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Interestingly, the first thing you might notice about Mattie and Jon Tiegreen’s home is something that’s not there: Jon himself. That’s because when these photos were taken, Jon, an Infantry Officer in the U.S. Army, was in the field for military training. I know Mattie would have rather had him at her side, but that’s not what ended up happening. And I think that’s something worthwhile to remember about marriage, and newlywed life: it doesn’t always look exactly as you’d like it to, but it can still be beautiful. Friends, please enjoy this lovely Columbia, SC home, and Mattie’s thoughtful interview! I particularly loved her favorite thing about being married, and I think y’all will, too.

Big hugs to the talented Kaitie Bryant for these photos!

The couple: Mattie (27) and Jon (27)
Years married: 4
Where you live: Columbus, GA (temporarily). We hail from Athens, GA and will be moving in September to North Carolina.
Tell us a little bit about yourselves. Jon loves college football, cajun food, bluegrass music, woodworking and war stories, and works as an Infantry Officer in the US Army. Mattie loves sushi, fresh flowers, margaritas, HGTV, and painting and works as a graphic designer at Green Tie Studio. Together they love hiking, camping, porch sitting, traveling, and The Avett Brothers.

Tell us your love story in one sentence. We met in college working at a bar when we were both more concerned about paying the bills than falling in love. Thankfully, we achieved both.
What has been the most surprising thing about marriage? That it’s never dull! Not that I expected it to become that way, but people always tell you how hard marriage is and that they’re in a “rut”, etc. This hasn’t been our experience and I’m so grateful. We make intentional time together to do exciting things outside of our everyday routine, which then makes even the mundane fun.
Tell us a little bit about where you live. We currently rent a small tudor in Columbus, GA, where we recently moved for Jon’s job. We’ll only be here for another seven months before we head to Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. Because we haven’t been here long, we really haven’t had time to explore Columbus together, but we love the River Walk area and are excited for warmer weather when we can take the pups for a swim!

Y’all have moved several times already. What are your best tips for getting settled in a new place, both in terms of your space and with relationships? Organization and simplicity are key for us when moving. We make an effort to pare down our belongings before we move, selling or donating anything that we don’t find truly functional and/or beautiful. This makes getting unpacked and settled in our new home so much easier. All of our belongings serve a real purpose, which is freeing. We don’t feel tied down with “stuff”.

In terms of relationships, it’s (again) about intentionality for us. We have friends scattered across the world, so specifically making time to visit and catch up makes the miles between us seem fewer. More than intentionality, though, I believe friendships take so much grace. We’re all human, after all. There will inevitably be times when I don’t call enough or can’t make the trip to visit, and I so value friendships where grace rules over expectations.

Tell us about the process of moving in together. We both had established spaces before we got married, so blending those pieces was a bit of a challenge. I’m thankful that Jon (says he) doesn’t really care how I decorate, but I really want our home to be a reflection of him and us. I’m careful to include pieces that we find together, or that have a special element that he finds interesting, like a Civil War Map or brew poster. Traveling together helps with this because we have sweet memories connected with the pieces in our home.
Which room in your home is your favorite, and why? I love our joint living room/dining room area. This house has a formal dining room, but it is dedicated to my studio, so we made the far end of the living room into the dining area. We love that whether we’re eating a quick lunch or nice dinner, watching a movie, or entertaining friends, everything fits comfortably in the same large space. And, it gets tons of natural light, which is a total selling point for me.

Where do you splurge and where do you save when decorating? We splurge on larger furniture pieces like sofas, rugs and beds and save on smaller pieces like chairs, side tables and decor. I love West Elm because their furniture is so high quality and still relatively affordable. We really love items with history, though, and can often be found digging through antique shops or scouring CraigsList for the perfect china buffet or kilim pillow. My mom always said that the most fun part of decorating a home was the ‘hunt’. That really irked my impatient nature and I used to buy things just to fill a space. Now I totally agree with her and am willing to let a space sit empty for months until I find exactly what fits.

Which items from your wedding registry do you use the most often? Absolutely everything! I remember who gave us every single piece from our registry, which is super special to me. Salt and Pepper Shakers? Alyssa and Colby. Nesting Bowls? Nicole and Jason. Roasting Pan? Kim and Phil. Is that weird??
What different decisions, if any, would you make for your registry if you knew then what you knew now? I think it was just provision (and probably a little advice from my sister) that we registered for reasonable pieces. If I had it my way at the time, I’m sure I would have asked for 25 patterned Anthropologie dish towels. I think the trick is to think through your daily routine and ask yourself: What are your go-to pieces? Are they in good shape or could they use a replacement? What do I wish I had? What would make cooking/cleaning/entertaining easier? What will I need when we cook dinner for friends? Do I have enough wine glasses? Go for practicality, not excess.

Who cooks dinner? I typically do because of Jon’s work schedule. I work from home, so I can usually plan my day so I’m wrapping up around 5:30 and getting started on dinner by the time Jon comes home. We enjoy cooking together, though, so sometimes I’ll hold out and we’ll tackle it together. But, don’t let him tell you he doesn’t know his way around the kitchen – he’s been known to have a hankering for Cajun and whip up a pot of jambalaya while I’m at barre class. :)
What is your go-to weeknight meal? Weekend meal? On weeknights, we love salmon baked in a foil pouch with butter, lemon, salt and pepper. It’s so quick and easy and the foil makes clean up a breeze. Add a side of sautéed kale and voila! We eat kale with everything. As in, maybe it’s a problem. On weekends, we typically go out to eat with friends, but if we cook, I’d probably want to grill steaks. With wine.
What’s your favorite place to find recipes? I’m loving The Forest Feast cookbook lately. It’s all veggies, but it’s so easy to add roasted chicken or pork chops to the recipe and it’s a perfect, delicious, well-balanced meal.

What is your favorite part of being married? I love that for forever and ever, we both have someone on our side. Always having someone “for” you is comforting and empowering.
What is your favorite memory from your wedding? Jon and I always say that it’s the only time we have had everyone we love in the same place at the same time. It’s so true – our family and friends are always there, but in different seasons. A wedding is the only day you’ll get to hug absolutely everyone.

How do you remember your wedding in your home? Neither Jon nor I really love photos of ourselves, so we don’t have tons of wedding pictures. There are a handful that we really love that grace the walls here and there, but we have so many treasures from that day spread around the house. My grandfather passed right before we got married and my mom and I made our ring bearer’s pillow out of his vest pocket. I see that pillow every day and smile.

Do you have a favorite date night idea to share? We love to cook together and then enjoy it at the table (dining table, not coffee table!) with a glass of wine and no TV. It’s amazing how time together with no distraction can renew us during a busy week.
What is one small way you love or serve your spouse? We both value a clean, tidy space and hate clutter. Since I work from home, I feel like I can’t be productive if there is a pile of dishes or laundry staring at me, and I don’t want Jon coming home to that, either. I know he cares less about the decor of our home than I do, but styling is my way of creating a clean, organized space for us to enjoy our life together.
Do you have children? For now, our dogs are our babies (everyone says that, huh?), but we are thrilled to be parents someday. We believe our story is already written for us and trust that The Lord will bless us with a baby in His time.

Your husband is in the military and y’all have dealt with separation, sometimes for several weeks. What advice would you give to another couple in your situation? The separation is, no doubt, really tough. We always try to remember why we started this adventure to begin with. Focusing on the fact that Jon is living his dream job as a soldier really comforts me somehow. He has always supported my career as an artist and I want to do the same for him. This comfort fades at times, of course, because I miss him. When I’m lonely, I cling to family and friends and create a happy memory to replace what could be a sad one. My advice to other military wives would be to not be afraid to ask for support. If you’re not near your support system of family and friends, reach out and create one. Don’t try to brave a deployment with just routine or busyness – we all need people.

What’s your best tip for balancing your relationship and other life priorities? Be intentional. I’m a self-proclaimed workaholic – because I love my job and because it’s just me. If I don’t do it, it won’t get done. More often than not, I end the day with a brain full of ideas and a not-even-near-complete to-do list. But, I think it’s all about intentionality. I constantly remind myself that I’m not defined by my job or my to-do list, but by the way I love people. It’s so much more life-giving for me to spend an hour watching House of Cards with Jon than answering unread emails. The same goes for visiting family, spending time with friends, enjoying down time, etc. You have to choose to make it a priority, even if it’s just every now and then.

This year, our family is most excited about… change. We have really learned to embrace the unknown together. People always ask if we feel unsettled or nervous about hopping around the country like we do. We really don’t. As cheesy as it sounds, the one thing we know, no matter where we are, is that we both have our person.

Before getting married, I wish someone had told me… that I would somehow love him more now than I did that day. Life together after marriage is way more beautiful than the wedding.

Y’all know that last line resonated with us! :) We’re so grateful to Mattie and Jon for sharing their hearts and home with us! Be sure to follow along with Mattie on her blog and on instagram.

A little reminder: we’d love to hear from you! Our hope is to feature REAL couples in the South – not just folks who write blogs (though we love them, too!), but also your inspiring friend, super talented cousin, or neighbor with the cutest house – the kind of person everyone would love to “e-meet.” If that sounds like you or someone you know, take a peek at our Southern Newlywed submission page and shoot us an email!

emily Written with love by Emily
7 Comments
  1. avatar Mary reply

    oh I loved this one! My husband used to be in the military and I resonated so much with a lot of what Mattie said about her wedding (all our favorite people in one place!) and about the times apart. Plus, girlfriend’s got great style!

  2. avatar Bethany Barrow reply

    Such a unique space! I love that it’s not too fancy. It’s like home, where you relax and put up your feet. There are some really fantastic pieces of art that are all different in medium but they all work. Thanks for sharing!

  3. avatar Mattie Tiegreen reply

    Thank you, Mary and Bethany, for such kind words! XO

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  5. avatar Erika reply

    Such a beautiful home! I’d love to know where that shower curtain is from !?!

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The word I kept coming back to when I read through Caroline and Clark’s interview, and looked through their photos, is simple. They seem to enjoy the simple things in life (Jeni’s included!); they strive for simple, clutter-free, meaningful spaces in their home; and their relationship seems simple and uncomplicated in the best way possible. Simple doesn’t have to mean stark, though, and in the case of the Brewers, it definitely does not. Their home is warm and inviting, thanks, I’m sure, to Caroline’s touch (she’s a stylist and visual merchandiser at Anthropologie!). Think she’d make the trip to North Carolina to work a little magic on my home?! Friends, please enjoy this lovely Nashville family!

Big hugs to Clark for taking these photos, and our friend Tec Petaja for the photos of Clark and Caroline! P.S. How much do we love that Clark titled the wedding day gallery on his site “marriage”? A lot! :)

The Southern Newlyweds: Caroline and Clark Brewer
Years married: 4
Where you live: Nashville, Tennessee.
Tell us your love story in one sentence. We met at a high school soccer game when I was 15 and he was 18 – it was love at first sight!

Do you rent or own? We bought our home a little over two years ago in the 12th South area. We love it so much that I don’t think we will ever leave! Clark says he wants to die in this house :) We are really central to most everything in Nashville and we are basically surrounded by all of our closest friends, so we’re excited to sink our roots down here.
Tell us about the process of moving in together. Since we’ve been married, our style has really changed, morphed, and blended into “our style.” We often collaborate on decorating decisions and we trust each other’s opinions–which has been really fun. My tip would be to buy what you love, not just things particularly for a certain space. If you love it, it will all come together!

What different decisions, if any, would you make for your registry if you knew then what you knew now? I would have registered for more serving pieces. We love opening up our home and entertaining those we love. More serving pieces would definitely get put to use!
Who cooks dinner? It’s usually a joint effort. I cook and he cleans, or we cook together.
What is your go-to weeknight meal? Weekend meal? Our go-to meal when we are super busy is out! Either Burger Up, Crankie’s Pizza Truck, or DeSano’s pizza. If you are ever in Nashville, you can’t go wrong with any of those spots! If we stay in, an easy, go-to meal is chicken fajitas with all the fixin’s.
What’s your favorite place to find recipes? Lately, I have been really into Against All Grain, by Danielle Walker. If I am looking for comfort food or something foolproof, Pioneer Woman never disappoints.

Which room in your home is your favorite, and why? This spring, we decided to clear out our guest room, paint the walls white, and add some plants to it. We already have a guest bed upstairs and we felt like the bed in the guest room was just taking up space, so we decided to simplify. It has created the perfect haven for practicing yoga after a long day at work. It feels calming and tranquil.
What most makes your house feel like home? I think having it filled with friends and family. Clark and I love to entertain, so our house feels most like home when tunes are playing and the house is filled with laughter and the smell of something good cooking in the oven.
Where do you splurge and where do you save when decorating? We have invested in classic staple pieces, like our couch and art, and try to save on quirky, decorative accessories. I often find fun things that I may not love forever at Target and TJ Maxx.

What is your favorite memory from your wedding? It sounds so cliché, but my wedding day really was the best day of my life! I think my favorite part of the day was walking down the aisle to my sweet husband. Knowing the meaning of the promise we were about to make was thrilling and overwhelming.
How do you remember your wedding in your home? We love prints and we have our favorites from our wedding framed around the house. Also, our photographer gave us a print box and a wedding album that we look at from time to time to remember the day.
What’s your best tip for balancing your relationship and other life priorities? Life can get crazy when we are both working, hanging out with friends, and trying to keep up with the hustle and bustle of life! Finding the time to slow down, sit across from each other at the dinner table, and connect face-to-face really helps us refocus on what is truly important.
Do you have a favorite date night idea to share? Taking a walk is one of our favorite things to do together. It’s a fun way to enjoy our neighborhood, and it’s free! Some of our best conversations and ideas have come from just being outside without any distractions. Leave your phone at home!

What is one small way you love or serve your spouse? One way Clark serves me, which I love, is that he leaves me notes when he makes my lunch. He is the sweetest!
Do you have children? We don’t have kids yet, but can’t wait for this one day!
Before getting married, I wish someone had told me… how hard it is to divide time between both families during the holidays! Having both in-laws in Nashville, we often feel spread thin trying to see everyone in such a limited amount of time.

What is your favorite part of being married? Getting to do life every day with my best friend–does it get any better?
What has been the most surprising thing about marriage? How much fun it is! So many people give you advice before you get married and it can be a bit discouraging. I think if you are both on the same team working towards the same goal, it can make a huge difference. And it doesn’t hurt that we laugh A LOT!
In 2014, our family is most excited about… some upcoming job changes–I am currently working at Anthropologie as the Visual Merchandiser, but will soon be stepping out to pursue other freelance opportunities, as well as help Clark with his photography business. This change is bittersweet, as I love my job at Anthropologie, but we both feel like this is the right time to make the change. Wish me luck! :)

We’re so grateful to Clark and Caroline for sharing their hearts and home with us! Be sure to follow along with them:
Clark Brewer Photography | Clark on Instagram
Caroline Brewer Styling | Caroline on Instagram

P.S. We’d love to hear from you! Our hope is to feature REAL couples in the South – your inspiring friend, super talented cousin, or neighbor with the cutest house – the kind of person everyone would love to “e-meet.” If that sounds like you or someone you know, take a peek at our Southern Newlywed submission page and shoot us an email!

emily Written with love by Emily
6 Comments
  1. avatar Lisa reply

    These two could not be cooler! Love their cozy home and their favorite/most surprising things about marriage!

  2. avatar Morgan Moore reply

    This house is SO cool and Clark and Caroline are absolutely adorable!

  3. avatar Josh Gruetzmacher reply

    Love their space! That painting on the mantle is especially rad.

  4. avatar Stacy {Woodsy Weddings} reply

    The colors and artwork are fantastic. Love that light blue wallpaper in the bedroom, a statement piece!

  5. avatar Charlotte Turtle reply

    This home is too cute and so inspirational. I’m taking notes!

  6. avatar We Want You in Southern Weddings V7! – Southern Weddings Magazine reply

    […] this photo of Clark and Caroline Brewer from their Southern Newlywed […]

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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