Southern Weddings

It seems you’re all as wowed by Amy + Mark’s dramatic cliffside wedding as we are! While the couple’s outdoor ceremony was rustic and romantic, their reception at the ALoft Hotel was sleek, soohisticated and refreshingly modern.  While the intimate gathering for twenty really drew attention to the lovely bride and handsome groom on their special day, we just have to let the savory spread from Down South Delights steal the spotlight for a minute!  Delish!  The chic and contemporary overtones of this Tennessee reception were completed by an ultra-simple black ribboned cake courtesy of Julia’s Bakery.  And with that, the weekend is almost officially upon us!  Emily is heading off to the beach with her charming beau, I’m preparing for another weekend as a dedicated med-school girlfriend and Lara has jetted off to some wonderfully exotic mystery destination!  Care to help us find her?

Favorite design element of your big day:   I really liked the black feathers in the centerpieces.  They really jazzed things up a bit.

Tell us about finding your wedding dress:  I hated dress shopping.  I’m 5’1’’, so all the torsos on the dresses I liked were too long. In the end, I had my dress custom made. I brought in pictures of dresses I liked and we designed the dress from scratch. I enjoyed seeing the design from paper to wearable dress.

Describe your wedding cake:  We chose a square, two-tiered cake with cream cheese frosting with a black satin ribbon around the base.

Three adjectives that describe the day are: Chill, sleek and easy.

Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? Mark is a beautiful writer so I decided we should write our own vows.  My favorite part of his vows was the ending where he said, “Should our world crumble and fall, take solace.  There is a structure that will not buckle, tilt or even sway.  It is my love and it is eternal.”

What’s next for you as a couple? We’re buying a house!

Congratulations, Amy + Mark!  Enjoy your new home together as husband and wife!

We like to end the week with truly spectacular weddings and Amy + Mark’s romantic Tennessee wedding from Chris and Adrienne Scott is no exception!  Like the beautiful couple (they look like they belong on the cover of a magazine, don’t they?), our very favorite thing about this wedding is the dramatic cliff where the pair exchanged their vows.   For all you Tennessee brides looking for a truly original and really memorable site for your I-Do’s, Fall Creek Falls State Park is nothing short of breathtaking.  (As an added bonus, the natural beauty of the cliff means you don’t even need to worry about decorating!)  Amy’s chic, drop-waist custom gown from the experts at A Special Touch not only let this petite bride (she’s only 5’1”!) design her dream gown from start to finish but also added a lovely personal touch to her big day.  While I usually love seeing the bridesmaids’ dresses and how they fit in with the overall color and design scheme, I’m really liking that this couple did away with bridesmaids and groomsmen completely.  Without a host of attendants, the focus was exactly where it should be: right on Amy + Mark!  Bet you can’t wait to see what the twosome did for their reception, huh?  Check back soon for another image board, courtesy of the lovely Emily Ayer.

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. Mark and I met at a football game in Virginia when we were 14. He was a Star Wars nerd and I was a big-mouthed bubbly teen, so our personalities didn’t exactly mesh very well. We were acquaintances throughout high school. In our second year of college, our paths started crossing more often. By this time, his confidence had grown and I had become somewhat more reserved so we were a much better fit. We spent quite a bit of time together within our circle of friends but, since I wasabout to move700 miles away, dating wasn’t really an option. After I had moved to Tennessee, Mark called to tell me he had bought a plane ticket and was coming to visit. From that first visit, it just snowballed!

Describe the proposal: We were visiting his family for Thanksgiving and it was a pretty typical holiday morning. Before dinner, Mark decided to ask everyone to gather in acircle and hold hands while each of us said what we were thankful for. Everyone grumbled and moaned since we were just ready to get to that turkey! Reluctantly, I started the circle of thanks, with Mark to my right and the circle continuing to the left. Midway through the circle, Mark got very emotional but I thought it was just due to some recent family stress.  When the circle ended with him, he began a speech about how thankful he was for ME. Then, down on his knee, he said, “The only thing that would make me more thankful is if you’d marry me.” I cried uncontrollably for the next hour and a half! The proposal was a total surprise and his family was there to share in the excitement!

What was the design inspiration for your wedding? Simplicity, but with flair.

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: Our ceremony location!  We got married on a cliff!

What was the most memorable moement of your wedding day?  Standing up on the cliff, listening to Mark’s vows.  It was so clear and calm up there.  Mark was so sincere with his vows.  It felt like no one else existed right then.

Scariest moment? Walking down the trails in heels while my brother held my dress up out of the mud!

We’re back! And we have photos!  Please excuse the poor quality, as these are from Lara’s iPhone, but we couldn’t wait to give you a glimpse into our whirlwind weekend. 

P.S. Here’s one more from Fred Egan, one of the weekend’s fabulous photographers.

Clockwise from top left: The massive stack of packages that greeted us upon arrival at WaterColor (and that was only some of them.  Seriously.); the ladies sampling the samples from Sweet Pea and Fawn; Kacey (in Nicole Miller) and Ben at the dock and at dinner; Jory shooting Lauren and Dan.

A thousand thanks to the many fabulous vendors who made our shoot complete!  We tried our best not to miss anyone!  (But please let us know if we did…!)  Stay tuned for more images…

50flowers.com, Abbey and Izzie Designs, Avelle, Baumbirdy, Beach Dwelling, Beau-Coup Favors, Bedhead PJs, Belcanto Designs, Bell’occhio, Betsy White, Bluebird Lane, Cakes by Tanis, Ceci New York, Cherished Gifts and Favors, Cherry Blossom Creations, Custom Programs, Customized Wedding Creations, Designs by Robyn Love, DK Designs, Filigree Monogram, Fiore of Pensacola, Fisher Flowers, Fleur, Fritts Rosenow, Goldbug Studio, Grapevine, Heather Toupin, Izon Models and Talents, J. Crew, Janie’s Cakes, Jessica Johnson, Julianne Smith, Julian’s, Kasia Fink Veils, LA Plates, La Tavola, Linneas Lights, Middleburg, Mika78,  MM Ink, Modest Peach, Momental Designs, Muscari Designs, Nationwide Tents, Nicole Miller, Nonnie Wallers, Nouveau Flowers, Paloma’s Nest, Pamela’s Parasols, Pandora de Balthazar, Paper Source, Paul Fredrick, Paulette Macarons, Pinwhirls, Southern Proper, Seaside Chapel, Stella and Dot, Sucre, Sweet Pea and Fawn, Tigerlilly, Twigs and Honey, Two Birds Bridesmaids, WaterColor Inn and Resort, White Fly and XOElle.