Google+ nate henderson Archives - Southern Weddings

Southern Weddings

Tag: nate henderson

It takes a very special couple to commit to a relationship across the pond shortly after meeting for the first time, but after Hunter’s stepsister played matchmaker, Hunter and Heather knew they wanted to give it a shot! Many long distance phone calls and international flights later, followed by a year together in Chicago, Hunter proposed in their soon-to-be home. Even though Heather is from above the Mason-Dixon Line, I daresay her focus on creating a meaningful wedding day, her sweet perspective on what matters most, and her love for monograms make her a Southern belle at heart!

Thank you so much to Nate Henderson for sharing this lovely wedding with us!

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. Ah, the dress! I found it on the first day I went dress shopping. My mom lives about four hours away from Chicago, and it was just the two of us. During the third and final appointment of the day, I saw the dress hanging in the back of the store. It looked different than anything I had seen and I thought it could go either way–be really great or really wrong. I put it on and said, “Va va voom!” My mom cried, and then I cried, and we knew it was the one! One funny little mishap is that the alterations team mistakenly hung the dress by the straps when they packed it for my travel. The straps stretched from it hanging incorrectly, so when I put it on on the big day, the top was huge, and it was a wrinkled mess. My sister steamed the wrinkles and my maid of honor pinned it with safety pins! No one could tell and in those moments, girls, you just have to take a deep breath and say, “C’est la vie!”

What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they have any special significance to you? The church we were married in was the church Hunter attended growing up in Savannah. We wanted to bring our friends and family down South, as there really is nothing else like it! The oak trees covered with Spanish moss remind me of The Notebook, and created such romance and mystique.

It was really important to both of us that we did not see each other beforehand–we are traditional in that regard. I will never forget walking down the aisle with my dad and seeing the expression on Hunter’s face. Having that time, while the beautiful music played in the church, to soak in the emotion in front of our family and friends who traveled to be a part of our special day, is a priceless moment we will never forget.

Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! My bridesmaid generously let me borrow the gorgeous earrings she wore at her wedding. My dress was new. My mother wore a royal blue lace dress and looked beautiful, so she was my blue! For old, I pinned a necklace to my bouquet which had belonged to my Grandmother, who passed away six months earlier. In that way, she was with us!

I am a firm believer that a wedding should be welcoming to your guests and should represent the two of you! My favorite details were H&H carnival lights that we ordered from Etsy, which our wedding coordinator attached to the front of the bar. We also had a beautiful monogram designed that we used on the napkins, cups, and pillows for the couches in our seating area. These pillows are now on our sofa, and we will use the monogram for the rest of our lives!

Describe your wedding flowers. The setting of the reception was already beautiful, so I wanted the flowers to enhance the natural beauty. I chose a lush white, ivory, and green palette, which I think is so elegant. We repurposed two large arrangements (hydrangeas, roses, snap dragons, bells of ireland, french tulips that loosely cascaded), hydrangea wreaths, and boxwood garland from the church to the reception. We did halos for the flower girls with willow eucalyptus and white spray roses, which could not have been any sweeter. I also added a sprig of heather to Hunter’s boutonniere!

Our first dance was to “You are the Best Thing” by Ray Lamontagne. It is less traditional than our ceremony choices, but the lyrics suited us. We took dance lessons beforehand, but in the end, we just winged it–except for one awesome, Dirty Dancing-esque dip at the beginning!

Describe your wedding cake or dessert. I absolutely love wedding cake and always make a point to have at least a bite at weddings I attend for good luck! I had an entire Pinterest board of stunning cakes, and in the end, I couldn’t decide between two designs, so I let our cake designer surprise me. She loved the idea and said it was a designer’s dream! It was beautiful, and it tasted as good as it looked, with vanilla bean cake filled with raspberry and white chocolate mousse.

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. I was living in London and my friend, Mary Allen, told me I had to meet her stepbrother, Hunter. “The two of you would be perfect together!” she told me. Hunter was living in Chicago, and when I was home visiting friends, she arranged our first date. Hunter was not feeling well and tried to hide it during the evening. I thought he was handsome, but very quiet, and I was surprised when he asked to see me again. We got to know each other more, met each other’s friends, and had a great time! He drove me to the airport at the end of my visit, and we continued to see each other every six weeks. After many trips across the pond, phone calls, and bbm messages exchanged, I moved to Chicago just over a year later. I’m not exactly sure what it was that Mary Allen saw in both of us, but she was right, and we will forever be grateful to her!
Tell us all about the proposal! From Hunter: Heather and I were planning to move in together in mid-May 2013. I decided that I’d pull the trigger on Friday, April 26, specifically because I knew Heather likes the number 26, and the anniversary of when we first met was April 27, two years prior! I talked our soon-to-be landlord into giving me access to our empty future apartment, and then had our close friend, who was also our real estate agent, call Heather “on behalf of the landlord” to go over to the apartment and meet the “repair man.” I was “in a work meeting” during that exact window of time when Heather tried calling me to see if I could meet her there. I arrived to the apartment an hour early and began arranging it the best I could with rose petals and lit candles. Upon Heather’s entry, she called for the “repair man” to see if he was there yet, then turned toward the opposite side of the apartment, for what seemed to me like ten minutes! Finally, she came down the hallway toward me, saw the rose petals, and stopped in disbelief. I then took a knee and read a note that I had prepared, which I specifically wanted to write so that she could always look back and remember what I told her that day. She said “YES!” I capped off the proposal by revealing one red rose behind my back and asking Heather if she would “accept my final rose?”–a humorous nod to our favorite TV show. We were happily married exactly one year later!
When did y’all get married? April 26, 2014
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 160
Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? No, we said traditional vows, and our minister, Edwin Chase, delivered a beautiful message. In our meetings before the wedding, he also taught us about the Five Love Languages, which I highly recommend for all couples!
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. Both the bridal party and I walked down the aisle to Canon in D. We had violins playing it, and when I came down the aisle, the organ played softly to intensify the song a little more. I have always loved Canon in D and wanted it to play as long as possible. The recessional was the traditional Wedding March, which felt like a celebration!
What was one way you saved money or cut costs at your wedding? Negotiate where you can and take time to price compare between vendors. Some vendors will charge you extra fees that you can eliminate, or you can negotiate an extra service to be included in your quote. The best advice I received at the onset of planning was to make sure your vendor is committed and excited to work with you. If you don’t feel that way, chose another vendor who is appreciative of your business.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? We had an amazing honeymoon in the Maldives and then settled into our new married life, but we haven’t slowed down. Hunter opened his own business and we are expecting a baby boy in May!

Photographer: Nate Henderson Photo / Ceremony Venue: Wesley Monumental UMC / Reception Venue: Oldfield Club / Florist: Harvey Designs / Cake Baker: Minette Rushing Custom Cakes / Rentals: Snyder Events / Lighting: JLK Events / Band: Sol Fusion / Paper Products: Elizabeth Grace / Save the Dates: Studio R / Bride’s Gown: Elizabeth Fillmore / Bridal Salon and Veil: Belle Vie Bridal Couture / Hair Stylist: JW Salon & Spa / Makeup Artist: SKINZIN / Bride’s Shoes: Manolo Blahnik / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: JLM Couture / Groom’s Attire: Trunk Club / Wedding Coordinator: Posh, Petals & Pearls / Favors: Maison de Macarons / Monogram: Alison R. Banks Designs / Linens: La Tavola Linen and Marianne’s Rentals

Posh Petals & Pearls is a delightful member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

lisa Written with love by Lisa
1 Comment
  1. avatar Emily reply

    I know what you mean about your dress, Heather, but it is unmistakably gorgeous on! 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

Y’all, Kelly is a girl after my own heart! Her pale pink and peach mixed with gorgeous ivory and pearl details make me swoon. And the adorable little flower girls in poofy tutus don’t help with the swooning, either! Yes, ma’am – we could be friends! I’d also have to agree with Kelly’s gushing over the gorgeous reception design from her planner, Morgan Gallo Events. Morgan’s team transformed Kelly + Wyatt’s simple tent with soft draping, elegant lighting, and just the perfect amount of coastal details. Oh yeah, and K + W offered shrimp and grits as an entree at the reception — that’s Southern perfection.

I of course can’t forget to send big hugs to Nate Henderson for the gorgeous images of Kelly + Wyatt’s sweet day! P.S: Look closely at the photos of the band at the reception… you just might recognize a few people!

My something borrowed were my chandelier earrings from my Aunt Joan. My blue was our wedding date embroidered in blue thread on the bottom layer of my gown. My new were my Guiseppe Zanotti peep toe pumps.

This photo is killing me! That little doll-baby in the tutu is way too much adorable to handle!

Lucky me, I found my dress in one day! I had my mom and several of my closest friends meet me in Dallas. There were two appointments set. One at Star Dust and the other at Bridal Boutique. Wow, do you feel like a princess trying on all of those dresses! I liked a couple but was not in LOVE with any at the first appointment. So we were off to the second appointment at Bridal Boutique. We pulled five or six dresses to try. I think it was the second dress that I tried, but when I put it on and they cinched me up, I knew that was the dress! The lace overlay was gorgeous and very chic. When I walked out of the dressing room, a couple of my friends had tears in their eyes. We added a homemade sash that went around my waist with large chiffon flowers and other pearl and rhinestone embellishments that topped everything off. It was beautiful!

Did you decide to do a “first look”? 
No, we did a “first touch,” if you will. Nate Henderson, my photographer led Wyatt upstairs to the bridal room where we clasped hands on either side of the doorway. It gave us both a short time to breathe and calm down. We were able to have a short talk about how our days had been so far and how we couldn’t wait to marry one another. It made for some really sweet pictures!

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: 
There are many, but a favorite was right after the ceremony. We sent our friends off to the cocktail hour while we hit the beach for some pictures. We loved this time because this was our first walk on the beach together as husband and wife and we were able to breathe, talk about the ceremony, and just take everything in before the reception began. It was a perfect 30 minutes together in between ceremony and reception.

What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? 
Our reception would have to be the most memorable. Morgan Gallo Events did a fabulous job decorating the enormous outdoor tent. We loved the draped material that covered the ceiling of the tent. Very classy! The lighting and ribbon chandeliers were perfect as well. We had great entertainment, one being Wyatt personally singing me a song that he had written with his friends as the band. The dinner consisted of an oyster bar, beef, shrimp and grits, swordfish, and various side dishes.

The kids dancing, the adults cutting lose, so many laughs. The photo booth was a big hit for all! Who doesn’t have fun in those? We love our family and friends to the moon and back and to see everybody having the best time of their lives more than warmed our hearts and we will never forget it!

Describe your wedding cake or dessert. 
Gorgeous and full of flavor! Each tier was a different flavor. I’m a sweets girl so I requested red velvet, chocolate, and vanilla. It was all ivory in color. The design was four tiers with a smooth fondant design and a layer that looked like pearls all the way around it. The top was adorned with a huge flower that had so much detail and a hint of pink on the inside.

Seriously, that cake is drop dead gorgeous!

Recognize that singer? It’s none other than Zac Brown from the Zac Brown Band! Wyatt is a songwriter for them, and we love how he even joined them for a little on-state action!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. 
We first met in a small east Texas town outside of Dallas after a concert. As it was a brief meeting and life took us down our own paths, three years later we happened to meet back up through mutual friends. We were like magnets! We knew there had always been a very strong attraction and we weren’t letting one another slip away this time. We were engaged a year later.

Tell us all about the proposal! 
We took a trip to NYC before Christmas to visit friends. It was me, Wyatt, and his son Wyatt IV. We had several activities on the agenda: ice skating in Rockefeller plaza, Broadway shows, Empire State tour, dinner with friends, shopping and more. One afternoon, Wyatt IV hung back with our friend’s son to see a Broadway show and Wyatt and I spent the afternoon together. Our hotel was near Central Park so we headed out to the park for a walk. After about 30 minutes of walking around, he called my name and I turned around to find him on one knee asking me to marry him! Of course I screamed “yes” in front of everyone at Bethesda Fountain! When we got back to the hotel, we celebrated with a bottle of champagne and treats the hotel staff had placed in our room. I will never forget that day.

When did y’all get married? 
October 6

How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 
180

Did you write your own vows? 
Yes, we did. Since my husband’s occupation is songwriting, you can imagine how anxious I was. My initial thought was, “How will mine ever compare?” Our favorite lines were, “The way you light up every room you walk into. Not because of your obvious beauty, but because every person in the room can see the integrity and goodness in your soul shining through the amazing way even your eyes smile” and, “As we become one, always know that your happiness will be multiplied and you hardships will be divided. With God the cornerstone of our marriage, we will always remain strong.”

What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? 
Sonnet 17 by Pablo Neruda. “I don’t love you as if you were the salt-rose, topaz or arrow of carnations that propagate fire: I love you as certain dark things are loved, secretly, between the shadow and the soul. I love you as the plant that doesn’t bloom, and carries hidden within it self the light of those flowers, and thanks to your love, darkly in my body lives the dense fragrance that rises from the earth. I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where, I love you simply, without problems or pride: I love you in this way because I know no other way of loving but this, in which there is no I or you; so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand, so intimate that when I fall asleep it is your eyes that close.”

Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. “The Way You Look Tonight” by Tony Bennett was in the processional. We love to cook together, listen to Tony Bennett and sip wine. As I walked down the aisle, one of our friends played Canon in D on his violin. My favorite instrument is the violin and this wedding march has always been my ultimate favorite. Back up the aisle, we played “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” by Stevie Wonder. I love the song for its soul and uplifting spirit that moves through you. It makes you want to dance! Our first dance was to “You Got What I Need” by Joshua Radin. This sweet and soulful song said exactly how we felt overall. It’s the perfect groove for a slow dance.

Describe your wedding flowers. 
Mixture of light and breezy colors like ivories, corals, and oranges. We used succulents, roses, calla lilies, lisiathus, sweet pea, ranunculus, phalenopsis and orchids.

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? 
For our welcome dinner on Thursday evening, we had a low country boil. Also, we offered shrimp an grits as an entree at the reception. Displaying a portrait of the bride at the wedding for all to see is a tradition that I carried on. I had three of my bridal portraits in one large frame displayed at the wedding. The guys wore light khaki colored suits instead of tuxedos. My bracelet was a string of pearls with rhinestone accents.

What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Deciding on all of the decor! It was fun, but there is a lot to choose from out there, which is a blessing and curse. We had a cocktail hour before the reception, so there were so many options on lighting, furniture, etc. Also, deciding to include kids or not was a challenge. We had a buffet style dinner with great adult food, but if we invited kids we needed a children’s buffet, which would have increased the food budget quickly.

What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? 
Morgan Gallo Events was superb! Morgan and her team were on it from the get-go and we were never left feeling lost, behind, or pressured. I would definitely recommend them as your wedding planner.

What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? 
Have fun with it! When you get down to crunch time and things start to heat up, always remember you are about to marry this person you are madly in love with and can’t wait to build a life with, and you’re making this commitment with your family and closest friends.

What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? 
We bought our first home together on Isle of Palms, SC and are thoroughly enjoying building a home together. We’re excited to grow even closer on this journey and to start a family soon.

marissa Written with love by Marissa
20 Comments
  1. avatar Kelsey reply

    do you know who made the flower girls dresses? They are soo adorable!

    • avatar Emily reply

      Hi Kelsey! Indeed I do! https://www.etsy.com/shop/Theprincessandthebou :)

  2. avatar Amy Arrington Photography reply

    Love it!

  3. avatar Kara reply

    Where are the mint green ties from in this wedding?

    • avatar Emily reply

      Hi Kara! The ties were rented with the suits from Bridals by Lori in Atlanta — the color is celadon. The groom’s green tie is from a men’s suit store on King Street in Charleston!

  4. avatar Kelly reply

    Wow, Zac Brown??! How awesome!

  5. avatar Color Combos I Love: Part One {Pink, Gold, & Coral} | Steph's Spot reply

    […] black tux is always in style, but I think a nice khaki suit would work equally well. I love how this bride used the tie colors to incorporate her color scheme (Green & Coral) it provided a nice […]

  6. avatar Festa de tudo | Graviola Art reply

    […] Fonte […]

  7. avatar Brandi reply

    The flower girl dresses are made by
    The Princess and the Boutique
    http://Www.theprincessandthebou.etsy.com

  8. avatar Hartford CT Photographer reply

    I love the flower girl dresses!

  9. avatar Bruiloft Inspiratie | Something blue reply

    […] Fotograaf: Nate Henderson Photo via Southern Weddings […]

  10. avatar » Helping You With Your Something Blue reply

    […] Image // Southern Weddings […]

  11. avatar 21 Insanely Fun Wedding Ideas | JexShop Blog reply

    […] Southern Weddings […]

  12. avatar Lisa reply

    I was just wondering where the groom/groomsmen got their suits from. I have been looking for suits/tuxedo’s in that specific color but I have not had any luck. Any information that you could provide would be greatly appreciated!

  13. avatar Emerald Vallee reply

    Is there any way to find out where the striped dusty shale tie is from? I’m looking for it everywhere and would totally appreciate any help!

    Thank you,
    Emma

  14. avatar 21 Insanely Fun Wedding Ideas | Party Pros reply

    […] those feet toasty warm    Buy them here   7) And for the bride, a little something blue   Southern Weddings   Such a sentimental and personal way to commemorate your wedding day. 8) Send Your Guests Mad […]

  15. avatar Terry reply

    Beautiful wedding …love the color of the groom’s suit…where did you find it?

  16. avatar You NEED to Invite These 10 Guests to Your Wedding | Loverly Planning reply

    […] by Nate Henderson on Southern Weddings via […]

  17. avatar 2017's Color of the Year: Greenery – LinenTablecloth reply

    […] Southern Weddings / My bridal closet / style me pretty / Signature […]

  18. avatar You NEED to Invite These 10 Guests to Your Wedding – Loverly | Your Virtual Wedding Planner™ reply

    […] by Nate Henderson on Southern Weddings via […]

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

Lizzie + Greg’s reception made for a beautiful New Year’s Eve celebration! Guests headed to the beautiful Telfair Museum where tables decked with white hydrangeas and candle-lit trees filled the space. I’m always a fan of gold chiavari chairs and I think they carry the sparkle of New Year’s Eve throughout the room perfectly, without being overwhelming. Lizzie + Greg were wonderful hosts and provided guests with festive hats to ring in the New Year, cigars to celebrate, and pashminas to keep warm. Of course, no wedding is complete without a few sweets! A dessert bar treated guests all night while a cake shaped and decorated in the form of Lizzie + Greg’s favorite champagne gave the newlyweds the chance to partake in the cake-cutting tradition. At the end of the night, everyone welcomed in the New Year and the happy couple took their exit through a line of sparklers and into a white vintage car. Now that’s the ultimate way to celebrate! Big thanks to Nate Henderson for sharing!

See all the photos from Lizzie + Greg’s wedding in their Real Wedding Gallery!

Describe your wedding cake or dessert: We had a dessert bar and wedding cake. The dessert bar included mini desserts: pecan tassies, chocolate éclairs, Savannah trifles, tarlets filled with key lime mousse, chocolate mint mousse, and raspberry mousse, and sweet and spicy popcorn. We aren’t huge fans of cake, but my wedding planner felt strongly about something for us to cut. We decided to have a cake shaped as a bottle of our favorite champagne, Vueve Clicquot. We thought it would be a nice touch since it was New Year’s. The “label” on the cake had our names on it and the year we met, 2007.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? The biggest challenge was probably just the distance. My wedding planner was incredible and my mom also helped with the heavy lifting, since we live in NYC. Also, we both have jobs that require a lot of focus and hours, so we don’t have much spare time during the work week.
What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? For me, the wedding planner. For Greg, it was the band.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? (From the bride) When we walked into the Telfair Museum and everyone was standing around greeting us for the first time as a married couple. Every person we loved under one roof was a pretty powerful vision. (From the groom) Seeing Lizzie walk down the aisle. She tried so hard to get me to see her beforehand for pictures, but I stood my ground and am so glad I did.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Be decisive! There is no reason to try on 1,000 dresses or look at 20 venues. Just know what you want, make a decision and move on. Also, just have fun with it because you only do it once and it is such a sweet time in your life.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? Everything! We are just having a great time being a team and enjoying life together.

Photographer: Nate Henderson // Videographer: Savannah Wedding Films // Planner: Tricia Huddas and Co. // Ceremony venue: Blessed Sacrament // Reception venue: Telfair Museum // Florist: Garden on the Square // Wedding Cake Baker: Two Cakes // Caterer: Cape Creations Catering, Inc. // Rentals and Linens: Ranco // Lighting: Stage Front // Paper Products: Sarah Salvatoriello // Bride’s Dress: Enzoani // Bride’s Hair Accessories/Veil: earrings from Badgley Mishka, bracelet from J. Crew, veil was custom made, crystal sash from J. Crew // Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo // Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Enzoani

nicoleyang Written with love by Nicole
2 Comments
  1. avatar Tim Duncan reply

    The centerpieces are gorgeous! Love the hanging candles!

  2. avatar sandra kersten reply

    what if I would like something as simple as the font/resource for the gentleman/cigar sign in the picture frame? can you help me with that?

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