Southern Weddings

It may not seem like this venue site could be “Plan B”, but it is. The end result was perfection. Lara’s family home was a spectacular venue.  How about Brittany’s gorgeous bouquet!? It included four different varieties of orchids, various succulents, mini white calla lilies, ranunculus, tulips, freesia and tuberose (which smell Heavenly!) and mini white seashells tucked into the petals.  The stems were wrapped in natural burlap and mother of pearl and silver charms. Aren’t they a stunning couple!?

What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? It didn’t seem like we were really up against too much until right at the end. The height of hurricane season brought a lot of stress… We were glued to the weather channel, watching each and every storm that seemed headed our way. When Big Ike was originally projected our way, we really thought we might not have our day at all.
Scariest moment? I think we had a few. Thinking only a week prior that Ike was headed this way; having to change locations less than 36 hours before. Also, my grandmother passed out after the ceremony, and there was fear that it was something serious, like a stroke. Thankfully, she had only fainted, but having her whisked off in an ambulance was very scary.
The most unexpected event on our wedding day was: I have to go with the day before…The change in location was totally unexpected, but turned out to be the best part of the experience!

Click back shortly for the reception!

Brittany + Jarrod’s waterfront vows were absolutely stunning. The ceremony began at six o’clock as the sun was beginning to set.  Guests were given parasols to shade themselves from the sun and fresh lemonades–mango, mint and hibiscus–to cool them from the tropical heat.  Guests were also given personalized flip flops to wear for the rest of the evening.  The ladies loved getting out of their uncomfortable heels!  Friends and family stood in the round, creating a very intimate setting filled with love and laughter.  The aisle was lined with sunset-hued rose petals.  A bamboo canopy was decorated in fresh loose flowers. “There was so much anticipation in the air,” Lara recalls.  “After all that Brittany and Jarrod had been through that week with hurricane watching, the location switch, guests not being able to travel in due to weather and just the normal stresses that a wedding sometimes brings, this ceremony was already fueled with so much emotion…. joy, relief, and pure awe as the weather calmed down just long enough for a ceremony I will never forget.”   Brittany walked down the aisle to Snow Patrol’s Chasing Cars.  “It was magical,” says Casey.  “Not a dry eye in the house.”  The officiant, {Pastor Chuck Randle} performed a beautiful ceremony which was followed by the personal vows that Brittany + Jarrod had written for each other. 

The weather on our wedding day was: Windy! On the tail end of Hurricane Ike, but otherwise gorgeous! Blue skies, sunny, lots of puffy clouds… It actually ended up being perfect!
What was the design inspiration for your wedding? Our love of the beach and all things natural… We really wanted things that were simple, clean, natural, and organic-feeling. We wanted it to feel crisp, but also very inviting and warm.
Tell us about finding your wedding dress: Geez, I am so simple, and really wanted something affordable and understated…. I went online to J.Crew, and ordered two dresses. I tried both on, and the one I wore for the wedding day was one of those. I loved it from the moment I put it on, it didn’t have to be altered even one iota, and my mom said I looked like a “goddess” in it. I was sold!
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: Our aisle and canopy. The progression in color of the petals was so neat, it really built up anticipation with every step. And the canopy was perfect, done in bamboo with some loose draping. It felt like a dream during the ceremony.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Even though it went so quick, the moment that really sticks out in my mind was when Jarrod said the first line of our vows to me. Hearing him actually say out loud what we had arranged was really overwhelming and so incredible. I think we both were trying not to break down at that point.
Other details you want us to know about your ceremony: Having personalized music for the ceremony really made that moment feel like it was meant just for us.

 Check back shortly for Part III…

Where do I even begin to explain this fabulous wedding?  Brittany + Jarrod’s big day was a great testament to having a Plan B.  Hurricane Ike brought tropical storm force winds, 20 foot waves, 5 feet of storm surge and intense temperatures to the Florida coast just as this gorgeous couple was set to say “I Do”.  36 hours before they walked down the aisle, the Bliss girls made the switch to Plan B.  And what a plan B this was!  Needless to say, Brittany and Jarrod’s recent wedding required a total of five posts.  I will let Rae Leytham, one of their fab photographers, begin with explaining this very special couple and their unique wedding story. 

From Rae: “Once, sometimes twice a year we photograph a wedding where every
element comes together perfectly for the optimal photographic
experience. What all does that entail you ask? Perfect weather, great
planners, great venue (location, location, location), and a couple who
just knows how to rock the camera. This was one of those
weddings. Brittany and Jarrod have always thought of their wedding day
on the beach, sand between their toes, and surrounded by loved ones.
Well, they almost got that….. They rented a beautiful beach house on
Pensacola Beach and had everything planned except for hurricane Ike.
Even though he went ashore in Texas on Friday night, the wind was just
too high on the beach for an outside wedding here. Luckily, Lara (a long time friend of Brittany) came to the rescue and offered her waterfront home just
over the bridge in Gulf Breeze that turned out to be a phenomenal
location. On top of everything I just mentioned, they decided to see
each other before the wedding to ensure plenty of time for photos.” 

Special thanks to Rae and Wes of {Rae Leytham Photography} for sharing with us these amazing images with us. Wedding design and production by {Bliss Event Group}, flowers by {Kebbie Hollingsworth} (and SW’s own Rachel Smith!) for Bliss Event Group.
 

Pictured above: (bottom row) SW Editor-in-Chief, Lara Casey, helps Brittany with her finishing touches–fresh white phalaenopsis orchids for her hair. Lara and Brittany have known each other since they were kids. “Seeing Brittany say her vows was such a gift to me.  I cried tears of joy the entire day!” says Lara.

How did the two of you meet? We met working at Chili’s
here in Mobile. I had just graduated from the University of Florida and
moved there. I was looking for a job to get me going. Jarrod was
working there, and we hit it off right from the start. He was actually
dating somebody else at the time, so we became great friends.  After
his relationship ended, we started dating and the rest is history!
Describe the proposal: I
had given Jarrod a “love jar” early on into our relationship; it was
just a jar filled with slips of paper that had little inside jokes,
reasons I loved him, etc. written on them. So, the weekend after my
first year of grad school, Jarrod arranged a weekend away for us to
Pensacola Beach. We were sitting on the beach, drinking Coronas, and he
went back inside to get some things. He brought back out a love jar,
with all the reasons he loves me written one slips of paper. Taped to
the bottom was a piece of paper that said “will you marry me?”.
AWESOME! Later that night, he took me to dinner. Sitting at the table
were our parents, my sister, and my grandmother; he had arranged that
surprise as well. It was absolutely magical.
What attracted me to my husband was:
His great smile and cute rear end in the jeans he wore to work.  After
that shallow stuff  I’d say he is incredibly generous, kind-hearted,
caring, and funny.
Why do you love your husband? Because I
know that he absolutely loves and cherishes me more than anything. He
also is such a hard worker; that attitude translates into our
relationship, and how much we are willing to do to make this the best
marriage possible.
What attracted me to my wife was: He also says nice “butt”, but used a more guy appropriate term. ;-)… and bubbly personality.
A date we went on that we’ll always remember: Our
one year anniversary fell right around Christmas. Again, Jarrod had
arranged a surprise for us. We went to eat at Chili’s (visiting our old
stomping ground), and Jarrod told me to dress warm. We drove out to
Bellingrath Gardens here in Mobile to look at the amazing Christmas and
holiday lights. We got hot chocolate and walked around through this
fairy-tale type arrangement. As we got to one little secluded bench,
Jarrod sat me down a pulled out a Tiffany box. There was a ring inside!
It wasn’t an engagement ring, but it was a “true love” ring by an
artist who designs for Tiffany. That was the time that we really
committed to one another. Little did he know, I had also gotten him a
ring to symbolize our relationship! I gave it to him when we got home,
and we’ve worn those rings ever since.

Check back shortly for Part II of V…