There is just something about good ol’ Southern food – am I right, y’all? It can take you back to being a kid again, remind you of your grandmother, or make you feel at home. Shona and Charles are no strangers to different cultures and travel. In fact, they both grew up in Europe and met as a flight attendant and pilot! But, when it came to showing their guests sweet Southern hospitality, only Southern food would do! They served shrimp and grits and peach BBQ chicken in little mason jars, and even sent their guests home with peach jam homemade by Shona’s mama. And that’s just to start us off with all the tasty and thoughtful details from their celebration.
We’re so glad Blue Ribbon Vendor Melissa Schollart was on hand to capture all the beauty planned by fellow BRV member Simply Charming Socials!
My mom, sister Sarah, mother-in-law, and close family friend, Carol, went to Bridals by Lori in Sandy Springs. I tried on soooo many dresses, and fell in love with a drop waist ball gown. I wanted to feel “bridal” on my wedding day, and this dress was beyond-my-dreams beautiful. I knew it was the dress for me when the tears fell. After finding my perfect dress, we had a memorable girls’ lunch at the St. Regis.
My wedding flowers were very romantic, with lots of cream and pops of peach. We included anemones in the bouquets in honor of my late Nana.
We had a violinist at our wedding ceremony because Charles played the violin–in fact, he went to college on a scholarship for violin. For our first dance, we played “Heart of the World” by Lady Antebellum. We love Lady A and have seen them in concert many times, so this seemed like a perfect song to start our life together.
We decided on the Wimbish House for our reception for many reasons–it was close to our church, and was a beautiful, intimate venue that didn’t feel like a banquet hall. It is very traditional and fit the overall romantic, traditional feel of our wedding.
We are not big cake people, so we had a very simple Publix cake that was turtle cake with buttercream frosting. We also had a dessert table with mini pies, creme brûlée, and cookies. They were out of this world amazing, and so pretty!
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? We served great Southern food, including shrimp and grits in little mason jars, peach BBQ chicken served in mason jars, and peach jam my mom homemade for favors.
How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. When we met, Charles was a pilot and I was a flight attendant. Our first date was at a Mexican restaurant in Buckhead, Atlanta. We became fast friends with so many things in common–Charles is an Air Force pilot like my dad was, we are both close to our families, we’re Catholic, and we both lived in Europe as kids.
Tell us all about the proposal! Charles proposed after a romantic picnic in Piedmont Park on the gazebo overlooking the city.
When did y’all get married? September 27, 2014
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 85
Did you decide to do a first look? Why or why not? Yes, and at first, we were hesitant to do a first look because we wanted a traditional wedding. However, we are so happy we decided to do one. It was my favorite part of the whole wedding. Seeing Charles was so special, and it gave us some alone time before the day began.
How did you plan for your marriage while planning your wedding? Marriage is a sacrament in the Catholic Church, so we attended classes, met with our priest, and worked with a mentor couple.
If you are comfortable responding, what range did your wedding budget fall into? $25,000-$50,000
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Get a wedding planner!!!! Kristine made our wedding better than I could have ever dreamed. She kept us on track in regards to timeline and money and led us to amazing vendors.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? Charles is continuing to fly for the Air Force Reserves and an airline, and I am a fourth grade teacher. We are looking forward to starting a family and sharing our lives together. We can’t wait to do some traveling in Europe this summer, enjoy more picnics in Piedmont Park with our dog Herc, and create beautiful memories together.
Photographer: Melissa Schollaert / Planner: Kristine Cholakian of Simply Charming Socials / Ceremony Venue: Cathedral of Christ the King / Reception Venue: The Wimbish House / Florist: Lindsay Coletta / Cake Baker: Publix / Caterer: Bold American / DJ: Lethal Rhythms / Save the Dates and Programs: Minted / Invitations: Ashley Buzzy / Bride’s Gown: “Couture Collection Style 4300” by Eve of Milady / Bridal Salon and Veil: Bridals by Lori / Bride’s Hair Accessories: The Sentimentalist / Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: “Style D461” in Midnight by Alfred Sung / Menswear: Men’s Wearhouse / Cocktail Hour Pianist: Blue Sky Atlanta
Melissa Schollaert and Simply Charming Socials are delightful members of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!
Really love the un-iced cake – very trendy this year. The deep blue and gold pops create almost a royal vibe, while the unique greenery in the bouquet/tablescapes has a softening effect. Very abstract and adorable!
This is beautiful and so unique! Speechless.
That location is gorgeous.. Love all the stone! And the touch of blue is just perfect.