Southern Weddings

There’s nothing more special than when a couple celebrates their marriage in a way that is completely true to them as a couple–upholding the traditions that are important to them, and not being afraid to let go of the rest. For Hanna and Nick, they chose to wait until Hanna walked down the aisle before seeing each other, Hanna thoughtfully selected something old, new, borrowed, and blue, and the newlyweds enjoyed a sweet first dance. On the other hand, they decided that an intimate elopement, with just the two of them and their parents, was the way they wanted to begin their marriage, so they forewent a traditional big wedding in favor of an intimate ceremony and dinner at the Aldredge House. Wendy Kay of Birds of a Feather Events helped them pull the details together in just 44 days, and the result was as lovely as it was meaningful!

Thank you so much to Charla Storey for sharing this unique celebration with us!

There were 44 days from the day Nick proposed to the day of our wedding, so that is all the time I had to find the perfect dress. Needless to say, I was terrified! The Lord was on our side because on my second day of shopping, I fell in love with the first dress I tried on! The ladies at Lulu’s Bridal Boutique in Dallas were extremely accommodating. After they got over the initial shock of the time crunch we were in, they began working their magic. Two ladies were pulling dresses for me and others were on the phone or computer making sure that we could get the dresses on time. It was truly an amazing experience and I didn’t have to settle on a dress that I wasn’t in love with.

Did you decide to do a first look? Why or why not? We decided against a first look because we wanted to experience that magic moment of meeting at the altar. My favorite part was the the anticipation leading up to seeing my groom for the first time. Focusing on him as I walked down the aisle was the most magical and romantic moment of my life. I will never forget the look on his face and the love that I felt! The moment was so perfect, and I feel like it would have been diluted had we already seen each other that day.

Our favorite detail of the wedding was that we were actually able to experience and enjoy every detail! Having an elopement that only included both sets of parents allowed us the freedom to truly focus on each other and not attend to anyone or anything else. We didn’t have to rush around or worry about what we needed to do next. We were able to notice the little things and embrace every moment.

Describe your wedding flowers. Our wedding flowers couldn’t have been more perfect! They were a mix of simple white blooms and beautifully textured greens. My bouquet was tied with hand-dyed indigo streamers that accented the flowers perfectly. Maxine Owens at The Southern Table captured my vision of natural and airy better than I could have expected.

The biggest challenge was keeping everything a secret. We wanted to surprise our family and friends by throwing small “engagement” parties and using the pictures and video to announce that we got married. It was so much fun seeing the shock on our loved ones’ faces! Everyone was extremely supportive of our decision and loved how unique it was. Even though it was difficult sneaking around, I wouldn’t change a thing! Our day was intimate, simple, and everything we hoped for.

Describe your wedding cake or dessert. We indulged on blueberry galettes, baked honey and walnut pears, chocolate mousse cake, and gold and indigo macaroons. Our cake had a blue watercolor wash on the bottom tier and the top two tiers were dipped in gold. Everything was divine–I am still dreaming about the blueberry galettes!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. Nick and I met during our junior year at Tarleton State University. He was working on his coaching and education degree and I was working on my elementary education degree. We found ourselves in three of the same courses, and there was an instant connection. The more time we spent together, the easier it was for us to see that we had something special. Falling in love was easy!
Tell us all about the proposal! Many girls dream of a big, elaborate proposal with a flash mob, a photographer, and everyone under the sun cheering the couple on. I was not that way. I wanted something genuine, intimate, and simple, and Nick met my expectations in every way! He proposed at our home on December 6, 2014, after we finished decorating our first Christmas tree. I was taking pictures of our hard work when I turned around to find Nick on his knee, ready to propose. It was perfect and I was completely surprised!
When did y’all get married? January 18, 2015
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 4
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. As I walked down and back up the aisle, we had a guitarist, Noah Galaviz, play “Fields of Gold” by Sting. I chose “Fields of Gold” because it has always been one of my favorite songs and I knew it would fit perfectly with the feel of our ceremony. Our first dance was to “Your Song” by Elton John, also played by Noah. We wanted a timeless song that we knew we would always love. The lyrics are simple, romantic, and really relate to our relationship.
Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! For my something borrowed and something blue, I wore my mother’s sapphire ring. I also wore my grandmother’s wedding ring as my something old, and my dress was my something new.
If you are comfortable responding, what range did your wedding budget fall into? Less than $10,000
What was one way you saved money or cut costs at your wedding? Our largest money saver was deciding to elope. We saved on every aspect of the wedding with this decision.
What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? We couldn’t have done it without the help of Wendy Kay from Birds of a Feather Events. I was blown away by how easy it was for her to bring our vision to life. The flowers, the tablescape, the music, the food, the venue–everything was intimate and exactly what we wanted. Wendy made this experience so easy and enjoyable.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Stay focused on what you and your spouse want. It’s your wedding, do what you want and have fun with it! It is easy to fall into the trap of trying to make everyone else happy but this is the one day that you and your spouse need to be spoiled and treated like royalty.

Photographer: Charla Storey / Videographer: Heartstring Films / Planner: Wendy Kay of Birds of a Feather Events / Ceremony Venue: The Aldredge House / Florist: Maxine Owens of The Southern Table / Cake Baker: Layered Bake Shop / Caterer: Food Glorious Food / Band: Noah Galaviz / Paper Products: Southern Fried Paper / Bride’s Gown: “Melanie” by Maggie Sottero / Bride’s Shoes: Sam Edelman / Groom’s Attire: J. Crew

Written with love by Lisa