Google+ You searched for andi mans - Southern Weddings

Southern Weddings

Search Results for: andi mans

Savannah, a “backwoods princess,” and her wedding planner, Ms. Brandee Gaar, turned The Lange Farm into a romantic and relaxed reception site full of intimate details. I love how they were able to combine the farm’s natural, rustic charm with feminine accents to make Savannah + Robbie’s big day a sweet marriage (pun intended!) of the couple’s style. Seems only appropriate that these two are going on a “huntingmoon”!

Big thanks to our friend Andi Mans for capturing their big day and making us feel like we were in attendance! Especially that line dance photo!

How fantastic is this, y’all?! That image on the left is the inside of Savannah’s boot – she had them custom made with a piece of the couples’ vows inside! GUSH! Oh, and that big ol’ side braid is so stylish!

Describe your wedding flowers: I really wanted to keep an enchanted feeling with the florals — something magical, yet just-picked. My sister and I grew up as backwoods princesses. I wanted to make it feel just like we did as young girls in the middle of the woods playing dress up with lots of soft colors and bright greens. My florist absolutely nailed it.

How stinkin’ cute are these two? What a sweet set of sisters!

What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? By far the food. We knew from the get-go that if all else failed, our wedding dinner would still be phenomenal. We are HUGE foodies, and that was our top priority. Our best memories are when we are sitting together with family and friends at our favorite restaurant, at home cooking together, or discovering a secret spot when we are on vacation. Food is what brings people together, and it’s what brought us together. We wanted it to be an experience for our guests, not just a meal.

Y’all, I am seriously dying over these chairs! I love how they utilized them at the ceremony AND at the reception. Wonder if i can have them in my house next?

Ok, and now these pups? I can’t get over them!

Did you decide to do a “first look”? Robbie wanted it to be the biggest surprise of his life and wanted to keep it special. I agreed. It made the connection between us very special because when we looked at each other, we didn’t see Robbie and Savannah, we immediately saw husband and wife. It was an incredible feeling and no one else existed in that moment.
Did you write your own vows? Yes, we wrote our own vows. My favorite was when Robbie said, “I will always cherish the gift you have so passionately given me: true love.” Robbie loved when I said he was my best friend and the one my soul loves.
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? Corinthians was read at the ceremony, my favorite bible verse.
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding. I walked down the aisle to the acoustic version of “When a Man Loves a Woman.” We walked back to the acoustic version of “Remember When” by Alan Jackson. Our first dance was “You Had Me From Hello” by Brad Paisley — a song that deeply touches Robbie’s heart. It’s special because Robbie used to sing that to wake me up every morning when we bought our first house.

Still dying over these chairs! Anyone else think I need them?

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: We both agree that our dinner with our friends and family was our favorite detail (besides marrying each other). We came up with the idea of setting our table up as a horse shoe. It still distinguished the wedding party, but we were able to see everyone. The decorations were absolutely stunning. It was the perfect blend of simple and elegant and made everyone feel right at home — just the way we like it.

Our wedding was smothered in Southern charm and we wouldn’t have had it any other way! For starters, our venue was on a horse farm and our reception and after party was in a beautiful antique barn. One of my favorite details was that I had a charm of a buck (from a necklace Robbie bought me when I got my first buck) and Robbie’s late father’s watch attached to my bouquet so I had a special piece of family with me. I also rounded up all my gals to join me in a sassy line especially for Robbie. We had custom cowboy boots handmade by Lucchese out of El Paso, Texas, and for a personal detail, we each had a piece of our vows engraved inside our boots!

Describe your wedding cake or dessert: Our poor wedding cake was so simple, but it was so perfect for us. It was a beautiful white three-tiered cake on a wood stump. Growing up, I fell in love with “Steel Magnolias” (that’s where a lot of my inspiration came from) and I always knew I had to have a great groom’s cake at my wedding. My groom was the perfect inspiration for an over-the-top groom’s cake and it absolutely did not disappoint!

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. Our story is one of true “fate.” I was waitressing at a small Italian restaurant in Ponce Inlet, Fl. Robbie was a regular customer, (large pizza with pepperoni and mushrooms). After a few giggles and small talk, I started to see him more than a few times a month. He actually used to order take out just so we could sit and talk, then he would go home and throw the food away. After eight months of friendship, we started to date. It didn’t take very long for us to be completely in love. We are best friends and we have been having the time of our lives ever since.
Describe the proposal. I thought I would hate him forever for this story, but it has become one of my favorites because it was a proposal with character. Robbie and I had to cancel our Christmas trip to Atlantis unexpectedly and wound up spending Christmas at home. He and I had to drive to our shop to grab a few things before heading to his parents’ house for dinner. I was loading up our truck and I accidentally locked our dog and the keys in the truck. My dear Robbie was furious. After what seemed like a decade, I finally found a locksmith to come unlock the truck for us. As I climbed up in Robbie’s four-wheel drive, my brand new iPhone slipped out of my pocket and shattered. My Christmas Day was off to a bad start, but we finally made it to his parents’ house. After about an hour, Robbie decided it was present time and I went first. Everyone was acting funny and all I could think was, “Dear God, please don’t propose to me. Not here, not now, and definitely not after the way you got mad at me!” Sure enough he got down one knee, and I said yes.
In what month did you get married? December
How many guests attended your wedding? 35
Tell us about finding your wedding dress: My sister and I went to Solutions Bridal Orlando and the first gown Roberta brought me was the one we both fell in love with. It just belonged to me, and I knew it was the one I wanted to marry Robbie in.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Having to move our wedding venue. We originally planned to have it at our own ranch. Our vision was to have an intimate ceremony on our 6,000 square foot island in the middle of a pond on our property. Our hearts were broken when we found our new home was infested with termites in the middle of remodeling. With the instability of the situation, we opted for the safer option of moving the venue just six months before our wedding day. After a few venues fell through, our vision for a rustic elegant wedding began to fade. But we kept our spirits high and knew what was meant to be, will be. Sure enough, we found the Lange Farms.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? The way my groom looked at me when I walked down the aisle. It was like no one else existed. I know that’s cheesy, but I would give anything to live those moments over and over again. For Robbie, it was when Savannah’s granddad put my hand in his. He said, “It was very symbolic and it made my world complete, he literally gave me my best-friend.”
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? I think we both agree that the most important thing to remember is that this is your day and no one else’s. Customize it and make the wedding your own. Just let it be and enjoy your big day. Have an absolute blast, laugh and dance and don’t stop kissing your new husband. It’s an incredible feeling and a beautiful day that is gone in a heartbeat, so don’t spend it stressed. Soak it all up and take it in because that time is so precious.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? Well when we get home from our “Huntingmoon” (yes we are hunting for our honeymoon), we will be sitting on the back porch with a big glass of ice tea and be taking a nice deep breath of fresh air because a year of wedding planning sure was fun, but we couldn’t be happier it’s over. Robbie and I fully intend on raising a family in the next few years, but for now my new hubby is building me a nice house with a big wrap-around porch. That’s going to be our next project and we couldn’t be more excited.

marissa Written with love by Marissa
22 Comments
  1. avatar Layla Mayville reply

    This wedding is just absolutely gorgeous and I love Andi Mans, she is so talented!

  2. avatar Andi Mans reply

    Thank you SW! And Thank you Layla! You both are SO SWEET! Gosh, I’m so excited to see this feature, what a joy it was to capture!! Yeehaw! :)

  3. avatar Emily reply

    Those boots – so cool!

  4. avatar Tali reply

    Love this bride, sister of the bride, photographer, and of course all the details! This wedding is stunning, just like the bride! We had so much fun assisting the bride and her sister with their wedding wardrobe from dresses to accessories. Best Wishes to Savannah and Robbie!

  5. avatar Dee Shore reply

    I love this wedding! The Chalkboard rules my world.

  6. avatar Kat reply

    those chairs?! yes please!

  7. avatar Kelly C reply

    I can’t believe those chairs! They take this wedding from fab glamour to WOWZA! What a great idea. And you know your guests will be comfy!

  8. avatar Bridget reply

    The dogs are too cute!

  9. avatar It’s pretty much a dream come true. | 2plushuedesigns reply

    […] http://iloveswmag.com/2013/01/22/romantic-florida-wedding-by-andi-mans-photography/ […]

  10. avatar Peach and Green Wedding | Burnett’s Boards – Daily Wedding Inspiration reply

    […] credits: one: ceramic heart wedding favors via Accessory 8 on Etsy // barn reception via Southern Weddings, photographed by Andi Mans Photography & Design // place setting via Every Last Detail, […]

  11. avatar Unrefined Elegance » Off The Page – Nebraska WeddingDay Blog reply

    […] from left to right, top to bottom: iloveswmag, everlytrue, clothofgoldflowers, stylemepretty, jenhuangphoto, theweddingac, stylemepretty, […]

  12. avatar Creative Wedding Signage | Heart Love Weddings reply

    […] captured by Andi Mans Photography via Southern Weddings […]

  13. avatar Rustic Blue Wedding Ideas | Heart Love Weddings reply

    […] Row 2: Invitation by Wide Eyes Design – Etsy, Wedding Menu captured by Lisa Lefkowitz Photography via Elizabeth Anne Designs, Bride’s Cowboy Boots captured by Andi Mans Photography via Southern Weddings […]

  14. avatar Huckleberry Blues Inspiration Board reply

    […] row (l-r): Barn setting {Andi Mans Photography & Design/Blush by Brandee Gaar}; bridesmaid with red bouquet {Elizabeth […]

  15. avatar Christina reply

    Where did you get the boots???

  16. avatar beverly reply

    Can you please share where the boots may be purchased. Thank you!

  17. avatar Pearl Beach Paperie – Where fine stationery is a way of life! reply

    […] you missed the chic rustic wedding of Savannah and Robbie on Southern Weddings‘ Blog, you must see […]

  18. avatar FAB Trend ✈ Loose Hair Braids | Fly Away Bride reply

    […] unknown via Weddings by Lilly | Jemanci Photography via Magnolia Rouge | Andi Mans via Southern Weddings | Photographer unknown via They All Hate Us | Photographer Unknown via Total Beauty |  Lara Jade […]

  19. avatar Wooden Drinks Barrels | Cool And Quirky Wedding Decor Inspiration reply

    […] Board: Burnetts Boards |  Pinterest | Ruffled |  Pinterest | Bottom Mood Board: Wedding Chicks | Southern Weddings | SMP | […]

  20. avatar Diary of a Boho Bride – Jo & Paddy, Entry 1: Invitations and all the small things: Boho Weddings – UK Wedding Blog reply

    […] source: cake stand / barrel letter […]

Southern Weddings reserves the right to delete comments which contain profanity or personal attacks or seek to promote a business unrelated to the post.  And remember: a good attitude is like kudzu – it spreads.  We love hearing your kind thoughts!

Reply to:
close

Bride Mary shares her dusty blue wedding at Riverwood Mansion.

We often hear how stressful wedding planning can be, but I love it when the brides we feature share how much fun it can also be! Please meet today’s bride Mary. With the help of her sweet mother-in-law and the team at Riverwood Mansion, she had a joyful wedding planning process that culminated with a super soggy wedding day filled with so many meaningful details even the rain couldn’t dampen their joy. “It rained and it poured all day long. And we still got married and had the time of our lives,” said Mary. She also shared the many ways she and Tyler included their family and heritage into the wedding day: like my personal favorite, how Mary walked down the aisle carrying a bouquet of her late mama’s favorite flowers. Keep reading to learn more!

Thanks for sharing, Cassidy Carson!

Tell us the highlights of finding your wedding dress. My sister and I went dress shopping solo. We looked at three boutiques before finding “the dress” at Modern Trousseau in downtown Nashville. I thought I wanted column; it was ball gown. I thought I wanted beading; it was all lace. I thought I wanted sleeves, and well, I got strapless (but then added sleeves!). Dress shopping is a little like love in that way: you might go into it thinking you have one idea, but trying it on makes all the difference.

Our venue was fantastic, because it offered a package that included so many of the wedding components that can add up really quickly (linens, china, flatware, lighting, etc). I think in the end, staying within most of their package offerings saved us a ton of money – and headaches.

You likely can’t tell from the photos, because Cassidy Carson and her team are MAGICIANS, but it rained and it poured all day long. And we still got married and had the time of our lives. So, sit back, relax, and hire Cassidy (or the best photographer you can find!). No better place to invest your limited dollars for piece of mind.

Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. Music is really important to me and Tyler and has been one of the most meaningful aspects to our relationship thus far, so we really wanted to reflect that during our wedding. To start, we hired a band we KNEW we’d love, because they’d performed at two other family members’ weddings! Next, I walked down the aisle to Pachelbel’s “Canon.” It’s not a particularly unusual choice, but it was special to me as a known favorite of my late mother. Finally, we shared our first dance to Bob Dylan’s “Tonight I’ll be Staying Here with You.” We both love Dylan, and the super sappy lyrics can’t be beat, but even more meaningful, the track was off on the “Nashville Skyline” record and recorded just down the street!

What were some of the most meaningful or special parts of your ceremony? Literally the whole thing was meaningful. From being married by the mother of my childhood best friend (hi, Rev. Cover!), to the speeches and readings by some of our closest friends, to walking down the aisle with a bouquet of my late mom’s favorite flowers (blue hydrangeas), to incorporating so many family photos and Southern touches, I couldn’t have asked for a better or more personal day. And perhaps just as important as the traditions we chose to include are those we chose to exclude (because, hey, publicly removing a garter with your teeth in front of all your loved ones doesn’t have to be for everyone!).

What was the hardest part about planning your wedding? All of the little decisions! The big ones – venue, band or DJ, groom :) – happened pretty fast. But the LITTLE ones were killer (extra draping at the venue? Specific song to play during your introduction at the reception? Ruffled or plain tux shirt?). In the end, I don’t think I will look back and notice all the little things, so to all the future brides out there, try not to sweat it.

What did you serve for your wedding cake or dessert? Cake! It was six tiers, traditional almond flavor with buttercream frosting (plus fresh strawberries) and included in our amazing package (have I mentioned how great Riverwood Mansion is yet?).

What was your favorite thing about wedding planning? Getting to spend so much time letting the creative juices flow with my amazing Mother-in-Law, Sherry! I know it sounds cheesy, and very outside of the stereotypical norm, but Sherry and I share a love of Southern food, blue and white porcelain, fine card stock, details, and my husband, Tyler. My wedding, much like my life now, would not have been the same without her.

Tell us your love story in one sentence. We love cats, politics, traveling, fine wine, good food, the South, justice & equity, concerts, supporting each other’s dreams, and each other…a lot…a lot a lot.
Tell us all about the proposal! Tyler and I had been dating for 5 years by the time he proposed (we were in no rush!), but we were actually living in two different places (me, in Washington, D.C. for work, and him in Nashville, TN, which was destined to be our forever home). I flew in to visit Nashville one weekend in October, landing Friday around 1pm, and he offered to pick me up from the airport. On the drive back, I could tell he was acting a little strange, but I just assumed that was because he had a bit more work to do before we could fully enjoy the weekend. But when we got back home, he couldn’t wait to get me upstairs to our bedroom. On the bed was my 16-year-old (at the time) childhood cat, Millie (“Millenium”), surrounded by (and also eating) flowers and the concert ticket stubs from every single show we had seen together. It took me a moment to process what was happening, but when he dropped to one knee and held out the ring, two and two finally clicked and I couldn’t wait to say yes. To top it all off, he somehow arranged to get our families in town (who literally span the East and West coast!) to celebrate. I won’t forget the love of that moment for a long, long time.
When did y’all get married? April 22, 2017.
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 160.
Did you decide to do a first look? We did. We wanted that moment to just be together before all the fanfare – and to help settle the nerves a little bit (it worked!).
What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Tyler and I met interning for our local congressman at his D.C. office and own a home in East Nashville, so Riverwood Mansion – with its famous Tennessee political history, (including events hosting seven U.S. presidents), location (5 minute drive from our house), and gorgeous grounds – stood out to us and immediately just felt “right”. We looked at other places, but in reality, there was no other place for us.
What was your favorite detail from your wedding? That’s too hard to choose! I loved our memory hutch – with photos of loved ones and weddings past – and the fourteen blue and white vases we were able to incorporate as reception centerpieces from my personal collection.
What was Southern about your wedding? We served fried chicken for dinner. ‘Nuff said?
What was your most memorable moment from your wedding day? The warmth and love from our friends and family. From the ceremony readings to the reception speeches, I have never, ever, felt more supported or loved than during my wedding. I feel blessed to have had so many wonderful people participate and encourage our commitment to one another. I just don’t think it gets better than that.
What advice would you give to someone currently planning a wedding? Find a partner! You may not need a wedding planner per se (though, I hear they’re great!), but you will need someone to bounce ideas off of, and gut check your more “out there” concepts (I seriously considered enlisting my brothers to hang greenery from the chandelier in the reception space, until a kind soul suggested I maybe check with the florist to see if that was something they could handle). Find a sounding board, use them, and then thank profusely.

Photographer: Cassidy Carson | Planner, Ceremony Venue, and Reception Venue: Riverwood Mansion | Florist: Enchanted Florist | Wedding Cake Baker and Caterer: 8 Lavender Lane | Band: Nick Carver Band | Paper Products: BP Calligraphy | Vintage Stamps: Vintage Postage Shop | Bride’s Gown: Modern Trousseau | Hair Stylist and Makeup Artist: Amanda Gros | Bride’s Shoes: Nina Shoes from Amazon | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: David’s Bridal | Groom’s Attire: Men’s Wearhouse

marissa Written with love by Marissa
1 Comment
  1. avatar Weddingpixie reply

    Love the vintage bridal car, fab! Such a happy looking couple, congrats!

Southern Weddings reserves the right to delete comments which contain profanity or personal attacks or seek to promote a business unrelated to the post.  And remember: a good attitude is like kudzu – it spreads.  We love hearing your kind thoughts!

Reply to:
close

Bride Ariana shares her paper flower-filled wedding at The Elms Mansion.

Whether it’s the first dress they try on or the venue they’ve been dreaming of for years, some brides know exactly what they want and the vision that they have in mind. And some are like me: completely indecisive. That’s why I’m excited to introduce y’all to today’s bride, Ariana. She’s a combination of both! While she and Mike might have looked into every possible wedding venue in New Orleans before deciding on The Elms Mansion, once they stood under the gigantic magnolia tree, Ariana finally knew. She remembers looking at the gazebo and thinking, “that’s where we’re going to get married.” Of course, said gazebo needed a touch of something special to make it perfect. Ariana, who just so happens to own a paper flower and décor company, Love & Paper, created a huge 8 foot by 8 foot paper flower wall backdrop for their vows (and for guests to snap photos in front of all night long!). Wondering where else Ariana snuck in her paper flower work? Keep reading to find out!

Big SW hugs to Arte de Vie for sharing this sweet wedding with us!

How did you plan for your marriage while planning your wedding? Our parents all wanted to be involved in the planning process, which I know definitely made me closer with Mike’s parents and sister. I think it taught us all how to communicate with one another as a big family; there were times when one of us would get frustrated and the others quickly learned how to deal with that. If I ever needed help with something, I knew I always had at least six people who would probably jump on a plane for me. I love that my maid of honor was Mike’s sister, Lauren, and his best man was my brother, Erich. It’s a beautiful thing for my parents and in-laws to get along so well – we all spent this past Christmas together! From day one, marriage always meant the union of our two families, not just the two of us, and planning the wedding was a great exercise for that.

I was so in love with our wedding flowers. I had pages and pages of inspiration photos, and Diane from Fat Cat Flowers nailed it. The color palette was a mix of soft corals, pinks, peaches, light oranges, and yellows. When I first saw the gazebo at the Elms, I knew it had to have a floral chandelier, which turned out to be breathtaking. I love peonies and was somewhat heartbroken when I learned they wouldn’t be in season for the wedding. However, since I have a paper flower and decor business, Love & Paper, I just made my own peonies for my bouquet! I love that while the rest of the flowers wilted over time, I’ll always have the fluffy magenta peonies from my wedding bouquet on display in our home. I had paper flowers all throughout the wedding venue; some were out on display on the tables and other were hidden in with real bouquets.

I knew I wanted to wear a big ball gown, and I tried on so many beautiful dresses. There were a couple that I really liked a lot, but they didn’t give me that “feeling” you hear about. I eventually put on the Hayley Paige “Londyn” gown. The second I stepped out of the dressing room, my mom and I both looked at each other and teared up, knowing it was the one. I loved twirling in all that tulle!

We decided to do a first look because we wanted formal photos in the daylight, and it would be dark by the time the ceremony was over. It also allowed us to dive right into the party after the ceremony. We wanted to soak up every moment possible with our loved ones at our reception, which really does go by so quickly! The first look was such a special moment between the two of us, and gave us the opportunity to take each other in as bride and groom in a relaxed and private manner.

We knew we wanted to get married in New Orleans, since it was our home and where we both spent the majority of our adult lives. I think we looked into every possible wedding venue the city had to offer! Mike was actually the one who first wanted to look at The Elms Mansion, and it was one of the last venues we visited. After we walked through the beautiful historic mansion and lush gardens, we stood under the gigantic magnolia tree (one of the largest in the city), and I remember looking at the gazebo and thinking, “that’s where we’re going to get married.”

When I first started my paper flower business, I committed to making an 8 foot by 8 foot paper flower wall for people to rent for their events. When we got engaged, we knew we had to use it at our own wedding! So we planned on having it as the backdrop for our ceremony. On the morning of our wedding, Mike and his groomsmen skipped their hot shave to set it up with my mom in the gazebo, which was such an act of love. I was so nervous, because it had never even left our house before, let alone made it through an entire event, but it was so rewarding to see so many hours of hard work on display. And I’ve rented it out to two other brides since our wedding!

When I asked my godfather to do a reading, he replied, “no reading is good enough for you- can I write my own?” Seeing as he’s a professional speech writer, I knew he wouldn’t disappoint! He wrote the most beautiful speech for us celebrating our love and relationship. Another dear family friend read the “Blessing of the Hands” right before we exchanged rings, which was so special.

What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? We really did have the absolute dream team of vendors, and I’m still so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with such talented people. But if I had to pick one in particular to call out, I have to hand it to wedding coordinator, Belinda Belk (Blue Gardenia Events). I loved our meetings, during which we’d pour over inspiration pictures, specialty linens, florals, color palettes, etc. She helped add so many special details and elements that I wouldn’t have thought of myself. I literally cried when I walked into our venue on our wedding day and saw how perfect and beautiful everything was – exactly how I had pictured it all in my mind, except better. Belinda also just made things so much easier on us as the big day came near, and was extremely helpful with tasks and errands that weren’t even her responsibilities.

There were so many love-filled details of our wedding, it’s hard to choose a favorite. I spent countless hours making paper rose escort cards for our guests, which were pinned to gold frames of moss. The whole family was so helpful, and our little apartment felt and looked like a wedding decor factory. My mother-in-law also secretly made flip flops for our wedding guests, which were revealed at the wedding after our first dance. And they were a huge hit – not a single pair was left behind! Putting together the guests’ welcome bags was a huge collaborative effort. My mom made homemade “graNOLA” bars, a family friend of the Shlanskys made chapsticks, another family friend of theirs made the first aid kits (he even painted on the red crosses with help from Mike’s parents), my grandmother helped put on the personalized water bottle labels, Mike and his dad did shopping runs for Zapp’s potato chips and pralines from New Orleans School of Cooking, and everyone, including a helpful bridesmaid, helped to stuff and and deliver the bags. I think all of the work and love that went into putting those bags together makes them one of my very favorite details!

What was your most memorable moment from your wedding day? After our ceremony, we led a second line up and down St. Charles Avenue. Once we got back to the Elms Mansion, I remember standing on the front steps and looking down at the 175 people we love most in the world cheering for and waving at us. That was such a surreal moment. We then went upstairs and signed the marriage papers, and people wanted to give us a few minutes alone to gather our thoughts and eat some dinner. But we spent most of that time peering out the window wanting to rush down to the party! We were so giddy and thinking, “Come on, can’t we do this later!? Let us down there!”

Our wedding cake was half white almond with amaretto buttercream and half devil’s food layered with dark chocolate mousse. The three tier cake was iced with white buttercream and had peachy coral brushstrokes on the top tier and mint brushstrokes on the bottom tier. I wanted a watercolor effect, and Melissa’s Fine Pastries did such a beautiful job with it. I made the paper flowers that cascaded down the cake. Mike has a major sweet tooth, so we also had a table of assorted pastries: fresh fruit tartlets, cayenne bourbon pecan tartlets, carrot cake squares, lemon poppy seed cupcakes, Banana’s Foster cheesecakes, and pecan pralines. Yum!

What was Southern about your wedding? We didn’t have to do much to make our wedding feel Southern, because there is so much Southern history in The Elms Mansion, and the food their chef prepares is very New Orleans. We also had a New Orleans second line after our ceremony, which was such a rush. We’ve participated in many second lines in all of our years in New Orleans, but it was so surreal knowing that this parade was in celebration of us! All of our guests were handed monogrammed handkerchiefs to wave in the air and sweet tea and vodka cocktails to sip as we danced down historic St. Charles Avenue. The umbrellas that Mike and I held were the ones his cousin and his cousin’s wife (who was also one of my bridesmaids) used at their own wedding a few years prior. As wedding favors, I put together little jars of Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning, complete with custom labels that I designed.

Tell us your love story. I had just moved into an apartment on Napoleon Avenue in New Orleans, and Lucy (my small dog), escaped from my yard. Thinking she had gone through a hole in the fence, I rang the next door neighbor’s doorbell asking if he had seen her. My neighbor told me that he saw a little dog in the middle of the (very busy) street furiously licking a hamburger wrapper as honking cars swerved around her. Thankfully, I got her back later that day. That same neighbor ended up coming over to my birthday party a couple months later, and we became good friends (as did Lucy and his dog, Cole). We remained “just friends” for a year before we decided to start dating, and my next door neighbor became my boyfriend, then my roommate, then my fiance!
Tell us all about the proposal! Over the summer of 2015, I had this feeling that he would propose. I don’t know why, and I definitely didn’t admit it to anyone (I barely admitted it to myself), but that feeling grew stronger and stronger as our annual summer vacation to Block Island, RI approached. When Mike didn’t propose on Saturday night, I thought to myself, “Eh, okay, I was just being silly and my imagination was in overdrive!” On Monday, we were rushing around packing because we had to make a ferry. We were cutting it pretty close (as always), and I had started off toward the car when I saw something written in chalk on the drive ahead of me. I stopped in my tracks and just stared, dumbfounded at what was in front of me: “Ariana, will you marry me?” surrounded by hearts. After what felt like seconds to me, but probably minutes to Mike, I slowly dropped my bags and turned around, only to see Mike on one knee holding a ring! It all felt so surreal that I’m not sure I’d remember all the details if it weren’t for his best friend Jason documenting the entire thing on his iPhone. I went to him and said, “of course!” but was suddenly hit with the reality that we were about to say goodbye to one another for a week. “But now we have to leave?” I asked, through tears. He answered, “Nope, we’re staying ’til Friday!” Apparently, it took a small army, the zipped lips of all four of our parents, PhotoShopped plane tickets to New Orleans and Boston, fake work obligations that had been in place for a month or so in advance, and very careful monitoring and deletion of any emails, texts, or pictures that might tip me off to pull off this very elaborately planned ruse. He said he knew that I might think he’d propose in Block Island, which is why he threw me off by “having to leave” and waiting until the very last minute to do it.
When did y’all get married? October 22nd, 2016
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 175
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. I walked down the aisle to Pachelbel’s Canon in D, which I’ve loved ever since I learned how to play it on the piano when I was little. I really wanted a trumpet to play as my dad walked me down the aisle, and I can’t wait to hear and see it on the video, because I don’t remember it at all! I was too distracted by everyone and everything else around me. My father helped me choose the rest of the ceremony music, since he’s the family expert on classical music. Our first dance song was “You Are the Best Thing” by Ray LaMontagne, which Mike and I chose just a couple nights before the wedding. We only had to listen up to the first refrain to know it was perfect – upbeat, not too sappy, but with a sweet message that resonated with us. We did a combined father/daughter and mother/son dance to “Ain’t that Love” by Ray Charles. It was so lighthearted and sweet; I just love the photos from that moment.
Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! I borrowed a pearl bracelet from my mom that my dad gave to her when I was born. My something old was a “Magic Hankie” that was given to me at me as a baby and used as a bonnet at my Christening; I had it tucked into my dress to wipe away any happy tears! I had my toes painted light blue as my something blue, and my dress, veil, shoes, and earrings were all new.
What was one way you saved money or cut costs at your wedding? Aside from our letterpress invitations, I did pretty much all of the design work using Photoshop and InDesign for our wedding materials. I designed the save the dates, the A&M monogram, the welcome bag brochures, the ceremony programs, the menu (with help from Belinda), the spice jar favor labels, and small signage. Not having to outsource any of those design jobs helped us save money, and I enjoyed doing it. Another small way I saved money was forgoing expensive designer shoes for a pair of cute, inexpensive flats. A bride will often splurge on a fabulous pair of Jimmy Choos or Christian Louboutins for her wedding day (and there’s nothing wrong with that!), but I personally didn’t see the point, as no one was going to see my shoes under my dress, and I wanted something comfortable as I knew I’d be on my feet all night.
What’s next for you as a couple? We actually just moved to Connecticut at the end of March! We miss New Orleans greatly, but are so excited to really start our life together up here. Mike got an amazing job offer, and we’ll be closer to our parents, which will be wonderful once we’re ready to start a family of our own in a year or two. I’m also really looking forward to bringing my business to a new market and expanding Love & Paper’s reach. We still have a lot of family and friends who live in New Orleans, so we’ll be back often for visits (especially during the snowy northeastern winters).

Photographer: Arte de Vie | Videographer: Dyle Films | Planner: Blue Gardenia Events | Ceremony and Reception Venue: The Elms Mansion | Florist: Fat Cat Flowers | Wedding Cake or Dessert Baker: Melissa’s Fine Pastries | Caterer: The Elms Mansion | Rentals: Event Rental | Lighting: Fat Cat Flowers and Blue Gardenia Events | Band or DJ: Bucktown Allstars | Paper Products: Scriptura | Bride’s Gown: “Londyn” by Hayley Paige | Bride’s Hair Accessories/Veil/Jewelry: Toni Federici | Hair Stylist: Flawless Bride | Makeup Artist: Flawless Bride | Bride’s Shoes: Dessy | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Amsale, Hayley Paige, Dessy | Groom’s Attire: Calvin Klein | Groomsmen Attire: Vera Wang Black | Paper Flowers: Love & Paper | Calligraphy: VCalligraphy | Ceremony musicians: New Orleans Classical and Jazz | Second Line Band: Young Pinstripe Brass Band | Linen: Nuage Designs

marissa Written with love by Marissa
5 Comments
  1. avatar Denis Lunyakin reply

    Divine photos! Thank you for your work!

  2. avatar Weddingpixie reply

    Stunning wedding, beautiful photography

  3. avatar Kara B reply

    what a gorgeous venue! Love the bridesmaid dresses.

  4. avatar Arte De Vie reply

    Thank you so much!

Southern Weddings reserves the right to delete comments which contain profanity or personal attacks or seek to promote a business unrelated to the post.  And remember: a good attitude is like kudzu – it spreads.  We love hearing your kind thoughts!

Reply to:
close
Top