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Amber and Jordan met as camp counselors, and on the last night of the summer, they stayed up until 4 A.M. trying to figure out how to make their new relationship work long-distance. For a couple who took such care planning for their courtship, I’m sure they were equally as invested in planning for their marriage! From Jordan’s sweet post-proposal video of their family and friends sharing encouragement, to reading their personal wedding vows the day before their wedding, these two stayed focused on what matters most: their marriage and their community. Family was certainly a priority for Amber and Jordan, and I am smitten with the way they chose to display their family photos. What a beautiful nod to their loved ones!

Big hugs to our friend Emily March Photography for sharing this sweet celebration with us!

Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! My something borrowed and old was a pearl bracelet that my mother had worn on her wedding day. My something new was my dress and my jewelry that Jordan gave to me as a wedding gift, and last but not least, my something blue was my garter!

I went to Celebration Bridal Shop in downtown Lynchburg, Virginia and tried on several dresses. I only tried on a few before I figured out that I was looking for: a classic, timeless, and comfortable dress. My dress was a simple ball gown with a sweetheart neckline. It even had pockets! I added a beaded floral belt and an elegant lace bolero to top it off, because it needed just a little something extra to make it mine.

Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We did write our own vows; however, we said them to each other the night before and said traditional vows during the ceremony. We decided to do this because we thought it was important to express to each other what we expect in marriage and to promise to the other person what we are going to do to make it last. Because of my lack of public speaking skills, we thought reading our vows in private would be better than in front of 100 people.

We both agree that our most memorable moment from our wedding day was the seeing each other as I walked down the aisle. We also enjoyed the time we spent taking pictures together out in the wilderness!

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? Our wedding was held at a historic estate in Central Virginia. We included monograms and plenty of fresh flowers, country music, whiskey, sweet tea, and above all, two families that celebrated the marriage of their children in union with Christ! The groomsmen also all wore socks in the colors of their favorite sports teams.

Did you pull any wedding inspiration from memories you have together? Tell us about it! Our table numbers at the wedding were coordinates of memorable places in our relationship, such as where we met, where we had our first date, our church, where Jordan proposed, and where we grew up. I think it was memorable for our guests as well!
What was one way you saved money or cut costs at your wedding? We saved a lot of money by doing DIY projects. Jordan made our centerpiece boxes and I painted them. I made the jewelry for the bridesmaids, my headpiece, the escort cards, our card box, the ladder picture stand, the table numbers, the monogrammed wreath on the front door, and all of the signage for the entire wedding!

My wedding flowers were so beautiful and I wish I could have preserved them forever! We used a mix of peonies, lamb’s ear, roses, and anemones. They were the perfect balance between soft, subtle colors and greenery. I was very impressed with Irvington Spring Farms and the work they did!

Our wedding cake was gorgeous, and it tasted amazing as well! Geisel Nye did an awesome job combining three different cakes that I liked into our perfect wedding cake! One layer was Boston cream pie and the other two smaller layers were banana cake with Nutella frosting and chocolate ganache.

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. We met in 2012 while working at a Christian summer camp, Shiloh Adventure Camp in Cocoa, Florida. We were the only two counselors that year who were crazy enough to take on the entire summer! After the kids had left on the last day of camp, we decided to relax together a little before the end-of-summer party at a local church. When we left the party, we ended up sitting in his truck until around 4 A.M., just talking and getting to know each other better. Even though we didn’t want that night to end, we had to go to bed, and Jordan kissed my forehead before I left. We got maybe two hours of sleep that night, and then had to tear down camp the next day. After that long day of work, we decided to go to the beach to hang out for a little bit before I started my drive back home. We ended up trying to figure out how to make a long-distance relationship work. Over the next two years, we dated long-distance, and while it was difficult at times, we trusted the plan God had given us and enjoyed every second. Jordan moved up to Lynchburg after graduating college at UCF in June 2014!
Tell us all about the proposal! Jordan cleverly worked with my roommates to create an amazing day for me! My roommates drove his truck down to Smith Mountain Lake, parked it by the water, and decorated the bed of the truck with flowers and blankets and pillows. All the while, Jordan and I were on our way to the lake for a charity home tour that we had wanted to do for a while. Right before we got to the dock to pick up the boat, he pulled off to the side of the road and told me to come for a walk, which I thought was weird because it was raining! He then proceeded to walk to a gate that clearly stated “No Trespassing.” I quickly said, “I don’t think we should be here.” Jordan laughed at my typical adherence to rules, and we continued to walk toward the water. When I saw the truck, I knew what was about to happen. He proposed on bended knee in the rain and mud with the most beautiful ring I had ever seen, and it was perfect! After the proposal, he washed my feet and made several promises to me. He then surprised me with a video that he had put together (with the help of his brother) starring our families and friends. They talked about when they knew we might get married and how we have changed for the better since meeting each other. It was better than I could have ever imagined. All in all, it was perfect and I could not have asked for anything better!
When did y’all get married? May 22, 2015
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 100
Did you decide to do a first look? Why or why not? We decided to keep with the tradition of not seeing each other before the wedding. I wanted the first time Jordan saw me to be when I walked down the aisle. I didn’t care about getting first look pictures or getting photos out of the way–I cared about Jordan and that special moment when we would first lay our eyes on each other on our wedding day. (However, I did get a few peeks at him through a window!)
What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they have any special significance to you? We chose West Manor Estate because even though we visited on a dreary, rainy day, we still loved the beauty of the grounds and the elegance of the inside of the house! I told myself that if I loved it this much on a cold, rainy day in October, how much more would I love it on a warm, sunny day in May?
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? We read “Foundations Of Marriage” by Regina Hill.
How did you plan for your marriage while planning your wedding? We attended pre-marital counseling at our church. This kept us focused on our marriage instead of our wedding day! I believe this should be a priority for anyone getting married–it gave us the opportunity to take a step back from planning and focus on our relationship.
If you are comfortable responding, what range did your wedding budget fall into? $25,000-$50,000
What’s next for you as a couple? What memories are you looking forward to making together? Just more of the same! We are looking forward to living life together, going grocery shopping, exercising, and watching our puppy grow up! What could be better than doing life with your best friend?

Photographer: Emily March Photography / Venue and Caterer: West Manor Estate / Florist: Irvington Spring Farm / Cake Baker: Geisel Nye of Cakeview llc. / DJ: Alan Dever Entertainment / Paper Products: A Paper Wedding / Bride’s Gown: Sophia and Camilla / Bride’s Veil: Belles Veils / Hair and Makeup: Spa4109 / Bride’s Shoes: Modcloth / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: RenzRags / Menswear: Giorgio Napoli

marissa Written with love by Marissa
4 Comments
  1. avatar Wedding Venues reply

    Great photo-relation ! thx for sharing, the shots are perfect !

  2. avatar Arlene Bass Grandmother reply

    We are so happy for Amber and Jordan add hope they have lots of happiness in all the years to come. The wedding was so beautiful. This is such a special treat for all to see. Thank you. All our love for this special couple. All our Love and Kisses, Grandma and Granddad Bill. See you soon.

  3. avatar Emily reply

    Love the beautiful card box!

  4. avatar Tulle Convertible Bridesmaid Dresses with Different Color Options | TulleandChantilly.com reply

    […] Credits: via Southern Weddings/via Pinterest/via Donna Morgan/via Ruffled Blog/via George […]

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The first hints of fall are in the air here in North Carolina, so I’m definitely in the mood for some pretty fall weddings, just like Alyson and Brian’s! Even though their love story started in New York City, it began with a bow tie, which is just about as Southern as it gets. They were married in a gorgeous church ceremony, and then celebrated with Southern foods galore, navy and orange details that are so lovely for fall, and a rather epic last dance of the night! Alyson is a perfect example of a bride who did an amazing job selecting her vendors–planning a wedding from afar is no easy task, as many of y’all know, and Alyson and Brian had to go through Hurricane Sandy on top of that. Despite it all, her enthusiasm for the team she worked with is infectious, and clearly, they did an amazing job!

Hugs to Leigh Webber for sharing Alyson and Brian’s wedding with us!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. Brian and I had overlapping circles of friends and ran into one another a few times at a local NYC haunt, where we both had a tendency to spend too much time. One Halloween, we both happened to end up there. I was coming from a charity costume party and Brian from a charity black-tie party. In typical, late-night Brian fashion, he had untied his bow tie and left it hanging around his neck. Like the annoying girl I am, I requested to wear it; I thought it might add a certain flair to my sailor girl Halloween costume. He obliged and tied it around my neck (He maintains to this day that it was the only time he has been able to tie a bow tie on a person facing them–there are a number of wedding pictures of Brian standing behind people tying on their bow ties for them to further prove this point). We chatted all night and then went our separate ways. I awoke the next morning, and found, much to my surprise and embarrassment, that I had made off with the bow tie. Being the modern-day woman I am, I reached out to Brian via a Facebook message to let him know I had the tie safe and sound in my possession. Alternately, being the traditional old soul I also am, I would not give it back without a proper date. He realized this after making multiple attempts to swing by my apartment to pick it up and I just never happened to be there. We met one early November evening at a wonderful wine and pizza bar for the exchange. I brought the bow tie and he bought the wine. The date lasted hours (my best friend thought I was kidnapped) and as they say, the rest was history!

Since we live in New York I knew that if I couldn’t find my dress here, it probably didn’t exist. My mom flew up for a super fun girl’s weekend and we went on a marathon shopping expedition. I tried to be very pragmatic through the process by not obsessing over dresses I saw on other people, in magazines, or online. I knew I just had to wait and see how different styles, shapes and materials looked on me and not rule anything out going in. However, going into it, I announced a slight bias toward dresses that were not strapless. We had such a wonderful weekend; I loved trying on all the different dresses, I could have dragged it out for days. On a visit to Wedding Atelier, I put on an Alvina Valenta that was everything I could have wanted and more. It had a lace-covered top with a one-shoulder tulle overlay—technically not strapless, my one quasi-rule. The skirt had cascading layers of tulle with horsehair trim to give them a bit of body and structure. It was traditional with a twist, just like me! My mom knew it was the one even before I did–I was still obsessing about a dress I tried the day before that just so happened to be strapless. She just looked at me and said, you didn’t want strapless and this dress is just SO you. You know what they say, mom is always right, and I am glad I listened to her and picked the Alvina. I can’t picture myself being married in anything else.

Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! I did! My something new was my dress. My something old was a handkerchief hand embroidered by my great grandmother I had wrapped around my bouquet for the ceremony. My something blue was my blue embroidered dress tag with my maiden monogram and our wedding date. And my something borrowed was my best friend and maid of honor’s Kappa Kappa Gamma badge (we pinned it just below the monogrammed dress tag).

Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We did not. I will always remember the homily from our priest though. He flew in from New York and knows us both well, so it was very touching and personal.
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? We had traditional scripture readings from the Old and New Testament.

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: My favorite detail was all the paper items. After looking around for what seemed like months for a save the date, I made a terrible little doodle of what I wanted. Katherine then referred me to Sarah of Dodeline Designs. She took this rudimentary and frankly hideous sketch of mine and made us the most charming save the date. I had such a great time collaborating with Sarah for the save the date, we enlisted her to do the remainder of the paper items for the wedding. For the invitations, we got Elizabeth from Hardink Calligraphy (funny side note, we learned that Elizabeth and my mom are neighbors in Nashville during the process) on board to pen some of the wording and address the envelopes. Between the four of us, we came up with the invitation of my dreams. It was traditional, but a tad whimsical (confetti!) and had fun little touches throughout. We then carried the confetti theme from the invitation into the day-of paper by incorporating it into the guest book sign and escort cards. Possibly one of the most unique paper items we had was the gold and ivory paper placemats we used in lieu of chargers/seating cards. They had different patterns and included the guest’s name and a fun conversation starter. Brian’s favorite detail was the outdoor lounge seating arrangements. He had so much fun relaxing (for a very brief moment) with friends, kicking his feet up and enjoying his scotch and cigar in style and comfort. My mother also made all the throw pillows, a few of which we have incorporated into our apartment décor. They are such a fun reminder of the day.

Describe your wedding flowers. Our flowers were amazing, if I may say so myself. As an event planner, I spend a good deal of time every year brainstorming and working with florists on table concepts. God Bless Ann and Katherine, because they were both so patient with my OCD PowerPoint presentation of design direction and inspiration, and together, our collaboration produced the flowers and decor of my dreams. We used navy, ivory and persimmon clothes on the tables with a gold ribbon overlay as the the piece to tie all the tables together. We then had three takes on centerpieces that alternated around the room. It is really hard to pick my favorite, but I really loved the one with the external magnolia leaf wrap, tied with satin ribbon and a bow. All the tables had votive holders with gold details on them. The colors were mostly greens and deep saturated orange (persimmon). My bouquet was pretty simple–ivory flowers with a small amount of greenery. The girls carried flowers in the saturated oranges tones, which popped beautifully against their navy dresses.

The cake, OH the CAKE! There were a few moments in working with Katherine where she would send me a G-Chat that would say, “What do you think about…” and would lay out a scenario or send me a link. My reply was always just a ton of exclamation points; you might say we just got each other. The cake was exactly one of those “what do you think about…” moments. She sent me a link to a cake covered in multi-colored sprinkles and a giant bow. I wished it worked with our color palate, it was so fun. Then she said, “We can do this, hear me out. We will use gold dragees in place of the sprinkles and add a bow or a flower.” Well, I was sold. We then got Molly from d’lish on board to flawlessly make our concept a reality. It not only looked amazing, it was outrageously tasty as well! Aside from cake, we had one other sweet I insisted upon. Brian and my dad love to smoke cigars together, so it was important to them to have a scotch and cigar bar outside during the reception (Brian actually asked my dad for his permission to marry me on a trip to the cigar shop). I therefore thought this entitled me to use a bit of the lawn as well, and The Creek Club was so wonderful to set up a S’MORES bar for me. This was truly the only food I went out of my way to eat the entire night.

“The Shout” was perhaps one of the most epic moments of our entire reception. The song (and dance) is a tradition among Brian’s group of friends, dating back to fraternity parties at Duke. Every wedding or large party/gathering always culminates in a huge dance party and massive 20-plus person “Gator” and our wedding was no exception. The band played it as the last song, so we really ended on a high note. We made sure to warn Leigh what was going to happen, and she got some amazing shots. It was such a riot! I love looking at the reactions of the guests in the pictures who didn’t know what was coming.

Tell us all about the proposal! We moved into our first joint apartment in late May 2011. We had just come home from a friend’s birthday party and I was washing my face getting ready for bed. I heard such a loud commotion in the kitchen and yelled to him to make sure everything was okay. Brian requested I “come here and see,” and as I rounded the corner, he met me on one knee with the most beautiful ring. We then toasted with a spectacular bottle of vintage champagne that Brian had snuck into the wine fridge earlier that day (he had purchased two bottles so we could have another one to toast our next big life occasion). It was so nice to have the sweet, special moment in our new home together. The often untold version of this story is that Brian had a grand plan for our engagement on Saturday, two nights later, and had told all our friends and family about it. He decided on Thursday night that he just couldn’t wait another second and did it right then and there. Lucky for me, all the celebrations went on as planned Saturday night!
When did y’all get married? November 10, 2012
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 130
Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? We sure did! We knew seeing one another would be a great nerve-calmer. We also wanted to have plenty of time to get all our photos in. Since the wedding ceremony was at 5 p.m. in November, we knew it would be was dark when the ceremony was over. We used the time between first look and the ceremony to walk around Charleston and take a ton of beautiful photos with the wedding party and family. This also got us to the cocktail reception just after our guests, and got all the family and bridal party to the church on time (or early!).

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? Since all of our guests were traveling from out of town to be with us in Charleston, we wanted to give them a very authentic Southern dining experience. All the passed options during cocktails were traditional Southern fare; pimento cheese, ham biscuits, oysters, deviled eggs. The dinner also features shrimp and grits as one of the courses!
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? The biggest general challenge I would say was distance. Being in New York required us to put a ton of faith in our vendors (who were all spectacular and left no reason to worry) and accomplish all the planning in two marathon trips to Charleston. I was so thankful for Katherine; she was really our boots on the ground and always left me feeling like everything was very well taken care of. Our biggest specific challenge was Hurricane Sandy. The storm hit about nine days before we were scheduled to fly to Charleston. We were without power for about five days after the storm. I will never forget having to walk down 30 flights of stairs in our apartment building, getting into a taxi that ultimately picked up two additional random passengers off the street, sitting in traffic for close to an hour to get to Brian’s office, which thankfully had power, to charge our phones and finish/email our seating plan to the venue. I suppose the silver lining of the whole situation was it kept me from stressing about small, silly, last-minute things related to the wedding, because I was more concerned about where I was going to shower and where we could sleep to avoid having to walk back up those 30 flights of stairs to our apartment.
What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? Katherine was truly there with us every step of the way. She was such a huge part of the biggest moment in our lives that I can’t imagine our wedding or lives without her.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Aside from becoming husband and wife, if we MUST pick just one, it would be our first dance. We boogied to “You Make My Dreams Come True” by Hall and Oates. I think everyone was a little surprised by our choice of song but it really fit our personalities perfectly.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Hire a professional planner! I can’t stress this enough. Wedding planners have wonderful relationships with vendors (that can often save you money), they have shortcuts, they are totally immersed in the wedding world and are up on all the trends, and they have wonderful tricks of the trade. I think almost all the stress and despair people feel planning a wedding could be alleviated with the help of a planner. Knowing that not you, not your mom and not your crazy second cousin who has a tendency to drink too many jack and cokes is in charge and handling every little detail is a huge relief. The vendors call the planner when something is wrong, not you. They keep things on time. Things just seeming to magically happen and unfold without you even having to think twice or worry is a wonderful gift. Wedding planners are truly worth their weight in gold!
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? Our plan is to continue to build our lives and careers here in New York, and we are looking forward to taking on a few hobbies now that we have some free time!

Photographer: Leigh Webber | Videographer: Siegel Films | Planner: Katherine Miller Events, now with Yoj Events | Ceremony Venue: St. Mary of the Annunciation | Reception Venue and Caterer: Creek Club at I’on | Florist: Charleston Stems | Cake Baker: d’lish desserts | Rentals: BBJ Linens and La Travola | Lounge Seating: Event DRS | Band: Momentum | Bride’s Gown: Alvena Valenta | Paper Products: Dodeline Designs | Calligraphy: Hardkin Calligraphy | Hair Stylist and Makeup Artist: Blushing Brides | Bride’s Shoes: Butter Bridal | Men’s Bow Ties: Collared Greens | Transportation: Trolley and Limos for Less

lisa Written with love by Lisa
23 Comments
  1. avatar Dana reply

    she did navy and orange beautifully!

  2. avatar Jackie reply

    I am so glad to see Alyson and Brian’s beautiful wedding featured – such a lovely couple and perfect Southern Wedding!

  3. avatar Desiree reply

    Y’all KNOW I love these colors…this wedding is awesome. All the texture is fab, too – leather, patterned linens, silks…yum!

  4. avatar Tied with a Bow: Links I Love reply

    […] Photo by Leigh Webber on Southern Weddings […]

  5. avatar Jamie reply

    Who made the bridesmaids dresses?

    • avatar Alyson reply

      Jamie: They were from Emma Graham Designs, but they appear to have taken their website down. I know Lula Kate has some very similar styles though!

  6. avatar Leigh Webber Photography reply

    […] was such a thrill to see Alyson & Brian’s wedding featured last week on the Southern Weddings […]

  7. avatar Kristin reply

    Hi! You guys do know that your posts in Feedly are cut off on the right side, right?

    • avatar Emily reply

      Thanks for the heads-up, Kristin! Nicole and I both use Feedly and just checked our accounts, and everything looks okay for us, but we’re going to investigate!

    • avatar Kristin reply

      Emily: Okay, maybe it’s different screen resolutions then bc I always have to click through to see the post. Good for you guys for more clicks, but it does mean I don’t always read each post. :) Thanks!

  8. avatar moodboard monday | Paper Tiger Press reply

    […] Flower crown photo via Bridal Musings. Middle Row: Orange bouquet via Pinterest, Boutonnières by Charleston Stems. Bottom Row: Orange and sage sangrias via Pinterest, Peach and orange cake from Wedding Chicks, […]

  9. avatar Peach Boutonnière { Wedding Inspiration } » Modern Weddings Hawaii Destination Bride Inspiration Hawaii Wedding Vendors reply

    […] This autumn North Carolinan wedding encompassed exquisite details that amazed us! We’re loving how these peachy rose boutonnières {those flower pins the groomsmen are sporting} accents the deep blue of the bridesmaids’ gowns! The brightness of the peach and gold against the dark satin dresses and sleek black tuxedos adds the perfect color compliment to a darker and more sophisticated color scheme.  Even the paisley pattern on the gold handkerchief in the groomsmen’s jacket pockets adds the perfect ounce of lavish beauty. See the full post over at Southern Weddings. […]

  10. avatar LulaKate : Blog Lovin’: Southern Wedding in Navy reply

    […] Southern Wedding in Navy and Orange! […]

  11. avatar Elizabeth reply

    Please help!
    I must have one of these something blue dress monogram labels for my wedding dress! Where can I find this item?
    Thanks!
    Elizabeth

    • avatar Alyson reply

      Hi Elizabeth, I purchased mine from Etsy. The vendor was Monde Design: https://www.etsy.com/transaction/79120856?ref=fb2_tnx_title

  12. avatar Orange & Navy Wedding Flowers ~ Renee’s Inspiration Board | Afloral.com Wedding Blog reply

    […] Bouquet Details} This orange and cream bouquet via Southern Weddings can be recreated with Creamy Beige Roses & Peonies, Coral Roses, Orange Orchids, Golden Yellow […]

  13. avatar Southern Etiquette: Monograms – Southern Weddings Magazine reply

    […] from top left: Marenda + Jonathan (Anna K), Cameron + Evan (Virgil Bunao), Alyson + Brian (Leigh Webber), Eddie + Jordan (Harwell Photography), Angelica + Colby (Jake Holt), Celie + Shane […]

  14. avatar Sponsored Post: Jewelers Mutual – Southern Weddings Magazine reply

    […] Alyson + Brian | Leigh Webber […]

  15. avatar Kathleen reply

    Hi! I am absolutely in love with your engagement ring and would love to more details about where your husband bought it/ size of the centre stone etc! Hoping to get one similar as my engagement ring!

    Thank you so much in advance!

    Kathleen

    • avatar Alyson reply

      Hi Kathleen,

      It came from a small diamond broker in NYC where many of our friends bought rings before us. Center stone is cushion (old mine cut) and about two and a quarter carets the baguettes are tapered and it is set in platinum. Hope this helps! Best of luck :)

  16. avatar Liz reply

    I absolutely love Alyson’s engagement ring! I’d love to know where she bought it or had it made. Cheers!

  17. avatar Planning Your Wedding – A Savannah Nite Limousine Services reply

    […] Navy blue is actually an excellent accent color for a fall wedding. The blue provides a lovely contrast to all of the oranges associated with autumn, making the colors in your pictures pop. If you don’t choose blue for your dresses, you can add little touches of blue to your bouquets and table settings to get the pop that you are looking for. For example, you can use a navy blue ribbon to tie your bouquets. […]

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