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During our team retreat, we played a Southern Weddings version of The Newlywed Game. Kristin and I lost to Emily and Lisa by just one point! However, when the question of whether your partner would rather go to Mardi Gras or the Kentucky Derby came up, KNW knew me the best! I love Mardi Gras, but I’ve never been to the Derby, and we often daydream of a Derby double date with our beaus. Lindsey and Ryan’s Derby-inspired wedding only makes me want to go more! I love how they timed their cocktail hour with the race, included mint juleps as their signature drink, and aptly named their tables after past winners, inspired by the guests at the table (be sure to read about that below!). But, despite their love for every special detail, Lindsey and Ryan said “our favorite detail was becoming husband and wife.” That’s the best detail in my book as well!

Big SW hugs to our friend Elaine Palladino for sharing this fun day!

P.S. How fun is it that Lindsey and Ryan are celebrating their first anniversary at the actual Kentucky Derby this weekend? So special!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. Mutual friends of ours, Dave and Rachel Gossett, hinted for eight years that we should meet. Living in different cities, we both presumed that it was never really meant to be. Fast forward to Derby Day 2012 when Dave and Rachel were at my annual Derby party and sent Ryan his first picture of me. A little later in the evening, one text was followed by a few clever other ones, that led to a conversation that never stopped. We texted through May into June, talked on the phone for the rest of the summer, and then Ryan came to visit over Labor Day weekend. We met on my front porch for our first date, and though I will admit to being profoundly nervous, we both knew instantly that there was something special between us. We spent the next year and a half dating and being engaged long-distance, while Ryan took care of his ailing father in Jacksonville before making the big move to Miami last spring, just in time for the wedding.

Did you decide to do a first look? Why or why not? We did. I am exceptionally traditional in most areas of my life, and was convinced I’d never do a first look, but when we decided to time the cocktail hour so that it was during the Kentucky Derby, we knew if we wanted to see it, we’d have to do pictures beforehand. It was a good thing we did, because as soon as I was dressed, all I could think about was getting to Ryan. If I had to wait until the ceremony, I might have gone crazy! It was just us for those few moments, and it was fantastic. Well, it was supposed to be just us, until I saw the pictures later of the entire wedding party watching from inside the hotel. :)

I saw my dress on Pinterest almost a year before getting engaged. I saved the picture thinking, “I would love to find a dress like this one day.” The night of my engagement, my sister, who was so excited to start planning wedding details, asked me if I knew the kind of dress I wanted. I shared the picture, just to give her an idea of what I was looking for, but realizing it would be hard to match something to that dress. Somehow, within a couple of days, she had found the dress, identified the designer, found the only store in Miami that sold that designer, and sent me there the following Saturday. I walked in, tried on the dress, and knew it was the one. I am forever grateful to her, more than I could ever express.

We chose orchestral hymns for the seating of the mothers and the processionals. Having both been raised in the Protestant faith, the hymns we chose felt like a natural way to invite the Lord into our day, while also honoring our moms at the same time. Our close friend beautifully sang The Lord’s Prayer at the end of the ceremony for the same reasons. Our first dance was to “Amen” by Dave Barnes. The words remind us that in all things, we are thankful to God and trust in His plans for our future. As a side note, the trumpeter at the wedding decided on his own accord that the bridal processional should start with a lively “Derby” fanfare. It was a surprise to all, and a great laugh.

What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they have any special significance to you? It was extremely important to us and our parents that we were married in a church. Our home church doesn’t offer ceremonies on Saturdays, so we chose a beautiful church near the Biltmore Hotel, where our reception was going to be. We wanted our day to be as enjoyable and easy as possible for all of our guests, so we kept everything as convenient as we could. The Biltmore was the perfect backdrop for the feel and style of our wedding.

We encouraged our guests to embrace the theme of the Derby by wearing big hats and bow ties–and boy, did they! We also included mint juleps, pennant mason jars, and a bluegrass band. To top the night off, we opened (and emptied) a long-saved bottle of 20-year-old Pappy Van Winkle with all of our friends. To represent “South” Florida, we had a cigar roller at the reception.

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: We named our tables after horses who have won the Derby throughout history, and chose names that best represented the guests sitting at that table (for example, “Behave Yourself” was for the wedding party and “Spend A Buck” was for my parents’ table :)). We also set thank you notes on each table, which we hoped expressed to our family and friends just how much their love meant to us. Honestly though, despite our love for every special detail we included, our favorite detail was becoming husband and wife.

What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? Our first anniversary! We are going to the 2015 Kentucky Derby with our immediate family. None of us have ever been and we thought it would be a wonderful way to celebrate a year of marriage with our families!

Tell us all about the proposal! Each year, my family travels with the Gossetts and all of our extended family to Sanibel for the Fourth of July. Before the weekend, Ryan met with my dad to ask for my hand in marriage. On the night of the 4th, while on the beach, we joked about being married a year from that day. I gave Ryan a hard time, saying “First, we have to get engaged!” Just 20 minutes later, while watching fireworks, Ryan whispered into my ear, “Remind me again what step one is?” I turned around in disbelief and Ryan got down on one knee! It felt like we were the only two people on the beach in those few moments, and then, we turned around to find our families and friends there to greet us with hugs and champagne.
When did y’all get married? May 3, 2014
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 275
Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We exchanged traditional vows, but we tweaked one line. Instead of saying “to love, honor and cherish,” we added “care for” into the phrase. The way we take care of each other is often our greatest expression of love.
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? We had two readings at the ceremony: Romans 12:1-2, 9-13 and Colossians 3:12-17. Romans spoke to us about how to honor the Lord, each other, and others through our union and love. Colossians taught us how to love each other. Also, Romans 12:13 tells us to “practice hospitality.” This instruction highlights a gift we feel God has given us, as we both find joy in opening our home and hearts to others.
What was one way you saved money or cut costs at your wedding? My mom gets the glory for the DIY details. Among the countless, non-crafty details she managed, she still found time to spray paint horseshoes, assemble pennants, and sew napkin rings for nearly 300 people. As a team, we stuffed invitations, assembled programs, hand-wrote the name cards and pennant mason jars, and painted flower boxes and “happily ever after” signs.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Make it your own; tell your story. But most importantly, stay calm and remember that everything will turn out okay. It will be more perfect than you can possibly imagine, because at the end of it all, you will be married.
Is there anything else you’d like to share about your wedding? In lieu of wedding favors, we made a gift to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, in honor of Ryan’s father, Douglas Franklin Parker, who passed away in April 2013. Each guest received a note from the foundation and a chocolate horseshoe from Dr. Parker’s favorite chocolatier, Peterbrooke.

Photographer: Elaine Palladino / Videographer: Michael Burgos Films / Day-Of Coordination: Claudia Glasson and Claudia Santana / Ceremony Venue: Granada Presbyterian Church / Reception Venue, Catering, and Rentals: The Biltmore Hotel / Florals, Rentals, and Lighting: Always Flowers / Wedding Cake: Todo Dulces / Ceremony Musician: Ross DeBardelaben of Miami Virtuosi LLC / Band: Tropics Entertainment / Special Details: Unearthed Vintage / Paper Products: Fresh Impression Letterpress Studio / Bride’s Gown: Watters / Bride’s Shoes: Benjamin Adams / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Alfred Sung / Menswear: Jos. A Bank

marissa Written with love by Marissa
3 Comments
  1. avatar Who Gets Married on Kentucky Derby Day | Equestrian Stylist reply

    […] Weddings recently shared a “Kentucky Derby Wedding by Elaine Palladino” post, and check out a few of these […]

  2. avatar Friday Fresh Squeeze #189 – Floridian Social reply

    […] must have had a blast shooting this fun Kentucky Derby themed affair at the Biltmore […]

  3. avatar Kirsti reply

    I just adore this wedding!! How precious can this be?? I love the derby theme and all of the little details they included in their special day!!

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I unknowingly scheduled my own upcoming wedding for the day of the Kentucky Derby in 2015, and while I won’t be taking too much inspiration from this famous Southern sporting event for my big day, I can’t help but have a soft spot for couples who do! Maryland residents, Ashley and Jim, drew upon their beloved Southern roots to bring a taste of Louisville to their home state. After their traditional church ceremony, they gathered with over 200 of their loved ones to watch the Derby live during cocktail hour–and as fate would have it, the winning horse, much like Ashley and Jim, was a perfect representation of Maryland-meets-Kentucky!

Thanks so much to Maria DeForrest for capturing this celebratory day and then sharing it with us!

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. My mom and I went to about four boutiques in the Baltimore area and found the dress at the third place we visited. All of the places let us take pictures of our favorite ones, which was a huge help. We went home and looked through all of the photos after being out all day, and the choice was clear once we saw the pictures at home. I highly recommend taking photos if you can–it is so worth it to help you make the decision!

Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? Yes, we did a “first look” and it was the best decision. One of my bridesmaids is also a wedding planner and she recommended we do a first look so that we could enjoy our cocktail hour and not miss any of our reception. We were on a tight time schedule because we were showing the Kentucky Derby live during our cocktail hour, and then heading straight to dinner. It was so nice to spend a few minutes with Jim before the craziness began, and the first look gave us some time to have a special moment alone together. We also had the most beautiful setting–an old stone bridge overlooking a lake on the farm where we had our reception. Our bridal party watched from the other side of the lake and were cheering in the background when Jim turned around and saw me for the first time.

Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? No. We had written each other love letters during our pre-Cana retreat weekend and those were so special that we didn’t feel the need to write our own vows.
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? We used a reading from the Book of Tobit, Tobit 8:4B-8, which is about Tobiah and his new wife, Sarah. In the end of their prayer, they ask God to bless them to “live together to a happy old age.” We also used Romans 12:9-13–it ends with “practice hospitality,” which we thought was fitting with our Southern roots.

Being from Maryland, we are on the “edge” of the South, so I had to borrow many of my mom’s Kentucky traditions to amp up the Southern feel that I love. Since we themed our wedding around one of the most famous Southern sporting events, the Kentucky Derby, we had a lot of room to weave in Louisville details. We served mint juleps as our signature drink, along with Derby Pie for dessert. We also had a vintage “Kentucky Bourbon” tasting bar set up with homemade bourbon balls, another tasty Southern treat, on sliver platters. We also encouraged our guests to dress as if they were going to the Derby, so many women wore beautiful hats and the men wore lots of seersucker and bow ties. We also served hot browns, shrimp and grits, and mini Maryland crabcakes during our cocktail hour.

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: Watching the Kentucky Derby! We set up a huge projection screen in a restored barn on the property to watch the race before dinner. Our guests were really getting into it, and even placed bets against one another during cocktail hour! Over 200 of our favorite people in the world joined Jim and me as we cheered on Baltimore-owned Orb to a Kentucky Derby victory! Orb winning the race was the perfect blend of Maryland and Kentucky! Of course, I had my money on him, and had been telling guests for weeks leading up to the wedding that he was going to be the winner, so thank goodness I was right!!

Describe your wedding flowers. We actually ordered our flowers from Wegmans, a local grocery store. They were white (baby’s breath, roses), green (baby cabbages), and gray (lamb’s ear), to blend in with the natural beauty of our outdoor reception. Wegmans also grew grass for us and incorporated that into the tablescape by transplanting it into mint julep cups the day of the wedding. It fit very well with our horse racing theme, since it looked like turf grass!

In keeping with Derby Day tradition, my mom, a Louisville native, made fourteen “Derby Pies” for our big day. They were served with homemade whipped cream and were to die for!! We also had Jim’s favorite dessert, Key lime pie, and a coconut wedding cake–all Southern faves.

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. Jim and I met in 2006 when we were both working on political campaigns in Maryland. There was a 70-year old woman, Doris, who volunteered for Jim’s candidate one night, and then volunteered for my candidate the next night and told me all about this “cute, young guy working on Jim Smith’s campaign” who was my age. Ms. Doris was determined to see us together, so we owe a lot to her. Who knew commiserating over finding volunteers to fill a “phone bank” could lead to a marriage? Both of the candidates won their elections, and were both guests at our wedding almost seven years later.
Tell us all about the proposal! I knew I wanted to marry Jim within months of dating him. Jim, on the other hand, took some convincing :) After two years of dating, he enrolled in law school at night while working full-time, and he didn’t want to get married until all of that was behind him, so I had to wait four more years for him to propose. Finally, the day came when we were walking on the beach in Duck, NC at the Outer Banks, where Jim’s family has a beach house. We have been going there for the last six years to unwind and relax. It is our favorite place to get away, so it was the perfect place to get engaged, since we are both so calm and happy when we are there together. Our chihuahua, Javy, was walking with us on the beach when Jim got down on one knee.
When did y’all get married? 5/4/13
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 225
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. The most special part of our wedding day was when my grandfather orchestrated a surprise sing-a-long with our jazz trio during the welcome at dinner. When I was a little girl, my grandmother, who died a few years ago, used to sing old songs (like “It’s a Grand Old Flag,” “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad,” “You are my Sunshine,” and “Yankee Doodle”) to me every single morning while I sat on her lap after my parents went to work. Since my grandmother couldn’t be with me on my wedding day, my grandfather thought that incorporating these songs would be a special tribute to her and to our relationship. He printed out song sheets with the words to these “oldies but goodies,” and encouraged everyone to “sing to the bride as her grandmother used to do.” It was probably the most special moment of the day besides saying “I do.”
Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! My something borrowed and blue was a lace handkerchief with our wedding date and names embroidered on it in blue writing. This is a tradition with my college roommates, who also have their names and wedding dates embroidered in the other corners of the hanky, and we have each used it (with one more girl to go)! My something old was my mother-in-law’s veil that she wore in her wedding, and that a few other family members have worn. I had admired it in her wedding pictures, so it was special for me to wear it in our wedding. My something new was my wedding dress of course!
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Not having a professional wedding planner when both Jim and I have busy full-time jobs was a huge challenge, especially given all of the details you need to contend with when having an outdoor wedding on a farm. Outdoor weddings at venues that don’t traditionally host huge receptions can mean a lot more work for the couple and/or planner. Everything from having to find a place to rent restroom trailers, to worrying about the weather and which tent accessories to have on hand (thank goodness we had heaters on standby, because we ended up using them). Luckily, my bridesmaids really pitched in, and their collective event planning experience saved the day many times over. I owe them so much!
If you are comfortable responding, what range did your wedding budget fall into? $50,000-$75,000
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Do it in steps, and give yourself enough time to research all of the vendors. If you are on a budget, this is especially important.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? Starting our family is something that we both are really excited about. We are also looking forward to having more free time together now that all of the planning is complete!

Photographer: Maria DeForrest / Planner: Lauren Hanna / Ceremony Venue: St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church / Reception Venue: Cold Saturday Farm / Florist: Wegmans / Wedding Cake: Baltimore Cakery / Derby Pie: Bride’s mother / Caterer: Chef’s Expressions / Rentals and Lighting: Baltimore Tent Company / Band: The Leggz Band / Cocktail Hour Music: Bill Elliot Trio / Bourbon Bar: The Recipe LLC / Bridal Salon: Betsy Robinson Collection / Paper Products: Oakland Printing Company / Hair Stylist: Hot Air / Makeup Artist: Behind the Veil / Bride’s Shoes: Style & Co. / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: “Ruthie” in Caspian Blue by J. Crew / Men’s Attire: Vera Wang by Men’s Wearhouse / Bow Ties: Collared Greens / Restrooms: Gotta Go Now

lisa Written with love by Lisa
2 Comments
  1. avatar – Friday Rewind reply

    […] May! In honor of the Kentucky Derby this weekend, here is some Derby-inspired wedding inspiration. How cute are those […]

  2. avatar Southern Weddings Weekly Round-Up – Southern Weddings Magazine reply

    […] do’s.” Rachel and James‘ Georgia wedding was full of joy and sweet details. Ashley and Jim brought Maryland and Kentucky together at their Derby Day […]

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