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Monthly Archives: August 2009

Nothing says “summer wedding in the South” like bold, vibrant colors and natural, earthy accents.  Cindy + Josh, with their aqua, marigold, mango and chocolate brown color scheme and all-wood details, get it just right at their North Carolina nuptials, captured on film for your Wednesday morning delight by Kellan Studios.  The SW girls give two thumbs up for the groomsmen’s warm weather alternative to classic black-tie (light-colored suits + bright ties = picture perfect) and I’ve personally decided that marigold, as worn by the bride’s lovely attendants, must be the perfect shade for summer bridesmaids everywhere!  Considering the couple’s last name is Wood, the “wood theme” evident in everything from the guests’ charity tokens to the simply adorable cake toppers seems particularly appropriate, don’t you think?

How did the two of you meet? We are one of the few blind date success stories!  My sister’s husband worked with Josh at FedEx for several years before I ever met Josh, so they got to know him really well.  One evening while I was visiting, they invited Josh over for quesadillas while I was there but conveniently neglected to tell Josh (who was wary of being “set up” after several bad experiences) that I was in town.  We had a great conversation that night and he made me laugh A LOT!  After a very sweet goodbye hug on his way out that night, I knew this was going to be something more than Mexican food on a muggy August night!  Josh and I kept in touch over the phone until I officially moved down to North Carolina that September.  We’ve been together ever since that fateful blind date!

Describe the proposal: Josh and I are very fortunate to have gotten married at the same place where he originally proposed: the very, very special beach house where I spent summer vacations with my family.  After two summer trips there with my family, Josh could easily tell why the beach house was my absolute favorite place.  Last February, Josh and I decided to spend a long weekend down at the beach house.  He told me he had something for us to do at 8:16 that night (for August 16, the night we first met, as I later found out!), so I immediately thought he was making up for Valentine’s Day, which we didn’t celebrate in any special way that year.  He had me sit down in a chair at the end of the dock while he read a beautiful letter he had written for me.  At the end of the letter, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him.  Careful not to let the ring slip through the dock boards, we steadied our hands as I very tearfully said YES!

What attracted me to my husband was: His sense of humor, his beautiful blue eyes and, most importantly, his Southern accent!

What attracted me to my wife was: Her smile, her great hugs and the way she laughs at all my corny jokes!

Three adjectives that describe the day are: Blessed, joyous and intimate.

What was the design inspiration for your wedding? Josh’s last name (and my new name!) is Wood, so we wanted to weave it our beach setting.  We had a wooden cake topper couple, wooden charity tokens and a wooden centerpiece Josh made out of a coastal oak log to hold all of our bouquets!

Tell us about finding your wedding dress: My Mom and I went dress shopping one Saturday last fall and, after about 10 dresses, I chose the third dress I tried on: a strapless white gown with a sweetheart neckline, low back, and a dropped, fitted waist. Instead of the usual satiny smooth fabric, the top layer was a light, tulle-like netting that felt very beachy.

Describe your wedding flowers: To coordinate with our aqua, marigold, mango, and chocolate brown color scheme, we chose marigolds, blue hydrangeas, white roses, and high magic roses (yellow with firey orange tips).  I had a nosegay bouquet that included all our wedding flowers and my bridesmaids all carried small bouquets of magic roses to complement their marigold dresses.  Josh wore a magic rose boutonniere and the groomsmen wore white rose boutonnieres.  With the naturally beautiful beach setting under the coastal oaks, we didn’t need many other flowers. W e decorated the ceremony patio with potted asiatic yellow lillies, blue hydrangeas and white perennials and later gave them as gifts to our families.

Describe your wedding cake: My mother and bridesmaid made us a beautiful and very tasty tower of mini-cupcakes with nine different flavor combinations of family-recipe buttercream and raspberry filling!

Were there any special family traditions you included in the wedding? Instead of a unity candle, we decided to have our mothers each water a unity tree from two separate jars and say a prayer.  It was so special to be able to take the tree and that memory with us and watch it grow long after the ceremony.  Of course, it also tied into our “wood” theme!

Scariest moment? Learning after the ceremony from our groomsmen that there was a poisonous snake spotted in the backyard in the very same spot where all the guests would be seated during the ceremony and reception! Yikes!  He was one guest we did not care to have in attendance and, thank goodness, he did not show up for the actual day!

Funniest moment? My brother and husband-to-be serenading our rehearsal dinner group with “Let’s Get it On” by Marvin Gaye.  Such studs!

Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase/verse/or line? We chose lyrics from a Keith Urban song that Josh had written into his proposal letter.  “These are the days we will remember / So take me by the hand / They’re yours and mine.”

What advice would you give to someone planning their wedding? Truly, truly stop to think about the things that last far beyond your wedding day and spend your energy there.  Josh and I really made a conscious effort to put time and money into the things and moments that would matter the most and last throughout our entire marriage and not just our wedding day.  The flowers, for example, were gorgeous, but instead of putting a lot of our budget into those, we used some of the money we saved there and put it into a very special and fun guestbook!  We pick it up to read it all the time and relive the day and all the amazing memories.

Best advice or most memorable comment someone made to you during the wedding celebration. All written on our guestbook pages: COMMUNICATE!  Put Jesus at the center of your marriage.  Kiss good morning and good night.  Marriage is a conscious choice and commitment; choose each other every day!

What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? We’re enjoying a more relaxed summer and our new life as a married couple and roommates!  We’re house-hunting, planning small trips for the rest of this year and growing in our careers.  We cannot wait to start adding little acorns to the Wood household, but we’re planning on enjoying each other right now before we take that next step in a few years!

Congratulations to the Wood family!  We look forward to hearing about your new adventures as husband and wife!

Written with love by Southern Weddings
1 Comment
  1. avatar Tricia reply

    As a guest at this wedding I can say that it really was as special and beautiful as the pictures make it seem!

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

Polka Dots – I just love them. They can be whimsical, bright and fun or elegant and subtle – and as a motif, polka dots are super easy to work with. It is a refreshing theme that feels young but is tried and true – a staple in design for as long as I can remember. Take a look at some of my favorite polka-dot inspirations and try out one or two of these ideas for your big day!

First Row: For a chic and subtle look, line your invitation envelopes with polka-dot paper! Or wrap up your favors in a dotted con-shaped box or a classic cube topped with a bow. Add some demure dots by wrapping a dotted ribbon on chic bouquets. {all via Martha Stewart Weddings – Decorating with Dots}

Second Row: A fun and fresh way to approach polka dots is to dress your flower girl in something bright and cute {via Martha Stewart Weddings – Decorating with Dots}. For the adults, try dot ties or bow ties! {both by Me and Matilda via Martha Stewart Weddings}.

Third Row: For a truly witty and gorgeous look – check out Jennifer and Ray’s wedding details! A unique a fabulous escort card display where each card features fabric that matches the napkins at that guest’s table. A modern dot monogram makes a chic motif for their invitation suite and place setting! {all via Martha Stewart Weddings}.

Bottom Row: Fashionably-dotted – a sweet gown by Michelle Roth Couture {via Brides.com}. Dotted fondant covered individual cakes {via Brides.com}. A ball of mums plays off the sweet polka dot design on the chair runner {via Brides.com}.

Hope these have been fun and inspiring! Until next Wednesday! Xoxo, Wanwisa

Written with love by Katharine
1 Comment
  1. avatar Julie – On the Dot Creations reply

    What a fun inspiration board! Polka dots just make everything better! :)

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There’s a special place in my heart for black and white weddings and, like any great B&W event, this swanky Georgia affair from Allison Reisz is the perfect blend of traditional elegance and modern flair.  The bridesmaids’ dramatic Vera Wang gowns perfectly complemented Marianne’s chic Amy Michelson dress while the classic whites and fresh greens of the floral arrangements by Garden on the Square breathed new life into traditional black and white sophistication.  I’m an especial fan of the military traditions the couple incorporated into their big day (the bride and groom cut their cake with Carl’s grandfather’s West Point sword and many of the wedding guests were servicemen newly home from Iraq!) as respectful nods to the groom’s service to our country.  And I think all our brides-to-be eager to dance the night away after their I-Do’s could learn a thing or two from Marianne + Carl’s ingenious (and oh-so-practical) “Dancing Shoes” flip-flop basket!  Like today’s wedding?  Check back on Friday for another amazing Morgan Gallo affair!

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. Carl was stationed at Ft. Stewart, GA and I had been living in Savannah for about five years.  We met downtown while each spending an evening out with friends.  It took weeks to actually connect by phone and a few more weeks after that to finally go on a date.  Our first date was at a cozy Italian restaurant only blocks away from where we originally met.  

Describe the proposal: Carl took me to Forsythe Park one Saturday afternoon.  He grabbed a blanket and a bottle of wine and was acting very strange.  We set up the blanket right next to the Forsythe fountain in a grassy area and after a few minutes of nervous sweating, he popped out the ring and got on one knee.  Millie, our Great Dane, was there to witness the entire thing! 

Three adjectives that describe the day are: Elegant, fun and happy.

What was the design inspiration for your wedding invitationI wanted the invitations to look like a real-life Southern scene in Savannah.  I found an oak tree design that was exactly what I was looking for!

Favorite design element of your big day: I really wanted a feel of historic Savannah to come through in the design.  My wedding planner, florist and I came up with a way to use Spanish Moss and big curly willow with hydrangeas as the table centerpieces.  I loved looking around and seeing little touches of Savannah everywhere!

Tell us about finding your wedding dress: It was a very simple silk Amy Michelson dress with an open back.  I tried on the dress about fifteen times before I actually bought it.  I think the shop was getting sick of me coming in and always trying on the dress so the owner gave me a little discount on it.  I knew I did not want something strapless but I definitely wanted something simple and elegant and that’s exactly what I found!

Describe your wedding flowers: I LOVE hydrangeas!  I wanted hydrangeas to make up the bouquets and centerpieces and even decorate the arbor.  I had a combination of white hydrangeas and roses in my bouquet and the bridesmaids’ bouquets were made of two green hydrangeas.  I didn’t want to spend very much money on my flowers so my florist worked with me and came up with a way to use several large vase centerpieces full of curly willow and accent the room with candles. 

Describe your wedding cake: My wedding cake was made by a friend.  Her cakes are the kind that melt in your mouth and make you eat second and third pieces.  She made a three-layer white chocolate cake with Italian buttercream icing and then wrapped  each layer with a green and black ribbon.  We cut our cake with Carl’s grandfather’s West Point sword. The sword was used to cut his parents’ cake as well as his aunt and uncle’s.

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: The photo booth was such a hit!  People are still reminding us what a great idea it was.  We had two copies of each photo strip printed so we could keep one and the guests could take one home.

What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Carl was deployed to Iraq for fourteen months of the planning.  We got engaged in August of 2007 and he left in October 2007 and did not come home until the following December.  We were fortunate enough to be able to plan over the phone as often as we could, but it took a lot of help from Morgan Gallo to plan with him out of the country.

Were there any wedding traditions or new ideasyou included in the wedding? We wanted our parents and best friends to be included in our promises to each other.  We asked them all to stand with us while we exchanged our vows.  We wrote our own vows and our favorite line was that we accept each other exactly as we are, without hesitation.  We also had Millie, our Great Dane, act as the ring bearer.  My mother knit a pillow that she tied on to the harness she wore as she walked down the aisle.

What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Walking down the aisle towards Carl and knowing that this was the beginning of the rest of our lives together.  I also loved just looking around the reception venue and seeing all the people I love most in one place.  I never wanted that night to end!

What advice would you give to someone planning their wedding? Use a wedding planner.  Ours actually ended up saving us money in the end, so she paid for herself.  There are so many details that wedding planners take care of that keeps the planning fun and easy for the bride.

Who was your most honored guest at the wedding? We were especially thankful that many of the men Carl served with in Iraq were able to come and celebrate with us on our wedding day.  It felt as much like a celebration of our marriage as of their return from Iraq.

Any DIY items? My step-father made the arbor we stood under out of wood from Home Depot. My aunts decorated the arbor with hydrangeas we ordered from a wholesale florist. It turned out to be beautiful.

What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? We are planning on attending graduate school and probably moving away from Savannah.  We will never forget Savannah for its beauty, history and romance, but we want to be able to travel and live in a bigger city before we have children.

The SW girls would like to thank Carl for his service to our country!  Congratulations on your marriage and best of luck on this exciting time in your lives!

Written with love by Southern Weddings
6 Comments
  1. avatar I.W. reply

    Hi! I am getting married in Savannah as well, and have seen so many photos of this reception location. I love it! I grew up in the Lowcountry but am living in New York now, so my planning has been mostly long distance. I have scoured the internet to find the actual name and location of this venue, but have had no luck. I’d love to visit it the next time I go home. Could you tell me where it is? I would really appreciate any help!Thank you!!

  2. avatar Morgan Gallo reply

    These two hold a very special place in my heart. I am so glad we got to share their day and story with the world! It was an amazing time.

  3. avatar katharine @ southern weddings reply

    Hi I.W.!Marianne + Carl’s wedding and reception was held at the Charles Morris Trustees Garden. You can visit their website at http://www.trusteesgarden.com.Good luck planning your upcoming Savannah wedding! I’m sure it will be an amazing event :)

  4. avatar Marianne reply

    The reception site is the Charles Morris Trustees Garden and the website is http://www.trusteesgarden.com/charles-h-morris-center. You should check out my wedding planner’s website too. She knows ALL the vendors and wedding venues in Savannah. I highly recommend using her! Her website is http://www.morgangalloevents.com. Check it out! I hope this helps!

  5. avatar I.W. reply

    THANK YOU SOO MUCH!!

  6. avatar Nate at Open Light Studio reply

    What a gorgeous wedding; Allison did such a fantastic job on the photography! The Morris Center is such a beautifully simple and classy place to have a wedding/reception. We love shooting there!

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