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For event planners Laura and Marty, every decision of their wedding was made with sentimental value as a top priority–they wanted their friends and family to be involved in every aspect of their big day. Keeping this in mind, they celebrated their reception in Laura’s parents’ backyard and borrowed as much as they could, including Laura’s gorgeous gown, courtesy of her aunt! Another important piece of their planning revolved around the phrase “All In,” after a song Marty wrote just before he met Laura about how he was looking for someone who was ready to be “all in” a relationship. I’d say he certainly found his girl in Laura!

Hugs to Brooke Bakken for sharing this sweet day with us!

Our top priority for every wedding decision was sentimental value. We really wanted our family and friends to be involved, so we borrowed as much as we could. When I explained the style of dress I was looking for to my mom, she said it reminded her of my aunt’s wedding dress that she wore at her second wedding to my amazing uncle the year after I was born. I was so excited that she allowed me to borrow it and that it fit perfectly, because it made the day that much more special knowing I was wearing my aunt’s dress as I married Marty, for both of our second marriages. There are happy endings… and new beginnings!

My wedding dress and flowers are the two things that got the most recognition! The flowers were gorgeous, and I couldn’t have been more happy with them! I am an event planner, and one of my best friends, Whitney Blair Johnson, does event and floral design. We have worked on several weddings together and know each other’s styles and strengths. When it came time to figure out the flowers, I emailed her the budget, colors, and the items I wanted, and we didn’t have to discuss it again! I completely trust Whitney’s artistic abilities and knew that the flowers would be amazing, and she did not disappoint! Not knowing exactly what flowers and combinations she had chosen was an added element of surprise on our wedding day.

What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they have any special significance to you? Both Martin and I are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, so getting married in the temple was very important and special to us. We had the reception in my parents’ backyard, which meant the world to me! I moved to Utah this past year and didn’t realize how much I missed home and wanted to get married there until I went back for my first visit. We moved around a lot, but my entire extended family is from Virginia and my parents have lived in this house for ten years, so there are a lot of memories and love shared there!

Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! My something borrowed was my aunt’s wedding dress. My something blue were my shoes. My something old was my maternal grandmother’s hairpiece and my paternal grandmother’s ring setting. My something new was my family ring. Marty has three children from his first marriage, so Cheryl Fuller (one of my bridesmaid’s moms) made Marty’s wedding band, as well as spoon rings for our entire family. Since their Daddy was giving me a ring on our wedding day, we thought it’d be sweet to give rings to the children, too!

Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. A song Marty wrote called “All In” played a huge part in our wedding. He finished writing this song an hour before we met, and the main point was that he was ready and looking for someone who was ready to be “All In” a relationship. Both of us had experienced relationships with people who were living out of a place of fear and would not be vulnerable, and we had both usually been the person giving everything to a relationship without getting much in return. Man, does it feel good to be “all in” with someone who is prepared and ready to do the same! We hashtagged every picture on social media with #palmersallin, starting with our post announcing our engagement! We built a stage in my parents’ backyard, and Marty and several groomsmen performed throughout the evening. He obviously sang “All In,” but also convinced me to sing a song with him that he wrote for me! I am not a singer but I adore my husband enough to do something that was WAY out of my comfort zone!

Describe your wedding cake or dessert. Marty’s sister, Darcie Palmer Sanders, has been making wedding cakes for years. She made our cake at my parents’ home, so we were able to smell and taste test it as we were prepping the reception! Marty and I both grew up moving around, so instead of serving a meal to our guests, we served desserts from each place we’ve lived. My mom is an amazing baker and she took on all the food by herself! At the last minute, we added in a few savory items as well.

What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? My parents’ backyard looked so magical with the globe lights hanging and candles glowing. There was a moment during someone’s performance (probably Marty’s) when I felt like I just needed to pinch myself because this was real life, MY real life. I just grabbed the closest person to me, who happened to be our photographer! I’m sure she was in vendor mode instead of family mode, because she quickly asked what I needed, and I just said, “I love you!”

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. We met at a house show and hit it off immediately! Marty is a musician, and I noticed him from the moment he played his first song. When one of my friends and I got up to leave, the host asked if we could take a group picture. Marty and I started talking while everyone tried to get situated behind us. We were blocking everyone’s view of the photographer, and without saying a word to each other about it, we both started pretending like the pictures were just being taken of us! We kept flirting and being silly while the pictures were being taken. When my friend and I were about to leave, he came straight over and asked for my number. My friend was quickly distracted by other people, so Marty and I continued our conversation, and it went from super silly to super serious. I immediately knew that he was someone worth getting to know!
Tell us all about the proposal! Soon after Marty and I met, he took a long trip to California. I found myself wanting to simply be with him. It was a VERY bold move on my part, but I asked if I could join him, and he picked me up from the San Jose airport a day later. At the end of the trip, we flew home into the Provo Airport, so airports now hold significance to us because of these special memories. The night we got engaged, Marty blindfolded me and took me out to Utah Lake, where the Provo airport is. He took off my blindfold facing the beautiful lake and mountains, and I immediately knew where I was and the significance of the location. We found a spot to sit down, and Marty proceeded to pull out three pages of notes–he was worried that he’d forget some of the things he wanted to say! We laughed and cried as he read/told me how he felt. I absolutely love that he wrote everything out because I can reread it whenever I want! My favorite line was, “You are worthy of the greatest love. The kind you give. And if you want me, I want you forever.” We loved this so much that we made a sign of that quote to hang at our wedding and later in our home.
When did y’all get married? August 30, 2014
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 150
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? We were lucky to have amazingly talented friends and family, so we didn’t have to use any vendors that we didn’t know! Another thing that helped cut cost was borrowing items. We spent very little on decor and we were super creative with any of the items we did spend money on.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Choose details that give you the biggest bang for your buck. Try to think of larger items to display that will set the tone instead of something small and time-consuming.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? During our wedding planning, we realized how well we work together, so we’ve been talking about possibly purchasing or building a wedding venue!

Photographer: Brooke Bakken / Planner: Martin and Laura Palmer / Ceremony Venue: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Washington DC Temple / Florist: Whitney Blair Johnson / Cake Baker: Darcie Palmer Sanders / Rentals: Party Rental, LTD / Band: Copper Quail / Paper Products: Color Quick Printing / Wedding Band and Family Rings: Cheryl Fuller / Performances: Arete Entertainment

marissa Written with love by Marissa
1 Comment
  1. avatar Brooke Bakken reply

    YAY!!! Absolutely LOVED this day so much!!! Thank you so much for sharing with all of your fabulous followers! XO

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My number one favorite part of my job is hearing amazing love stories, and then having the opportunity to share them with y’all. Sarah and Andy’s story is one for the SW history books–they are a true gem of a couple and their love story is a beautiful testament to friendship, family, and faith. We are SO grateful that they shared their memories and advice with us, and we hope it warms your heart as much as it has ours!

Thank you so much to Aaron Nicholas Photography for sharing this very special wedding with us!

Andy was born in Belfast, Ireland and moved to Canada when he was six years old. He is the youngest of 13 children. He and his first wife, Joan, met in elementary school in Canada and were married after his Canadian navy tour. They had five children. I am a Charleston native and married my first husband, a Citadel grad, Tom Hemingway, who served as a career Marine and then went into Christian work. We had four kids.

Andy and I met in 1989. My husband was speaking at a conference Andy attended. Andy was impressed and asked Tom to speak at his company’s annual convention in Dallas. From that meeting came a wonderful friendship between Andy and his wife and Tom and me. In 2000, my Tom died very suddenly, and Andy and Joan drew in closer and stayed in my life, even though they were in Dallas. We called each other, wrote letters, and visited. They created a major award in their company in memory of my Tom and flew me to Dallas every year to present it at their national convention. Such generous friends! In December 2010, Joan died suddenly, and I was able to stay close to their family and encourage Andy in his grief.

In May 2012, Andy and his daughter came to visit me in Charleston, and I loved introducing them to the area. We laughed and talked and enjoyed our time together. During the next year, he called “to check on me” a little more often, and gradually, the phone calls became more frequent. We both love to laugh and we both love the Lord, so being together has always been very easy. By the next May, when he and his daughter returned for another visit, there was definitely a new dynamic in our friendship. I think we both realized there was something very special happening. We laugh and say that we went from “Nah! That would never happen!” to “Nah, probably not” to “Well, maybe?” to “Okay, we’re in love!!!!!”

This past November, we went with a group on a mission trip to Argentina. By the time I returned home, we realized that being together was God’s plan for us. In January, Andy came to Charleston and we decided to marry. At our ages, we didn’t want to waste any more time apart. We set the date for March 15 and then proceeded to surprise a lot of people who had no idea we’d even been seeing each other! It was hilarious!

What was your most memorable moment on your wedding day? There was so much joy and laughter. Andy kept thinking the pastor had forgotten to say “You can kiss the bride,” so twice, he reminded the pastor in a whisper. The pastor finally replied (over the mike), “Andy, I’ll tell you when you can kiss her. I haven’t forgotten.” Everyone burst out laughing! The other very special memory was when everyone joined in singing, “To God be the glory, great things he has done.” At our stage in life, we never expected this surprise. It was a wonderful moment!

What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Remember that it is the marriage that’s important, not the wedding details. Invite the Lord into your relationship and your marriage, and remember that your relationship with each other is much more important that what the caterer serves or if the flowers don’t match. It’s a sacred time, not a show. Love one another. Breathe. The rest will fall into place.
What are you most looking forward to about married life? Sharing life together. Laughing and loving, praying and planning, holding hands, eating ice cream, making a difference in people’s lives, and enjoying all that God has for us.

Photography: Aaron Nicholas Photography / Ceremony Venue: Redeemer Presbyterian Church / Reception Venue: Private residence / Floral Design: Branch Design Studio

lisa Written with love by Lisa
18 Comments
  1. avatar Kaitlin Holland reply

    Oh my goodness – this is beautiful!! This brought tears to my eyes. What an amazing story!

  2. avatar Andrea reply

    Adorable!!! I love this!

  3. avatar Kate reply

    Such a beautiful story!

  4. avatar Kristin reply

    OH MY GRACIOUS!! What a love story. Happiest tears for this sweet bride and groom. I love their advice and especially love what they are looking forward to: holding hands, eating ice cream and making a difference in people’s lives? I wish I could sit down with them and soak up all their wisdom.

  5. avatar Lisa Parker Lott reply

    I’ve followed this blog for so long — and this story just may top the rest! I got chills and teary-eyed while reading this amazing story!

  6. avatar Abby reply

    LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS POST! Her bouquet is stunning also!

  7. avatar Stephanie Scholl reply

    Oh my goodness!! What a beautiful, touching, meaningful, and beautiful love story! I have tears streaming down my face. THIS is what love/marriage/weddings is ALL about! This couple radiates joy & love, and thank you for sharing this wedding. (PS: Her bouquet is beyond stunning, too!)

  8. avatar Jessica reply

    What a precious couple and a sweet, sweet testament to love and marriage! Love this!

  9. avatar Kelly reply

    Southern Bride of the YEAR.

  10. avatar Nita reply

    As a bride, I appreciated her thoughtful advice. It has been so easy for met to get caught up in the stress of wedding planning over the past few months, but a wedding certainly is a sacred time and not a show.

  11. avatar sarah wetzel reply

    Sweet photographs, a lovely couple, a very inspiring story! Thank you, Southern Wedding, for sharing this with the public. And thank you, God, for writing this beautiful love story.

  12. avatar Sara Velordi reply

    I have goosebumps. This is awesome!

  13. avatar Breanna reply

    A beautiful love story and a gorgeous family. Sarah and Andy are an inspiration to all! Their story just goes to show how good people invite good things into their lives with their kindness and love. Their advice to couples planning a wedding is so perfect. Such a beautiful couple inside and out.

  14. avatar Aaron & Jillian reply

    We’re so happy y’all featured Sarah and Andy’s story and their wedding photos! The moment I met Sarah for our first photography consult, I was in love! Her story is one for the books and Aaron and I felt SUPER honored to witness their ceremony and to document such a momentous day in their lives! They really are THE GREATEST and both certainly “made a difference” in our lives after spending one single day with them!

  15. avatar Sally reply

    What a tear-jerker! God writes the most beautiful love stories. Her bouquet is divine!

  16. avatar Katie Minnick reply

    This is literally the most precious thing I’ve ever read. To God be the Glory!

  17. avatar Robin reply

    Wow, what a beautiful story and a beautiful wedding to go with it. God is good!

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Let me start by saying that one should not take the advice of today’s bride, Morgan, and listen to their first dance song, “Swept Away” by Avett Brothers. I recommend listening while reading their interview or looking at the joy that jumps right off the screen from her smile. She is right about one thing, this song will have you crying!

Somehow, Morgan + Jason’s wedding reminds me of our very own Nicole! While it may be the the colorful pennants or the romantic twinkle lights (she’s a big fan of both), I think it’s the pure sweetness of the whole day. From the amazing red front door and green shutters on Morgan’s family farm to the adorable suspender and bow tie combo on the groomsmen, the whole day feels like one big cozy (bright orange!) sweater, even through the rain!

Big thank you’s to Lang Thomas for sharing Morgan + Jason’s sweet day with us!

Obviously, the above chicken photo had to be in this post!

As a nurse, I work one weekend a month. While dating, Jason would plan dinner every Sunday night after I got off from working the weekend, since we hadn’t seen each other in a few days. He planned to pick me up as usual and take me out to eat at my favorite fancy restaurant, Jack Fry’s. We had been trying to go there for some time, so this choice didn’t cause any suspicion. Once he arrived, he waited for me at the front door (yes, he may have waited ten minutes or so). When I came downstairs, he was standing there surrounded by candles and flowers. He pulled me in close, said all the kind and amazing words that no one can ever remember, then got on one knee and proposed! I said YES! We then went and ate our fancy dinner, called our family and friends, and headed to Garage Bar to finish the night with our favorite cocktails. Once we arrived, I was surprised by our family, dear friends from college, and even his sister Melanie, who had just flown in from D.C. It was magical. Here is a link to the photos from that night (taken by our wedding photographer Lang, who also happens to be one of our best friends).

Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? Originally, Jason didn’t want to do a “first look” because he wanted to see me for the first time when I was walking down the aisle. However, Jason reevaluated after watching his good friend sweat bullets and nearly pass out as his bride walked down the aisle. Jason knew it’d calm him down to see me beforehand, and we sure are glad we did it! It gave us moments together on our wedding day that we will remember forever. These moments felt slow and relaxed, allowing us to soak up that time before the wedding began. Looking back, I don’t know when we would have taken pictures if we hadn’t done a first look, since it started pouring rain right after the ceremony!

What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? It’s true that no matter what happens (planned or unplanned) on that day, you are married when it’s all said and done. On our day, the weather couldn’t have been more perfect for the ceremony. Then as soon as we said “I do,” the flood gates opened and it poured rain during our reception. Of course, that wasn’t the ideal scenario, but it was indeed the happiest and most joy-filled day of our lives (storm included). So, keep on top of your lists, plan well, spend smart, be patient with your family and your soon-to-be-spouse, and rest in the fact that it’s going to be the happiest day with the people you love the most. Rain or shine!

What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? Two passages from the Bible: 1 John 3: 1-3 and 1 John 4: 7-12. Our desire was that our wedding ceremony would show a picture of Jesus’ love for His church to our guests.
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. I walked down the aisle to “All Glory be to Christ” by Kings Kaleidoscope. During the ceremony, there was a corporate hymn, “It is Well.” I walked back up the aisle to “Absent from Flesh” by Sojourn Music. We chose these songs because the wedding ceremony is a celebration, just as seeing in Jesus in heaven will be! Our first dance was to “Swept Away” by Avett Brothers. Listen to the words in this song–you’ll cry. Promise.

Isn’t that just way too much fun?! They had a bell ringing to celebrate! Love it!

I let my friend Julie take the reigns on the design. She’s super talented, I love her taste, and I was confident that she understood the vision I had for the wedding. She used the bridesmaid dresses as a springboard and added in a few funky touches (like the purple flowers in the bouquets). My bouquet was wrapped in my Grandma Anne’s handkerchief. I never met her, but my dad says I’m made out of a very similar mold.

My favorite moment of the day happened during our first dance. If you can’t tell by the photos, it began to pour during our reception. Thankfully, we had a wonderfully huge and sturdy tent to keep all our guests cozy while they ate and mingled! However, due to the rain, the band couldn’t play outside like we had originally planned, and rewiring for them to play under the tent just couldn’t happen. This led to the most amazing acoustic rendition (with the help of their iPhones) of “Swept Away” by the Avett Brothers. All 350 of our guests surrounded us in the tent and sang along as we danced. It felt like time stood still (yes, so cheesy… I know!). I just remember looking into Jason’s eyes as we danced, almost unaware of everyone else as they watched and sang along. It was perfect.

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. Jason and I met through his sister, Melanie, when she began to date a friend I’ve known since grade school, Alex. Melanie quickly became my close friend as she and Alex dated, got engaged, and then were married in September 2012. Throughout this process, I got to know Jason and Melanie’s friends, as I was reacquainting myself with Louisville after graduating from Samford University in Birmingham, AL. It became pretty clear to our friends that Jason and I liked each other, so the pressure was on for him to ask me out! Once he finally did, we went on a very fancy date and it was horrible on all accounts. I’m not sure if it was the pressure we were under from friends, the fact that I liked him so much, or that it was just not the “right time,” but it was the most awkward two hours of my life (and he agrees)! We quickly and mutually decided that we were “only” friends. Fast forward 8-9 months (right after Melanie and Alex wed)–Jason asked me out again, for a second first date. Let’s be honest, I never stopped liking him, so I said yes to his invitation to go out for a burger and beer. Seven months later, he proposed. three months and three weeks later, we got married. Needless to say, the SECOND first date made quite an impression!
When did y’all get married? August 31, 2013
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 350
Tell us about finding your wedding dress. Thankfully, this was a simple process. I knew exactly what I wanted: an off-white dress with straps that was completely made of lace. My mom and I only looked for one day (I only wanted to shop with my mom, since I value her opinion most). It was the sixth or seventh dress I tried on. BOOM. Found it. The following week, my sweet Nana, dad, and 11-year-old sister, Abbie, came to see it. My Nana cried!
Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We sure didn’t. We just went with the tried and true traditional vows.
Describe your wedding cake or dessert. Our wedding cake was a standard round double-layer chocolate cake with bourbon icing, served on my Nana’s vintage crystal cake stand. It was simple and delicious. I wish we had eaten more!
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: How to even answer this question? I’ll say the fabric pennants strung every which way across my parent’s farm. I not only love the color they added to the wedding, but I adore all the ladies that spent hours cutting, stringing, and sewing these pennants together. It was a labor of love. I am so thankful!
Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! Yes! I borrowed my grandfather’s (Bumpa as we call him) handkerchief, which I actually used to wipe away tears during the ceremony. My something blue were my shoes and nails. My something old was Grandma Anne’s handkerchief around my bouquet. My something new was my wedding dress.
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? Our venue was at my parents and grandparents’ farm in Louisville, KY. My grandparents live at the bottom of the property and my parents live toward the back. While the houses have very different layouts, they are both painted white, with green roofs and red front doors. We took full advantage of the barn (also painted to match), where we placed all the homemade pies and cakes. They were made by close family and friends. We used our canoe as the drink/beer cooler and drove the old red tractor around by the barn as a photo backdrop. This wedding only came together because of the hard work of our family and dear friends. We were blessed by the giving of so many peoples’ time as they painted, planted flowers, hung pennants, wired and strung the lights, and landscaped. Without them, this day would not have happened.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Since our engagement was just shy of four months, we didn’t have the ease that comes with lag time between all the “big decisions” made at the beginning of an engagement (like guest list and budget, etc). Even with our timeline, I still wanted to send out save the dates, so Jason and I compiled our guest list quickly. We were shooting for around 200, however, our list topped out at 400. We made it work and it was awesome, but it would be stretching the truth if I said planning for 400 wasn’t a challenge. :)
If you are comfortable responding, what range did your wedding budget fall into? $10,000-$25,000
What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? Lang Thomas Photography. Hands down, Lang and Kate are such a talented photography duo (as well as an amazing couple and dear friends of ours). Lang not only shot our wedding, but was also a groomsman! Kate shot the ceremony and then tag-teamed with Lang for the rest of the day. We couldn’t imagine our day without them.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? We are loving this process of learning how to do marriage. We are so content in our little apartment near downtown Louisville. Jason and I aren’t sure what’s next, but we are dreaming and saving for whatever and wherever this next season brings us. As far as what we look forward to about married life, Jason would say spending Saturdays together (making breakfast and watching college football). I would say planning our next trip together (NYC, and hopefully a backpacking trip throughout Europe next fall).

marissa Written with love by Marissa
5 Comments
  1. avatar Nicole reply

    Oh, I love this so much! Lang did such a great job capturing the sweet little moments and I just ADORE the colors and twinkle lights!

  2. avatar Emily reply

    Their bridesmaid dresses are so sweet! And I love the bell ringing, too!

  3. avatar Alexandra | Foiled Invitations reply

    This is all kinds of perfect! I love that shot of the rings on the eggs :)

  4. avatar Frohe Ostern & Lesetipps für die Braut | Hochzeitsblog Lieschen heiratet reply

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    […] Morgan + Jason | Lang Thomas […]

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