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To all our sweet readers who are stressed out while wedding planning right now, take a deep breath and scroll through Sarah and Clint’s big day. Their summer brunch wedding was a joyful celebration of their love for God and each other, from the meaningful Bible readings they selected, to the mix CDs from throughout their relationship that played at their reception. I love all of their pictures in the Tennessee countryside, but my favorite is the last one in this post–it’s not a fancy detail or perfectly-posed portrait; rather, it’s a moment that gave me butterflies of excitement for that same moment at my wedding!

Thank you so much to Alex Bee for sharing Sarah and Clint’s lovely wedding with us!

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. After a day of trying on every dress in Knoxville, I was beginning to lose hope. I wanted something simple, flowing, and comfortable for our hot August wedding. One of my bridesmaids follows J. Crew online, and she forwarded an email for a 24-hour wedding gown sale. I saw one that I knew would work, and bought it instantly! Within a week, it arrived at my house. It all happened so fast!

Clint’s wish was to wait to see me when I walked down the aisle with my dad. We did, however, meet to pray before the ceremony. I stood behind a screen and we held hands at the edge. We were able to get a lot of tears out of the way then, and we still had our classic wedding tradition. We also had plenty of time for pictures after the wedding!

Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? Yes. It was a joy to share our handwritten vows with our guests. We both wrote and spoke a bunch of special promises, but one in particular I remember was that we promised to always be present and engaged every time we are together.
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? Our officiant and friend read from 1 Corinthians 13 to demonstrate Jesus’ love for his church as an example of our giving our lives to each other. We know that as long as we put love for God first in our lives, we will bless each other as companions in marriage.

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? We had a morning brunch wedding to beat the August heat, but we still gave each guest a fan to cool themselves off with. You could see Mt. LeConte of the Great Smoky Mountains from the field where we were married. We decorated with framed engagement pictures that we took in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The reception theme was burlap, maps, mason jars, trees, and flowers. We ate banana pudding, and I baked my Great Aunt’s snickerdoodles to pass out to our guests.

Describe your wedding flowers. I wanted white, green, and purple, so the florist showed us each flower they had in those colors. I trusted my florist, and they made a beautiful mix. My favorite flower is the Tennessee Iris, so I had a few in my bouquet.

Our wedding cake was simple and elegant. Because we both love trees, the icing was delicately shaped to look like the bark of a tree. It was decorated with hydrangeas and placed on a slice of a tree stump. We topped it with a “W” made of twigs. Clint’s favorite dessert is banana pudding, so I surprised him with that instead of a having a groom’s cake.

For our first dance, Clint surprised me with one of our favorite songs, “All I Mind is Losing You,” by The John Butler Trio. Clint recorded his own version in which groomsman Clay played the guitar while Clint sang. It was such a sweet moment. Throughout our relationship, I made Clint mix CDs of songs that I thought described how we felt about each other. We borrowed a sound system from our church, and played that variety of our love songs throughout the reception.

What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Don’t let this day or the planning be stressful, and trust in the ideas of others. All that matters is that you are marrying the love our your life, and the people that you love the most in the world will be there to witness and celebrate it with you.

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. We met in French class on the first day of college at the University of Tennessee. We were also in the marching band together, so we had plenty of time to get to know each other. We became best friends instantly, and we officially became a couple on New Year’s 2008. We traveled to Tampa, Florida for a bowl game and watched the New Year’s fireworks on the beach. Right after, Clint asked if I would be his. :)
Tell us all about the proposal! Clint wanted to make sure that I wouldn’t know when or how he would ask, so his idea was for it to start like a normal day. We were having a picnic at the University of Tennessee’s Botanical Gardens after church, and then we went on a walk. The trees in the garden were beautiful with fall leaves, and the weather was perfect. We were casually talking about our lives and love, and then he stopped, knelt down, and asked me to honor him by becoming his wife. It was so simple and sweet, and the ring was so elegant and antique. I started crying when he told me he had asked my mom for my grandmother’s engagement ring. I didn’t even know it existed, and it was perfect!
When did y’all get married? August 10, 2013
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 100
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. Because we had met in the marching band, we have several friends who can play instruments. Clint played the French horn, and he asked two of his friends to play for the ceremony. He selected a few hymns that we both love. During the ceremony, we wanted to take a moment to praise God. We printed the words to one of our favorite hymns, “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” and put a copy on each chair. Our officiant, a long-time family friend of Clint’s, led us and our guests in singing.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: We both loved the large oak tree that we were married underneath. It was the perfect setting–so majestic and elegant on its own.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? I was away completing an internship in Washington, D.C. during the spring, so I had to trust my fiancé and my parents to make most of the decisions. In a way, it was a blessing. We had such a stress-free wedding planning experience, and I am so grateful for that.
If you are comfortable responding, what range did your wedding budget fall into? Less than $10,000
What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? My photographer! Alex Bee has an eye for capturing emotional moments. This is a much better way to remember your wedding day: with photos of the joy of the day, rather than something posed.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Saying a prayer together before the ceremony, and the moment immediately after the ceremony! So much love and excitement!
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? We are both graduate students, so our next big goal is to graduate! But the best thing about being married is tackling it all together!

Photographer: Alex Bee / Second shooter: John Shim / Venue: The Riverdale School / Florist: Powell Florist / Cake Baker: Jane Monday, friend of the bride’s family / Caterer: Billie Bounds, Catering on a Shoestring / Bride’s Gown: J. Crew /
Paper Products: The Groom / Paper Fans: Accent the Party / Bride’s Shoes: Dillard’s / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Target / Men’s Attire: L. L. Bean

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

    i love her sweet flower crown!

  2. avatar Stephanie reply

    I love this wedding so much, as this couple absolutely radiates joy and love! Some of the best weddings that you see aren’t the ones where the budget is sky-high but instead is one when the couple so clearly celebrates what really matters – their love, their faith, and their family!

  3. avatar Sarah reply

    Brings tears to my eyes…
    It sounds and looks so sweet and so beautiful. They all look gorgeous.
    I just can’t help it but to be so touched by a couple who share their love for God together!

  4. avatar Kyla F reply

    I love that this wedding was centered around what matters most. Sarah and Clint’s joy and love for each other is so apparent in every photo. I adore that sunflower field picture the most!

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In the middle of January, Samantha and Micah’s lovely Hilton Head wedding is a breath of fresh air! Inspired by Samantha’s family’s beach house, they set out to plan their Southern coastal wedding, complete with sentimental family heirlooms, lovingly DIY-ed details, and most importantly, an “outdoor church.” With a grove of trees covered in Spanish moss acting as the roof, Samantha and her family hunted down the perfect vintage doors and windows to display, creating an intimate space for the ceremony. Truly, every part of Samantha and Micah’s big day was a celebration of their love for God and one another!

Big hugs to Blue Ribbon Vendor Amy from Amy Arrington Photography for sharing Samantha and Micah’s wedding with us!

Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! I borrowed my mom’s diamond necklace and earrings. I also used my sister’s veil (she got married four months before me!). For my something old, I wanted something from each of my grandparents with me on my wedding day. My mom’s mother gave me a ring she always wore, that she knew was my favorite. She also let me borrow her locket (featuring a picture of her and my grandpa inside). I also had an old cameo broach from my father’s mother that goes back four generations. I hooked the brooch and the locket on my bouquet. My something new was my dress and my lavender shoes! My favorite item was my getaway dress. My mother, sister and I redesigned my mother’s wedding dress, and my sister also used it for her wedding rehearsal dinner dress–I guess you can say it was old and borrowed! My something blue was my garter, but I also wore my mother’s garter from her wedding day!

My family has a beach house on Hilton Head, and Micah, my family, and I have been collecting driftwood for years. I wanted to incorporate the driftwood into the decor to give everything a low country, natural feel. Henry, the owner of The Flower Garden, understood my vision and made it happen! My bouquet was a mix of greenery, white flowers, and lavender. It was wrapped in a piece of lace from my mother’s wedding dress, finished with jewelry from my grandparents.

Essentially, we built an outdoor church. My mom, sister, and I hunted through flea markets to find the perfect doors, and then refinished them while my father constructed a frame for them so that they opened and closed functionally. The wreaths on the doors were made in memory of my deceased grandfathers, decorated to honor their military service and personal interests. There were six church windows specifically place along the aisles to represent our outdoor church setting, and the beautiful Spanish moss-filled oak trees acted as our church roof. The cross at our altar was made from 100+ year old wood and designed by a local artist.

Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? We decided not to do a first look. We are pretty traditional in that way and wanted the first time we saw each other to be when I walked down the aisle! Honestly, I’m so glad we did it this way. I did, however, have a “first look” with my father. It was so special and a moment I will never forget!

Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We didn’t write our own vows; it was important to both of us to say traditional vows. However, my uncle and Micah’s cousin officiated out wedding. They told stories about us as a couple and made the whole ceremony personal and Christ-centered. It meant so much to us to have family as our officiants!
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? We chose two readings, Mark 10:7-9 and Colossians 3:12-13. These two verses really stood out to us during our premarital sessions with our officiants. We thought both of these verses displayed the love and the kind of relationship Micah and I strive for.

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? Our ceremony underneath beautiful oak trees with Spanish moss set the tone for our Southern coastal wedding. The historical venue dated back 300 years. Each guest was given a welcome package with sweet tea or lemonade and a few of mine and Micah’s favorite goodies. The reception food was also very Southern–we served dishes such as shrimp and grits and pecan-crusted chicken.

Describe your wedding cake or dessert. I found inspiration for our wedding cake from a picture in a magazine, and our baker made the cake look ever better than I could have imagined! We had two flavors–Micah chose white chocolate cake with raspberry filling and I chose vanilla cake with strawberry filling. The outside had an awesome buttercream frosting decorated with fresh olive branches and lavender.

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. We met on the first day of our freshman year in religion class at Presbyterian College. Micah was the smart, cute guy who sat behind me. As we got to know each other, we started to spend more time together and became close friends. However, we didn’t make it official and actually start dating until our junior year.
Tell us all about the proposal! Micah: I came home from law school in Virginia for fall break, having planned with the Thomas/Black clan that this would be the weekend I would propose. My mom planned to cook an elaborate celebratory dinner for our families after I popped the question, but she needed time to prepare for everything without Sam becoming suspicious. So, I decided to take Sam to Table Rock Mountain to hike for the afternoon. I should mention, it’s a very difficult hike and I made Sam do it with a torn meniscus. After our hike, we returned home to my family’s farm, and went to the dock overlooking our pond. While we “waited on my mom to finish cooking dinner,” I tried to hide my nerves as we talked. As we began to leave, I told Samantha that I loved her and I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. I got down on my knee and asked her to marry me. Of course, she didn’t believe this was really happening, because I may or may not have done several “fake proposals” during our five years together. However, when she saw the ring, she realized I was serious. Both of our families were waiting on us at my house, and we had a wonderful evening celebrating together.
When did y’all get married? October 5, 2013
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 140
Tell us about finding your wedding dress. I had visited several bridal shops with my mom and sister looking for “the dress.” After having a pretty bad experience at one of them, I felt a little discouraged. However, Wedding Angels in Roswell, GA was fantastic! I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted and the wonderful staff members helped me find the perfect dress. I knew it was the one the moment I stepped into it and my mom started crying!
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. I didn’t want traditional wedding songs, but I love the elegant sound of the cello! Our cellist worked with me to come up with contemporary Christian music that sounded awesome on the cello. My bridesmaids walked in to “A Thousand Years,” the same song my sister had her bridesmaids walk down the aisle to. I walked down the aisle to “Never Once.” I loved the lyrics and the meaning behind the words. A sweet friend sang “10,000 Reasons” as Micah and I lit the unity candle. This was one of my favorite parts of the day and it was special to have her singing for us. Our first dance was to “Keeper of the Stars.” Choosing the mother/son and father/daughter songs were the easiest decision of the whole wedding–we had both known what we wanted for years! Micah danced with his mother to “Landslide” and I danced with my dad to “My Girl.”
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? My sister and I got married four months apart, and neither of the weddings took place in our hometown. Obviously, that comes with a lot of added coordination, but the biggest challenge for Micah and I was being so far apart from each other. Micah was awesome, and whenever I asked his opinion on different things, his response was pretty much always the same: “whatever makes you happy.” That being said, it’s hard to plan a day all about the two of you when when your other half is states away.
What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? One would be our officiants: my uncle and Micah’s cousin. They both did a great job making our ceremony God-centered and so personal to us. My other favorite vendor had to be Amy Arrington Photography! Amy and Brandon also shot my sister’s wedding, so they are beginning to feel like family! We loved their focus on lighting and their laid-back personalities. They are both so sweet to work with and we couldn’t have been happier with the incredible pictures they took!
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Samantha: My most memorable moment was lighting the unity candle while a very close friend sang. It was the first time that I was able to take a few moments to breathe and just focus on Micah and I. Micah: My most memorable moment was saying the wedding vows to my wife. Looking at her and telling her on our wedding day that I would love and support her for the rest of my life, no matter what, will always stand out in my mind from that day.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Have your wedding reflect the two of you as a couple. If you are really creative and like to do things yourself, do that. But if that’s not your thing, don’t stress yourself out. Think about the things that make the two of you unique and incorporate those things in your day. It helps make wedding planning fun and special instead of stressful.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? We have had a long distance relationship for the past three years as Micah went to law school in Virginia and I got my Master’s degree in Atlanta. We love just finally being together and starting our marriage in a new town in South Carolina. We are looking forward to building a family together and creating a God-centered marriage!

Photographer: Amy Arrington Photography / Videographer: Artifice Films / Venue: Coastal Discovery Museum / Florist: The Flower Garden / Wedding Cake: Frankie Cakes / Catering and Wedding Coordination: Celebrations Catering / Lighting: Hilton Head Event Lighting / Band: The Vistas / Bride’s Gown: Wedding Angels /
Invitations: Coppia Creativa / Programs: Papel Custom Design / Napkins: With Love and Ink / Hair Stylist: The Hair Designers / Makeup Artist: Kiah from Skinzin / Bride’s Shoes: Bandolino / Bridesmaids’ Dresses Bill Levkoff / Men’s Attire: Jos. A Banks / Ties: Saks Off 5th / Bridesmaids Jewelry and Robes: Anchor of Hope Designs (the bride)

Amy Arrington is a delightful member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

lisa Written with love by Lisa
16 Comments
  1. avatar Kyla F reply

    Samantha and Micah’s venues were breathtaking! The doors were a really neat idea, especially with Mark 10:9 painted beautifully onto the piece. I think it is so special that they found a way to incorporate a traditional church setting into the outdoors – wonderful job!

  2. avatar Faith reply

    Wow!!! Absolutely beautiful!

  3. avatar Emily reply

    Such gorgeous portraits. And their ceremony set-up reminds me of Natalie + Wade’s — so pretty + meaningful!

  4. avatar Dana reply

    the outdoor church is so awesome!

  5. avatar mary thomas reply

    As mother of the bride it is difficult to be objective how beautiful Samantha & Micah’s wedding was. Amy Arrington was so great to work with and captured the day perfectly. Looking at these pictures makes me relive the entire day all over. Thank you Lisa for presenting it in such great style, we so appreciate Southern Weddings for this fine presentation.

  6. avatar Taylor Rae reply

    As the sister of the bride I’m not objective in the slightest, but Samantha and Micah are such a wonderful couple! This wedding was so much fun to be apart of! Love it all!

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  13. avatar Natalie reply

    I really love your bridesmaid dresses! I’ve been trying to find dresses in the exact same color and styles. Where did you get them from?

  14. avatar Emily Bostaph reply

    My partner and I are planning our wedding for next fall and are trying to find the perfect venue! We both want to get married under the spanish moss trees. I was wondering what the name of this particular venue is? If it’s privately owned, would it be available for rent, for the big day?

    • avatar Emily reply

      Hi Emily! This is the Coastal Discovery Museum, which is available to rent for events! I’ve been there myself, and it’s beautiful! The link is in the credits above :)

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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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