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Y’all already know I love plantation weddings, and it’s safe to say that Celeste and Michael’s wedding takes said planation love up a notch! Nottoway Planation was the perfect combination of classic Southern charm and relaxed elegance that these two were looking for. Since Celeste grew up on a sugar plantation in Louisiana, the cane fields reminded her of her home and her roots, making this place extra special. With the help of their planner, Leslie Campbell, these two created a Louisiana wedding I wish I’d been able to attend, if just for the spread! A beignet bar? You’d know where to find me! To top it off, I’m not sure a more Southern phrase has been written in our interviews than “with a New Orleans-style medley playing as we walked out to the front of the plantation, facing the Mississippi River, and watched an amazing firework display over the levee.” Truly magical, indeed!

Thanks to Dark Roux for sharing such a sweetly Southern day with us!

My bridal bouquet was a cluster of white tulips. I’ve always loved the romantic, cascading element of the tulip, and February was the perfect time of year for them. My bouquet was perfectly executed by my florist and exactly what I had envisioned in my head. My bridesmaid bouquets were clusters of beautiful white flowers, including tulips, hydrangeas, and leafy greenery. I wanted them to look organic and cascading–not too structured or perfect. The table arrangements were tall vases with white french tulips and curly willow with hanging votives.

Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? No! We are traditionalists. I wanted his first sight of me to be walking down the aisle of the beautiful church.

What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? As the ceremony ended and we finished the recessional, Michael leaned over and kissed my hand. We had our family, friends, and this beautiful celebration behind us, and we were finally able to share in the special moment for ourselves. The photographers happened to capture the beauty of the moment and it’s our absolute favorite picture!

What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they have any special significance to you? I chose Nottoway because of its beauty and Southern charm. I grew up on a sugar plantation in Houma, Louisiana, and the cane fields reminded me of home and my roots. I wanted the day to be full of Southern elegance, and to have a relaxed and casual feel.

I made a lot of the special details myself. My mom is an incredible seamstress, so she and I created custom monogrammed linen pillows with a “V” crest gilded on them. We placed them on all of the lounge furniture arranged throughout the tent. It really helped cozy up the venue and added a very personal touch. I also made the cake topper, and brought a lot of decorative items from home, including the candelabras and picture frames to decorate the tent and lounge seating areas. Guests joked that I brought my living room to Nottoway!

Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. We chose our first dance and song based on the style of our band, which we picked even before the venue. It was a cover of Audra Mae’s cover of “Crazy Love.” Michael arranged for dance lessons specific for our band’s version of the song. We already love to dance together, but to have choreographed moves together made for such a transcendental moment. Our band, Gal Holiday and the Honky Tonk Revue, had authentic soul and passion that truly helped define the event.

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. I was going to church regularly with a friend of mine who had just met this “good Catholic boy.” He set us up in a very casual manner, but didn’t tell either of us about it! He met both of us at a local hot spot, made the introduction, and then disappeared. Michael and I came by deep conversation easily and three hours flew by. Very quickly into our conversation, I wanted Michael to ask for my number, but he never did! I took it as disinterest, but if you ask him, he’ll tell you he REALLY wanted it, but couldn’t work up the nerve! At the end of the night, we walked out together, and right outside the entrance, Michael asked to walk me to my car. Without thinking about it, I said, “Not necessary, I parked right over there.” Walking away, I realized the opportunity I had just missed. The next day, I asked my friend more about Michael, and he responded, “Are you kidding? You kicked him to the curb, I thought? He was pretty dejected.” I didn’t delay–I asked for his number and, against my upbringing, made the first move. We had dinner, and our love story began.
Tell us all about the proposal! It was our second anniversary, and Michael had everything planned out. He started by playing the game, “let’s see how much I can frustrate Celeste before I propose” – of course unbeknownst to me. He had me at the absolute breaking point by first “forgetting what day it was,” then not reacting appropriately and making dinner plans after he was “reminded,” and then, the coup de grâce was that he wasn’t dressed when I got to his house, even when he had insisted I drive! This was all very out of character for him, and he had never treated an occasion this way. After he eventually got ready for the evening and I was boiling mad, he led me outside to his patio. As it turned out, Michael had written detailed accounts of the best dates we had experienced in our first year together, and he recreated some element from each of them in a wonderful candlelit setting in his backyard. Much to my surprise, everything was in place and he then walked me through each of the date memories. As I began to tear up, he got down on one knee and told me this was just the beginning of our lives together. Of course, I said yes!
When did y’all get married? February 15, 2014, our three-year anniversary
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 275
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? There was a cocktail hour serving mint juleps on the veranda of the plantation. Some Southern treats served at dinner included a beignet bar, which included traditional, red velvet, and a savory option topped with crawfish etouffee; a grits bar with toppings of shrimp Creole and traditional grillades; and boudin-stuffed chicken. We did a traditional second line. The band unplugged and performed a New Orleans-style medley as we walked out to the front of the plantation, facing the Mississippi River, and watched an amazing firework display over the levee. To top it off, there was a full moon that appeared as the lights and smoke faded. It was truly magical.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? The guest list. We both have large families and Michael makes friends with everyone he meets! We wanted the day to be intimate, but still wanted to celebrate with everyone who is special in our lives. We finally gave in and the numbers just kept growing.
If you are comfortable responding, what range did your wedding budget fall into? $75,000-$100,000
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Trust your instincts and do what you love. Be true to your style and don’t do things purely because you think it’s what “should” be done at a wedding. It’s your day and should reflect your style and your relationship. Focus on the important aspects, like celebrating with your love and your family and friends. In the end, that’s all that really matters.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? We want our love and commitment to grow stronger each day as we ready our lives to brace for the increasing soft sound of little feet in the house. Ten little feet, to be exact!

Photographer: Dark Roux Photography / Videographer: JCW Productions / Planner: Leslie Campbell Weddings / Ceremony Venue: St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church / Reception Venue, Catering, and Rentals: Nottoway Plantation / Florist: The Plantation Florist LLC / Cake Baker: The Ambrosia Bakery / Band: Gal Holiday and the Honky Tonk Revue / Paper Products: The Keeping Room / Bride’s Gown: “Style 432” by Martina Liana / Veil: Bustle / Hair Stylist: Bliss Hair Salon / Makeup Artist: Olga Longoria / Bride’s Shoes: David Tutera / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: “Style 771” in Latte by Bill Levkoff / Men’s Attire: Ralph Lauren

Dark Roux is a delightful member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

marissa Written with love by Marissa
3 Comments
  1. avatar Emily reply

    Such a simple and stunning bouquet. I also adore the shot of Celeste outside the church!

  2. avatar Cassidy reply

    10 little feet?

  3. avatar Brianna reply

    Hi there- where are these mauve dresses from? I love !

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Just the words “Blackberry Farm” elicit a few sighs around the Southern Weddings office, and rightfully so–it is truly a breathtaking place, not to mention, an incredible wedding venue. Lindsey and Sheldon took advantage of this by hosting their guests for the entire weekend, giving everyone plenty of time to enjoy themselves and make memories. Throughout the weekend, Lindsey and Sheldon scattered postcards all over the farm, and encouraged everyone to jot down their favorite moments and stories. Their rustic welcome dinner and elegant wedding, which was made all the more special by the evening rain, gave everyone plenty to write about, and to this day, Lindsey and Sheldon love re-living this special weekend every time they receive a postcard in the mail!

We are so grateful to Clark Brewer for sharing this special wedding weekend with us!

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. I wore Vera Wang’s “Isabella” gown, which is made of layered ivory chiffon and organza, with a very simple Vera Wang veil. I bought it at B. Hughes Bridal in Nashville, and we ended up hiring Karen Kaforey, the owner of the dress shop, to plan the wedding. She was amazing.

We were blessed to have the opportunity to rent out Blackberry Farm in its entirety for the weekend. It’s one of the most magical places I’ve ever been, and the fact that the whole resort was “ours” for two and a half days was kind of mind-blowing.

Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? Sheldon and I asked my father’s best friend Chris (who is like a second father to me) to officiate, and the three of us wrote the entire ceremony from scratch. We wanted the ceremony to reflect our deep and eclectic spirituality without drawing too much from one specific religious text. Sheldon and I wrote the vows and ring exchange statements ourselves, and also read love letters during the ceremony.

Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. Craig Duncan, the frontman of the quintet who played at both the welcome dinner and during the ceremony, is supremely talented. Sheldon and I wanted to process to our song, “Simple Life” by The Weepies, and to recess to “Ho Hey” by The Lumineers. Craig and his team learned both songs prior to the weekend and played them perfectly.

It started to get cloudy during the outdoor ceremony, and then literally as the last musician put his instrument away and Clark snapped the last family photo, the sky broke open and it poured rain. We had to be creative with the photography and Sheldon had to carry me around all evening so that I didn’t ruin my dress! My favorite pictures from the wedding resulted from us having to “deal with” the rainy weather: all the photos taken on the swing (the tree above it provided shelter). Another amazing thing about the rain was that it continued throughout the evening and kept us all cool as we danced like crazy under the tent until 2 a.m. I don’t think we would’ve been able to dance like that if the rain hadn’t cooled the night down.

We were so lucky to have Clark and Campbell Brewer shooting photographs and video throughout the weekend. They’re incredibly gifted at what they do, but more than that, they are such precious, open, fun guys who felt like old friends from the first time we met them. They were ever-present and yet never obtrusive, and we were able to be present in our experience without feeling like we were being watched. This was vital to us because we wanted the weekend to feel, for us and everyone else, organic and whimsical and free-flowing. And it did.

We were engaged for more than three years before getting married–jobs kept changing, we kept moving cities, and the timing wasn’t right…until it was. I’m glad that everything unfolded the way that it did, because our wedding was completely perfect and completely “us.”

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. We met in Los Angeles through mutual friends in 2008. I know it sounds silly and cliché, but we knew almost instantly that we’d end up together.
Tell us all about the proposal! Sheldon proposed on the day after Christmas, about a year after we started dating. We were visiting my parents for the holidays, and he asked their permission, like the perfect gentleman he is. On December 26, I awoke at the crack of dawn to him kneeling by the bed in my childhood bedroom with a ring. After I ran through the house screaming about being engaged, I think I went back to bed. Shel was like, “I’m sorry it’s so early–I just couldn’t wait any longer!”
When did y’all get married? August
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 120
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? My mother read a prayer from Marianne Williamson’s book Illuminata, and two of my girlfriends read a passage from The Alchemist. I had asked each of them to select readings that fit Sheldon and me, but also asked that they remain a surprise until the day of the ceremony. A few minutes before the wedding began, the girls realized that they’d independently chosen the exact same passage from the exact same book, so they “winged it” with grace, splitting the selected passage right down the middle.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: Instead of a traditional guest book, we asked family and members of the wedding party to collect postcards from around the country, and the stacks of blank postcards were placed around the property all weekend. My sister bought a vintage mailbox, and she and my mother decorated it. Then guests were asked to write favorite memories of us as a couple or of the weekend itself, and by the end of the weekend, the mailbox was stuffed with postcards. Every few weeks, either my mom or Jamie (my sister) mails us a few of the postcards, and we read and laugh and cry and keep them in a special box to remind us of the magical weekend.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Sheldon says that for him, it’s when he saw me for the first time before I walked down the aisle. Something small but sweet that just came to mind for me is that after the ceremony, all the guests gathered for cocktail hour and Sheldon and I hung back with Clark and Campbell to take pictures and decompress for a moment. When it was time for us all to come together for dinner, Sheldon had to carry me from the farmhouse where we were to the barn where the dinner was, because it was raining. As he did, I saw many of our guests clustered around the window sweetly “spying” on our little “over the threshold” moment.

Photographer: Clark Brewer / Videographer: Campbell Brewer / Planner: Karen Kaforey / Venue: Blackberry Farm / Florist: Clay Pots Floral / Wedding Cake: Magpies Bakery / Bluegrass Band: Craig Duncan / Reception Band: Burning Las Vegas / Bride’s Gown: “Isabella” by Vera Wang / Bridal Salon: b. Hughes Bridal / Hair and Makeup: Jordan Byers

lisa Written with love by Lisa
6 Comments
  1. avatar Loverly reply

    That getaway car… obsessed is an understatement! Beautiful wedding thanks for sharing!

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