to recite traditional vows and Colby wanted to write our own, so we compromised by combining different traditional vows, written in our own words. I just think there is something so romantic about reciting vows that people have been using to unite themselves in marriage for years and years, but thought it was so “us” to make them our own.
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? 
We had two readings during the ceremony. The first one was E.E. Cummings’ “I Carry Your Heart.” We had asked my dear cousin Michele to pick something to read and she said if she were to have had a reading at her wedding, this would have been it! We also had Romans 12:9-12 read during the ceremony. Colby’s cousin Tucker read in on behalf of his sister Jennifer who couldn’t be there because she had just completed a bone marrow transplant and was in North Carolina healing. (She’s now cancer free!)

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!

The cakes were delicious! The wedding cake was a Chambord-soaked yellow cake, with vanilla mousse and fresh raspberries. It was SO good. I hope the cake tier we have in the freezer tastes half as good as it did on our wedding day! The groom’s cake was a traditional red velvet cake that was an absolute replica of the Rolling Stone’s “Let It Bleed” Album. The Stones are Colby’s favorite band, and other than not having a first look, this was the only other non-negotiable! The Four Seasons Pastry chefs make a red velvet that you dream about.

Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding. My mom really wanted to dance down the aisle to “Brick House.” She has a funny sense of humor! We had classic selections instead, though. I walked down the aisle to “Moon River” by Henry Mancini. It was just one of those classic romantic songs that sounded beautiful performed by strings. During the ceremony, my brother and cousin performed “Your Song” by Elton John. My mom picked it out, and since then, I hear it all the time! The recessional was “Here Comes the Sun” by the Beatles. It was especially fitting since it had rained the entire week leading up to the wedding. Our first dance was to “It Had to Be You” by Frank Sinatra. It’s such a classic love song and fitting for our big band during the reception.

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!

Are any of y’all How I Met Your Mother fans? Lauren’s red cowboy boots remind me of that show — admittedly, I chuckled a bit when I saw them. I’m happy to say, however, that Lauren pulls of this Southern staple with complete success unlike Ted Mosby. They’re perfectly appropriate for Lauren + Joe’s fall wedding which boasted warm colors and warm temperatures. I love that the couple’s wedding colors provided graphic pops throughout the evening while still blending in nicely with the rustic feel of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Though L + J both have parents who were born in the North, they both grew up in Virginia and knew they had to have their wedding at a place thet visited often. The mountains were not only a gorgeous setting for their outdoor nuptials, but they’ll continue to hold all the memories of their big day.

The SW gals are sending big hugs to Meg Runion for sharing this wedding with us!

Don’t y’all love Lauren’s dress with the big bow? Be sure to scroll down for more adorable views of it!

I knew exactly what I wanted: an A-line dress with a sweetheart neckline and a large asymmetrical bow on the back. There were a few dresses that had some of those aspects but not exactly what I had in mind. I ended up trying on a beautiful A-line dress with a sweetheart neckline, but no bow. The wedding dress consultant suggested we have the bow custom designed. I immediately knew that was the way to go. The seamstress designed a bow that exactly matched the image in my head. I absolutely loved my dress and was happy to be able to customize it to fit my style perfectly.

I knew right away I wanted bright shades of orange for the flowers. Our wedding was on September 1, so we were in the late summer/early fall season. We chose orange and cream as our colors because we felt like they represented both summer and fall. My bouquet was a vibrant orange mix of Mexican sunflowers and dahlias. The bridesmaids carried huge bouquets of baby’s breath because I love the rustic, understated feel they have. The groomsmen’s boutonnières were orange dahlias. We really wanted our wedding to represent the natural beauty of the changing seasons in the Virginia Mountains.

We love Lauren + Joe’s simple but beautiful altar setup. It reminds us of Jodi + Kurt’s wedding from V4.

Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? We did not do a “first look.” We both really wanted that first moment we saw each other to be right when I walked down the aisle. It was worth the wait!
Did you write your own vows? We did not. We would’ve been too nervous! However, we did write each other a letter to read before the ceremony. My matron of honor and his best man delivered the letters to us while getting ready. It was a very sweet moment and one of our favorite memories of the day.

What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? We had five readings at our wedding. Two of the readings were Irish and German wedding blessings to honor our families. We had a biblical reading, Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, and a poetry reading, “To Love Is Not to Possess” by James Kavanaugh. Before the exchanging of the rings, our reverend read the “Blessing of the Hands.” We went through countless readings but chose the ones we felt really spoke to us and reflected our feelings for each other.

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? Our venue was definitely Southern. While both our parents are from the North, Joe and I grew up in Virginia and consider this our home. We knew we wanted to have our wedding outdoors in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains and at a place we visit often. We loved the barn at our venue and it perfectly reflected us as a couple. Other Southern details included were our food and drinks. For the cocktail hour, we included Virginia ham biscuits and other Southern food. All of the wine was from local Virginia wineries. The bluegrass music at our ceremony and cocktail hour matched the beautiful mountain scenery. As far as decorations, we used mason jars as much as we could and farm tables at the reception. For our bridal party, the bridesmaids wore their own cowgirl boots and the groomsmen and flower girls wore seersucker.

Our favorite details were the escort cards and table names. To honor our love of live music, we decided to name every table after a concert we attended together. For the escort cards, we had “concert tickets” and displayed them at a “will call” table.

Describe your wedding cake or dessert: I had seen pictures of a wedding cake with burlap ribbon and absolutely loved it. I knew that would fit in perfectly with our other details. However, after speaking with the cake designer, I realized that real burlap would not be the best choice because of its smell. Instead we used jute ribbon and it had the same look. The cake was classic and rustic — it was perfect!

Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding. Joe and I have been to over 50 concerts together and music is a big part of our relationship, especially our shared love of bluegrass music. We wanted to make sure that was reflected in our wedding. Our favorite local bluegrass band played during the ceremony and cocktail hour. Our song is “I’ve Just Seen a Face” by the Beatles, and the band learned it just for our wedding. I walked down the aisle to a slowed-down bluegrass version of our song — which was a complete surprise to Joe. It was one of our favorite moments of the wedding. When we walked back up the aisle as a married couple, they played the song again, but this time in its original temp. Our first dance was “It’s Your Love” by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. I am a huge Tim McGraw fan and Joe agreed that was the perfect love song for such a special moment.

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. Joe’s youngest sister is my best friend from college. I had never met her older brother Joe, but she always joked that I should marry him because then I would be “Lauren Bull Schmitt.” (My maiden name is Bull and Joe’s last name is Schmitt). It became a joke of ours throughout our four years at college. I finally met Joe at his sister’s graduation party and it was love at first sight!
Describe the proposal. Joe had a very difficult challenge of trying to surprise me. I knew a proposal was coming and was definitely looking for signs of when it would be! Joe came home one night from work with all of my favorite foods for dinner and I immediately thought he was definitely proposing that night. We grilled outside on the deck and listened to music with the tiki torches lit. We finished dinner and it still hadn’t happened. It started to rain and I decided I was going inside. I decided I was wrong and it wouldn’t be that night. I went inside and sat on the couch to watch one of my favorite shows — Law & Order SVU. Joe was in the kitchen washing dishes and I was not paying attention to him. All of the sudden, I heard a loud commotion and what sounded like him running into the family room. I turned to look and see what had happened. Joe was on one knee right in front of me with a ring and giddily said, “Will you marry me??” He definitely caught me off guard! He said he planned it that way and called it the “sneak attack proposal!”
In what month did you get married? September
How many guests attended your wedding? 180
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? I think having to limit ourselves was difficult at times. We had to choose what was really important to us to be included and what “extras” we did not necessarily need.
What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on?We were really happy with the two bands that played at the wedding. We loved having the bluegrass band set the tone for the wedding while playing at our ceremony and cocktail hour. The Real Geniuses, the ’80s cover band that played at our reception, was awesome and ensured that the reception was one big dance party.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? There were so many! One that really sticks out in both of our minds was when the reverend read the “Blessing of the Hands.” It was after the vows and we were holding hands, looking right at each other. That was the moment where we both had to fight back tears!
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Decide on a budget right away and then decide what aspects of your wedding are most important to you and your future spouse. For us, the photographer and band were the most important and we splurged on them. It is really easy to go over budget quickly, so plan carefully!
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? We are looking forward to continuing the life we’ve made in Richmond and eventually starting a family. In the near future, we expect many nights snuggling on the couch with our dog and watching Law & Order!

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.

Y’all will notice right away that this wedding is a little different. It has a lovely bride and a dapper groom and a gorgeous Southern setting, yes ma’am, but it also has a day-of timeline that went completely haywire due to unexpected weather, and a noticeable lack of “details” compared to our other features. However, what it may lack in pretty paper or fancy favors, it more than makes up for in heart. Ryan Price’s images tell the story of Laura and Micah’s emotional day well, so please, y’all, enjoy this look at a wedding that went “wrong,” but in the end was oh so right. As we all believe, truly love always, always wins… even in the face of torrential downpour.

I had checked the Farmer’s Almanac dating back to the last ten years to determine that November 3, 2012 was the perfect date for our wedding. It had the least likely chance of rain, and an average temperature of 65 degrees. It was the day before Daylight Savings Time and if we had the ceremony at 5:00pm we could be on the dance floor by 6:00pm, just as the sun was setting. I had done my research.

But things don’t always go according to plan, no matter how well you think you might have planned them. Our wedding was to start at 5:00. The storm began rolling in around 4:30. Torrential downpour began at 4:45. Hail, sometime around 5:00. People were outside scurrying, grabbing napkins and glass vases with candles. I was in the little farmhouse where the bridal party was getting ready, trying to keep it together. Micah, his mother, my mother and father, my pastor, and I gathered together to make a decision. Micah and I decided through tears (mostly mine) and disappointment that we were definitely getting married that day, and we wanted all of our people to be there with us. So we crammed everyone into the tiny farmhouse, wherever they could fit. The bridal party lined up on the staircase, and Micah and I stood at the bottom with our family and friends just a foot away. It was so intimate, and I honestly believe it was better than either of us could have ever imagined.

I walked down the “aisle” to The Vitamin String Quartet’s instrumental version of “Dare You to Move” by Switchfoot. The crescendo in the middle of the song still makes me tear up when I listen to it. After we exchanged our vows, we celebrated by singing a worship song to our God called “How He Loves” by the David Crowder Band. The song is about the incredible love God has for us, and it reminded us that His perfect love is even better than the love we have for each other.

Before my father gave me away and prayed over me and Micah, my brother read from Colossians 3:12-17: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peach of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

You hear people talk about how family-oriented Southern culture is, and how close-knit communities in small towns can be. I am so fortunate that my family and my community are a classic example of those values. My little town of Lufkin, Texas has more Southern hospitality and just down right generosity than you can shake a stick at. One of my favorite experiences about planning my wedding was how willing and excited people were to help. My mother actually rounded up a little committee of five women, close friends from church and work, who met with us several times before the wedding to help plan. And heaven knows Mom and I needed help! I am so thankful for those women and all of the encouragement and advice they imparted. Not to mention the appointment making, detail managing, and decorating they did! I honestly don’t believe it would have turned out the way it did without the help from our community.

What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Oh goodness, this is a hard question. Months before my wedding, I remember asking my mom about her own wedding. She said, “Honey, I was honestly so busy and stressed during that time that I don’t remember much of anything.” That made me so sad, because she and my father have been married for 33 years and I know that that was a special time for her. I didn’t want that to be my one regret: that I forgot to stop and enjoy every second. So that’s what I did. I took everything in, and I know this sounds cheesy, but every second was my favorite memory. Some of the memories that stick out the most in my mind were my mother putting on my veil; crying and holding my best friend’s hand as we watched the storm roll in before the wedding; Micah and I deciding together to move the ceremony into the tiny farmhouse, squish everyone in who could fit, and to go ahead with the celebration; seeing Micah teary eyed as he read his vows; dancing to “My Girl” with my daddy, and the look on Micah’s face when my bridesmaids and I performed our little dance number.

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: Micah and I both love to sing (although he is a much better singer than I), and we both especially love to dance. We like to say that we fell in love two-stepping on the dance floor. Our wedding reception definitely reflected our love for dancing, and much to my mother’s chagrin, it was even complete with surprise performances from both the bride’s party and the groom’s party. I surprised him by throwing on a leather jacket and performing a routine that my bridesmaids, house party, and I had come up with the night before to “You’re the One That I Want” from the movie “Grease.” Micah and his groomsmen followed, to my surprise, with One Direction’s “You Don’t Know You’re Beautiful.” It was so much fun, and absolutely hilarious.

This is something I had to learn and continually remind myself of throughout the months of planning, and especially on our big day when nothing went according to plan: Please, please remember that it is not about the event, but about the precious lifelong commitment you are making to the one you love. When you keep it in perspective, you can handle any situation. What you view as the mishaps will truly become the best memories.

How did the two of you meet? Micah and I both attended Texas A&M University (whoop!), but our journey together began even before we set foot on campus as freshmen.  Micah and I both decided to attend Fish Camp, which is A&M’s three-day freshman orientation at a nearby campground. It just so happened that out of 4,000 incoming freshman, Micah and I ended up in the same discussion group! Back then I was a little shy when it came to meeting new people, but not when playing games. Somehow, we wound up playing a card game together the first night. Needless to say, my competitive nature caught his attention. But our fate wasn’t sealed until the second night at the country dance mixer. Micah is a pretty good dancer — sometimes I wonder if he came out of the womb already knowing how to two-step. I remember that night he danced with all six of the other girls in our group first. After that, he just stood next to me for the next two songs. The third song happened to be my favorite at the time, and after commenting to Micah that it was my favorite song, he nodded and continued to stand exactly where he was, staring at the dance floor. The poor boy was afraid to ask! After a few seconds I turned to him, held my hand out and said matter-of-factly, “Micah, considering this is my favorite song, would you please dance with me?” I honestly had never been so bold in my life, but I think I just knew what I wanted.  The rest, as they say, is history.
Describe the proposal. I love surprises, and fortunately for me, Micah loves to surprise me. I had absolutely no idea he was going to propose when he did. Now, I’ll be honest, I had dropped quite a few hints over the course of the two years we were dating. When I say “hints,” what I really mean is I flat-out asked him a few times, “When are you planning on asking me to marry you?” Micah always took it in stride and reminded me to be patient. Then finally, the fall of our senior year at A&M, we were both getting our Aggie rings, which is a momentous occasion for students of Texas A&M. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, family pets, everyone practically comes in for this event and everyone celebrates with a party. Micah and I had planned to have a little shindig at my college house with our families and friends. We had a karaoke system set up for entertainment. Micah’s dad called everyone over to where the karaoke was set up and asked for Micah and me to come up on the stage. As Micah dragged me by the hand up to the stage, I whispered to him, “Micah, I’m not going to sing. You’re going to have to sing by yourself because I’m not singing. Not doing it.” He took the microphone from his dad and got down on one knee as the song “She’s Like Texas” began to play. I remember seeing his hand shaking as he held the microphone. Looking back it was obvious what he was doing and so I feel silly for having said, “Micah, what are you doing? I’m not going to sing. Get up!” He laughed and then in the sweetest way he asked me to marry him. I don’t think I even looked at the ring because I was so excited he had finally asked me to be his wife. I fell to my knees and hugged him.
How many guests attended your wedding? That is a good question! I know that 350 RSVP’d but with the unexpected weather and hail storm that ensued that evening, and the temporary misplacement of the guest book, we never got a final count!
Did you decide to do a first look? After much debate, Micah and I decided it would be a good idea to do a first look. I think that was one of the best decisions on our part. It helped us calm our nerves and gave us time to talk to each other before the hustle and bustle began. That time was so special. We talked about how we were feeling and prayed together for our marriage. It also allowed us to have as much time with our guests as possible.
The wedding favors? Homemade blueberry jam. My cousins, aunts, friends and I gathered together one Saturday and canned 350 jars of blueberry jam. Micah and I had picked 11 gallons of blueberries at the Wood Blueberry Farm in Diboll, Texas.
Tell us about your wedding cake. It was absolutely delicious. Our baker even replicated a cake topper I found in a magazine of two little birds. I thought it was fitting considering our last name is Birdsong.
What range did your wedding budget fall into? We were shooting for around $15,000 but quickly realized that, with as many guests as we wanted to invite, we needed to increase the budget. I think the final number ended up being between $20,000 and $21,000.

Natalie + Shobie’s wedding is a wonderful example of bringing the South to wherever you are. Though their wedding took place in Colorado, Shobie is a tried and true Southern gent and their wedding boasted details from home like cowboy boots, antiques, lace and mason jars — all appropriate additions since it was Shobie’s Southern drawl that won Natalie over when they first met! Y’all know I can’t let my favorite string lights go unmentioned. N + S made it their own by hanging adorable tin cans with heart shapes punched through them. It was the perfect way to light up the gorgeous barn they said “I do” in front of and celebrated in.

The Southern Weddings Gals are sending big hugs to Cassidy Brooke for sharing this wedding with us!

Describe your wedding flowers: Simple. I loved all the flowers because it they were so personal. My mother arranged all of them. As a little girl she worked in her father’s flower shop for years and since he passed away last year, it was an honor to have my mother create these beauties in his honor.

Tell us about finding your wedding dress: My friends kept telling me that I would find my dress at the first shop that I went to. I didn’t believe them. After trying on so many dresses, we were literally walking out the door when I saw it in the window. I walked back to the counter and asked if I could try just one more on. When I put that dress on, I knew it was the one!

We did a first look because we wanted to be able to be in awe of each other and tell each other how great we looked. We also wanted to pray and have a moment before God before we set out on this new adventure. It was also really convenient with pictures!

Did you write your own vows? We did our vows in a unique way. We wanted to respect the tradition of vows and we wanted to make our own, so we did both! My favorite thing about writing our vows was that it was so personal. We have this saying, “I promise, promise.” We know that a lot of people say that they promise but then never follow through, so we know when we really mean it we say it twice just for good measure.

What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? There are too many to count! I do remember that, while we were taking photos, Cassidy would stop me and tell me to just sit in the moment and soak it all in. I really appreciated that she helped not only to capture the great pictures, but great moments!

What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Procrastination
What range did your wedding budget fall into? Less than $10,000
What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? My dress, photography and food!
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Pace yourself and get a DJ.

Describe your wedding cake or dessert: Amazing!! My sister is a chef and she made our cake! It was raspberry with cream cheese frosting. We also had chocolate and vanilla cupcakes for everyone.

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. We meet at a progressive dinner party through friends. I was washing the dishes and Shobie came up and asked, “Can I dry your dishes” with that sweet country mouth. I was hooked.
Describe the proposal. It was so amazing and it became even more amazing after he popped the question! It was actually on our one-year anniversary. Shobie picked me up with white roses from my house and then we headed to our favorite Italian restaurant, Paravicini’s in Old Colorado City. I had no clue that it was coming! We had an amazing time eating great food and reminiscing on the past year and how crazy it was. Just after we ordered dessert, he said “I really love you.” I replied with “and I love you,” thinking nothing of it (because he reminds me so often). Then he started to slide toward the edge of the booth. I thought, “Oh, he is heading to the bathroom after a comment like that? Weird.” Then he proceeded to say, “So I talked to your dad a while ago and I was wondering if you would be my wife?” Of course I said yes!! When I started crying he told me to stop! All of our friends were waiting outside to greet us and take pictures with us! After, we celebrated with our friends we headed to my parents’ house and told the whole family. There was just one more thing he planned to top the night off. We drove far out into the Colorado Mountains at a secret place we love to watch the stars from. As we were setting up all the blankets in the back of the truck, he told me to come and sit on the edge of the truck. Then, asked me to take my shoes off. He proceeded to pour warm water from a thermos in to a big pot and washed my feet and told me that he wanted to love me like Jesus. We read scripture, prayed and started dreaming about our life to come!
In what month did you get married? September
How many guests attended your wedding? 200 people
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? We got married in front of a barn! My husband always wears boots, so the whole bridal party wore boots that day. There were also a lot of antiques everywhere.