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Monthly Archives: August 2015

Emily and I had the pleasure of traveling to Kentucky earlier this summer, and even though we were there for just a few days, we quickly fell in love with the Bluegrass State! Kelly and Mick fell in love quickly, too–while these University of Kentucky sweethearts started as friends, they knew right away that there was something more between them. Since one of their favorite traditions is attending nearby horse races (Mick even incorporated a horse race into his creative proposal), their wedding combined Kelly’s dream of an outdoor celebration with inspiration from their favorite date, to create a day that was as meaningful as it was beautiful. See how many gorgeous Southern details you can spot–from the bourbon barrel tables to the escort cards and more, there are lots to admire!

Thanks so much to Lynnesy Catron for sending this sweet day our way!

Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! Yes! My something borrowed was a thin rose gold ring of my mother-in-law’s. It is her favorite ring and it is one of a kind. My something blue was my Christian Louboutin shoes–the most amazing splurge of the wedding! Mick stole them the day before the wedding without me knowing and wrote the cutest message on the bottoms. My something old was my grandmother’s wedding band. My grandmother passed away a few years ago, and I had always wanted to wear her ring when I got married. Mick’s mom also gave me the ring that Mick’s dad gave her the day Mick was born. My something new were two amazing presents from my husband: he had a ring created in rose gold that has the Roman numerals of our wedding date, and something I’ve always wanted, diamond earrings.

My mom’s best friend owns a wedding boutique, Rebecca’s Wedding Boutique. She gave me the best present, and allowed me to go to bridal market with her and the staff in Chicago before my wedding. I worked at the boutique when I was in high school and sold wedding dresses to brides, so I knew a ton about wedding dresses and the designers. After the first day of previewing and shopping, I did not find anything that I loved, but the very last fashion show of the day was Watters, my favorite designer. When I watched my dress in the show, I knew instantly that it would be mine. Rebecca is close friends with the crew at Watters, so they let me go backstage and “model” the dress I loved. I walked down with my mom and friends from Rebecca’s watching, and I knew it was the one. It was such a special moment and I loved finding my dress that way.

Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. The boys walked in to “My Old Kentucky Home” being played on the violin. I walked down the aisle to Pachelbel’s Canon in D played on the violin, which was meaningful to me because both my mom and Mick’s mom walked down the aisle to that song.

What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they have any special significance to you? With Mick working in the horse industry and my love of outdoor weddings, we knew that our wedding would be outside on a farm or centered around horses. When my lifelong friend found out we were engaged, she told me that I had to check out her friend’s venue, Saxony. With one visit, we knew it was right for us.

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? Where to start? We used all local produce for our menu, which included hot browns, shrimp and grits, and bourbon maple-glazed salmon. Our signature drinks were a bourbon sour and a madras. Mick’s mom hand-painted the most beautiful horses that were used as table numbers and a display over the tent. I also made bourbon barrel tables with glass tops that had wine corks in the bottom. To continue with the Southern horse racing theme, the escort cards were old fashioned betting totes (tickets). Brass name plates on the tables resembled name plates typically found on horse bridles. I also collected antique milk glass for the vases and antique gold frames to put pictures in. Instead of the traditional guest book, we asked people to sign old fashioned rocking chairs. For years to come, we can sit in the seats and read the words from all of the people who love us.

I have an unnatural obsession with peonies–there were over 400 peonies at our wedding! They lined all of the tables in single vases, in the bouquets, and in all of the flower arrangements. I love how romantic and airy the peonies were, and they blended well with the outdoors.

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: The family-inspired touches. We are both very family focused, and wanted that to show throughout the wedding. We had so many old family pictures of everyone displayed that it felt like we were home. Also, since Mick’s dad has passed, we had a special painting where people could write things that Jeff may have said if he were at the wedding.

Take a peek at Kelly + Mick’s wedding film, too!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. Mick was the first boy that I met at UK. We met on my very first day of college and were friends for a year, but already knew that there was something more. We took a geology class together, and Mick later told me that he took really great notes so that I would study with him. He even made sure they were very neat so that I would be able to read them (our pastor mentioned that during our ceremony). When Mick finally asked me out, we did the traditional movie and dinner date, and then on our third date, he took me to church with his mom and sister. Ever since, we have always been together.
Tell us all about the proposal! Mick works in the horse industry and I have grown up around horses. Every year, we try to make it to the track at least once with our couple best friends, and during the spring meet, we decided to go. I always pick a horse based off their names, not their stats–I just pick whatever is familiar to me or meaningful in some way. I had just won on the third race when Mick handed me a program and suggested that I pick one out for the fourth. It was a normal-looking program, and I start reading the names. The first one, Mr. Goldhouse, was a nod to the nickname for Mick’s college house–the first place we ever met. The second horse was Captains Quarters, which is the place we exchanged our first “I love yous.” The third horse was named My Girl Millie, Millie being the name of our dog. I told Mick and our friends that I had to bet on that horse, but they told me to keep reading. What followed next was St. Maarten Sweetheart, the first place we took a vacation together, Clubhouse Spouse, meaningful to his family, and White Wedding Dancer. I turned the page for the last horse, and it said Marry Me Kelly. I looked to see him down on one knee! After he asked, I noticed that the “jockeys” were all of our family members. It was amazing! He had had the page Photoshopped the day before and placed it into the program, complete with logos and everything. I had no idea!
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 175
How did you plan for your marriage while planning your wedding? We had the most amazing minister who met with us many times and helped us go over everything that we had not already discussed. We had the tough talks as well as the fun ones, and having a guide like Scott was the best thing that we could have asked for.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Taking care of everyone. I tried hard to make sure that both sides of the family were taken care of. I probably put too much of this on myself, but I just really wanted to make sure everyone felt special during our wedding.
If you are comfortable responding, what range did your wedding budget fall into? $25,000-$50,000
What was one way you saved money or cut costs at your wedding? Flowers! My amazing wedding planner arranged all of my single peony arrangements, and that saved a ton of money. Talking with vendors in detail and really shopping around helped me become a savvy bride. I also made the chalkboards, signage, bourbon barrel tables, and bar letters myself (with help).
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Relax and enjoy the process! Everyone wants their wedding to be perfect, but make sure you enjoy yourself along the way. Especially two months out, start delegating! Your bridesmaids and MOH are there to help.
What’s next for you as a couple? What memories are you looking forward to making together? We just started the process of building a house, so that will be a huge step for us. Moving into our very own house and starting a family there is what we are looking forward to most these days. Also, we are looking forward to Mick’s sister’s wedding this February! We are so excited for her and her husband-to-be, and cannot wait to celebrate with them.

Photographer: Lynnesy Catron / Videographer: Jenn Byrne / Planner: Marti Holnagel / Venue: The Polo Barns at Saxony Farm / Florist: Stems / Cake Baker: European Delights / Caterer: The Woodford Inn / Rentals: Purdons / Band: The Jordan English Band / Bride’s Gown: “Kian Corset” and “Priya Skirt” by Watters / Bride’s Accessories Rebecca’s Wedding Boutique / Hair and Makeup: Katie Russo Beauty / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Maid of Honor’s Dress: “Sophia” by Watters / Bridesmaids Dresses: “WTOO 852” in Latte by Watters / Groom’s Attire: J. Crew / Groomsmen Attire: Macy’s / Tent: Goff Tent / Furniture: Canvas Event Furniture

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

    Beautiful! I love the horses on the tables – what a unique touch!

  2. avatar Featured on Southern Weddings {Mick + Kelly} | reply

    […] + Kelly’s highlight reel of their gorgeous wedding at Saxony Polo Farms is featured on Southern Weddings today! Be sure to stop on by and see all the beautiful photos captured by the lovely Lynnesy Catron […]

  3. avatar Meg Gravley reply

    So delicate! From the decorations to bridesmaid dresses – this is beautiful. The simplicity puts the emphasis on the couple, I love that.

  4. avatar kelly » Lynnesy Catron Photography reply

    […] read about Kelly and Mick’s love story, take a peak at their feature on Southern Weddings.  Kelly and Mick are two, absolutely beautiful people and I loved getting to know their friends […]

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If you followed along with my wedding planning posts last year, you may remember how hard it was for Dave and I to choose our venue–much like today’s bride, Ashton, I grew up moving around, so the decision of where to tie the knot was a challenge for me! For Ashton and Aaron, however, the decision was a bit easier–Charleston was always a place that Ashton returned to for family trips, no matter where in the world she was living at the time. I love that she had that special place as a constant in her life, and once Aaron proposed on nearby Fripp Island, it became all the more meaningful, and the perfect place for their wedding! With the help of the talented ladies at A Charleston Bride, Ashton and Aaron planned their gorgeous, garden-inspired celebration at the William Aiken House–the coolest historic venue hidden in the heart of downtown. Enjoy this look at their lovely day!

Thank you kindly to Catherine Ann for sharing Ashton and Aaron’s wedding with us!

I’m a self-proclaimed shopaholic, so I thought that it was going to take me forever to find the perfect dress. I started my search a couple of months after we got engaged and started shopping at a boutique in Raleigh with just my mother. I thought it was going to be a preliminary shopping experience and tried on all kinds of dresses, but the last one I tried on was the one. It didn’t wow me on the hanger, but I put it on and liked it, and then about a minute into wearing it, I started crying because it just felt right. This is who I want to be when I walked down the aisle. From the floral appliqué on my veil to the champagne color of the Italian tulle, everything about my dress was perfect and effortlessly romantic.

Did you decide to do a first look? Why or why not? Kind of. Aaron was adamant about not seeing me before the ceremony, but we both agreed that we wanted to have a quick, sweet moment together. We decided to do a “first look,” but he kept a blindfold on the entire time. I’m so glad we did this because we got to keep the element of surprise, while also being able to hug each other and calm our nerves. I did do a first look with my father, because I knew it would mean so much to him.

What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? Matthew 19:6, Song of Solomon 3:4, Ruth 1:16-17, Peter 4:8, and Ephesians 4:2. We did shorter readings throughout the ceremony because each one had a different significance.

Charleston has been my one constant place in life, so I always knew that when I got married, it would be there. The William Aiken House was significant for several reasons. Apart from being beautiful, my family is from Aiken, South Carolina, and the town is named after William Aiken. Aaron works in the railroad industry and William Aiken created one of the first railroad companies in South Carolina. Also, I always wanted to get married outside, but have an admiration for the grandeur of old architecture after living in England. The William Aiken House was the perfect combination.

I wanted my wedding to look like an English garden with lots of rose gold and sage and champagne hues. Our wedding planner and florist did an amazing job coming up with the perfect arrangements. There were topiaries for some rich dark greens around the lounge area and the bouquets had pale pinks and lots of undone greenery, with a few burgundy flowers to break up all of the pastels. I didn’t want the flowers to look too “done” and perfect; I wanted them to look romantic, but not fussy.

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? What was Southern about our wedding was the location, the families, the history, the pecan pie, the boiled peanuts (my favorite!), the bourbon tasting bar (also my favorite!), and the sense of hospitality.

What was one way you saved money or cut costs at your wedding? I cut out a lot of the florals because as much as I love flowers, the venue was pretty enough that we could save some money on those. The florist was very good about helping me come up with options to cut costs, which was much appreciated. We also did stations instead of a sit-down meal to cut costs with table settings and serving.

For our first dance, Aaron and I danced to Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud.” Aaron didn’t really care about the wedding details, but this was one thing he had an opinion about. We made a playlist of five songs that were contenders for our first dance and then we danced to all of them, and he got to decide which one he enjoyed dancing with me to the best!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. Aaron and I met on New Year’s Eve at a bar in downtown Richmond, Virginia. I was in Richmond for law school and Aaron worked with with CSX in Richmond. Aaron was working night shifts when we first met, so our dates consisted of random, intermittent hang outs, often involving him stopping by in the morning (on his way home from work) to say hi and hang out while I got ready to go to class for the day. Our relationship progressed very quickly because the time we did get to spend together was so precious that we ended up opening up to each other more quickly than normal.
Tell us all about the proposal! I have moved around ever since I was little, so I never really had a constant hometown, but both of my parents are from Aiken, South Carolina and used to go to Fripp Island and Charleston for vacations. When they got married, they kept the tradition alive by scheduling week-long family vacations at Fripp Island every summer. Aaron knew how important Fripp was to me, and my family planned a beach week a year after he and I started dating. My family, our close family friends, and Aaron’s family all came to Fripp that week for vacation. One night, Aaron took me on a golf cart ride right before sunset, and then we went for a walk on the beach. He proposed to me amidst the big sand dunes. Everyone had a big celebration waiting for us when we got back to the house. My ring is so special–it was made with my mother’s diamond and Aaron helped design it himself.
When did y’all get married? June 13, 2015
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 160
Describe your wedding cake or dessert. I am not a sweets person at all. I do, however, have a soft spot for pecan pie, so we had a pie station in addition to a cake. Aaron, on the other hand, has a sweet tooth big enough for both of us and then some. He was in charge of picking the cake, while I was in charge of decorating it. Since the cake was not something I really cared about, I wanted it to go with the decor and be simple and fun. I asked them to do a pale blush solid background with random pieces of gold leafing all over it.
What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? I am very involved in the nonprofit sector, so we had three areas throughout the reception in honor of different charities that we donated to for the wedding, as well as little favors to help bring awareness to the different causes.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? When Aaron and I got back to the hotel after the wedding and he couldn’t stop saying how happy he was that I was his wife. That was when we finally got to have a moment alone and just bask in the happiness and excitement that had been building all day.
What’s next for you as a couple? What memories are you looking forward to making together? I moved down to Charlotte with our chocolate lab, Campbell, so the three of us are all together under the same roof! We are excited to explore our new city together and to make memories with our new little family.

Photographer: Catherine Ann Photography / Planner: A Charleston Bride / Venue: The William Aiken House / Florist: STEMS via A Charleston Bride / Caterer and Baker: Patrick Properties Hospitality Group / Rentals: Snyder Events / Lighting: Technical Event Company / Ceremony Music: Bob Williams Duo / Reception DJ: Natty Heavy / Paper Products: Studio R / Bride’s Gown: “Style 5867” by Liancarlo / Bridal Salon: Alexia’s Bridal / Bride’s Veil: “Style 9847” by Liancarlo / Hair Stylist: Kacie Faulling Pecora / Bride’s Shoes: Michael Kors / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Tadashi Shoji / Menswear: Jos. A. Bank / Bow Ties: Collared Greens

A Charleston Bride is a delightful member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

lisa Written with love by Lisa
3 Comments
  1. avatar Edgar Vs. Surrey wedding videographer reply

    Beautiful wedding and very interesting story!

  2. avatar Elegant Southern Wedding at the William Aiken House | Ashton + Aaron reply

    […] wedding has been featured on the Southern Weddings […]

  3. avatar Meg @ GalaPal.com reply

    That memorable moment is perfection. Seriously tearing up just reading that. Congrats to the couple!

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I imagine many Southern belles can relate to Rachel and Brett’s story–they met at an SEC school, and years later, couldn’t imagine tying the knot anywhere but their beloved alma mater! Just like that, these two decided to host a destination wedding at their old stomping grounds of Mizzou, complete with football field portraits, a visit from Truman the Tiger, and a performance by the marching band. As well as showcasing their college pride, Rachel and Brett were also sure to tie in plenty of other nods to their sweet relationship, from playing their favorite song for their walk up the aisle as husband and wife, to the bacon bar Rachel surprised Brett with. Yum!

Thanks so much to Scott Patrick Myers for sharing this fun day with us!

I had so much fun trying on dresses that I was a little sad once I had found “the dress!” I knew that it was 100 percent the dress for me when months later, my mom and I were at the dress store for a fitting and I pulled a dress from a rack and said, “Oh Mom, if I hadn’t already found a dress, this would be the one.” I took a closer look, and turns out, it was my dress! I did make a few alterations to the dress to make it truly mine. I added pearl buttons all the way down the train and had Swarovski crystals sewed into some of the lace flowers on the back. I also wore a fuller slip to give the skirt more volume and added a bow to the front. The bow was by far my favorite part of the dress!

Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. Although we kept our ceremony very traditional, we walked back up the aisle after being introduced as husband and wife to Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing.” This is one of our favorite songs, and we couldn’t think of a better song to celebrate becoming husband and wife.

We chose to get married at our alma mater, the University of Missouri, because not only was it the place where we met, it also holds so many special memories for both of us. Because this was a destination wedding for most of our family and friends, we loved planning a weekend of events that showed off the spirit of Mizzou. Although we were planning a destination wedding, it was important to us to still have someone with a personal connection marry us. Brett’s fraternity chaplain is now a priest in a city close to Columbia, and he agreed to officiate the wedding.

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? Although we live in Chicago, Missouri is technically a Southern state and we did want to incorporate a few Southern touches. We both love BBQ and Brett does a great job of finding BBQ restaurants for us to try whenever we are traveling. As favors for our guests, we gave out jars of BBQ rub from the restaurant Brett worked at growing up. As an SEC school, football is a big part of Mizzou, so once we decided to get married on campus, Brett knew he wanted to take photos on the football field. I also had the robes I gave my wedding party monogrammed.

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: We wanted to plan a few surprises for our guests throughout the day, one of which was having the mascot, Truman the Tiger, and Marching Mizzou show up and play at our cocktail hour. When they played the fight song and alma mater, it was so much fun to see our Mizzou friends alongside our other guests, all singing along together.

We had a small cutting cake and a dessert bar with all our favorites desserts, including doughnuts, chocolate-covered strawberries, rice krispie treats, and gooey butter cake, a St. Louis specialty. We also had chocolate chip cookies delivered to our guests’ hotel rooms the night of the wedding with cards that said “Sweet dreams from the bride and groom.” I wanted to plan something special for Brett on our wedding day, and anyone who knows him knows how much he loves bacon. I worked with our caterers to surprise him with a bacon bar that opened up after dinner. We had three different kinds of bacon along with dipping sauces, plus bacon-flavored popcorn. Our guests loved it!

Did you pull any wedding inspiration from memories you have together? Tell us about it! Absolutely! This was very important to us because we wanted our wedding to represent who we are as a couple. Our welcome bags included treats from Chicago and St. Louis, as well as homemade coconut macaroons, one of our favorite desserts, which we made together the week before the wedding. The doughnuts on the dessert bar were inspired by the doughnuts from our favorite bakery, Firecakes, in Chicago–we often end up there after date nights. The marching band represented all of the fun at football games we’ve had over the years. In our welcome bags, in addition to including treats from our hometowns, we also included a handwritten note to each guest. We were so excited to have our guests be a part of the day, and we wanted them to know how much we appreciated them making the trip.

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. Brett and I met in college at the University of Missouri in fall 2006. We were introduced through mutual friends and our paths continue to cross over the next few years. When Brett accepted a job in Chicago in 2012, he got in touch. We spent that fall getting to know each other again, and by the end of the year, we knew we were meant to be together.
Tell us all about the proposal! Brett and I had planned a trip to Jamaica for his 30th birthday in February 2014. Our trip started off a little rocky when we found out the night before we were to leave that the hotel had overbooked and moved us to a different resort in a different city. I was so upset that our trip wasn’t going according to plan, but Brett was as calm as could be. I couldn’t understand why he wasn’t more upset! When we got to our hotel and settled in, Brett told me he had planned to have a photographer take some photos for me to use on my blog. Once we got down to the beach, he gave the photographer a nod, got down on one knee, and proposed. He told me he’d been so calm despite our travel mishaps because he knew that at the end of the day, he would be asking me to spend the rest of our lives together. It was so special to have a few days together to celebrate our engagement before we went home to share the news with our family and friends.
When did y’all get married? May 2, 2015
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 125
Did you decide to do a first look? Why or why not? We did not do a first look. It was important to both of us that we saw each other for the first time when the church doors opened before my walk down the aisle. Our hotel rooms were on the same floor the morning of the wedding, and I was so worried we would accidentally bump into each other! Thankfully, our photographers and wedding party did a great job of keeping track of both of us.
Describe your wedding flowers. We kept our flowers very simple. I knew I didn’t want anything too elaborate, so we ordered hundreds of white roses in bulk and then had a friend who does floral design arrange them. This saved us a ton of money without sacrificing on quality. Since we were married on Derby Day, we used mint julep cups as vases on the food and drink tables.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Planning a wedding in a city you don’t live in is always a challenge, but we did our best to make the most of our limited time each time we visited Columbia. I can’t imagine having our wedding any place other than Mizzou though, so it was all worth it!
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? From Brett: Watching my niece walk down the aisle carrying a sign that said “Uncle Brett Here Comes Your Bride,” and then seeing the doors open to Rachel. From Rachel: A piece of advice my mom gave us before the wedding was to make sure we took some time to ourselves after the ceremony. We went up to the choir loft for a few private moments and we were able to look down at all our closest friends and family who had just witnessed us becoming husband and wife. I’ll always remember how happy I felt in that moment.
What’s next for you as a couple? What memories are you looking forward to making together? We are hoping to buy a home within the next year so that we can start making memories in a place we can call our own. We also plan to keep traveling and exploring new cities and countries together.
Is there anything else you’d like to share about your wedding? When we decided on a campus wedding, the stage where we held the cocktail hour had not been built. We got to be the first wedding to be held on Traditions Plaza, and we have a brick on the plaza with our names and wedding date engraved on it. Brett’s parents also met at Mizzou, so they have a brick right next to ours with their wedding date. I can’t wait to one day bring our children to campus and show the bricks to them!

Photographer: Scott Patrick Myers Photography / Videographer: Big Day Productions / Ceremony Venue: Sacred Heart Catholic Church / Reception Venue: University of Missouri / Floral Design and Day-of Coordinator: Alissa Hagan / Cake Baker: Harold’s Doughnuts / Caterer: University Club of MU / Rentals: A1 Party Rental / Music: Lifetime Entertainment / Paper Products: http://www.sarahjulton.com/ / Bride’s Gown: “Style 2716” by Allure Bridal / Bride’s Accessories: Nordstrom / Hair and Makeup: The Clip Joint / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: “Polka Dot Jacquard Fit & Flare Dress” by Eliza J from Nordstrom / Menswear: Savvi Formalwear / BBQ Rub: Charlotte’s Rib

Rachel’s Blog: An Eventful Life

lisa Written with love by Lisa
3 Comments
  1. avatar SEC Wedding Inspiration • An Eventful Life reply

    […] sharing my favorites tomorrow, but I wanted to drop in today to say that our wedding is featured on Southern Weddings! When planning my wedding Southern Weddings was my absolute favorite place for inspiration (and […]

  2. avatar Ashton Dreyer reply

    I love the bridesmaid dresses. Very classic with a unique twist!

  3. avatar Rachel reply

    Always nice to see a happy couple on their wedding day. Nice set of photos by the way!

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