Google+ gray bridesmaid dresses Archives - Page 2 of 11 - Southern Weddings

Southern Weddings

Tag: gray bridesmaid dresses

Emily and I couldn’t help but giggle at the story of how Elise and Paul met. Her first memory of him was when he walked up to her and her best friend…to invite her best friend to homecoming! Needless to say, Paul did ultimately come around, and he and Elise dated through the rest of high school and college, tying the knot a few weeks after Elise graduated. Since planning a wedding during such a busy season proved to be a bit overwhelming, the incredibly talented Ginny Au helped bring their vision of a romantic, classic, loft celebration to life. I’m sure y’all will agree, the result was completely lovely, and Elise and Paul’s joy is contagious!

Thank you so much to Mandy Busby for sharing this beautiful day with us!

I think our vendors are what made the entire wedding planning process so easy and fun. Our wedding planner, Ginny Au, introduced us to almost all of our vendors, who worked so well together. From the moment I met Ginny, I felt confident and comfortable with all of her ideas. Our calligrapher, Holly Hollon, was so personable and easy to work with. The way she designed our save the dates and invitations fit our style so perfectly, we looked for different ways to incorporate her work into our wedding day as well.

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. I decided from the beginning that I wanted my wedding dress to be a secret from my friends, so just my mom and I went to find it. We had gone to one or two other places before we went to Diane’s Formal Affair. I didn’t really know what I was looking for, but I knew right away that my dress was the one when I put it on!

Katie did a beautiful job with our flowers! She used olive branches, Claire de Lune peonies, Sarah Bernhardt peonies, white lisianthus, white tuberose, oak leaf hydrangea, viburnum, dusty miller, and a variety of garden roses. She tied them up in beautiful Frou Frou Chic ribbon. My bouquet was so heavy, my arm was sore the next day! It was definitely worth it because it was the most beautiful bouquet I’ve ever seen–not to mention, it smelled fantastic.

Did you decide to do a first look? Why or why not? Paul and I chose not to see each other before the ceremony. Although we always thought we would have a first look, we changed our minds during the planning process. Ginny and Mandy both encouraged us to save the first look for when I walked down the aisle. It wasn’t as private as a first look would have been, but looking back, we’re so thankful we followed through with this tradition. It’s a memory filled with so much emotion, and we’ll never forget it.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Instead of a first look, Paul and I met around a door to talk and exchange wedding day gifts before the ceremony. I remember feeling so nervous and giddy. I think this stands out as the most memorable moment because it was the last moment we shared before becoming husband and wife.

If we had to choose one detail from our wedding that was our favorite, it would be our wedding video. Watching it for the first time was like reliving the whole day–I cried all over again! The Film Poets did such a wonderful job capturing the entire day. Parts of that day were a blur because we were so overwhelmed with happiness, and Matt and Pacey created such a special keepsake to help us relieve those emotions and memories every day!

What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they have any special significance to you? We chose to have our ceremony at Advent, which is where my family attends church. For the reception, Paul and I were looking for something with a loft feel, rather than a country club. I loved Bridgestreet because it had so much character. It was also close to our ceremony venue, so it worked out perfectly!

Dreamcakes did our cakes and they were delicious. Mine was their vanilla flavor cake with vanilla icing. It had four tiers and was tinted to match the blue color we used throughout the wedding. It was decorated with fondant flowers and our monogram. Paul did a chocolate cake with chocolate icing for the groom’s cake, which was decorated with chocolate shavings.

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. Paul and I met in high school. My first memory of him is from the lunchroom, when he walked up to my best friend and I to ask her to the homecoming dance. He doesn’t remember me being there, but I definitely was! We started talking in algebra class during our sophomore year, and made it official on May 23, 2008. He proposed to me in the spring of our junior year of college. We were married the next May, three weeks after my college graduation!
Tell us all about the proposal! I’m not easy to surprise, so Paul knew his proposal would have to be well thought out. It took a couple of white lies, but he got me to his parents’ house and surprised me with a dinner on their back porch. It was set up exactly like our first (and my favorite) Valentine’s Day date, which had been in that same spot. After a delicious dinner, Paul went inside to get dessert. When he came back outside, the next thing I knew, he was on one knee, proposing! I was so surprised; Paul had a hard time understanding me through all my tears. Our families were anxiously awaiting the phone call at my parents’ house, where they had gathered to celebrate with us. It was a perfect night!
When did y’all get married? May 24, 2014
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? About 325
Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We read traditional vows that followed the Book of Common Prayer in the Episcopal Church.
How did you plan for your marriage while planning your wedding? Besides marriage counseling with our pastor, Paul and I spent our engagement reading “This Momentary Marriage” by Tim Keller. We would read it on our own and then spend time together each week to talk about what we read. Even though we thought we knew all there was to know about each other, Paul and I learned a lot about what the other expected in our marriage. It was a great time to talk and pray for our future as husband and wife.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? The biggest challenge for me was probably all the change that was happening. May brought a lot of new adventures, including college graduation, getting married, and moving into our first home as husband and wife. It could be a little overwhelming!
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Enjoy every day! My mom and I had such a great time planning mine and Paul’s wedding, and I was truly sad when it was over. I look back on it and only have good memories of the whole process! My advice would just be to stay focused on the bigger picture. It is such a beautiful time in your life and you will never have it back!
What’s next for you as a couple? What memories are you looking forward to making together? Paul and I have been living in Tuscaloosa, but are planning to move back to Birmingham this summer. I will continue to teach elementary school and Paul will finish up his undergrad at UA, where he is working to become a mechanical engineer. We are looking forward to year two of marriage and all that it brings our way!

Photographer: Mandy Busby / Videographer: The Film Poets / Planner: Ginny Au / Ceremony Venue: Cathedral Church of the Advent / Reception Venue: Bridgestreet Gallery and Loft / Florist: Cloth of Gold / Paper Goods: Holly Hollon / Cake Baker: Dream Cakes / Caterer: The Happy Catering Company / Band: The Fountain City Players / Bridal Salon: Diane’s Formal Affair / Hair and Makeup: Holly Caffee / Bride’s Shoes: Betsey Johnson / Bridesmaid Dress Salon: Bella Bridesmaids / Menswear: Jos. A. Bank

lisa Written with love by Lisa
4 Comments
  1. avatar liam smith reply

    Amazing bridesmaid reaction shot

  2. avatar Lindsay Colvin reply

    Such a unique and beautiful cake, love it! Also, that bridesmaid shot is such a precious moment.

  3. avatar Emily reply

    Love the sweet decals they included at their reception venue! Such a small detail, but really lovely!

  4. avatar Laura reply

    Beautiful wedding! I love everything from the invitations to the florals to the bride’s dress.

Southern Weddings reserves the right to delete comments which contain profanity or personal attacks or seek to promote a business unrelated to the post.  And remember: a good attitude is like kudzu – it spreads.  We love hearing your kind thoughts!

Reply to:
close

Mare and Jake met in Oxford while attending Ole Miss, so for these college sweethearts, their alma mater’s campus proved to be the perfect spot for Mare’s dream wedding. To help bring the wedding she had always pictured–an outdoor celebration complete with a white tent and chandeliers–to life, Jake gifted her with a wedding planner after their engagement! While this was a sweet gesture of his love for her, it was also a way for them to serve their future marriage, since it gave them time to tend to their relationship amidst their wedding plans.

Big hugs to Brian Flint for sending along this fun day!

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. One afternoon, my mom and I stopped in The Bridal Path in Jackson so I could try on dresses, and as soon as I walked in, I fell in love with a dress on the mannequin. My mom started crying when I tried it on, so I knew it was the one!

I wanted the flowers to be very elegant and classic, but with a Southern twist. My favorite flowers are hydrangeas, so I wanted all of the bridesmaids to carry full white hydrangea bouquets. Large arrangements with hydrangeas, white lilies, cabbage roses, and bell of Ireland were elevated on each guest table at the reception. My bouquet was made up of green hydrangeas, roses, and lilies.

Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! My something old was a gift from my father–he created a diamond necklace with his mother’s engagement diamond. My something blue was my garter, my dress was new, and I borrowed my lipstick from my fabulous makeup artist!

The ceremony music was so special to my family. A family friend, who had also sang at my parents’ wedding, sang “The Lord’s Prayer.” My sister, who was my matron of honor, sang “Surely the Presence” during the lighting of the unity candle. She and I have always loved that song.

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? Our hotel gift boxes included Mississippi cheese straws and we served fried chicken at our reception. We also chose Southern signature cocktails, hired a Memphis soul band, and left our ceremony in a New Orleans-style trolley double decker bus!

Ever since I was a little girl, I have always dreamed of having an outdoor wedding with a white tent and chandeliers. Since we both went to Ole Miss and met in Oxford, we decided that the Ole Miss campus was the perfect place for our outdoor reception.

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: We loved the candy bar filled with gold and white gum balls, pink and white lollipops, strawberry cheesecake jelly beans, gold-wrapped gummy candy, gummy grapefruit, Reese’s, and sweet taffy.

How did you plan for your marriage while planning your wedding? We were able to focus on our upcoming marriage by hiring a wedding planner. This was a gift from my husband right after our engagement! As he says, “This is the best investment I have ever made.” While we both have busy schedules, we were able to enjoy time with each other when we were off of work, instead of spending that time worrying about our wedding. Pre-marital counseling also had a huge impact on planning for our marriage.

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. We met through mutual friends while at Ole Miss. My good friend had gone out with Jake and his best friend, and she told Jake he needed to meet me. A few nights later, she talked me into going out with her so she could introduce us. I did not want anything to do with Jake for the first month, and declined when he asked me out. Finally, my roommate convinced me to go on one date with him to the University Club, and after that, it was history.
Tell us all about the proposal! Jake proposed on May 4, his birthday! I had made reservations to go to Season 52 for his birthday dinner, and then we were planning to head to a friend’s house. We went to dinner, and on the way home, Jake told me that we had to stop by the house so he could get something. When we pulled up to the house, I waited in the car. Jake told me to get out because he had a surprise for me. He said it was “something small that could get bigger.” I was convinced he had gotten a dog, so I was a little aggravated, but then, he came out of the bedroom and proposed. After asking him five times if he was serious, I said yes.
When did y’all get married? May 2, 2015
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? Over 300
Describe your wedding cake or dessert. We chose a three-tiered cake with homemade almond flavored icing. The cake was accented with sugar tulips trimmed in gold.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? I had to realize that my husband was not going to make any wedding planning decisions! He wanted me to have the wedding I dreamed of.
What’s next for you as a couple? What memories are you looking forward to making together? We are excited to begin renovating our home that we purchased before the wedding. We are looking forward to traveling back to our honeymoon location once a year, having a family, and growing old together.

Photographer: B. Flint Photography / Videographer: Frameblender Films / Planner: Claire Kiamie of One Fine Day Event / Ceremony Venue: Oxford United Methodist Church / Reception Venue: Ole Miss / Florist: Oxford Floral / Cake Baker: Sweet Things by Janet Smith / Caterer: My Michelle’s LLC / Rentals and Lighting: Magnolia Rental & Sales / Band: DMP Band with Ram Entertainment / Paper Products: Nest Paper Studio / Bride’s Gown: “LZ3415” by Lazaro / Bride’s Veil: Meringue Veil / Hair Stylist: Bloom Salon & Spa / Makeup Artist: Jessica Mathias / Bride’s Shoes: Antonio Melani from Dillard’s / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: “Ball Gown” by Two Birds / Bridesmaid Dress Salon: Bella Bridesmaids Memphis / Menswear: Thomas Brothers

marissa Written with love by Marissa
4 Comments
  1. avatar Mare & Jake | An Oxford Mississippi Wedding | b.flint photography | mississippi wedding photographer reply

    […] photography: b.flint photographyevent planning: one fine daycatering: my michelle’sMUAH: bloomreception venue: Ole Miss Campusceremony venue: Oxford-University United Methodist Churchrentals: magnolia rentalreception band: DMPfloral: oxford floralcake: sweet things by janet smithcinematographer: frameblender filmswedding dress: lazaroshoes: antonio melaniphoto booth: the hardin housePUBLISHED IN SOUTHERN WEDDINGS […]

  2. avatar betty simmons reply

    I attended the wedding, and it was simply lovely!! We even brought our children and 4 grandchildren. One said I met a real princess!

  3. avatar Antonio Gual reply

    Stunning wedding– Best wishes!

  4. avatar Mare & Jake Gibbs – One Fine Day reply

    […] Ole Miss Wedding by B. Flint Photography […]

Southern Weddings reserves the right to delete comments which contain profanity or personal attacks or seek to promote a business unrelated to the post.  And remember: a good attitude is like kudzu – it spreads.  We love hearing your kind thoughts!

Reply to:
close

I’m a classic wedding gal through and through! When I saw the very first photo of Grace and Ben’s beautiful day I knew I was going to love it. I mean, the cathedral length lace veil and monogram button down combo?! But, after reading their sweet interview, I am even more smitten. For these high school sweethearts, sticking with tradition, classic design, and beautiful florals was not just to create a stunning wedding day, but to honor their family and their own love story. Custom corn hole boards are fun, but for Grace and Ben it was not only a nod to the amazing tailgates we have as Southerners, but Ben’s time as a collegiate football player at Appalachian State. My favorite reason for a decision, however, is why they chose not to have a first look. Ben’s father (also his best man) told him: “One of the greatest feelings you’ll ever have in your entire life is when your bride walks down the aisle towards you for the first time; you feel like your chest is going to explode.” Oh, Southern gents, y’all break the mold!

Big SW hugs to Blue Ribbon Vendor Virgil Bunao for capturing this romantic day planned by fellow BRV member A Charleston Bride.

I found my wedding dress the week after we got engaged! At an appointment with my mom, I tried on about five dresses I liked, and then she pulled one from the rack that she thought I should try on. I did, not really sure if I would like it, and LOVED it as soon as I put it on, so much so that I decided I didn’t want to try on any more dresses and knew that it was the one! The only issue was that it was strapless, and I had always wanted sleeves. The amazing ladies at Joan Pillow worked with me over a period of about six months to create a custom designed bolero from coordinating Carolina Herrera lace to match my veil. I had a vision for it and they made it happen so beautifully!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. Ben and I met at Charlotte Latin School. He played football and had a devastating knee injury his senior year. The injury resulted in multiple surgeries, causing him to miss so much school that he ended up choosing to repeat his senior year to get to play a complete season of football and re-earn his athletic scholarships to colleges. The doctors told him he might never walk again, and he ended up being an all-American college football player at Appalachian State as a tight end. Also, if he hadn’t had to repeat his senior year, we never would have met! I waved at him from my art class for a few weeks while he was playing foursquare outside for a physical education class. He asked one of my friends who I was, my friend gave Ben my number, and the rest is history!

What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? I grew up going to Kiawah Island with my family and have so many happy memories there, so as soon as we got engaged I had a feeling I wanted to get married there. Ben also loves it and has joined my family on lots of trips there. Whenever I was at Kiawah with my family, we attended Holy Spirit Catholic church and I thought it was beautiful. Plus, the people there are so kind and warm.
Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We used the traditional vows at the church. Reciting the traditional vows that my parents and their parents before them promised to each other before God is something that was very special for me.
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? Old Testament: Genesis 2:18-24, New Testament: 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:8a, Gospel: Matthew 7:21, 24-29 (My husband’s favorite scripture verses!)

Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. We chose “God Who Created Hearts to Love” as the song to walk back up the aisle to once we were married because it completely sums up our belief about marriage — that we were created by God to love Him through loving each other. Our first dance was “All of Me” by John Legend; my husband specifically picked it out because the lyrics sum up what we are about. Neither of us are perfect, and we love that about each other. My dad picked our first dance song, “Lullaby: Goodnight, My Angel,” and we both cried. I loved that it was not a very common father-daughter dance song, and it brought back so many memories of my dad singing it to me when I was a little girl.

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? We had custom corn hole boards set up off the back porch to entertain our guests during the cocktail hour. My husband played college football in the South and it was a great nod to the amazing tailgates we have as Southerners! We had chicken and waffles as a passed appetizer, with the waffle as a waffle cone and a piece of fried chicken with syrup inside of it– easy to eat and delicious! Along with Southern deviled eggs and macaroni and cheese balls, we also had a raw bar with local oysters and shrimp. One of our three entree options was shrimp and grits. Other than the food, the overall atmosphere of the event was very Southern in regards to the hospitality. As we planned the wedding, the main thought I always came back to was trying to make everything comfortable and welcoming for our guests. The staff at the River Course went above and beyond to make sure every one of our guests had what they needed at all times. Another way that idea was executed was in having lounge furniture right off the dance floor. The gorgeous upholstered sofas and chairs summed up what being Southern means to me – welcoming, comfortable, and relaxed elegance.

Describe your wedding cake or dessert. We chose to incorporate two flavors into the three tiers. The top and bottom were white chocolate cake with chocolate hazelnut filling, and the middle tier was sour cream pound cake with strawberry filling. In terms of the design, I wanted to keep it simple and have it be a part of the overall design of the event. The middle tier said, “And they lived happily ever after,” in gold, as well. I really wanted to incorporate our love of Disney and our engagement in a subtle way.

Tell us all about the proposal! We both love Disney World, and our dating anniversary was January 1st. On New Year’s Eve, we decided to go to the Magic Kingdom together to celebrate seven years of dating. We spent the day there together and found a great spot to watch the fireworks starting at midnight, the start of our seven year celebration! We were right in front of Cinderella’s castle, and after the countdown to the New Year, as the fireworks were just beginning, Ben got down on one knee and whipped a ring out of his pocket and proposed! I was shocked and so unbelievably happy!
When did y’all get married? January 17, 2015
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 140
Did you decide to do a first look? Why or why not? We decided to not do one. Ben’s father (also his best man) has always told him: “One of the greatest feelings you’ll ever have in your entire life is when your bride walks down the aisle towards you for the first time; you feel like your chest is going to explode” We definitely wanted to share that moment of seeing each other for the first time that day as I walked down the aisle in the church and I’m so happy we did it that way. It was so incredible and Ben says he will remember that feeling for the rest of his life.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: Our favorite detail was our custom logo designed by Studio R. It was our initials intertwined inside of a hand-drawn floral wreath. I loved it so much that we used it on our invitations, envelopes, cocktail napkins, corn hole boards, thank you cards, and most excitingly for me: our ice sculpture. I love ice sculptures, and knew I wanted one at our wedding. Our wedding planner suggested carving our custom logo on it. We placed shrimp and oysters on it, making it a raw bar set up in front of the huge bay windows. As the sun set, it illuminated and shone through the sculpture. It was beautiful and a custom touch I will always remember and cherish. It was also one of the first things our guests saw when they walked into the space for cocktail hour, and I believe it set the tone for the rest of the event.
Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! Yes! Borrowed: I had two! I first asked the florist to wrap my bouquet in my mom’s white rosary that she got in Italy. Secondly, I borrowed my mom’s gorgeous pearl earrings with diamond jackets. They are classic and elegant, just like my mom. I felt so special wearing them. Blue: Betty, the wonderful seamstress at Joan Pillow Bridal Salon, surprised me at our last fitting by embroidering the inside of my dress right over my heart with a blue GJ (my new initials), and our wedding date. After spending months designing my custom bolero with her, we became really close and it was very meaningful for me that she did that. Old: I also had the florist wrap my bouquet in a strip of lace from my mother’s dress. I loved having a piece of her dress as a part of my outfit as I walked down the aisle, and along with her rosary, I cherished holding onto it.
How did you plan for your marriage while planning your wedding? It was a lot of fun to work with Haley and the ladies of A Charleston Bride to plan our beautiful wedding, but for the year we were engaged, Ben and I were most focused and excited about preparing for our marriage and life together. After being together for over seven years at that point, we were so ready to commit to spending the rest of our lives together in front of God and our family and friends. We met with my local priest for premarital counseling and attended a weekend getaway with engaged couples where there were speakers on issues ranging from financial planning to spiritual development.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? There were so many images I had seen on Pinterest and in magazines that I loved, but they were all very different from each other! It was hard for me to focus on what, exactly, I wanted our wedding to look like. It was overwhelming!! After my first meeting with Haley, all of my issues were totally gone, as she instantly was able to look into my head and know exactly what I wanted, but couldn’t articulate. She was able to read my taste completely, and helped me more than I can say with creating a vision. She is incredible.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? My most memorable moment was when the church doors opened for the first time, I stood with my dad, and looked out and saw the man I love more than anything in the world who was about to become my husband.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? My advice would be to stress out as little as possible about it. At the end of the day, the most important thing is your marriage; the rest of it is just beautiful extras. However beautiful you believe your wedding will be, I promise it will be even more incredible than you imagined. Relax, soak it in, and enjoy it. It will be gorgeous and perfect no matter what little things go wrong.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? Ben and I recently brought a new member into our family, our puppy English Bulldog named Brutus! We plan to continue settling into our first home together, tackling very very small home improvement projects as neither of us are handy, and enjoying this time together.

Photographer: Virgil Bunao Photography | Videographer: Jim Jorden Productions | Planner:
Haley with A Charleston Bride | Ceremony Venue: Holy Spirit Catholic Church | Reception Venue and Caterer: The River Course Clubhouse at the Kiawah Island Club | Florist: A Charleston Bride | Wedding Cake: Ashley Bakery | Band: The Maxx from East Coast Entertainment | Paper Products: Studio R |
Bride’s Gown and Veil: Carolina Herrera “Alice” | Bridal Salon and Custom Bolero: Joan Pillow | Hair Stylist: Victora Melton | Makeup Artist: Moore Makeup | Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Tadashi Shoji from purchased at Nordstrom | Groom’s Attire: Charleston Tuxedo

A Charleston Bride, Virgil Bunao, East Coast Entertainment, and Studio R are delightful members of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

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

    Obsessed with this sweet couple and their story! Consider this comment a formal request for y’all to feature them for Southern Newlywed- with style like this I bet their home is adorable! XO

  2. avatar Jim reply

    What a sweet article Marissa! Here’s a link to: Grace & Ben Forever, Their Love Story

    https://vimeo.com/126622727

    Password – jordens (all lower case)

  3. avatar Jehnel Oboza-Davison reply

    I second that request, Victoria! We were so happy to have Grace and Ben make their way towards for their photos. When I found out their home was also adorable, I immediately told Grace to try her hand at applying for Southern Newlywed. I really hope she does! (=

  4. avatar Lover.ly reply

    Wow what an elegant event. We especially love the flowers around the fireplace & on the backs of the chairs and that cake is so pretty!

  5. avatar Abbey Angelle reply

    Would love to know where the mother of the bride dress came from? Designer? I love it.

Southern Weddings reserves the right to delete comments which contain profanity or personal attacks or seek to promote a business unrelated to the post.  And remember: a good attitude is like kudzu – it spreads.  We love hearing your kind thoughts!

Reply to:
close
Top