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I don’t know about y’all, but my Instagram feed was full of beaches and lakes this weekend! As if that wasn’t enough to get me extra excited for my own first beach trip of the summer in a few weeks, today’s wedding is a Southern coastal wedding dream come true. Inspired by their mutual love for the water and Robert’s childhood summers at the Carolina Yacht Club, Lara Beth and Robert were married at one of their favorite places. I love how they added just a few sweet, personal details to their already-beautiful venue–with views like this, it certainly didn’t need much!

Thanks so much to Britt Croft for sharing this pretty wedding with us!

Describe your wedding flowers. I got extremely lucky when I found my wedding planner, Teresa Gausman. Not only is she a talented event planner, she is also an amazing florist. My bouquet was an assortment of ivory and blush pink peonies, roses, and hydrangeas. Teresa cleverly hung beautiful pink rose balls from manzanita branches for some of the centerpieces, along with assorted arrangements of hydrangeas, roses, and tulips. She did a fantastic job!

We both love the water and wanted to get married near the beach. Robert spent many summers at the Carolina Yacht Club as a child, and the location was perfect for us. It definitely had the romantic, casual atmosphere that we were looking for.

Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! For my something borrowed, I borrowed earrings from my dear friend Emily. They were beautiful and she had also worn them on her wedding day. For something blue, I had the wedding date and my new initials, LBM, sewn into the inside of my dress with blue ribbon. I had lace from my mother’s wedding dress wrapped around my bouquet for something old. My wedding dress was my something new.

Our favorite detail was the nautical theme that was carried throughout the wedding. The beachfront yacht club set the tone, and we chose soft, coastal colors for the wedding party attire and ceremony/reception decor. The invitations and ceremony programs had a simple anchor placed at the top of them. We also had cups made with our names and an anchor printed on them in seafoam green.

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? Our reception menu was very Southern. The main course for dinner was fried chicken and waffles, macaroni and cheese, collard greens, deviled eggs, and succotash. These items are always crowd pleasers at Southern weddings, and sure enough, no one left hungry!

What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? After the reception, guests lined the walkway of the yacht club and wished us farewell with a sea of colorful streamers. I remember the love and excitement that I felt knowing that all of our closest friends and family members were gathered together for us. With a bottle of champagne in hand and a full heart, we left on Robert’s boat. It truly was a happy day!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. We both went to UNC Wilmington for college and met there through mutual friends. We started dating after college, while I was living in Charleston, SC, and dated long distance until I moved to Wilmington a little over a year later.
Tell us all about the proposal! Robert proposed on his grandfather’s pier at Lake Waccamaw, NC. His grandfather plants thousands of flowers on the pier every year and it is absolutely beautiful! Other family members have gotten married and engaged in that very spot. It is such a special place!
When did y’all get married? April 12, 2014
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 275
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. A string quartet played the prelude, processional, and recessional at the ceremony. We kept the music traditional (Canon in D, Trumpet Voluntary, Ode to Joy). Our first dance was to Van Morrison “Crazy Love” because we both love Van Morrison and we wanted a song that was upbeat and easy to dance to.
Describe your wedding cake or dessert. We had a four-tiered cake with blush pink and ivory flowers arranged in bunches on top of the cake and between the tiers. There were alternating layers of strawberry and almond pound cake with a cream cheese filling and buttercream icing. It was delicious!
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Our biggest challenge was that our wedding was held on the same weekend as a very popular festival in Wilmington. Hotels fill up quickly for this weekend, so we reserved several blocks of rooms almost immediately after setting the date. We did not want guests to have to travel in heavy traffic from the ceremony to the reception, so we decided to have everything at the yacht club. The ceremony was held on the lower deck and the chairs were quickly removed during the cocktail hour to make space for guests during the reception. The yacht club staff and Teresa’s team worked magic to make it happen.
What was one way you saved money or cut costs at your wedding? We reused flowers from the bridesmaid luncheon and rehearsal dinner at the wedding. This was a huge money saver!
What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? Working with my wedding planner, Teresa Gausman, was one of my favorite parts of wedding planning. She had ideas galore and was a dream to work with. She is one of the most creative people I have ever met, and because of her, the yacht club looked stunning!
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? For me, wedding planning went by super quickly. My advice would be to enjoy every minute with your significant other and savor being engaged!
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? At some point, we would like to start a family, but for now, we are enjoying this time as newlyweds. We are the best of friends and we grow closer every day.

Photographer: Britt Croft / Planner and Florist: Teresa Gausman of Premiere Events / Venue: Carolina Yacht Club / Cake Baker: Imaginary Cakes / Caterer: Pine Valley Market / Rentals: Party Suppliers / Lighting: High Performance Lighting / Band: The Phase Band / Bride’s Gown: Mori Lee / Paper Products: The Fisherman’s Wife and Kamin & Associates, Inc / Hair and Makeup: Bangz Salon and Day Spa / Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Allure / Men’s Attire: Tommy Hilfiger

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

    So gorgeous! I love their flower-decked altar and those gorgeous white petal linens on the porch!

  2. avatar Kat reply

    so soft & romantic! I love the white textured linens & the touches of minty-blue & blush!

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It’s easy to get stuck in the rut of thinking all Southern weddings are set in rolling countryside or on bucolic farms. After all, we feature a lot of lovely outdoor weddings! But I think some of our best features are actually the ones in cities and indoor spaces, because, once the natural environment is stripped away, we’re left with what really makes a wedding Southern — a focus on graciousness, hospitality, delicious food, tradition, and family. And that? Emily and Joe have it in spades. (Plus, their venue happens to be gorgeous, too!) Hugs to the very talented Blue Ribbon Vendor Haley Sheffield for sharing this Atlanta beauty with us!

Yes, Emily’s gown is stunning! Couldn’t love the bow or stripes more.

The first boutique that I visited was La Raine’s Bridal in Virginia Highlands, as a surprise for my best friend. She had been dying to go dress shopping with me since the moment I got engaged. The next weekend, I invited my mother, future mother-in-law, and aunts down to Atlanta for Mother’s Day. During their stay, we went shopping for wedding dresses at a few different local shops where I had made appointments. Even though I found some pretty gowns, there were none that compared to one of the Ian Stuart designs that I had seen the week before. Adamant that my moms and aunts could not leave without laying eyes on my dream dress, I frantically dialed La Raines in hopes that I could come in that day. Despite being slammed with appointments, they were able to fit me in to try on one dress!

Before I had a wedding date, venue, dress, or vendor, I had my somethings. Joe proposed at the end of October 2011, and other than my family, I kept it a secret for nearly a month. When I returned home for Thanksgiving, my best friend planned an engagement party for me and four of my closest childhood friends. Before my engagement ring was revealed, each girl drew a small card which had one of the following words written on it: “old”, “new”, “borrowed” or “blue.” Then they were handed an envelope which read their name and “will you be my something…” with a space to insert their drawn slip of paper. Inside was a note for each of them to read. And finally, I slipped on my ring. I am so blessed to have them in my life and because they are already so special to me it made perfect sense to give them a special and meaningful role on our wedding day.

We had planned a first look session with our photographer prior to our guests arriving, and in all of the morning chaos, I completely missed when she announced that she would let me know when to emerge. Just two steps out the door, I caught a glimpse of Joe. In a panic, I stepped backward, almost completely trampling over the train on my dress. Luckily, my bridesmaids were there to pick up the pieces before I fell apart. When I finally made it up the steps to my soon-to-be husband and turned him around, all of my nerves vanished and the tone was set for the rest of the evening. This was it… our wedding day!

Joe and I had gotten into a disagreement early on in the planning process about who should be in “the wedding party”.. a silly debate over friends or family. We reached a moment of clarity once a song came on through the car speakers, which we have since referred to as “our song,” since it seemed to make the world around us stop and remind us that we were in this together, and no matter what we decided on, it would be okay! We had the song, “Drowning” by Armin Van Buuren arranged by a conductor in affiliation with the Atlanta Philharmonic Orchestra. It was played by a string quartet slowly during the bridal processional, and then sped up and played for a second time during the recessional for Joe and I to walk to together as husband and wife.

With our save the dates, we asked all of our close friends and family to send us a picture from each of their weddings. Joe and I enjoyed hearing all of the love stories from our guests and seeing the excitement in their faces as they began their marriages through all of the 30+ wedding day pictures that were sent to us to display at our reception.

Describe your vision for your wedding. I based the colors and feel off of the venue. Being an interior designer, I even matched up the colors using a Benjamin Moore paint deck! Overall, the scheme was light and dreamy to contrast the bold, industrial presence surrounding the courtyard. Against the brick red railings and hard concrete slabs, all of the colors remained soft, pulling more from the sweet Southern charm of JCT Kitchen.

What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? My photographer, Haley Sheffield. When I came across Haley’s site and browsed through her blog, I was immediately drawn to the style and quality of her work, but it wasn’t until Joe and I met with her in person that I knew we had had found the right girl for the job. Since then, she has exceeded all of our expectations and gone above and beyond simply doing her job. She kept me in mind when she came across other vendors who seemed to fit my vision and style, as well as encouraged my creativity and offered advice in areas of planning where I had little experience. She is way more than a photographer–she is an inspirer, a planner, an artist, a genuine friend, and a vendor I was thrilled to have as part of our wedding day. I hope to continue to work with her in the future as Joe and I build our lives together.

When did y’all get married? Sunday, October 13, 2013
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? Just under 100 guests
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. Due to Joe’s love of electronic music, I surprised him about a month before the wedding with DJ lessons. With the help of our hired DJ, Mike Zarin of Zarin Entertainment Group, Joe compiled his own mix and revealed his talents during the reception. This turned out to be a huge hit for our guests, many of whom gathered into the courtyard to cheer him on, and even managed to get him back up for an encore. Lastly, our DJ played “Save the Last Dance for Me” as the last dance of the night, which I had reserved for my father and I. We had danced to the song together at my cousin’s wedding a couple years prior, and it held a special place in my heart ever since, so I could not resist the chance to include it in the evening. It meant so much to me to share a dance at the very end of the reception with my dad.
Describe your wedding flowers. Amy Osaba arranged beautiful centerpieces using bud vases and a mixture of stands and vessels, as well as bouquets, boutonnieres and blooms for the bridal party. She used various types of flowers, including peonies, English garden roses, ranunculus, anemones, etc. in a palette of soft muted colors with pops of blush pink, greens, and peachy salmon. She also made little flower crowns, which were a huge hit by the end of the night, as they were worn by myself, my bridesmaids, and even a few of our wedding guests.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? My biggest challenge was asking for help and coming to the realization that I could not singlehandedly plan our wedding. There were so many moving parts that in the end may not have come together as seamlessly without the assistance of friends, family, and a handful of incredible vendors.
If you are comfortable responding, what range did your wedding budget fall into? $25,000-$50,000
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? One of our most memorable moments was at the ceremony, when we turned to face all of our guests who had traveled from numerous places to share in our day. There was such a rush at that moment–almost like being in a dream. While staring into Joe’s eyes, exchanging vows and sharing our first kiss as husband and wife, I felt as though we were in our own little world. When we turned around to go back down the aisle, I realized then that we were not alone, and came face to face with all of the people we love most.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? My advice to anyone currently planning a wedding is to enjoy it, and if at any point in time, it is not fun anymore, reach out for assistance.

Photographer: Haley Sheffield / Venue and Catering: JCT Kitchen + Bar / Flowers & Decor: Amy Osaba / Cakes: HHDesserts / Rentals: Bash Factory / DJ: Zarin Entertainment Group / Wedding Dress: Ian Stuart / Bridal Salon: La Raine’s Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Badgely Mischka / Paper Products: The bride / Hair and Makeup: Christy Hubbard of James Madison Hair / Bridesmaid Dresses: Asos, Anthropologie, David’s Bridal, J.Crew, BHLDN, Adrianna Pappel / Groom’s Attire: Zara / Ties: The Tie Bar

Haley Sheffield is a delightful member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

emily Written with love by Emily
15 Comments
  1. avatar Lisa reply

    Oh my goodness, I love everything about this wedding! Their style, the venue, the FLOWERS–just gorgeous!

  2. avatar Stephanie reply

    This wedding just exudes genuine love!! The flowers and her striped/bow dress are simply perfection, too!

  3. avatar Jeremy Harwell reply

    Such a beautiful wedding! Amy and Haley are the best!

  4. avatar Krisstin | On the Go Bride reply

    Oh my her gown is stunning!

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    Thank you so much. Honored to be on Southern Weddings alongside so many talented vendors!

  7. avatar Amanda {Planning It All} reply

    I love all of the family portraits!

  8. avatar Kat reply

    I just LOVE her dress, her bouquet & her sweet story for her something old, new, borrowed & blue!!! SO unique & fun!

  9. avatar Madelynne Moulton reply

    I love everything about this. One of my favorite restaurants in Atlanta and an amazing florist and photographer! That dress is just amazing too! Thank you for showing everyone how perfect a city wedding can be in Atlanta!

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I am truly delighted to be sharing Ali and Austin’s wedding with y’all today! Not only are the pictures from their Texas wedding so beautiful and full of joy, their story–from both of their perspectives!–is also the absolute sweetest. From a first date “adventure” to a proposal that, yes, made me cry at my desk, to a wedding full of meaningful music and details, these Baylor sweethearts captured my heart. I hope their love brightens your day as much as it has mine!

Hugs to Jennefer Wilson for sharing Ali and Austin’s wedding with us!

I had the opportunity to go dress shopping with my mom, Sally, my little sister and one of the maids of honor, Emma. We began the day at The Blushing Bride, which is a boutique in my hometown of Frisco, TX. Right away, I noticed a beautiful, natural-waist dress with bits of lace detailing and absolutely fell in love with it! I asked to try it on first and was head over heels for it once I put it on! Both my mom and I cried when I showed it off! For the sake of getting perspective, I did try on more dresses at the Blushing Bride and went to one more boutique in Dallas later that day. However, while other dresses were beautifully made and very flattering, I couldn’t get dress #1 out of my head! I think that the important part about choosing a wedding dress is finding one that makes you feel radiant from any camera angle, that reflects your personal style, and that you feel comfortable eating and dancing the night away in!

Describe your wedding flowers. When gathering ideas on Pinterest, I was drawn to pictures of garlands and free-flowing arrangements. I wanted the bouquets to look organic and effortless–like they were picked from a beautiful garden. I also wanted to create a kind of arbor effect inside the Chapel at Chestnut Square with large arrangements that drew the guests’ eyes to the altar. All of the things on my wish list were masterfully created by Ashley Kirk of Ashlilium! The bridesmaid bouquets were whimsical and full of different types and textures of lavender, white, and soft pink flowers. Each was wrapped in soft gray velvet. My bouquet was a beautiful combination of large blooms and delicate accents. I was touched by the way that Ashley incorporated the handkerchief my mother-in-law had carried on her wedding day by wrapping it with the velvet around the base of the bouquet!

Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? Yes, we decided to do a first look and we believe it was an excellent decision! I was anxious to see Austin and to have precious moments with him before the big day really got going! The photographs that were taken during the first look are some of my favorites and are proudly displayed on the walls of our new little house! Doing the first look before the ceremony also allowed Austin and me to be the first people to arrive at the reception. This gave us the chance to check out how everything we had been planning had come together! We also decided to do a receiving line as guests entered the reception. This was one of our FAVORITE decisions because we were able to greet and thank each one of our guests! It was important for us to communicate how much it meant to us that all of our friends and family were able to be a part of our big day! Brides will tell you that waiting to talk with people during dinner or dancing is a challenge. Because of the receiving line, we were able to sit down and enjoy our delicious dinner and have a blast on the dance floor knowing that we had already spoken to everyone!

What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? While preparing for the wedding, I was touched by a prayer for marriage that I found in the Common Book of Prayer. I asked Austin’s uncle, Ruben, who was officiating, to include it in some capacity during our ceremony. He included the sentiments in a personal prayer he had been preparing. “Make their life together a sign of love to this sinful and broken world, that unity may overcome estrangement, forgiveness heal guilt, and joy conquer despair.”
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? The most memorable moment of my wedding day was walking down the aisle with my daddy and squeezing his arm tight as we neared the altar. I am blessed with an amazing dad who has always been by my side and supported me through every season of my life. Having him give me away was very meaningful to me because of the closeness my family shares. I remember locking eyes with Austin and feeling my tears turning to a smile full of excitement for our life together! I hope to create a new family with Austin that is as positive, nurturing, and loving as the family that raised me.

We were so blessed by members of our church family, who offered to let us use their stunning 1957 black and white Chevrolet Bel-Air to drive away from the chapel in! We hopped in the car with petals falling and church bells ringing! It was such a fun exit!

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? We were married in a historic little white chapel commonly found in farming towns around Texas. We incorporated monograms on getting-ready robes, the cake, and in other reception details. Mason jars were used for drinks at the reception, as well as vases for flowers. We served Southern comfort foods at our reception and BBQ at the rehearsal dinner. Austin chose homemade apple pie as a groom’s cake. My house party was made up of two of my dear friends, Chelsea Cunningham and Bonner Briggs, who did a wonderful job of welcoming guests as they passed out programs and handed out muslin bags filled with lavender for our exit!

Austin and I had so much fun choosing the flavors of our wedding cake! We decided on white wedding, amaretto, and red velvet and each layer was delicious! Lace details from my dress were incorporated into the design of the cake. The bottom layer was ruffled with lace at the base, the next two layers were shades of lavender that gradually became lighter, the next layer incorporated more of the lace details, and the top layer highlighted a monogram that we had used on our invitations, which was encircled with a garland. For his groom’s cake, Austin chose to have apple pies made. Sonya Jacobs, wife of Warren, who performed the ceremony music, made all of the yummy apple pies and even put a little letter A on top of each of them!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. Ali’s version: On the first Tuesday of spring semester during my sophomore year at Baylor University, I took my seat in American Educational Thought a few rows behind a tall, dark-haired freshman, whom I quickly judged to be obnoxious. To my credit though, my opinion of Austin changed as the semester went on and I noted his intelligence, sense of humor, and passion for people with special needs. I distinctly remember the day that I considered Austin more than just a boy in my class. I was walking to my Children’s Literature class and passed Austin, who was reading on one of the campus’ swinging benches. As I approached the bench, Austin set aside his book to say hello. We made small talk about the classes we were headed to and parted ways. I knew Austin was a really friendly guy and I did not imagine that our quick conversation had made any lasting impact on him. My class that day ended early, and since it was a beautiful, sunny day, I decided to eat my lunch outside. I sat on the small stone wall and entertained myself by people watching, until I heard my full name called out from across the street. I then watched Austin wave enthusiastically, dismiss a group of his friends, and drag a friend across 5th Street to see me. After meeting his friend, I was told that I was quite a lucky girl to have Austin Amaro come over to talk to me and that Austin knew just about everyone on campus. I remember laughing as Austin teased his friend about embarrassing him, but I also thought I saw him blush. Once my classes were done for the day, I went home and immediately talked to Kylie Rhodes, my best friend and roommate at the time, about what had happened that day. We decided to “creep” him online so that she could see what Austin looked like. When we couldn’t find him on Facebook, Kylie and I resorted to looking Austin up on the Baylor directory and finding his school ID picture. Kylie then informed me that she had been told by a mutual friend that Austin had been interested in being set up on a date with me all semester and that he was “in love” with me. I recall my face burning as I blushed, but also feeling excited about his interest in me. After class that next week, Austin asked to walk me to my car and invited me on an “adventure.” We have been on an incredible adventure ever since! Austin’s version: The spring of my freshmen year, I somehow registered for a sophomore-level education class called American Educational Thought. On the first day of class, I was struck by a tall, beautiful blonde that walked through the door. I anxiously waited to see where this beauty would sit. Unfortunately, she sat behind my right shoulder, which meant I had to completely turn my body just to strike up a conversation. I did not let this deter my pursuit. A friendship developed and by April, I had mustered up enough confidence to ask her on a date. On April 20th, 2010, I walked Ali to her car at the business school parking garage, and asked her if she wanted to go on an “adventure” with me that weekend. I have no idea as to why I asked her on an “adventure” as opposed to a date, but now I had to live up to it. We exchanged numbers and walked away. As I headed through the business school lobby on my way back to Penland, I began high-fiving those around me and throwing my hands in the air with excitement. Little did I know that Ali was watching through the parking garage staircase and had seen me jump around with excitement and high-five random people. On April 24th, 2010, Ali and I went on our first date, and apparently it went really well. The spring semester ended with me receiving a C in American Educational Thought, and Ali receiving an A. Apparently, turning my shoulder all semester had not been good for my grades. I may have not gotten a good grade in the class, but I did get my best friend and my future wife.
Tell us all about the proposal! Our special date began with Austin taking me to Waco Hall to watch The Nutcracker performed by the Waco Symphony Orchestra and the Austin Ballet Company. It was very sweet and thoughtful of him to take me to The Nutcracker, because that has been one of my family traditions since I was a little girl. After the ballet, we went to the store to decide on some wine to take to dinner at Baris, which is one of our favorite Italian restaurants. We made a quick stop at Katie’s Custard to share a “Dirt and Worms,” which is my favorite ice cream treat, before driving down Austin Avenue to look at Christmas lights. Austin Avenue is one of the streets in Waco that Austin and I love to drive down to look at the beautiful old houses. It was also something we did on our very first dates. Austin Avenue led us straight downtown to a beautiful fountain next to Waco City Hall which had the Waco W lit up in Christmas lights. When we reached this location, Austin parked the car and asked if I wanted to walk around for a bit. He took my hand and walked around the fountain with me to a spot that had lights and candles already set up. At this point, Austin turned to face me and I heard our song, “Your Hand In Mine” by Explosions in the Sky, begin to play in the background. He somehow got me to stop looking at him and look up at the ALICO building, a Waco landmark, and it was then that I noticed that the C and the O had been turned off so my name was lit up for the whole city to see!!! He shared that it was no coincidence that we drove down Austin Avenue, that ALI was shining in the sky, and that we were in the same class together years ago. He quoted scripture, spoke incredibly kind words over me, and then knelt down on one knee and asked me to marry him! After I said YES, our friends and family were in town to celebrate our engagement with us! The entire night was incredible!
When did y’all get married? July 6, 2013
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 150
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. I asked Warren Jacobs, the incredible worship pastor from my home church, Preston Trail Community Church, to perform during our sweet ceremony. We decided that the songs I had chosen would really sound beautiful if two guitars and a violin were used. Explosions in the Sky’s song “Your Hand in Mine” has always been meaningful to Austin and me. We listened to it on one of our first dates and Austin had it playing while he proposed! Warren was able to adapt the song so that the music built as each of the bridesmaids walked down the aisle and came to a climax when the doors opened for my entrance. Austin and I chose to take communion while Warren and Becca, my sister and one of the maids of honor, sang “Your Glory” by All Sons and Daughters. We chose this song because it spoke so clearly to the purpose of communion and marriage. We are first and foremost committed to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is through this relationship that our marriage is strengthened and can have a lasting impact on the people around us. We left the chapel on a happy note with “You Always Make Me Smile” by Kyle Andrews. Our band, Identity Theft, performed all of the special songs at our reception. Travis, Austin’s brother and best man, suggested the song “Feet Don’t Touch the Ground” by Stoney LaRue as a possibility for our first dance. We loved that the song communicated how different life was once we found one another and that now we can’t imagine life apart! My dad and I danced to “Butterfly Kisses” by Bob Carlisle because when I was little, that is the song I always pretended to dance with him to. Austin and his mom danced to “My Wish For You” by Rascal Flatts, because it communicated her love for him and her great hope for our future! The last song that we danced to was “Mirrors” by Justin Timberlake, because it ended the night on a fun, energetic note, while also being sentimental!
Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! My something borrowed and old was the handkerchief from my mother-in-law. My something blue was the bow on my garter and the bows on my bustle. My news were my dress and Kate Spade earrings. I also carried a lucky penny in my shoe throughout the ceremony and reception thanks to my bridesmaid, Kendal Miller!
What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? I have told everyone I know about how much I LOVED our photographer Jennefer Wilson. I walked away from our initial meeting telling Austin how much I wanted to be real life friends with her and her sweet husband Michael! Jennefer was so much fun to work with because she was easygoing, genuine, and incredibly talented! She was always willing to talk things through with me and even met me an extra time before the big day to walk through each location! She was also the one to draw up the final schedule for our big day which was SO beyond the call of duty, but was such a blessing to me! I can’t say enough nice things about this girl. She is wonderful and we were so happy to have her as a part of our wedding!
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Just do you! If your wedding is a reflection of you and the relationship that you have with your future spouse, then it will be beautiful and enjoyed by all! My mom was great about reminding me throughout the process that at the end of the day, you are married, and the marriage is what matters! Don’t get caught up in the details! But, if you do need help with the details, throw a craft night! My mom and I invited friends over, turned on some fun music, served snacks and punch, and set up stations of the remaining wedding crafts for them to help us with. We had so much fun socializing and checking crafts off our list!
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? We are currently living in San Antonio and have both found jobs teaching in the area! Austin will be teaching Special Education in Alamo Heights ISD. He will be focusing on life skills with students who have graduated from high school and helping to prepare them for life after school! I will be teaching Kindergarten in Northside ISD! We are most looking forward to having the opportunity to settle into our little house and to spend every day learning more about each other!

Photographer: Jennefer Wilson | Videographer: Jerod Chambers | Ceremony Venue: The Chapel at Chestnut Square | Reception Venue: The Flour Mill | Florist: Ashley Kirk | Wedding Cake Baker: Shannon Star from Layered Bake Shop | Pie Baker: Sonya Jacobs | Caterer: McKinney Catering Company | Band: Identity Theft | Bride’s Gown: “Deidre” by Lis Simon | Paper Products: Love vs. Design | Bride’s Hair Accessories/Veil/Jewelry: Kate Spade | Hair Stylist: Montanna Wilson | Makeup Artist: Denise Basden | Bride’s Shoes: Kenneth Cole Reaction | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: “Style 320” by Bill Levkoff | Men’s Vera Wang Attire: Men’s Wearhouse

lisa Written with love by Lisa
7 Comments
  1. avatar Kat reply

    I love how the bride’s joyful expression carried throughout every single picture!!

  2. avatar Emily reply

    Beautiful!

  3. avatar Dana reply

    how they met is so adorable; i especially loved austin’s version! her wedding flowers are perfection!

  4. avatar Britni Ramsey reply

    Great job Jennefer!! Their story is so precious!

  5. avatar Melissa Vause Feetham reply

    This wedding cake and the wedding featured before this one had the same cake topper…what does it say? Mean?

  6. avatar Melissa Vause Feetham reply

    nevermind! I see it now…says “We do!” I was trying to read it as “liledol” hehe ;-)

  7. avatar Featured | Southern Weddings – Jennefer Wilson Photography reply

    […] Our couples always bless us more than we could ever ask for or imagine but Ali + Austin are a rare gem. Their constant encouragement has left a huge mark on our hearts and we couldn’t be more thankful. They are the couple that you wonder “is it possible to be THAT nice?” when you say your goodbyes. Their story makes you even more sure that God has big, intentional dreams laid out for His children…I am forever thankful for these two! Take time to read their beautiful love story, you wont be disappointed! You can find the post here!  […]

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