Southern Weddings

After saying their vows beneath the beautiful Georgia pines, Jacqueline and Jamaar celebrated becoming husband and wife with a classic and romantic reception. While their reception may have taken place indoors, so much of the inspiration for Jacqueline and Jamaar’s wedding was pulled from nature and how connected they feel to one another while being outdoors. Goodness gracious, I love the way they combined that with inspiration from Jacquelyn’s rose gold engagement ring! With the help of Brie Owens of Chancey Charm Weddings and Andy Beach and Co., they used shades of blush, cream, and white to create a day that was “filled with as much beauty as we feel love for one another.” Jacqueline and Jamaar’s ceremony was not only filled with flowers, but with details that honored her Ghanaian culture and their family members.

We sure were thrilled to be able to share this sweet Georgia day in V9, and big thanks to Harwell Photography for capturing it!

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. What was your favorite thing about it? I wore a mermaid-style wedding gown with off-white Alençon lace by Matthew Christopher. Having tried on several dresses, I knew that it was the one because it made me feel like the most beautiful version of myself! The champagne lining ended up being my favorite thing about the dress. Choosing a dress with a hint of color, rather than a traditional white gown, represented my courage to be uniquely me. I finished the look with an off-white lace-edged veil, pearl jewelry, and peep-toe shoes from Badgley Mischka.
What did the groom and groomsmen wear? From Jamaar: I wore a blue shawl lapel tuxedo with a black bow tie, covered placket white shirt, black patent leather shoes, and a white pocket square. The groomsmen wore navy blue suits, black ties, covered placket white shirts, black patent leather shoes, and white pocket squares. We all wore black rosebud flower lapel pins for a modern take on the traditional boutonniere.

We were married in September in Alpharetta, Georgia. The evening ceremony was held outdoors underneath a beautifully decorated gazebo, overlooking a small river. Being outdoors is when we feel the most connected to one another, so we knew that was where we wanted to say our vows.

How did you prepare for marriage while planning your wedding? The union of our marriage is very sacred to us, one which we were intentional about entering into reverently. We read his and hers companion books by Tony Allen: “For Married Men Only” and “For Married Women Only.” We also completed premarital counseling.

Did you have any special pre-ceremony activities? Being of Ghanaian decent, it was important to me that I acknowledged my heritage during this special time in my life. Prior to the wedding, we held a traditional Ghanaian engagement ceremony that involved our parents.

The most special part of the wedding was having a ceremony that reflected our faith and reverence for God, which brought us together. We included Kente cloth in our ceremony for the officiant to wear. I wanted to highlight the Kente cloth as part of my culture and as symbolism for the occasion.

What was the design inspiration for your wedding? Why was this design special to you as a couple? Inspired by nature, we wanted to design a wedding that was filled with as much beauty as we feel love for one another. It was also important to us that our guests felt surrounded by the joy and happiness that we wanted to represent in our new beginning as husband and wife.

Your wedding should always be infused with things that you love…and I love flowers! They were the center of the wedding design. We wanted to create an atmosphere that was classic and romantic. I was inspired by my rose gold engagement ring to use shades of blush, cream, and white. I chose to incorporate my favorite flowers, which included orchids, garden roses, and hydrangea.

Tell us about your wedding cake or sweets. We chose individual almond cupcakes with buttercream, adorned with a blush petal flower with a gold center. We also served a non-traditional 8” tall carrot cake decorated with fresh ivory and blush colored roses.

Describe the proposal: After weeks of secretly planning a romantic getaway to the Bahamas for Jamaar’s birthday, I was the one who ended up with the surprise of a lifetime! At the end of our one-week vacation, Jamaar proposed on the shore of the beautifully secluded Love Beach. Apparently, the proposal was a long time in the making! He had had the ring for a while and had asked for my parents’ blessings in advance. Jamaar bending down on one knee and me crying tears of joy was all secretly captured on video as part of his perfect plan!
How many guests attended your wedding? 100
Who was one of the most special guests at your wedding? On the most special day of our lives, we wished to lovingly remember those close to our hearts who were no longer with us or unable to attend. We honored our grandmothers by placing their photos in special reserved seats in the front row of the ceremony.
Tell us a bit about your first dance. We danced to Lalah Hathaway’s cover of the Anita Baker song “Angel.” The moment was amazing–it felt as if we were the only two people in the room.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? Adding children to our family!
What advice would you give to someone currently planning his or her wedding? The best advice we can give to other couples is to consider that there is life after your wedding. Plan accordingly, budget, be flexible, consider each other’s feelings during the planning, and remember that life begins after the “I do’s.” To future brides, when you make a major decision, go with it and move on! You can drive yourselves nuts if you are constantly doubting and re-thinking every decision. Be yourselves. Your guests love you and are there to celebrate you. Incorporate as much of your personality and culture as you can. Finally, be as present with the experience as you possibly can every step of the way, because it goes by fast!

Photographer: Harwell Photography | Coordinator: Brie Owens of Chancey Charm Weddings | Event Consultant: Beth Teal Events | Florals: Andy Beach and Co. | Caterer: Talk of the Town | Wedding Cake: Cakes by Carissa | Reception Linens: I Do Linens | Bride’s Gown: “Amelie” by Matthew Christopher | Bridal Salon: Bridals by Lori | Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bridesmaid Dresses: “Cadence” in Blush by BHLDN | Makeup Artist: The iQueen | Hair Stylist: Salon Method ATL | Groom’s Fashion: Suit Supply | Groomsmen Fashion: The Black Tux | Paper Goods: Studio LMC | Ceremony Music: Cobalt Strings | Jazz Band: Eric Thomas and Elevate the Quest | DJ: Mark Battle of One Sound and Entertainment

Chancey Charm and The Black Tux are delightful Southern Weddings sponsors!

Written with love by Marissa