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Friends, I am extra excited to share today’s beautiful wedding, because as soon as I saw it for the first time last summer, it made me think, “This is what I want my wedding to be like.” Not because of the details Inslee and Anderson chose, although they incorporated so many lovely and classic touches, but because they look so incredibly joyful in each and every picture! I love that amongst all of the details, from their gorgeous invitation suite to their Southern-inspired cuisine, the happiness they so clearly felt on their special day is what sticks out above everything else. I can only imagine how that pure love and joy must have inspired their guests–it most certainly inspired us!

Thank you so much to the talented Kate Headley for sharing Inslee and Anderson’s wedding with us in V7!

I am very hands-on and love doing things myself, so when our stationer assumed they would assemble and stuff our invitations for us (for a fee), I told them they didn’t need to. I brought all the components of the wedding suite home, and my mom, bridesmaids, and I set up an assembly line, donned our surgical gloves, and assembled the invites together. It was such a happy memory, getting to see each friends and family members’ names in gorgeous calligraphy.

I tried on at least a hundred dresses–I can safely say no other dress could have been better for me, because I’ve tried them all on. I love how my dress was feminine and romantic without being overly sweet. The draping of the horsehair gave it a strong architectural quality.

What was the design inspiration for your wedding? Why was this design special to you as a couple? I wanted to keep with traditional and formal etiquette for the design and flow of the day. We didn’t want to go over-the-top on anything–we just wanted to celebrate the natural beauty of our venues in the spring and the joy of being with friends and family. We kept the colors soft and natural, with lots of greenery mixed in.

Bride’s favorite detail of the wedding: Just one?! Probably the huge floral arch over the doorway to Christ Church. It set the tone for a beautiful service. Or…can I have two? I loved our wedding invitation. I got to add my own touch to it–the envelope liner was a botanical pattern that I painted. If I get a third, I also loved the bridesmaids’ earrings, created just for them by my friend, jewelry designer Loren Hope.

Our ceremony was truly the most incredible and meaningful experience. The groom and I began–begrudgingly at first–going to church more regularly during the year of our engagement. Over the course of time, we found that we really enjoyed the ritual and the connections we made with the clergy and the friends we encouraged to join us. Standing in the church together, feeling the full weight and significance of the commitment we were making, in light of our joined effort of preparation, was incredible.

Tell us all the basics of your wedding! We were inspired by springtime in Washington, DC. The service was at Christ Church in Georgetown at 4:30 and the reception followed at The Chevy Chase Club. We chose Georgetown because Anderson and I fell in love there–we lived in Georgetown for three years before moving to NYC together. Christ Church holds a lot of meaning for me because it is the church my parents married at, where I was baptized, and where my father’s funeral took place. The Chevy Chase Club is my favorite place in Washington (even though it’s technically in Maryland). My adopted dad introduced my mom and me to this magical wonderland of gardens and relaxation in the midst of the busy grind of Washington, and it has always served as a place of happiness and celebration for our family.

Did you have a cocktail hour? If so, what was it like? Yes! It was magnificent, out on the lawn in the perfect afternoon sunshine, complete with the club’s signature Adirondack chairs and mint juleps galore.

What was Southern about your wedding? About two thirds of our guests! And the hospitality and warmth shared by everyone. We chose Southern-inspired foods like ham biscuits, fried green tomatoes, chicken and waffles, and shrimp and grits.

Tell us a bit about your first dance. It was an athletic feat. The groom’s nickname is “Crazy Feet Fariss,” if that helps describe his moves on the dance floor. We danced to “You Put the Flame On It” by Charles Bradley.

Were there any family traditions you included in the reception? We started the dancing with our family wedding favorite, “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire, and celebrated the cake cutting and toast with the same champagne flutes that were used at my parents’ wedding. Hopefully, champagne saber use will be a new family tradition in years to come!

Who was one of the most special guests at your wedding? The groom’s grandmother, who managed to tear up the dance floor in a wheelchair, and my 101-year-old grandmother who joined us via Facetime on her iPad to see the flowers, the bride, and the groom (in that order)!

When did y’all get married? May 17, 2014
How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. We met in college when a friend set Anderson up as my date to my sorority formal in the spring of 2008. I wasn’t too sure about it at first, but he finally won me over by speaking in a faux British accent on the bus ride home about how excited he was to vote for Barack Obama. You can’t make this stuff up.
Describe the proposal: We were visiting my family in Leesburg, Virginia for Easter. He crept into my childhood bedroom at 7 A.M. on Saturday morning and woke me up, kneeling next to the bed with a ring! We spent the rest of the weekend celebrating with our families, which made it even more special.
Tell us about your beautiful engagement ring and how/why your husband (or the two of you!) chose it: My engagement ring was formerly the ring that my father gave to my mother for their engagement. My parents had a tragically short time together, as he passed away a few short years after their wedding. Later, when my mom remarried my adopted dad, she set the ring aside for me to wear someday. When Anderson asked for my hand, my mom knew it was time to give him the ring. Anderson reset the stone in its original antique Cartier setting with new diamond baguettes. To say I am obsessed with it is an understatement.
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Joyful, traditionally elegant, and spring-like
How many guests attended your wedding? 250
What was the biggest challenge you faced while planning your wedding? Deciding what I wanted our wedding invitation to look like. As an artist and a stationery designer, this felt like the biggest decision of my life. I over-thought it for weeks! The day those finally were signed, sealed, and delivered, I felt so relieved!
Who was your officiant? Why did you choose him/her? The officiant was the Reverend Stuart Kenworthy. He officiates the majority of weddings at Christ Church and is adored by his congregation. Having him marry us was such an honor, especially when we learned we were one of the last couples he married before his retirement.
What was the most memorable or touching moment about your wedding day? One moment I loved was when the Reverend asked the congregation to respond with “We will” in response to the question of would they do everything in their power to help us uphold our vows. Everyone responded in unison, “We will” and then a moment later, one of the sweet little flower girls (twin four-year-olds) piped up, “WE WILL!” very enthusiastically, just a moment after the crowd. I loved that she was listening to and participating in our big day, even if her timing was a little off.
What’s next for you as a couple? We’re settling into married life in our new apartment in NYC and trying to decide if there’s room in our tiny love nest for a puppy!
Best advice or most memorable comment someone made to you during the wedding celebration: My matron of honor warned me to give my toast first, before anyone else gave me a chance to start crying by giving an emotional toast before me. I’m so glad I listened. I was able to give a toast to Anderson that showed him how much I love him without bursting into tears!

Photographer: Kate Headley / Planner: Simply Chic Events / Ceremony venue and ceremony flowers: Christ Church / Reception venue, catering, and cake: Chevy Chase Club / Flowers, lighting, and reception decor: Amaryllis / Bride’s gown: “Katherine” by Vera Wang / Bridal salon and veil: Vera Wang / Bride’s shoes: Jimmy Choo / Bride’s jewelry: Cartier / Bridesmaid dresses: Jenny Yoo / Hair and makeup: Audrey Bethards / Bow ties: Lumina / Paper goods: Dempsey & Carroll / Envelope liners: Inslee by Design / Rentals and linens: DC Rental / Transportation: International Limo

lisa Written with love by Lisa
3 Comments
  1. avatar Erika {Artfully Wed} reply

    I love that she chose white for the bridal party! It looks so elegant!

  2. avatar Dana reply

    food sounds so yummy! What a happy couple!

  3. avatar Happy Weekend: 5 Links I Love reply

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Lisa emailed me before this post to tell me that this one was “definitely a Marissa wedding.” She sure knows me well! I’m pretty sure I often dream in pale pink and gold, and Lacy and JD’s sweet day would fit right in. While I was not familiar with Chateau Cocomar, I now think a trip to Houston to admire it in person is in order. I completely agree with Lacy that it’s the perfect fairy tale setting–those archways, those gold accents, that amazing architectural detail in their exit photo from Archetype… need I go on? Of course, while I’m kind of obsessing over their details, I can’t help but stop and think about what a wonderful expression of hospitality and love their wedding was. Lacy brought me right back to my own wedding day with her nostalgic recount of the memories that stuck with her: “I’ll never forget the way the roses smelled, how beautiful my bridesmaids looked, my grandmother kissing me on the cheek, my mom’s face as I was walking down the aisle, or the way it felt to finally say ‘I do.’”

Thanks so much to Archetype for sharing this gorgeous day with us!

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. I had always imagined going dress shopping with my mom and sisters and grandma, walking out in the perfect dress, and everyone shrieking and crying tears of joy. But, that’s not my dress story. One of my bridesmaids was in town shortly after I got engaged, and we were wandering around the mall. She was really excited and kept insisting we look at wedding dresses, but since I had no intention of buying anything, I wasn’t interested in looking just yet. I knew exactly what style I wanted though, so I begrudgingly agreed to go look, just to show her what kind of dress I was interested in. I showed her one that was exactly what I had envisioned: ball gown, lace bodice, full tulle skirt, timelessly beautiful. She insisted I try it on and ran to get a stylist. I stepped into it, and it was love at first sight. First and only dress I tried on–I bought it and didn’t regret it for a second!

Even though I wanted everything about our wedding to be very traditional, we decided to do a first look. I knew how crazy and busy the wedding day becomes, and how the bride and groom are pulled in so many different directions. Another bride told me that her biggest regret from her wedding day was that she spent the whole day apart from her husband, so I wanted us to have some time that was just for us, and to be able to share an intimate moment without it being on display for all our guests.

What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? It all went by so quickly, and so much of it is a blur. But some moments, I remember so clearly. I’ll never forget the way the roses smelled, how beautiful my bridesmaids looked, my grandmother kissing me on the cheek, my mom’s face as I was walking down the aisle, or the way it felt to finally say “I do.”

I was in love with our venue from the moment I stepped through the door. It was the perfect fairy tale setting for our wedding, and everything I had ever dreamed of. The pictures speak for themselves!

Our flowers were unbelievably beautiful! We used roses, garden roses, hydrangeas, and spray roses in ivory, pale pinks, and sand. Our arrangements were so full and lush–it made for the ultimate romantic, fairy tale setting. The whole place smelled like roses!

What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Hire a wedding coordinator. I cannot imagine planning our wedding without one, especially on the day-of! Our coordinator was amazing. On the wedding day, I really could relax and enjoy spending the day with my girls and my husband. I didn’t have to worry about what was going on with the set up or the vendors, and if there was ever a problem, I never knew it!

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: Our sparkler send off! From beautiful pictures of other couples’ grand exits, I knew that sparkers were the only choice for us. What I hadn’t expected was how magical and romantic it would feel to walk out of our reception surrounded by a sea of glittery lights!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. JD and I met at law school orientation. Since neither of us was into the icebreakers or working a crowd, we gravitated toward each other and became instant friends. I never imagined that five years later, we’d be getting married. It was only later that I learned that after our first day of orientation, his mom asked him if he had met any girls–his response: “Just one.”
Tell us all about the proposal! JD proposed while we were vacationing in Breckenridge, Colorado over the Fourth of July weekend. We were watching the town fireworks show from the balcony of our condo and sipping champagne. He slipped the ring into my champagne glass and then got down on one knee and asked me to spend the rest of my life with him.
When did y’all get married? October 18, 2014
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 85
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Relinquishing control! I tried to take care of everything myself initially, but ultimately, I couldn’t do it all myself. I am so grateful for all the help from my mother, mother-in-law, bridesmaids, and coordinator. I couldn’t have done it without them!
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? We are most looking forward to sharing new adventures and exploring the world together! We recently moved to Denver and bought our first house.

Photographer: Archetype / Venue and Planner: Chateau Cocomar / Florist: Blooming Gallery / Cake Baker: Who Made the Cake / Caterer: Cordua / Rentals: Swift + Co. / Band: NiteBeat Band / Paper Products: Atelier du Papier / Bride’s Gown: “Mila” by Hayley Paige / Hair and Makeup: Makeup Texas / Bride’s Shoes: “Fayme” by Jimmy Choo / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: “6613” by After Six / Menswear: Vera Wang / Transportation: Rolls Royce

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

    WOW! What a gorgeous couple, and an incredible venue!!

  2. avatar Esme Stewart reply

    What a stunning chic and sophisticated wedding. The chunky reception chairs, the favour pyramid, the beautiful dresses were all absolutely delightful. Thank you for sharing your special day.

  3. avatar Terilyn & Koby – Archetype reply

    Such an honor to work with Lacy & JD! Lacy is truly a girl after my own heart! Thank you for the feature, Southern Weddings!! xo

  4. avatar Jane reply

    So beautiful. Wish I could have been there! ;)

  5. avatar CourtneyG reply

    I love the pink bridesmaids robes. Do you know where they were purchased?

  6. avatar Linda Griggs reply

    So glad we got to share this evening with you. You are such a beautiful bride. So glad to see what you have become. Love you.

  7. avatar Tuyet reply

    Hi! I love the tall centerpieces! Can you please let me know where I can find the centerpiece holder? thanks!

  8. avatar Rachel Nordgren reply

    “Just one.” AHH! That’s the most precious thing I’ve read all day! Love it!

  9. avatar Mary reply

    Hi! I love everything about the decor! Very elegant and romantic. Can you please let me know what kind of table linen was used (polyester or satin) and the color? It looks like blush or ivory but I’m not certain. Appreciate your help!

  10. avatar Rachelle reply

    Hello! I love everything about your wedding especially the bridesmaids dresses!!! I am currently planning my own wedding and I am trying to get the right color dresses for my girls. Do you mind letting me know what color specifically the bridesmaids dresses are off the website? I’m thinking either “blush” or “rose” thanks in advance!!!

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It takes a very special couple to commit to a relationship across the pond shortly after meeting for the first time, but after Hunter’s stepsister played matchmaker, Hunter and Heather knew they wanted to give it a shot! Many long distance phone calls and international flights later, followed by a year together in Chicago, Hunter proposed in their soon-to-be home. Even though Heather is from above the Mason-Dixon Line, I daresay her focus on creating a meaningful wedding day, her sweet perspective on what matters most, and her love for monograms make her a Southern belle at heart!

Thank you so much to Nate Henderson for sharing this lovely wedding with us!

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. Ah, the dress! I found it on the first day I went dress shopping. My mom lives about four hours away from Chicago, and it was just the two of us. During the third and final appointment of the day, I saw the dress hanging in the back of the store. It looked different than anything I had seen and I thought it could go either way–be really great or really wrong. I put it on and said, “Va va voom!” My mom cried, and then I cried, and we knew it was the one! One funny little mishap is that the alterations team mistakenly hung the dress by the straps when they packed it for my travel. The straps stretched from it hanging incorrectly, so when I put it on on the big day, the top was huge, and it was a wrinkled mess. My sister steamed the wrinkles and my maid of honor pinned it with safety pins! No one could tell and in those moments, girls, you just have to take a deep breath and say, “C’est la vie!”

What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they have any special significance to you? The church we were married in was the church Hunter attended growing up in Savannah. We wanted to bring our friends and family down South, as there really is nothing else like it! The oak trees covered with Spanish moss remind me of The Notebook, and created such romance and mystique.

It was really important to both of us that we did not see each other beforehand–we are traditional in that regard. I will never forget walking down the aisle with my dad and seeing the expression on Hunter’s face. Having that time, while the beautiful music played in the church, to soak in the emotion in front of our family and friends who traveled to be a part of our special day, is a priceless moment we will never forget.

Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! My bridesmaid generously let me borrow the gorgeous earrings she wore at her wedding. My dress was new. My mother wore a royal blue lace dress and looked beautiful, so she was my blue! For old, I pinned a necklace to my bouquet which had belonged to my Grandmother, who passed away six months earlier. In that way, she was with us!

I am a firm believer that a wedding should be welcoming to your guests and should represent the two of you! My favorite details were H&H carnival lights that we ordered from Etsy, which our wedding coordinator attached to the front of the bar. We also had a beautiful monogram designed that we used on the napkins, cups, and pillows for the couches in our seating area. These pillows are now on our sofa, and we will use the monogram for the rest of our lives!

Describe your wedding flowers. The setting of the reception was already beautiful, so I wanted the flowers to enhance the natural beauty. I chose a lush white, ivory, and green palette, which I think is so elegant. We repurposed two large arrangements (hydrangeas, roses, snap dragons, bells of ireland, french tulips that loosely cascaded), hydrangea wreaths, and boxwood garland from the church to the reception. We did halos for the flower girls with willow eucalyptus and white spray roses, which could not have been any sweeter. I also added a sprig of heather to Hunter’s boutonniere!

Our first dance was to “You are the Best Thing” by Ray Lamontagne. It is less traditional than our ceremony choices, but the lyrics suited us. We took dance lessons beforehand, but in the end, we just winged it–except for one awesome, Dirty Dancing-esque dip at the beginning!

Describe your wedding cake or dessert. I absolutely love wedding cake and always make a point to have at least a bite at weddings I attend for good luck! I had an entire Pinterest board of stunning cakes, and in the end, I couldn’t decide between two designs, so I let our cake designer surprise me. She loved the idea and said it was a designer’s dream! It was beautiful, and it tasted as good as it looked, with vanilla bean cake filled with raspberry and white chocolate mousse.

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. I was living in London and my friend, Mary Allen, told me I had to meet her stepbrother, Hunter. “The two of you would be perfect together!” she told me. Hunter was living in Chicago, and when I was home visiting friends, she arranged our first date. Hunter was not feeling well and tried to hide it during the evening. I thought he was handsome, but very quiet, and I was surprised when he asked to see me again. We got to know each other more, met each other’s friends, and had a great time! He drove me to the airport at the end of my visit, and we continued to see each other every six weeks. After many trips across the pond, phone calls, and bbm messages exchanged, I moved to Chicago just over a year later. I’m not exactly sure what it was that Mary Allen saw in both of us, but she was right, and we will forever be grateful to her!
Tell us all about the proposal! From Hunter: Heather and I were planning to move in together in mid-May 2013. I decided that I’d pull the trigger on Friday, April 26, specifically because I knew Heather likes the number 26, and the anniversary of when we first met was April 27, two years prior! I talked our soon-to-be landlord into giving me access to our empty future apartment, and then had our close friend, who was also our real estate agent, call Heather “on behalf of the landlord” to go over to the apartment and meet the “repair man.” I was “in a work meeting” during that exact window of time when Heather tried calling me to see if I could meet her there. I arrived to the apartment an hour early and began arranging it the best I could with rose petals and lit candles. Upon Heather’s entry, she called for the “repair man” to see if he was there yet, then turned toward the opposite side of the apartment, for what seemed to me like ten minutes! Finally, she came down the hallway toward me, saw the rose petals, and stopped in disbelief. I then took a knee and read a note that I had prepared, which I specifically wanted to write so that she could always look back and remember what I told her that day. She said “YES!” I capped off the proposal by revealing one red rose behind my back and asking Heather if she would “accept my final rose?”–a humorous nod to our favorite TV show. We were happily married exactly one year later!
When did y’all get married? April 26, 2014
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 160
Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? No, we said traditional vows, and our minister, Edwin Chase, delivered a beautiful message. In our meetings before the wedding, he also taught us about the Five Love Languages, which I highly recommend for all couples!
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. Both the bridal party and I walked down the aisle to Canon in D. We had violins playing it, and when I came down the aisle, the organ played softly to intensify the song a little more. I have always loved Canon in D and wanted it to play as long as possible. The recessional was the traditional Wedding March, which felt like a celebration!
What was one way you saved money or cut costs at your wedding? Negotiate where you can and take time to price compare between vendors. Some vendors will charge you extra fees that you can eliminate, or you can negotiate an extra service to be included in your quote. The best advice I received at the onset of planning was to make sure your vendor is committed and excited to work with you. If you don’t feel that way, chose another vendor who is appreciative of your business.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? We had an amazing honeymoon in the Maldives and then settled into our new married life, but we haven’t slowed down. Hunter opened his own business and we are expecting a baby boy in May!

Photographer: Nate Henderson Photo / Ceremony Venue: Wesley Monumental UMC / Reception Venue: Oldfield Club / Florist: Harvey Designs / Cake Baker: Minette Rushing Custom Cakes / Rentals: Snyder Events / Lighting: JLK Events / Band: Sol Fusion / Paper Products: Elizabeth Grace / Save the Dates: Studio R / Bride’s Gown: Elizabeth Fillmore / Bridal Salon and Veil: Belle Vie Bridal Couture / Hair Stylist: JW Salon & Spa / Makeup Artist: SKINZIN / Bride’s Shoes: Manolo Blahnik / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: JLM Couture / Groom’s Attire: Trunk Club / Wedding Coordinator: Posh, Petals & Pearls / Favors: Maison de Macarons / Monogram: Alison R. Banks Designs / Linens: La Tavola Linen and Marianne’s Rentals

Posh Petals & Pearls is a delightful member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

lisa Written with love by Lisa
1 Comment
  1. avatar Emily reply

    I know what you mean about your dress, Heather, but it is unmistakably gorgeous on! Love it!

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