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Monthly Archives: April 2014

Rachel says finding their venue, the gorgeous Rustix Manor, was fate, but I would also vote that fate played a part in Rachel and James’ love story! Rachel was actually waiting on another date when James caught her eye at a party. After dancing well into the night, these two knew they were meant to be. If photos could talk, I’m pretty sure these beautiful ones from Melissa Schollaert would tell the same story. While reading their interview and scrolling this lovely wedding, I couldn’t help but think about how sweet everything was. The love these two have for each other, the adorable babe in a wagon, and ending the night with dancing around a bonfire and making s’mores – yep, sweet as can be!

Both of us wanted to see each other for the first time when I walked down the aisle–it was just something that we both had always known we wanted to do. I totally understand why people do a first look though–I can imagine it makes the time between the ceremony and the reception a lot less stressful–but I wouldn’t have changed our decision.

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. I went to Bridals by Lori with my mom, my sister, James’s mom, and three of my bridesmaids. Everyone picked out a few dresses for me to try, but when I put on the fourth dress, I knew it was the one. It was actually one that the consultant picked out after I told her what I liked, and once I saw myself in it, I knew that I wouldn’t like anything else as much as this one. It was a form-fitting, ivory lace dress with a keyhole back by Marisa.

Y’all, I may not be the biggest fan of flower crowns (mostly because I’m jealous I can’t pull one off!), but these delicate, perfectly-sized ones are amazing!

I wanted the flowers to reflect the feel of the wedding, which was light, romantic, and Southern. My bouquet included ranunculus, garden roses, stock flowers, and feverfew. The bridesmaid bouquets were pink stock flowers and their flower crowns were pink wax flowers. The men’s boutonnieres were pink roses with feverfew, and James’ was a white rose with feverfew. The flowers girls wore baby’s breath crowns.

She is just too cute!!

What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they have any special significance to you? While we were planning the wedding, we lived in Nashville, but we were both born and raised in Georgia and both of our families still live there, so having the wedding in Georgia was a no-brainer. I knew I wanted a rustic, outdoor wedding, and we looked at several venues before finding Rustix Manor. We were about to sign with a totally different venue before my mom went to lunch with a group of friends, and one of them told my mom she should check out Rustix. When my mom saw it, she absolutely knew it was exactly what I was looking for and we booked it before I even saw it in person. I like to think it was fate!

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? The whole wedding had such a Southern feel, first and foremost through the weather. It was 85 degrees in October, and our guests were fanning themselves with the programs and I was taking cover in the shade to avoid sunburn. The ceremony was on the stoop of a tiny “mock” chapel in the middle of a field, which made it seem like a small town chapel wedding. At the reception, the band played everything from classic rock to country while a bonfire blazed and guests danced and made s’mores. We even had a UGA win that day, so my bridesmaids and I called the dawgs! It was a perfect Georgia wedding.

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: We agree that the best detail of the wedding was the venue itself. It was absolutely perfect and met all of our needs: we had a chapel, a poolside location for cocktail hour, a stage for the band, three bars, a firepit, and the most eclectic Southern decor.

What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? So many special moments come to mind, but I would say one of the most memorable moments was when I was dancing with my dad and ended up losing my cool. The song “Today I Met The Boy I’m Gonna Marry” by Darlene Love was playing, which brought out a lot of emotions for both of us, since we’ve always loved the movie Father of the Bride. James says the most memorable part was seeing me walk down the aisle.

Describe your wedding cake or dessert. Our wedding cake was almond pound cake with raspberry filling and vanilla buttercream frosting. I wanted it to look simple, but elegant, and taste delicious. The groom’s cake was chocolate cake with vanilla filling and chocolate frosting. It was topped with chocolate-covered strawberries and adorned with a big Georgia “G.”

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. We first met on spring break in Destin, FL back in 2009. I was with a group from my sorority and he was with a group from his fraternity. Both of our groups went to UGA. I was actually interested in one of James’ friends, and when we were back at school, his friend invited me to their fraternity party. While he was getting me a drink, I saw James, and we ended up dancing together the entire night. I guess the rest is history!
Tell us all about the proposal! I had been out of town with my mom and sister for a week, and when we came back, James wanted to take me to a nice dinner. He took me to Dominick’s in downtown Norcross, and after dinner, we walked around near the fountain area and he said something about our future that I don’t exactly remember. He then knelt and proposed and gave me the most beautiful engagement ring that he had picked out himself. He had arranged for our families to be together waiting for us at my parent’s house, so afterwards, we were all able to celebrate together!
When did y’all get married? October 5, 2013
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? About 225
Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We did not write our own vows. I knew I would be way too nervous, but I think James would have preferred saying our own vows if I hadn’t adamantly vetoed it early on.
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? We chose three scriptures to be read by our siblings: my brother read Genesis 2:18-24, James’ sister Stephanie read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, and my sister Jill read Colossians 3:12-17.
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. We had a very talented trio of women play stringed instruments for the ceremony. They played “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desire” when my grandmothers were being seated, “Canon in D” when my dad walked me down the aisle, “How Great Thou Art” when we took communion as husband and wife, and “Wedding March” when we walked up the aisle together. We both thought all these songs were so beautiful, especially when played by stringed instruments. The band at our reception, Sweetwater Junction, was also extremely talented. They played our first dance song, “Let’s Stay Together” by Al Green, which we love, because it’s so classic, fun, and upbeat.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Since the whole wedding was outside, our biggest challenge was coming up with a plan B in case it rained. I must have checked the weather 10 times a day the week of the wedding, especially when the forecast called for rain on our wedding day. Our plan B was to put a tent where we had the reception and then have both the ceremony and reception there, which would have still been beautiful and fun, but I’m so glad we were able to stick to the original plan.
What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? All of our vendors were so awesome and we were very happy to have all of them there, but the owners of the venue went above and beyond. They would let us come over anytime we asked (the venue is actually their home), their daughters helped drive guests around in golf carts, and they were always so friendly and accommodating. I asked for a bonfire in 80 degree weather, and they said sure, why not? They definitely made everything from the initial planning to the day-of much less stressful.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Try not to stress about it too much. I know that is way easier said than done, but you really just have to tell yourself that the day will be beautiful and memorable no matter what. I couldn’t even talk about the wedding two weeks beforehand because it got me so worked up to think about. I wish I could have told myself to relax and not stress. It’s supposed to be a joyous time, so enjoy it!
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? We still reside in Nashville and are loving married life. I’ve enjoyed trying out new recipes and we’ve had a lot of fun furnishing and decorating our apartment together. We adopted a little kitten a month after getting married and he’s been the perfect addition to our new family. I’m looking forward to future trips and vacations with both of our families and our own kids, and we are both excited for our family to one day grow.

Photographer: Melissa Schollaert / Videographer: Joseph Edwards / Venue: Rustix Manor / Florist: Tulip Blooming Creations / Catering and Cake: Legendary Events / Band: Sweetwater Junction / Bride’s Gown: “Style 953” by Marisa Bridals / Paper Products: Wedding Paper Divas / Bridal Salon and Veil: Bridals by Lori / Bride’s Necklace: Tiffany & Co. / Bride’s Earrings: Kate Spade / Hair and Makeup: Serendipity Designs Salon & Boutique / Bride’s Shoes: J. Crew / Bridesmaid Dresses: “Newbury Long Style 40442” in All Tomorrow’s Parties by Joanna August / Men’s Attire: Jos. A. Bank

Melissa Schollaert and East Coast Entertainment are delightful members of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

marissa Written with love by Marissa
8 Comments
  1. avatar Lisa reply

    Oh my goodness, I LOVE her style–those glittery sandals and peachy bouquet are gorgeous with her lace dress!

  2. avatar Hannah Shaffer reply

    Oh my goodness gracious! A lace dress, gold glittery sandals AND s’mores? Not so sure this wedding could be more perfect.

  3. avatar Emily reply

    The chamomile in her bouquet is so pretty! And I love the post-ceremony hug photo :)

  4. avatar Lindsey Richardson reply

    I love the gold sandals! Where did she get them? I have a similar dress and I am not good with heals, so something just that those shoes would be perfect!

  5. avatar Football Wedding Round-Up: The SEC – Southern Weddings Magazine reply

    […] Schollaert via Southern Weddings, A Bryan Photo, and Brita […]

  6. avatar Amanda reply

    Would you be able to tell me where she bought those heels? I would love them for my wedding in 4 months

  7. avatar Rachel Collins reply

    Lindsey & Amanda – I got the sandals at J Crew! The height was perfect and they definitely added a little sparkle.

  8. avatar Cutest Flat Wedding Shoes for the Love of Comfort and Style – MODwedding reply

    […] Shoes: J. Crew | Photography: Melissa Schollaert via Southern Weddings […]

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We love when brides outside of the South (who may or may not have roots beneath the Mason-Dixon line) bring a little Southern flair to their wedding celebrations. Christina, who lived in Charleston while her fiance attended The Citadel, loved the tradition she saw down South of honoring her best ladies, and wanted to treat them to a bridesmaid luncheon before her wedding. With a little assistance from a Southern friend who flew from Georgia to snowy Minnesota to help, she did just that! Hugs to Jenna Walker for these lovely photos!

For the table, we used my three sets of china: the set my grandmother passed down to me (blue), the set my mom passed down to me (pink) and my brand new set (Larabee Road by Kate Spade)!

For the menu, we served fried chicken, chicken salad, pimento cheese sandwiches, and mini cucumber silver dollar sandwiches with peach champagne bellinis and cucumber water.

The cake was designed by Gateaux Inc and it was pink lemonade with whipped cream and fresh strawberries. The cake pull was so much fun and definitely the main event of the luncheon! We had never done it before, so as you can see, I read from an outline as to what each bridesmaid had to look forward to in her future. There was actually one of the worst blizzards we have ever experienced the weekend of the luncheon and my wedding, so my flowers never came in — luckily our florist had bunches of tulips available for the luncheon, and one of my florist friends drove other flowers from Minnesota to Wisconsin the next day for my wedding!

P.S. Unfamiliar with the cake pull tradition? Check out our post here!

Photography: Jenna Walker | Cake: Gateaux Inc. | Rentals: Apres Party & Tent Rental | Dress: Kirribilla from L’atelier Couture Bridal Boutique | Bridesmaid Gifts: Reece & Blaire

emily Written with love by Emily
3 Comments
  1. avatar Southern Weddings Weekly Round-Up – Southern Weddings Magazine reply

    […] know about the signature drink of the Kentucky Derby, the mint julep. We admired a Southern-themed bridal luncheon, complete with some of our favorite things. In the latest Southern Newlywed, Marissa shared her […]

  2. avatar Cait Courneya reply

    Such a cute shower! Just wanted to let you know that I did the bridal illustration pictured!

  3. avatar kathy reply

    Does the junior bridesmaid,flower girl,married bridesmaid’s and engaged bridesmaid’s pull from cake

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Although it is practically impossible to come up with any real “rules” of wedding planning, there are a few guidelines that I think almost always apply: to work with your venue’s style and colors rather than against them, and that simple is often better. Cassidy and Mark hit it out of the park on both of these accounts, and as a result, their Outer Banks wedding was the stuff of beach wedding dreams! Their venue, The Saltaire House, needed very little decoration, so they included just a few thoughtful details that focused on their guests’ experience and let the romantic gardens and ocean views take care of the rest.

Thanks to Ben Lowry for sharing this beautiful wedding with us!

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. Right after we got engaged and I returned to Raleigh, I looked up wedding dress shops online. I called a place I had seen before called Traditions By Anna, and as it turned out, they were having a sample sale the following week and were taking appointments. I made one with the intention of going to find out what I was looking for, not to actually buy. My good friend came with me and I picked out four dresses. The second one I tried on was stunning! The ladies at the shop said no one had ever tried it on in front of them. When I walked out into the front room where the natural sunlight was coming in, I knew it was my dress. The light caught the crystals in the dress beautifully. It was like no dress I had ever seen and I loved it!

I walked down the aisle to the sound of live steel drums playing Canon in D. I played piano growing up and it was always my favorite song. I was ecstatic when I learned that they could actually play it on steel drums. When they announced us, the drums played “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”

What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they have any special significance to you? My family and I have traveled to the Outer Banks for many vacations. We thought it would be nice to have our wedding and a vacation combined so we could all spend more time together. When Mark and I went to look for a venue in the Outer Banks, I immediately fell in love with the Saltaire House.

The Saltaire House has a wraparound porch, a “saloon”-like bar, and gorgeous Southern decor. To keep people cool, we offered gorgeous paper fans from BHLDN and refreshing cucumber water. Our specialty cocktail was a John Daly (vodka, lemonade and sweet tea). Our food from Enchanted Cuisine was Southern and delicious–for appetizers, we had hush puppies, pickled shrimp with smoky cocktail sauce, and pimiento and crab on cornbread crostinis. Our main courses included NC pulled pork BBQ sandwiches, mac and cheese, watermelon and feta salad, and smoked chicken over Lowcountry red rice.

Describe your wedding cake or dessert. Yum! Just Desserts made our three-tiered wedding cake. It had ombre green layers, and was decorated with hydrangeas and white starfish. She did a wonderful job! Two of the layers were chocolate eclair, and the third layer was macadamia nut.

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: The caterers and service staff were fantastic, but I think the music is what really made our night. The steel drums were unique and sounded so beautiful during the reception and cocktail hour. During and after dinner, our DJ was amazing at feeling out the crowd and playing things we loved. There was so much dancing–that was Mark and I’s favorite part about the evening.

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. Mark and I first met in November 2008. My friend was dating his friend, and I was dating someone else, and we all met up at the designated “Ohio State” bar to watch a big game. We are both from Ohio, but lived in Raleigh at the time. A little over a year passed, and once I had split with my boyfriend, I signed up for Match.com. I emailed Mark because I thought he was cute, but I didn’t remember having met him. He immediately recognized me. Fortunately, he was the only man I had to go on a date with through Match, and on our first date, I knew that he was the one.
Tell us all about the proposal! We went to Las Vegas to celebrate Mark’s 30th birthday. He planned for us to take a gondola ride at the Venetian, then to go to a nice dinner, and finally, to go see Phantom of the Opera (my favorite Broadway show). After a little gambling and relaxing, we made our way to the Venetian for the gondola ride. Mark was frantic because we were running late for the “reservation,” but I didn’t think it was that serious. We eventually made it to the ride. Under the second bridge, Mark pulled out my GORGEOUS ring, turned to me, said some lovely words, and asked me to marry him. I was stunned! However, before I officially said yes, I really wanted him to ask on one knee. Mark is a big rule-follower, so he asked the gondolier if he could undo his velcro seatbelt and get on one knee. I got two proposals when he asked me all over again! Of course, I cried and said yes!
When did y’all get married? June 22, 2013
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 85
Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? We did not. We both wanted to see each other for the first time in front of all of our friends and family. It was an amazing moment.
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? My older sister read a “quote” from Bob Marley that I loved! “She’s not perfect–you aren’t either, and the two of you may never be perfect together, but if she can make you laugh, cause you to think twice, and admit to being human and making mistakes, hold onto her and give her the most you can. She may not be thinking about you every second of the day, but she will give you a part of her that she knows you can break–her heart. So don’t hurt her, don’t change her, don’t analyze, and don’t expect more than she can give. Smile when she makes you happy, let her know when she makes you mad, and miss her when she’s not there.”
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Staying within a budget was very challenging, and we took a lot of time to create our menu. My husband and I LOVE food, so that was one of the biggest priorities of the day. My brother-in-law, who is a chef, helped create the menu, and my caterer, Gwen Hart from Enchanted Cuisines, was so nice and accommodating. She did an amazing job creating the food we asked for and everyone raved about it.
If you are comfortable responding, what range did your wedding budget fall into? $10,000-$25,000
What was one way you saved money or cut costs at your wedding? Once I had a budget, I mapped out how much we could spend in each area. Once we had that, I worked very hard to stay within it, which helped a lot. I didn’t spend a lot on centerpieces or flowers, because the home and the outdoors lent itself to beautiful pictures and decor.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Do what makes you happy. Decide what is most important to you (food, drinks, flowers, decor) and go from there. Food, drink and photos mattered most to us, and that was where we were willing to spend more. And at your reception, DANCE!
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? We are moving back to Ohio soon to be closer to our families and to eventually start our own family. We will miss North Carolina, but it will always be a place we can return to for vacations and visiting friends.

Photographer: Ben Lowry / Venue: The Saltaire House / Florist: The Embellishers / Wedding Cake: Melinda Gregory of Just Desserts / Caterer: Enchanted Cuisine / Rentals: Ocean Atlantic Rentals / Ceremony Musicians: One Love Caribbean Steel Drum Band / DJ: DJ Fresh, Clarence Randall / Bridal Salon: Traditions by Anna / Paper Fans: BHLDN / Bride’s Earrings: Kate Spade / Hair Stylist: Ashley Dashiell of Dimensions Hair / Makeup Artist: Chelsey Crago / Bride’s Shoes: DSW / Groom’s Attire: Tommy Bahama / Shuttle: Island Limo

lisa Written with love by Lisa
4 Comments
  1. avatar Kat reply

    I love her dress & the simplistic way they styled everything. What a beautiful beach wedding!!

  2. avatar Dana reply

    love her dress! she is styled so beautifully!

  3. avatar tungsten carbide ring reply

    wow,your post is so nice,and the wedding dress are so beautiful!!!i hope you will lilke ,it’s a best choice for your wedding!!!tungsten carbide ring

  4. avatar Julie Wirthman reply

    I attended my niece Cassidy’s wedding – it was amazing.. she was a beautiful bride – the venue, the food, everything was perfect!!! This article is the topping on the cake!!

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