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Southern Weddings

Author: Marissa

You know when you meet someone and you become instant friends? Well, that’s exactly how I feel about this bride! Y’all, I am SO excited that I get to introduce today’s Real Wedding because not only is it an absolutely gorgeous soiree, but the bride is our very own Blue Ribbon Vendor Director (and my personal virtual BFF – we work in different states!), Mrs. Kristin Winchester.

Kristin + Kyle are not only a good lookin’ couple (dying over KNW’s Southern bump!), but they have the best hearts. I know that Kristin worked to create a wedding that was not only beautiful, but a celebration of their marriage. And, I’m sure the food wasn’t bad either: K + K served Thanksgiving dinner, complete with turkey, mashed potatoes and dressing according to the bride’s special family recipe. As Kristin says, “Thanksgiving is one of our favorite meals, and represents a time when we gather around people we love and celebrate all that we are thankful for, which is exactly what we wanted to do on our wedding day.” Yes, ma’am!

Big thank yous to Martha Manning for being there to capturing all the joy that I know surrounded this day.

Custom monogrammed Jack Rogers, come on now, you know KNW is a girl after my own heart!

I may or may not have gone to (what felt like) 100 stores the first three weeks post-engagement.  I may or may not have tried on at least 1,000 dresses.  I was on quite the warpath trying to balance my timetable and my vision.  Everyone said that I must find a dress and find one fast so that I could get it ordered and back by May.  I tried on lots of pretty dresses in cities all across North Carolina. At the end of January, with the clock running out, my mama convinced me to take a day off and drive home to Gastonia to look at Poffie Girls.  Since I knew we were getting married in Chapel Hill, it seemed fitting that I would find my dress in Gastonia, so that I could have a little piece of my childhood with me on the BIG day. As I walked out of the dressing room with what would soon be my dress, there was soft music playing over the loud speaker.  I started humming along before I realized it was Josh Groban.  The very song that Kyle played right after we got engaged, when we danced in the middle of the living room, was playing in the middle of Poffie Girls.  I should have stopped right there, handed them the credit card and called it a day.  Instead, I tried a few more dresses, managing to re-try on my dress four more times in-between the others.  Decision made.  Mama, Sissy and I all got a little weepy when I put on mama’s veil and completed the look.  It was so special to be able to wear her veil on my wedding day. They made a few modifications to the original design (making the neckline a more defined sweetheart, adding pockets and extending the buttons the length of the train) in the process creating my dream dress.  Upon leaving the salon, I promptly called Kyle to warn him that there was a GOOD chance that he might come home for many months following our wedding to find me sitting on our sofa, wearing my wedding dress.  I loved it that much.

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration?  What was Southern about your wedding? Oh my stars, as you can probably guess, there were Southern details woven throughout our entire wedding day. The bridal party wrapped their bouquets in sweet handkerchiefs, monogrammed with each bridesmaid’s initials, that were anonymously delivered to the house where we were getting ready.  I wrapped two somethings blue, embroidered handkerchiefs, one from each of my grandmothers, around my bouquet.  And of course the groomsmen were dashing in their handmade coral, madras bow ties and khaki seersucker suits.  And those were just our duds!

My heart literally leaps for the image above, and the one below! Such sweet moments.

Did you decide to do a “first look”?  No.  Since I was a little girl, I have dreamed of the moment that those church doors would open and I would see my groom for the first time.  Kyle was on the same page, so we decided to forgo the “first look.”  We did have a brief moment to exchange gifts and squeeze hands around the church parlor door before the ceremony.  While we didn’t get to see one other, this simple moment and chance to hold hands and silently pray was just what I needed to calm my nerves. Happily when those beautiful church doors opened and I caught my first glimpse of my handsome groom, I knew we had made the right decision for us.  That one moment is imprinted on my brain, and I know I will never, ever forget it.
Did you write your own vows?  If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? The ceremony was by far the most important part of our day.  We spent a lot of time planning it to ensure it reflected our personalities, both individually and as a couple, our faith, and the future of our family.  We decided to recite traditional vows, just like our parents and grandparents. However, we felt strongly that adding personal touches throughout our day was important, so we decided to write promise statements to one another.  My favorite line of my promise statement to Kyle was, “Today is a celebration of the miracle of love and the blessings of family.  Today, we declare our commitment to one another, before God and our loved ones.  Today we become a family.” Kyle promised to take me to as many sporting events as I wanted (note: he works in college sports), which garnered a chuckle from the congregation.  He concluded his promise to me by saying, “I will have no fear – I will lay my life down for you, and for our children, in the name of Christ and for His glory.  I will be your best friend and love you more every day until the end of time.  Pinky promise.” Yes, we locked pinkies and sealed the deal.

Soon after we got engaged, we found over 150 mason jars in my late grandmother’s basement and used them everywhere at the reception, which made it feel like she was there celebrating with us.  Some of those mason jars were the same ones that had contained delicacies from my grandparents’ vegetable garden, which I helped tend in the summers when I was growing up. My grandmother gave Kyle and me a white family Bible as a wedding present.  It lay on the altar during the service, open to our favorite scripture, which made us feel connected to our Southern roots. As a tribute to my childhood and the peach trees in our backyard in Gastonia, NC, there were fresh peaches piled on all the reception tables.  I actually witnessed guests (not to mention the groom) grabbing peaches and eating them straight from the centerpieces. Guests were served Arnold Palmers during the cocktail hour and biscuits with honey butter during dinner.  And, I slipped out of my wedding shoes into newly monogrammed Jack Rogers sandals to dance the night away. If that doesn’t shout “Southern charm,” then my initials aren’t KNW.

Y’all might recognize that happy face on the left – that image actually became the back cover of Southern Weddings V5!

Describe your wedding cake or dessert: Kyle and I aren’t really big fans of cake but we come from a family of cake lovers so we wanted to make sure they didn’t miss out on this wedding tradition.  Our cake was a simple three-tiered beauty; each layer was a different flavor.  We had original white cake and buttercream frosting, white cake with fresh strawberry filling and chocolate with chocolate ganache (a crowd favorite).  Admittedly, my favorite dessert is a homemade chocolate chip cookie.  Baking is also that tangible way that I love on people, especially Kyle.  When we were dating, I would spend Thursday evenings baking, in anticipation of our weekend visits.  I am rarely without the supplies to make a fresh batch of cookies or Rice Krispy treats, so we decided to incorporate this sweet expression of love into our wedding day.  My amazing family spent hours the week of the wedding making dozens upon dozens of chocolate chip cookies, Rice Krispy treats, peanut butter cookies and shortbread.  The guests nibbled at the sweets table all night and then were able to make a treat bag to take home for a midnight snack! Apparently, my father-in-law never got to the wedding cake because he snagged a cookie every time he passed the table — he lost count at seven. 

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: Good heavens, I can’t pick just one.  We served Thanksgiving dinner, complete with turkey, mashed potatoes and dressing according to my family’s special recipe.  It is one of our favorite meals and represents a time when we gather around people we love and celebrate all that we are thankful for, which is exactly what we wanted to do on our wedding day. We included an assortment of self-addressed Chapel Hill landmark postcards on every table at the reception, with instructions for our family and friends to craft a note to us – sharing advice, love, thoughts and wishes.  At the end of the evening the postcards were collected by my dear friend Kate, and she has been mailing a batch to us each month around the 23.  Reading the hand-written notes from our dearest friends and family has been such a joy each month; funny, thoughtful, gracious memories that we will treasure for a long time. My other favorite detail was our candle-light departure.  We decided to do a staged exit around 9:45 to allow everyone to participate in the departure festivities.  We left behind a beautiful scene of our family and friends surrounded by the warm glow of candles.  We rode up through campus and were dropped off on Franklin Street, which gave us a chance to walk, hand-in-hand, through UNC-CH’s campus, just as we did when we first starting dating.  It was the first time we had really been alone that day, and we spent some sweet moments discussing our most perfect day.  Kyle also used this as the time to tell me where we were going on our honeymoon (the Dominican Republic!), which up until that moment, had been a big, well-kept secret.  After a lovely little walk, still in our wedding day finest, we headed back to the reception and danced the rest of the night away!

How did the two of you meet?  (From the groom) It took 7+ years to get to this point. Here’s the (abbreviated) love story: Three years at Carolina were full of fun times and great friends for both of us.  So many times our paths crossed – through classes (always for Kristin; sometimes for me), games (always for me; sometimes for Kristin), church, campus organizations – and we didn’t know it. For three years, we lived both perfectly content college-kid lives, never knowing the other one existed, until August 24, 2004. We were both Communication Studies majors and were set to take back-to-back upper-level Comm classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays the first semester of our senior year.  Kristin entered the first of those classes with her usual pep and zeal, ready to take on the world. I was, surprisingly, already in class, but (not surprisingly) half asleep in the back row with my hat pulled down over my eyes.  In fact, I barely lifted an eye when my roommate of four years said hello to the cute blonde in the bright green shirt and white skirt.  After somehow staying awake through the first class, we headed to our next stop.  After settling in near the back with a couple of friends, I began to take in the scene around me when that same cute blonde dropped her pen two seats in front of me.  “Awww, sad face,” she said aloud as she reached down to pick up the pen.  For the first time, I really took notice of the girl who would, one day, become my wife. After some time getting to know one another in class, our friendship started to grow. I planned a ‘first official’ date to the NC State Fair, but a serious case of strep throat prevented Kristin from going.  (From the bride) We wound up spending that evening at my house. He came over to check on me and brought me diet coke, gummy worms and cotton candy from the fair.  Yes, he sent someone to Raleigh to buy cotton candy so he could bring it to me.  Needless to say, even though I was terribly ill, I was smitten.  (From the groom) Our official, official first date would turn out to be a Friday night dinner at Chili’s (come on, we were on a budget here) and a Haunted House trip for a sorority function. Senior year was filled with many more special memories: meeting the parents, meeting “the sissy” (Hi, Kimberly), attending formals, winning a National Championship in basketball, and, of course, graduating.  Little did we know that this would be the only time in our dating relationship that we would live in the same city.
Describe the proposal. My sweet husband proposed juuuust after the ball dropped on NYE.  He asked.  I said yes.  Simple and sweet; the rest is history.  I would be remiss, however, (and totally unlike myself), if I didn’t take a sweet, simple story and gussy it up with all the yummy details. We were at the beach. After getting back to the house from a busy day and sitting around dressed up for a few minutes, I decided it was perfectly acceptable to put on my pajamas and curl up on the sofa for the remaining 83 minutes of 2011.  A few minutes after midnight, the groom managed to drag me outside to the deck of the beach house as everyone was shooting off fireworks. I was freezing and had no plans to actually go outside. It took a little coaxing + an afghan + a faked ‘step on a nail’ injury to get me outside. Alas, as I turned to go inside, IT happened. Down on one knee + lots of sweet words + a ring, and poof, it was official. We headed inside because it was freezing; he proceeded to scoop me up and started to pray for us (our relationship, our marriage, our future children, grandchildren, etc.), which would be the point of the blessed event where I sprung a leak.  I hadn’t shed a single tear before that point of the evening.  Then, there in the dark of the living room, all by ourselves, we danced.  It is exactly what we did on our very first NYE back in 2004.  This time it wasn’t quite so calculated on my part to sneakily have a cheesy country CD in the stereo system. Instead, he had Josh Groban on pause, ready to belt out one of my favorite songs of all time.  Be still my heart. Then all the fun started with calling both of our parents and my little sister around 12:30 a.m. (Imagine my surprise; my parents that are normally in bed by 9pm sharp were wide awake and sitting by the phone.  I think it made to half a ring). I called my mama the moment I woke up on Sunday to tell her that I was not, in fact, dreaming, but that there was a sparkly little diamond sitting on my left hand, and I was ready to officially start planning.
In what month did you get married? June
How many guests attended your wedding? 225
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony?  Colossians 3:12-17 and a very beautiful Love reading.  It was a back-and-forth interpretation (gracefully read by two of my dear friends from college) that incorporated many special scripture verses about love.  It was definitely a highlight of our ceremony, and I am so glad we decided to include it.
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding.  Music was an important part of the ceremony experience.  I was bound and determined to have more than just a ceremony; I wanted to have a worship service.  My aunt and uncle sang Amazing Grace during the prelude.  I could hear them as I was standing just outside the church doors. They also sang “Surely the Presence” during the ceremony.  We were blessed to have one of my favorite singers from the church I attended in Cary sing two solos as well.  I always joked that when we got engaged, I was going to figure out how to meet Autumn (note: my church in Cary is 9,000+ people) and ask her to sing at our wedding.  After a little digging and networking, I managed to track down her email address and wrote her a lengthy note that included asking her to sing at our wedding.  She graciously agreed and I couldn’t have been more thankful.  She sang Be Thou My Vision as an interlude and Twila’ Paris’ “How Beautiful” during the lighting of our unity candle. There was something special about including a few traditional songs for the processionals and recessionals.  Kyle’s mama played the organ for the local church while he was growing up, so she had played at many weddings and had a few favorites. The mothers and grandmothers processed in to Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring,” the bridal party processed in to Pachelbel’s “Cannon in D,” my daddy and I walked down the aisle to Clark’s “Trumpet Voluntary” and Kyle and I processed out, as husband and wife (yay!), to Mendelssohn’s “The Wedding March.”
Describe your wedding flowers:  Simple perfection.  My bouquet consisted of several Southern delicacies:  ivory roses, white peonies, white hydrangeas and white freesia.  They were even able to turn the bonnet that Kyle wore home from the hospital into a flower and tuck it into my bouquet.  Kyle’s mama had saved it to give to her daughter-in-law; she even has a sweet poem that accompanied the bonnet to talk about its significance. My bridesmaids carried similar bouquets, composed of roses, peonies, hydragenas and hypericum berries in pinks and coral, wrapped in the same fabric as the guys’ bow ties. For the groomsmen, we tried for something a little heartier that could withstand the pre-ceremony hugs from the wedding guests and the late June afternoon humidity.  The florist crafted lovely peach hypericum berries, tied with raffia.  I think that the groomsmen looked dashing, and their boutonnières stayed intact all night!
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Time — or a lack thereof.  After becoming engaged on New Year’s Eve, I knew that I wanted to get married in June, leaving a little over five months for everything to fall into place.  We ran into a few scheduling challenges with some potential vendors but managed to enlist just the right ones to help make our day magical. Oh, and budget.  But isn’t budget always a challenge?  Having a vision is one thing.  Making your vision match your budget is a totally different story. I was very deliberate in prioritizing what was most important and had to be comfortable letting a few other things go.  It was also a great and constant reminder that, at the end of the day, the most important thing was the fact that Kyle and I were getting married.  When I focused on that piece, the budget just didn’t seem to matter as much.
What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? Absolutely, a videographer.  Every time I watch our wedding highlights film, I cry.  It immediately transports me back to that day.  I am so grateful to have live footage of both sets of parents and my grandmother.  It is something I will treasure forever, and I am already anticipating watching it with our children and grandchildren!
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Well, they say that nothing ever goes exactly as you planned.  As someone who tends to be a tad type-A and a bit of an over-planner, I promised Kyle that I would just “be” on our wedding day.  After all, the most important thing was that we were getting married.  So, when our departure candles could not be located mere minutes before our planned departure, I took a deep breath, grabbed a glass of champagne and sent the wedding party on a reconnaissance mission.  The result was one of my most favorite moments of that day.  The guests went outside, the wedding party went hunting for the candles and Kyle and I wound up all alone (with our favorite DJ) in the reception hall.  Deana Carter’s “Strawberry Wine” started pouring out of the speakers, and Kyle took my hand and led me to the dance floor. For the next few minutes, we danced in the candlelight, causing me forget about what was going on outside. The song ended, and I noticed my baby sister, standing at the edge of the dance floor with happy tears streaming down her cheeks.  She didn’t want to interrupt our moment, so she had waited to happily share the news that the candles had been located, and we could proceed with our planned departure.  What a special, albeit totally unplanned, moment!
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Oh mercy!  I have so many things I would love to share. Constantly remind yourself that you are planning your wedding to celebrate your marriage.  When you feel yourself over-extended or stressed, remind yourself WHY you are planning a wedding.  And be true to yourselves. As Kyle likes to say, “do you.”  There are traditions and etiquette rules that are important, but it is equally important to make sure the day reflects you, the couple.  Thanksgiving in June?  Four solos during the ceremony?  Thirty-one members in the wedding party?  Yes, please!  One of the biggest compliments that someone paid to us during the reception was how much they felt “us” throughout the whole day – in all the details.  Finally – and I feel most importantly – remember to stop and smell the (proverbial) roses. Remember to take the time to stop, take a deep breath and take it all in.  Then, do it a second time. And a third. It is a very special day, a day that you have put your heart and soul into making happen.  Look around, make memories, and enjoy each and every moment!!
What’s next for you as a couple?  What are you looking forward to in the future?  After dating long-distance for nearly six years, we are happily settled into newlywed life, which includes weeknight meals around the dinner table, afternoon naps on Sundays, and day-dreaming about our first family dog, who will be named Murphy, in honor of the building where we first met!

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

    Starting the morning with a few tears thanks to that most memorable moment story :) Kristin, you are a truly breathtaking bride and every picture is just overflowing with love! So excited to finally see this post from your big day!

    • avatar Kristin reply

      Lisa: You are so kind. I am so grateful to share a bit of our story from our most wonderful day. The pictures definitely beam the amazing feelings of joy and love we felt on that special day. I am so grateful to have all of these memories written down. Big hugs!!

  2. avatar Emily reply

    I remember you telling us about your “sleeps” sign, so it’s so fun to see that photo! And, of course, all of the rest of them — love this whole post!!

    • avatar Kristin reply

      Yay! Thanks for picking such sweet memories of our day to share. Looking through these images transports me back to that sweet, sweet day!!

  3. avatar Kat reply

    The bride’s advice is so perfect – just what I needed to hear!! I love how they not only stayed true to their roots, but made everything about the wedding very “them”. What a beautiful day!!

  4. avatar Maggle Goodell reply

    Handsome couple, and the wedding looks like so much fun! I especially loved the bouquets, great colors!

  5. avatar Brooke reply

    Poffie Girls is amazing! I bought my dress there too and it was nothing but a wonderful experience!

  6. avatar Katie reply

    Kristin- do you have a photo of the back of your hair without the veil? I’m a big fan of volume and have been wanting a style like yours! I’d love to show my stylist a view from the back as well. Beautiful wedding!!!

    Katie

    • avatar Kristin reply

      Katie: But of course! I love that you love the ‘Southern bump/volume’ too. Let me dig through all my photos! I am sure that I can come up with something between my portraits and the day-of photos. I would be more than happy to share. Will you email me so I that I can send them to you directly? ([email protected])

  7. avatar Steven Neal reply

    Thank you Marissa for an early birthday present. From a very proud papa.

  8. avatar Sukey (Dress For The Wedding) reply

    This wedding has so many of the sweetest touches imaginable! I love the “sleeps” sign, because I count the “sleeps” until something big too! I also love the way the light is shining in that beautiful church and just illuminates the already radiant couple, and how all the bridesmaids and groomsmen are up there close behind them – symbolic and beautiful. Congratulations to the happy couple!

  9. avatar Taylor J reply

    DYING over those Jack Rogers!! How did I not know about this? I foresee a similar picture in my wedding album! AHH!!

  10. avatar Rebeka reply

    As I read the sweetness in this post I simply cry. I feel that we are kindered spirits that have never met. Every bit of what you dreamed for your wedding is what I am trying to plan into mine. My dress is from Poffie Girls as well, I have a large wedding party, and my fellas are dressing very similarly. After seeing your Jack’s I think I may have to splurge and do the same… I love the idea! Your little touches make all the difference. And thanks for the reminder of what it’s really about. When the moments become stressful I have to realize that it isn’t about the wedding it is about the marriage. I want it to be a celebration of our marriage and commitment to one another, not just one day; a worship service to the one who brought us together, not a production of my husband and I. Thank you for sharing your story and being just so lovely. It gives me hope that I can make this happen and work out beautifully. Good luck and best wishes to you and your husband!

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  12. avatar Caroline reply

    What church is this ceremony in? It looks beautiful

    • avatar Kristin reply

      Caroline! It is Orange United Methodist Church in Chapel Hill. I know I am a bit biased, but it was the perfect little chapel!!

    • avatar Caroline reply

      Thank you!

  13. avatar How a Writer Crafts a Wedding Ceremony | Backstage | The Williford Wedding reply

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  15. avatar Southern Newlywed: In the Kitchen with Kristin Winchester + a Giveaway! – Southern Weddings Magazine reply

    […] How they met: We met during our fall semester of college in Chapel Hill. During the first few weeks, we exchanged pleasantries before, during, and after class. Fast-forward to early October. I needed someone for my sorority grab-a-date function and thought I might ask Kyle (after some serious advance research and networking through connected friends). Unknowingly, I had caught Kyle’s eye on the first day of classes so when I asked, he said yes. The rest is history (a long, juicy, marvelous kind of history that I will happily tell you over coffee, just ask). You can read more on his side of the story here. […]

  16. avatar Ellen reply

    Hi SW! Can someone help me by providing the designer of Kristin’s dress since this post pre-dates when vendors were provided? I would be oh so appreciative!

    Thanks and take good care,

    Ellen

    • avatar Kristin reply

      Ellen! I wish I had more information. I got my dress at Poffie Girls in Gastonia (NC). The designer was a very small (she didn’t even have a website) and located in California. Her name was Angelina. I have tried to look up more information for you, but I think she might no longer be making dresses. Email me directly ([email protected]) and I will happily share as many additional details I can find! xo.

  17. avatar How a Writer Crafts a Wedding Ceremony – Weddingbee reply

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I have to agree with Carissa, her wedding to Ryan at Boone Hall Plantation WAS coastal Southern to a “T.” From the oyster wreathes to the yummy pies, each detail that went into their big day not only fell in line with the their theme, but was created as a labor of love by themselves or their family and friends. Even her stunning Justin Alexander gown fit perfectly into the feel of their wedding — the lining of the dress was called “oyster”! But Carissa’s favorite detail makes my heart happy: the table that held photos of all their grandparents.

Big hugs to our sweet friend Paige Winn for not only capturing the gorgeous details, but the fun that C + R’s guest had!

My mama, sister and some bridesmaids came into town one weekend to go dress shopping. It was a long weekend and I must have tried on over 20 dresses. I had flagged a Justin Alexander dress in a magazine early on in our engagement and after the unfruitful weekend, I kept thinking about it. I looked up where the designer was sold, went with one of my lovely bridesmaids and tried it on. It was perfect and exactly what I was looking for with a vintage feel, Venetian lace and the color of the lining of the dress was even called “oyster.” That sold me and I purchased the dress that afternoon.

Holy cow, those rows of oak trees at Boone Hall are certain to make you swoon!

Did you write your own vows? Our preacher, a dear friend, gave us a template of what he usually uses and we customized it. My favorite part of our vows was not a line, but when we took communion together and had a couple minutes just to the two of us. The violinists and guitarists played “Come Thou Font” (one of our favorite songs).
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? One of our dearest friends read Eccles. 4:9-12
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding.  Our moms walked down the aisle to “Calico Skies,” my bridesmaids walked down to “Stand By Me,”  I walked down to “Young at Heart” (one of our songs), and exited to “Here Comes the Sun.” We first danced to “Le Vie En Rose” by Louis Armstrong. Some other songs that we requested because they were special to us were “Let My Love Open the Door” and “Stir It Up” by Bob Marley. We left to “Your Love is Liftin’ Me Higher.”

Our wedding was coastal southern to a “T.” We had oysters everywhere, from the food to the décor. We had mason jars for everyone to grab, write their name on the tag strung to it, use and take home. We also used mason jars for decoration. We got married outside under one of my favorite century-old oak trees by the water and then had our reception in the Cotton Dock. We got married at Boone Hall Plantation, a Charleston institution run by a dear friend and one of the sweetest men in town.

The wedding was a labor of love not only from my family but from close friends in the area as well. We had so many helping hands in preparation for and during the day. Two dear family friends coordinated the day-of details and set up, Mama, myself and various bridesmaids made all the decorations, Stono Café are dear friends and were tremendously helpful, as well as the plantation owner and band. All in all, Ryan and I were overwhelmed by all of the help, love and support we received from countless people. The wedding truly would not have happened without them. Despite its growth, Charleston is still a “small town” full of big hearted, close-knit people.

Describe your wedding cake or dessert: We had a dear friend make several different cakes and pies. They were delicious! The cake topper was made by my sister.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: There were so many to choose from. My mother and I spent months on the details. I spent hours and hours on wrapping wine bottles in burlap, twine and lace, making oyster centerpieces and collecting old books and mason jars. I suppose my favorite detail was the table with pictures of our grandparents. My Nanna was the only grandparent that was able to physically be there and it meant a lot to us to have every grandparent there in photographs.

My most memorable moment about the wedding day was the private oyster roast that we had for Ryan, myself and the bridesmaids and groomsmen after the ceremony and before we were all introduced at the reception. I just remember thinking how wonderfully happy I was to be married to my best friend and surrounded by all of the friends we accrued throughout our lives and who will be by our side for many years to come. It was just a moment of pure joy to have my husband by me, with our friends surrounding us shucking oysters.

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. Ryan and I met while we were in school at the University of Georgia. We started to catch each other’s eyes in the first semester of our junior year. One night after hanging out with friends, Ryan asked if I wanted to “borrow” some wood from a construction site on the way back to his apartment to build a table together, as he knew we both enjoyed building things. We started building the table but it was really an excuse for us to hang out together. One night in November, it was too cold to stay outside and work on the table so he asked me on our first date.
Describe the proposal. Ryan picked me up from work to take me on our third anniversary date. He took me to see the movie “Hugo” and then we were going to dinner. After the movie, he took me by his neighborhood’s clubhouse we were shared our first kiss three years ago to the day. I still was not expecting anything because we had revisited the spot many times before. We got out of the car and the porch where we first kissed was decorated with flower petals, lanterns, and candles. He led me up onto the porch to a canvas picture of Boone Hall Plantation’s Avenue of Oaks (a very special place to my family and the place where we got married!). He knelt down and I immediately started bawling. He had one of our dearest friends hiding, taking pictures of the whole proposal. After the proposal, I tried to call my family but no one picked up. Ryan drove us back to his house where all of our family and close friends were waiting to surprise us. That is why we went to the movie, so he could kill time as my family drove in from Charleston, South Carolina. It was the most amazing thing to share the moment with them!
In what month did you get married? January
How many guests attended your wedding?  150 guests
Did you decide to do a “first look”? Yes, we did decide to do a first look. We wanted to get beautiful pictures of just the two of us that weren’t rushed after the ceremony. We were hesitant to do the first look, but it was a great move for us as it really calmed us down before the ceremony and gave us a moment to soak up each other before things got crazy.
Describe your wedding flowers: I wanted a very natural, meadow-like look to all the flowers. They were beautiful and consisted of a lot of wildflowers like lavender, mums and bells of Ireland.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? My father has had health issues for years now but got very sick during the period of planning the wedding. We were unsure about whether or not he would be able to walk me down the aisle. It put a lot of stress on our family but it also put the wedding in perspective and made us aware that, while the day is important, it’s about Ryan and I coming together first and foremost.
What range did your wedding budget fall into? $10,000-$20,000
What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? My shawl that I wore day of. It was an Etsy purchase that I did not budget for. The Etsy designer made it custom for my dress and it was my favorite accessory that day.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Pick one, two or even a handful of things that are really special or important to you. The rest is negotiable.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? We just bought a house and started new jobs recently. I’ll think we think concentrating on nesting and relaxing for a while. Who knows, the world’s our oyster!

Paige Winn is a delightful member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

marissa Written with love by Marissa
5 Comments
  1. avatar Sukey (Dress For The Wedding) reply

    Loving that dress and the beautiful and creative use of oysters – especially those fantastic wreaths! The picture with guests lined up with the sparklers is such an amazing, treasured moment to have captured! Beautiful!

  2. avatar Lisa reply

    Her gown is gorgeous, and it looks incredible against that dreamy Spanish moss!

  3. avatar Wedding Invitations reply

    Gorgeous, gorgeous wedding. Loving all the details. That picture down the road, with the beautiful bride looking back – wow, blew me away. Were those willow trees. Sensational. Also, what a beautiful dress. I love the detailing in it all. Love the aspects of the union. Congratulations and all the very best to you both!

  4. avatar Elise reply

    What a stunning wedding! Paige is such a talented photographer, she captured their day so perfectly!!

  5. avatar Brooke reply

    I love the etsy lace shawl the bride wore for her wedding. I purchased the same dress and would love to know the etsy shop she used to create the shawl.

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We love every bride we have the pleasure of featuring on Southern Weddings, but today’s bride is particularly special — because we know her personally! And y’all do, too! Or at least our long time readers do. Some of you may recognize Caroline’s pretty face from V3’s hot air balloon shoot. We loved Miss Caroline so much we asked her back for a V4 shoot, and this time, her boyfriend Lionel came along, too. While we were hoping Lionel would propose at the shoot (no luck), we did hear that he had popped the question a few weeks later, and we’ve been waiting to see their wedding photos ever since!

The photos are in, and now we get to share them with you! From Caroline’s relaxed waves and adorable braid-halo to the absolutely stunning light in Melissa Schollaert’s beautiful photographs, I love the organic and fresh feeling of Caroline + Lionel’s jewel-tone nuptials. Aside from each and every pretty detail you can see on this page, I can’t pass up mentioning how fun and unique C + L’s music was! Caroline said they chose music from their favorite movies, including Legends of the Fall, Father of the Bride, The Cider House Rules, and Braveheart. Such a fun way to incorporate their personalities into the fabric of their big day!

WOAH, nelly! Can we please stop and stare at Caroline’s grandmother’s to-die-for ring she rocked on her big day?

Okay, moving on!

Tell us about finding your wedding dress: I knew I wanted to find something classic and fitted with some lace and also something that would look good in the fall outdoors. I went with my sister just to look at a store that was closing in the area (Priscilla’s of Boston) and I ended up purchasing a brand new dress on sale. I knew it was the one because I looked and felt like a bride! (I’m actually selling it here.)

Describe your wedding flowers: My aunt did the flowers and we went with a lot of white (roses, ranunculus, hydrangeas, lilies), touches of purples (calla lilies), and some greenery (baby’s breath). They were all so beautiful! I think my aunt has a new career!

Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding.  The music was very unique throughout the wedding. We played a lot of music from our favorite movies (Legends of the Fall, Father of the Bride, The Cider House Rules, and Braveheart). Growing up and listening to the Legends of the Fall soundtrack, I knew one day I would walk down the aisle to it. My sister did it too. We also had a musician perform our favorite praise and worship song, “10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)” by Matt Redman during the ceremony.

Did you decide to do a “first look”? Yes, I love taking pictures and I wanted to make sure we could get as many in as possible! Lionel was thrilled too! Those were some of my favorite pictures of the entire wedding and such a special moment to watch on the wedding video. We also got to spend more time at the cocktail hour with our friends and family.

Did you write your own vows?  We didn’t state the traditional wedding vows, but we put together ones that fit us better personally. “I Caroline take you Lionel to be my best friend, my faithful partner, and my one true love.” They were more intimate because they were really geared toward us as a couple.

What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? My little sister read Colossians 3:12-17 and my grandmother read Deuteronomy 6:5-9. It was so sweet to hear both of them speak during the ceremony, and for them to read some of my favorite verses on marriage and love. My grandparents have been married 62 years and counting. They are so special to me!

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: For me, it was the ceremony. It couldn’t have been more perfect — the setting on the lake, the cross, the weather, the breeze, the music and of course, marrying Lionel! Tyler, my brother-in law who introduced us, was the officiant. He did an awesome job lightening the mood with his humor. I remember his first line: “Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today to witness my debut as a wedding officiant!” We also loved how the tent turned out. The lighting was so beautiful along with the farm tables and mahogany chairs! We brought the ballroom outside!

Describe your wedding cake or dessert: It was the best cake I ever tasted and it was very pretty too! I wanted something simple but tasty and it was perfection! We had three layers with different flavors: White chocolate with Nutella filling, chocolate pistachio with milk chocolate mocha buttercream and Italian cream with Nutella filling. We couldn’t even wait until our one year anniversary to eat our saved toped layer! It lasted about a week.

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration?  What was Southern about your wedding? The food! Cheese grits and short ribs for dinner, fried mac ‘n’ cheese balls and crab cakes for appetizers. The décor was also Southern. We had hay bales, vintage window panels for seating assignments and the outdoor venue. Also, we played country music at the reception. We also had a Southern-themed rehearsal dinner the night before with hay seating, a low country boil, sunflowers, and sweet tea in mason jars.

How did the two of you meet?  Tell us your story. We meet through my brother in-law, Tyler, who was trying to play matchmaker. Tyler and Lionel had a mutual friend in the Army and would often hang out together. Both of my sisters had already met Lionel and approved so I was less hesitant. Lionel, however, thought the safest way to communicate with me was on my birthday through Facebook, a week before his deployment to Afghanistan. In Lionel’s words, “Upon Caroline accepting my friend request and looking at her pictures, I immediately regretted waiting so long to communicate with her, Tyler had obviously done a poor job describing her.” Lionel arrived in Afghanistan and was excited to have email connections so he could communicate with me. Long story short, Lionel decided to write me an email hoping for a response, and we ended up writing each other every day throughout his three-month deployment! The first weekend he got back, we met for the first time and the rest was history!
Describe the proposal.
I’m an avid golfer so the first weekend we met, I insisted that we play golf. We made a bet that if I won, then he owed me a date in Charleston where I didn’t have to make any decisions. Well I won the golf match and almost a year later I got my surprise weekend date in Charleston where Lionel proposed on the beach. It’s kind of cool to think the bet we made on our first date ended with me wining a proposal!
In what month did you get married? October
How many guests attended your wedding? 100
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? I did all the planning throughout the entire engagement. There are so many details and tasks to accomplish right before the wedding that can become stressful. We did hire a coordinator/planner for the day of so that was helpful for me!
What range did your wedding budget fall into?  $25,000-$50,000
What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? The lighting, tables and chairs, videographer, and photographer!
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Make a list of what’s most important for both the bride and groom. For me, it was the pictures, ambiance and food. For Lionel, it was the atmosphere, wine and the food. Also, take pictures from magazines and Pinterest to every vendor appointment so everyone is on the same page. When the caterer asks you how you want your napkins folded, you already have thought of it and have a picture!
What’s next for you as a couple?  What are you looking forward to in the future?  We are looking forward to Lionel graduating in May with his MBA. We will be moving to Houston, TX where Lionel will start work. I continue to travel a lot with my modeling career. We are seeing a house full of kids happening in a few years once we get settled.

Melissa Schollaert is a delightful member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

marissa Written with love by Marissa
24 Comments
  1. avatar Shannon reply

    This wedding is so so lovely! I especially love the late night milk & cookies!

  2. avatar Drew reply

    Caroline was a pleasure to work with and the final product was amazing! Melissa is such a talented photographer.

  3. avatar Kelly Taylor reply

    The colors are absolutely lovely & the gold details are stunning as well. What a beautiful wedding and even better inspiration!!

  4. avatar Jessica B reply

    Beautiful wedding! Love the Southern decor details (magnolia leaves, lanterns, etc), especially the tablescapes. Elegant without being fussy.

  5. avatar Ashley S reply

    Love this! Where was the ceremony held?

  6. avatar Dee Shore reply

    Cookie shots? Yes please!

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  8. avatar Kathy C reply

    Love the bridesmaid dresses. What is the style number of the dress with the cap sleeves? Were they added after purchase?

    • avatar Nicole reply

      Hi Kathy! That bridesmaid dress looks closest to the CHIFFON G736C style from Amsale. Hope that helps!

  9. avatar Jane reply

    what color does amsale call this??

    • avatar Kathy C reply

      Jane: They call it eggplant–the chiffon is slightly lighter than the lining because of the way the die takes, but it’s really pretty in person and seems to photograph better than darker purples.

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  18. avatar Jessica reply

    Beautiful wedding! What did you use for the venue?

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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!

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