Google+ The Black Tux Archives - Page 3 of 4 - Southern Weddings

Southern Weddings

Tag: The Black Tux

While it may be starting to feel like fall around many parts of the South, I can assure you, it still feels like summer in Florida! For their end-of-May wedding, Kristina and Kyle worked with the talented Anthology Co. Floristry to create a “tropical romance” feel and welcome their out-of-town guests to the beauty of Miami. From the floral structure over The Bath Club‘s fireplace to the tiny pineapples incorporated into the decor, I’m pretty sure guests were in awe…however, I’m sure that’s not the only thing they were admiring! Judging by the sweet snippet of their personal vows, I can only imagine how inspired Kristina and Kyle’s guests were by this adorable couple and their love for each other!

Gracious we’re so happy Blue Ribbon Vendor Elaine Palladino was on hand to snap all the sweet moments and gorgeous blooms!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. From Kyle: Kristina and I met on a cold Saturday night in Tallahassee. It was fall semester at Florida State University and, like any good college kids on a cold night, we were gathering for a bonfire behind my friend Todd’s house. Although I was rarely on time for school, I was never late for non-affiliated after school activities. I was there early to help set up the tables, chairs, music and, of course, the beverage station. Kristina and her friends were among the first to arrive. I introduced myself when she walked into the backyard, but we didn’t really meet until later that night when I was offered a seat near Kristina and her friends by the bonfire. Kristina and I ended up in immediate conversation, and before I knew it, our chairs were next to one another, where they remained for the rest of the evening. Conversation was easy because we had so much in common, including, we learned, an Intro to Film class. We ended up being the last people to leave that night, but before Kristina left, I said, “I’d ask for your number, but I’ll just get it from you in class.” I still think that was pretty smooth.

Veronica of Anthology Co. Floristry is not just a florist–she is a flower artist. Her arrangements are sculptural, interesting, and, above all, beautiful. She translated my vision of tropical romance perfectly. I wanted bold, saturated blooms with lots of greenery and texture, and she delivered just that. The structure she built around the fireplace was breathtaking! I could not be happier with how the flowers turned out.

What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they have any special significance to you? Since most of our family and friends were coming from out of town, we wanted a venue that was within walking distance to a hotel on the beach where everyone could stay. We didn’t want a traditional hotel ballroom, which made our search tricky! The Bath Club was the perfect choice for us. It was built in 1926 and has served as a private cabana venue for celebrities and presidents throughout the years. I loved the beautiful Spanish architecture and dark wood.

My uncle graciously agreed to marry us and it made it so much more beautiful and personal to have someone we love guiding such an important moment. We also chose to do a wine box ceremony, where you seal a bottle of wine along with notes written to each other to open on your fifth anniversary, or if you should ever need a reason to remember why you got married. We love good wine and it gave us a reason to buy a great bottle that we look forward to drinking on our fifth anniversary.

Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We wrote our own vows, which was a very important detail for me. I wanted to share our own words of love with all of our friends and family on that day. Kyle is an amazing writer and every line of his vows was so special. I loved when he said, “Even though you are so easy to love, I promise to never take it for granted. I never want to get comfortable and forget that our time here is short.”

It was important for us to have a table with pictures of our parents and grandparents showing the love that brought us to this point. Most of our grandparents were unable to be with us at the wedding, but having the table with their pictures helped us feel their presence.

What was one way you saved money or cut costs at your wedding? I have a knack for calligraphy and design, so I designed all of the paper products and did the calligraphy for our envelopes (which took forever!). I also designed the booklet for our welcome bag that contained all of our favorite things to do in Miami. On the day of the wedding, I chose to do my own makeup, which was such a good decision for me. It came out exactly the way I wanted it and I still looked like me. I am so glad I could put my personal stamp on all of these things, but it was a huge undertaking!

I have so many favorite details! Our wedding was hands down the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Above all, the flowers by Anthology Co. were absolutely show-stopping, especially the structure over the fireplace and all of the palms and tiny pineapples! I also loved both sets of cake toppers: our mice “cheese cake” toppers that have been passed down to me from my mother, and our vintage kitty salt and pepper shakers on our wedding cake that were gifted to me by Kyle’s cousin.

We chose Earth and Sugar to make our wedding cakes because we wanted a really delicious vegan cake. Janderyn made three delicious flavor combinations for us: chocolate cake with fresh raspberry filling, vanilla cake with fresh pineapple filling, and vanilla cake with fresh passion fruit filling. They were absolutely delicious and beautiful! Our caterer, Stephen Starr Events, provided tiny dessert bites like key lime ice cream sandwiches, salted caramel bars, brownie bites, and tropical meringues.

What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Brides, do yourself a huge favor and buy beautiful, amazing, flat shoes. Maybe even make flats (or tiny heels) your main shoe choice. Heels are absolutely beautiful, but with the amount of time I was standing for pictures and walking, my feet were killing me before I even walked down the aisle. And my back-up shoes were a “more comfortable” pair of heels! Terrible! Thankfully, my photographer, Elaine, convinced me to bring a pair of sandals with me, which I ended up wearing for most of the night. But they were not cute. Another piece of advice is to think beforehand about what you want to spend your time doing during the reception, whether that’s being able to talk to everyone, really eat and enjoy the meal, take a lot of pictures in the photo booth, or dance all night, because you will not be able to do it all! Make sure you don’t regret not doing something you really wanted to do.

Tell us all about the proposal! It was May 23, and I knew something was afoot because a week earlier, Kyle had told me about a new meteor shower called Camelopardalis that he wanted to see. We planned to drive to Anne’s Beach in Islamorada, known for its low pollution, making it perfect for stargazing! He also made a reservation for us to eat dinner at a French restaurant on the way. After hearing about this reservation, I knew I had to do my nails, because this was it! We had a long dinner with my favorite, escargot, and Kyle’s favorite, fresh fish, along with delicious French wine and bread. We then made the drive to Islamorada with the windows down while we listened to old jazz. To my surprise, Kyle had filled the trunk of the car with the works: sheets, pillows, wine, cookies, cheese, and crackers. We set up camp at the beach and laid under the stars. It was truly amazing. We watched the stars for hours–we got there at probably around 11 P.M., and by 2 A.M., I was sure he wouldn’t propose that night after all. I was even getting ready to tell him on the drive back that he missed the perfect opportunity! Then, all of a sudden, he told me he needed to get something from the car, and he came back with the ring! Of course, I said yes, and he brought out champagne to celebrate as I was using the flashlights to try and see my new ring. We stayed for several more hours and didn’t get home until the sun was already rising. It was an unforgettable night.
When did y’all get married? May 30, 2015
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 180
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. Walking down the aisle, The Wynwoods played an acoustic version of “La Vie en Rose.” I fell in love with the song on a trip to Paris with my mom. It is just the most beautiful love song and I knew I would one day walk down the aisle to it. It was also my Abuela’s favorite song, and because of her Alzheimer’s, she was unable to be at our wedding, so it was a small way to honor her as well. Our recessional song was “Wouldn’t it be Nice” by The Beach Boys. Kyle and I love The Beach Boys (who doesn’t!) and it is such a fun and happy song. Our first dance song was “Harvest Moon.” Neil Young has been a constant in our relationship–I didn’t have a car when we first started dating, so Kyle drove me around most of the time. He was having a big Neil Young kick at the time, so hearing Neil Young now always brings me back to our first months together!
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Definitely walking down the aisle. All of the months of planning are leading up to that exact moment: walking down the aisle to meet the person you want to build your life with. There was so much commotion and excitement on the day of our wedding, and it was all very overwhelming. But hearing The Wynwoods play their acoustic version of “La Vie en Rose” and seeing Kyle at the end of the aisle, with my parents right beside me, was the best part. There is a picture of my parents and I at the end of the aisle, where my mom and I on the verge of tears (I had been crying happy tears pretty much all day, I was SO emotional!) and that it immediately brings me back to what I was feeling in that moment. It was the happiest moment of my life.
What’s next for you as a couple? What memories are you looking forward to making together? I feel incredibly lucky to call Kyle my husband now. We are continuing to weave our lives together and look forward to growing our family!
Is there anything else you’d like to share about your wedding? The best thing I didn’t know I wanted: Stephen Starr Events provided amazing food, but what surprised us the most was our personal waiter who took care of us the whole night! He always had a glass of water (or champagne!) at the ready for us on the sidelines. It was amazing!

Photographer: Elaine Palladino / Videographer: Pabelona Studio / Planner: Miranda Estes / Venue: The Bath Club / Florist: Anthology Co. Floristry / Cake Baker: Earth and Sugar / Caterer: Stephen Starr Events / Rentals: Unearthed Vintage / Lighting: Illumene / Band: The Wynwoods Band / DJ: DJ Mike Kruz / Invitations: Bella Figura / Other Paper Goods: Moo / Bride’s Gown: “Juliet” by Reem Acra / Bride’s Hair Comb: “English Violet” by Halo & Co. / Bride’s Earrings: “Disco Pansy” by Kate Spade / Bride’s Engagement Ring: Trumpet & Horn / Wedding Bands: Catbird NY / Hair and Makeup: Carolyn Jones Makeup / Bride’s Shoes: “Hollie” by Badgely Mischka and “Opalize” by Anne Klein / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Dessy, White by Vera Wang, and Assali / Groom’s Attire: Hugo Boss and Ryan Seacrest / Groomsmen Attire: The Black Tux / Vintage Stamps: TreasureFox / Linens: Over the Top Linens / Photo Booth: Capture Pod / Cigar Roller: On-Site Cigars / Getting Ready Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar

Elaine Palladino is a delightful member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

marissa Written with love by Marissa
5 Comments
  1. avatar Friday Fresh Squeeze #211 – Floridian Social reply

    […] not surprising that a batch of our Faves came up with something so perfect for Kristina and Kyle's tropi-chic wedding at The Bath Club! Elaine Palladino captured all the beautiful moments of the day, including a ceremony around the […]

  2. avatar Denice Lachapelle reply

    So good! Lovely wedding!

  3. avatar Emily Lurie reply

    Any idea where the bride got the mini pineapples to decorate the tables?

  4. avatar Green and Gold Forest Wedding Theme Ideas | Wedding Paper Divas reply

    […] Photo Source: Leaf | Green Door | Candles | Bridesmaids | Succulents | Cake […]

  5. avatar Blog reply

    […] Sources: blues, greenery and mixed metalis : Kristin La Voie Photography greenery & candle : https://southernweddings.com /2015/09/23/tropical-chic-miami-wedding-by-elaine-palladino/ metallic […]

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

Anyone who has experienced a long distance relationship can attest to how tough it can be, but if there’s one plus side, it’s that the time when you and your love are together becomes all the more special! Kristan and Jason are college sweethearts whose post-grad jobs brought them apart for a year before they were reunited in Houston and engaged shortly thereafter. For their Texas wedding, they drew inspiration from their seven years of dating by writing their vows together, serving their favorite bundt cake flavors, and even naming their reception tables after places that were sentimental to them. Their planner, Lauren at Something to Celebrate, and florist, Maxit Flower Design, took these sweet details from Kristan and Jason’s love story and helped them tie it all together–topped off with the prettiest coral charm peonies!

Thank you kindly to Sarah McKenzie for sharing this special day with us!

Did you decide to do a first look? Why or why not? While we love the tradition of the bride and groom seeing each other for the first time when the bride walks down the aisle, we decided to do a first look based on the recommendations of married friends. All of our friends who had done one talked about how nice it was to have that special moment together without everyone watching, and how, from a logistical perspective, it just made the day run smoother. Having now done a first look at our wedding, we could not agree more! It really was perfect and allowed us to have a very special, intimate moment together, and to take plenty of pictures of just the two of us, without missing out on the reception!

Our flowers were, without a doubt, one of our favorite aspects of our wedding! We are so thankful that we had the chance to work with Maria Maxit–her work was absolutely breathtaking and we feel like the beautiful arrangements and decor that she crafted truly helped to make our wedding everything that it was. Maria captured our vision perfectly, finding ways to integrate vibrant color and gorgeous flowers (so many peonies!) throughout every element of our special day.

What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? From the incredibly meaningful and touching words of our officiants, to the exchanging of personal vows, to the sun setting in the background as we took communion together as our first act as husband and wife, we will forever treasure every second of our wedding ceremony.
Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We did write our own vows, and we are so glad that we did! We co-wrote five promises that we each wanted to say to one another, and then we each added another promise and additional words about what the other person means to us. One of our favorite lines from the five promises that we co-wrote stated, “I promise to love you selflessly, as you have loved me, and as Christ has loved us.”

We knew we had found our venue the moment that we arrived to visit Balmorhea last fall. It is breathtaking and unique and felt every bit “us.” We were so drawn in by the amazing owners (who built the venue themselves!) and the incredible staff (we worked with Alison McIntyre, who was phenomenal!). We could not have dreamt of a more perfect place to celebrate our special day. It captured the essence of Southern charm by beautifully combining rustic design with classic elegance, and creating a welcoming, down-to-earth atmosphere that truly felt like home to us and our guests.

Did you pull any wedding inspiration from memories you have together? Tell us about it! We decided that instead of doing table numbers for our reception, we wanted to name the tables after cities that were significant to us. Katy & Co. helped us craft a seating chart, as well as a corresponding display board which explained why each city meant something to us. Each of the 17 cities were places that had become very special throughout our seven years of dating–from Waco, where we first met at Baylor, to Houston, the city we now call home. We made sure each table had a picture of us in the city represented by that table.

We have always loved Nothing Bundt Cakes and were thrilled to find out that they could cater our wedding. We decided to give guests the choice of our favorite flavors: lemon and red velvet.

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. We met at Baylor University’s summer camp for incoming freshman. We dated throughout college and the beginning of our professional careers. After seven years of long distance dating and many hours of travel, we are so ecstatic to finally be able to call each other husband and wife, and to have the opportunity to do life together each and every day in the same city!
Tell us all about the proposal! After a year of long distance, I was so excited to be reunited with Jason in July 2014 when I moved back to Houston. We knew that we were ready to get engaged at some point soon, and while part of me wanted to be surprised, the other part of me wanted to know EVERYTHING about the proposal! After much persistence on my part, Jason gave me four weekends to block off. The first weekend rolled around and Jason sweetly arranged for me to meet up with my dear friends from college to do brunch and get our nails done. It was a fantastic day, but I had convinced myself that he wasn’t going to propose until the last of the four weekends he had told me to block off. The next weekend, Jason told me that I needed to be ready at 3:30 in the afternoon, and when 3:30 rolled around, my cousin Brianne showed up at my house and said that she was going to be my coffee date. When we arrived at Starbucks, my brother and his girlfriend Ashley, who had come home from Baylor in Waco and were inside! They handed me a handmade mug and a note from Jason that told me what the next few hours had in store–Brianne would be taking me across Houston to various locations that were representative of things about our relationship. At each stop, there would be a clue and a puzzle piece that I would collect. While I could read the clue, I was not allowed to open the puzzle pieces. After stops at the Houston airport, IHOP (a place where Jason and I had many a breakfast), a movie theatre (one of mine and Jason’s favorite things to do is see movies), and my favorite store (Nordstrom in the Galleria, where Jason had chosen a dress for me), we drove over to the beautiful fountain wall at the Galleria. Brianne dropped me, and when I saw Jason in the middle of the field, I ran towards him! I had accidentally left the puzzle pieces in Brianne’s car, so without hesitation, he bolted off after Brianne, who was driving away, and caught her just in time. He proceeded to tell me about the significance of each piece as he unwrapped it and placed it on a board. The pieces spelled out “will you marry me” on top of a collage of pictures from us from the past seven years–he said so many amazing, wonderful things, and then got on one knee and proposed with the most beautiful ring I had ever seen in my life!
When did y’all get married? June 6, 2015
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 170
Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! My grandmother passed away when I was younger, and not having her to celebrate with us on our special day was so tough. However, I have no doubt at all that she was there in spirit, and to honor her, we integrated her brooch into my bouquet as my something old.
How did you plan for your marriage while planning your wedding? We were so blessed to be surrounded by friends and family throughout the wedding planning process who consistently helped us focus on what matters most. Rather than getting caught up in the details of the wedding day, they reminded us of the importance of investing in and preparing for the marriage that followed. In addition to the great advice we received from friends, family, and our officiant, we attended premarital counseling at our church in downtown Houston.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? One of our best decisions was to hire a day-of coordinator. Our coordinator, Lauren, was fantastic–she kept us on track in the weeks leading up to the wedding, provided fantastic vendor recommendations, and perfectly executed all of the details we had planned on the day-of. We highly recommend that everyone get a day-of coordinator to make sure that you have the chance to truly let the logistics go and focus on enjoying all of your hard work on the day of the wedding.
What’s next for you as a couple? What memories are you looking forward to making together? We are currently having so much fun getting settled into our first home together just outside of downtown Houston. We are so excited for all of the adventures in store for us in the coming years–from getting the chance to enjoy all of the small, simple joys of life while at home in Houston, to hopefully having the chance to travel the country and the world with friends and family. We could not be more thankful for all that lies ahead.

Photographer: Sarah McKenzie Photography / Videographer: Brad and Monica Eggerton / Planner: Something to Celebrate / Venue: Balmorhea Events / Florist: Maxit Flower Design / Dessert Baker: Nothing Bundt Cakes / Caterer: Cafe Natalie / Linens: House of Hough / DJ and Lighting: Johnny Black Productions / Favors: Laura Baartmans / Paper Products: Katy & Co / Bridal Salon: Mia Bridal Couture / Hair and Makeup: April Thompson / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: “Style F15810” in Black by David’s Bridal / Menswear: The Black Tux / Calligraphy: Cypress Calligraphy / Ties: Knotty Tie Co.

Sarah McKenzie is a delightful member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

lisa Written with love by Lisa
3 Comments
  1. avatar Maureen Goldman reply

    So beautiful! I love the pops of coral against the black bridesmaid dresses!

  2. avatar Dana reply

    that is some proposal story! wow!

  3. avatar Cafe Natalie reply

    It was an absolutely beautiful wedding. So happy for Kristan and Jason! Thank you for letting us be a part of your big day.

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

As y’all may know, every summer, we welcome a lovely intern to our office! Elizabeth has been a huge help to us with everything from photo shoot prep to packing up shop orders over the last few months. She fell heads over heels for Laurie and Brian’s gorgeous wedding, so we invited her to introduce them to y’all today! -Lisa

I have read quite a few real wedding interviews this summer and have loved every one of them, but Laurie and Brian’s story truly captured my heart. My love for their wedding is partially due to the fact that their initial relationship, jokingly referred to as “work husband and wife,” that turned into a romance is simply so sweet. However, I am also completely smitten by this wedding because Laurie and Brian incorporated so many details that I dream of having in my own wedding someday, many years down the road! I have always wanted to design my own wedding dress, and the dress that Laurie created with the help of a custom dressmaker is stunning, if I do say so myself. Laurie and Brian have spent their fair share of time in banquet halls throughout their careers, so they wanted something different for their big day–an outdoor Southern wedding at Southwood House, surrounded by dripping Spanish moss, was the perfect contrast.

Thanks so much to Cassidy Carson for sharing this charming day with us!

P.S. We were thrilled to see that Laurie’s Southern Weddings Planner made an appearance in these photos! Can you spot it?

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. The search for the perfect wedding dress was one of the biggest challenges. We had a fairly short engagement, so any dress ordered from a boutique would have to be rushed and leave no time for alterations. I never found “the” dress, and most of the time, left the bridal boutiques frustrated and overwhelmed. While searching Pinterest, I found a custom dressmaker located in Brian’s hometown, Salt Lake City. As luck would have it, we were visiting his family the upcoming weekend, so I quickly made an appointment with Penelope and the rest is history. I had the best time designing my dress, and within three weekend visits to Salt Lake City, I had my wedding gown!

I love almost any arrangement of fresh flowers, so I had the hardest time settling on just a few types of flowers! I wanted the bouquets to feel whimsical, but not so loose that they competed with the draping Spanish moss and greenery around our venue. Ultimately, we decided on David Austin and garden roses, peonies, hydrangeas, and succulents, as a nod to our life in California.

Did you decide to do a first look? Why or why not? We did do a first look. The majority of our guests traveled hundreds and thousands of miles to celebrate with us, and we wanted to soak up as much time with these friends as possible. Since most of our photos could be taken before the wedding, we decided a first look would allow for additional time to make this happen. Looking back, there are so many reasons to do a first look. Seeing each other before the ceremony calmed our nerves, and let us pray together and enjoy a few quiet moments before the celebration began!

I love the theme song from Steel Magnolias and thought it would be a beautiful entrance for the bridesmaids. I searched high and low for a bridal processional, but never found a song better than the Steel Magnolias theme. Our talented string quartet created an arrangement that included a powerful crescendo for my grand entrance, and kept the song flowing until I made it to the end of the aisle. I think I had chills and tears the whole way.

Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We wrote our own vows, but mixed in a few lines from more traditional vows. I always seem to be fighting some sort of illness, so I joked with Brian that “in sickness and in health” needed to be included. On a more serious note, our favorite line was “With God’s grace, I promise to encourage and challenge you to become the person God has created you to be.”
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? One of my dearest childhood friends read 1 John 4:9-19. Her sweet pastor of a husband was our officiant, and together, they did an amazing job sharing the Lord’s meaning of marriage.

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? The only non-Southern detail about our wedding was the groom! Our ceremony and reception took place under the Southern oaks, our wedding favors were jars of local Tupelo honey, our menu consisted of a biscuit bar, fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, shrimp and grits, and banana pudding, and my family provided the sweetest Southern accents to the evening!

With careers in corporate America, Brian and I have attended our fair share of events in banquet halls and ballrooms. We wanted the feel and ambiance of our wedding to be completely different. Since my family lives in North Florida, we decided a Southern wedding would be best. Our dream wedding included a ceremony under the oak trees and a family-style dinner, served as if you were at a backyard garden party. When we discovered Tallahassee’s Southwood House and Cottages, we knew it was a perfect fit. The property is filled with giant oak trees and provided plenty of room to host both our ceremony and reception. There is a beautiful, historic home located on the property that we used to host our cocktail hour (and provide a cool haven for our guests).

Describe your wedding cake and dessert. We both love traditional yellow cake with buttercream frosting, so this decision was easy! The best compliment was when our photographer remarked, “That’s the best piece of wedding cake I’ve ever had. And that’s say somethin’.” We also served banana pudding for dessert, as well as chicken and waffles and chocolate-covered strawberries for late-night bites.

We have so many fond memories of our special day, but one that stands out is a sweet moment during the reception. Before the wedding, we decided to make sure we spent as much time on the dance floor as possible. We knew guests would follow our lead, and we wanted everyone to have a good time! At one point in the evening, I noticed that the dance floor was not packed, and I immediately felt the need to get the party going again. But then I took a moment to look around and soak it all in, and it was the prettiest sight! I saw our friends and family chatting away, enjoying their desserts, and socializing with old and new friends. Everyone seemed so genuinely happy to be celebrating with us–it was exactly what I dreamed for our wedding day!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. Brian and I met while working as consultants for a Los Angeles media and entertainment company. Over two years of traveling and working together, we became close friends. In fact, our coworkers joked that we were “work husband and wife!” After finishing our consulting project and no longer seeing each other every day, we both made an effort to keep hanging out. It was not long before we realized our friendship was the foundation for something more. Overall, I am pretty open-minded; however, three of the things I’ve always said I’d never do included living in LA, dating a guy that has the same occupation as me, and specifically, dating a guy as boring as Brian James. As each of these things became very true, I am convinced God has a great sense of humor. Luckily, I realized Brian is not as boring as I had originally thought–in fact, I kind of think he’s the best!
Tell us all about the proposal! From Brian: I really wanted the proposal to be a surprise. We had spent plenty of time discussing marriage in the months leading up to the proposal, so any sign of a plan would be an absolute giveaway. To keep the element of surprise possible, I did not make any plans that would seem out of the ordinary. We went on one of our favorite hikes in the Santa Monica Mountains. From the top, there is an amazing view of the Pacific Ocean and the beaches of Malibu–it’s definitely one of our favorite places in the world. No other place seemed more appropriate to drop to a knee and ask Laurie if we could spend the rest of our lives together. We followed the hike with drinks at a beachside restaurant to privately celebrate before letting our family and friends know the good news!
When did y’all get married? May 30, 2015
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 165
Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! My something borrowed and old was the Bible my dad gave my mom when they were dating. My something blue was a gold ring with an aquamarine stone gifted to me by my two older sisters. The ring was a Christmas present I received during middle school–it was the “real” (in other words, not from Claire’s) piece of jewelry I owned. My wedding dress, shoes, earrings, and bracelet were all new.
How did you plan for your marriage while planning your wedding? In the months before our wedding, we both read through “The Meaning of Marriage” by Tim Keller. We had individually read it before our engagement, but reading it again together allowed us to talk through the key points of the Lord’s purpose for marriage and what story we want our marriage to tell.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Planning a wedding in six months was a bigger challenge than I had originally expected. Several venues and vendors we inquired with were already booked. However, the biggest challenge turned out to be the wedding dress and bridesmaid dresses. Every bridal boutique gave their “shock face” when I told them our wedding date. Luckily, we found a dressmaker who was able to make a gown in a short amount of time, and J.Crew had gorgeous options for bridesmaids dresses (and great sales, too!).
What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? We adore our photographer and were so grateful to have her as a part of our wedding! Since we live in California and she lives in Tennessee, we were pretty sure we would not meet until the day of the wedding. Luckily, Cassidy made a trip to Southern California with her husband to visit family, and we decided to meet for an engagement photo session and dinner in Malibu. It was love at first sight! Cassidy has the ability to make you feel at home as soon as you meet her, a perfect character trait for a wedding photographer. Our photos are filled with natural smiles and laughs because we felt so comfortable with Cassidy snapping away on our wedding day.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? There are so many decisions involved that, at some point, the wedding planning will become overwhelming. On the days when it seems less enjoyable, step away and head out to do something fun. We spent time at the driving range, a great way to soak in some fresh air and forget the wedding planning woes. Also, never forget the real reason for the wedding–the beginning of your marriage. Even without flowers and a pretty dress, that is a beautiful thing!
What’s next for you as a couple? What memories are you looking forward to making together? We are having the best time being newlyweds! We spend a lot of weekends traveling around the West coast and exploring this beautiful part of the country. While we definitely hope to start a family in the near future, right now, we are working on the stories for our grandkids!

Photographer: Cassidy Carson Photography / Videographer: SugarPop Films / Planner: Shannon Reeves Events / Venue and Lighting: Southwood House and Cottages / Florist: Missy Gunnels Flowers / Cake and Dessert Baker: Debbie at Hopkins Eatery / Caterer: Andrew’s Catering / Rentals: Terri Smith Details, In Tents Events, and Silver Lining Linens / DJ: Greg Tish of GT Entertainment / Paper Products: Feathered Heart Prints / Bride’s Gown: Penelope’s / Hair Stylist: Jenny Dease / Makeup Artist: Melissa Peters Makeup / Bride’s Shoes: Loeffler Randall / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: “Heidi Long Dress in Silk Chiffon” in Misty Rose by J. Crew / Menswear: The Black Tux / Ceremony Music: Katie Fair of Shaker Lakes Chamber Players / Officiant: Derek Casseaux / Guest Favors: Smiley Honey / Reception Music: Kyle LaMonica

Written with love by admin
8 Comments
  1. avatar Wedding venues reply

    Perfect wedding cake love it!

  2. avatar Cassidy Carson reply

    Thank you ladies for such a wonderful feature! Laurie and Brian’s wedding was definitely one of my favorites. And that moss!!!

  3. avatar Richard_1 reply

    Beautiful people and a great set of photos! The whole wedding great. The kind of wedding little girls always dream of.

  4. avatar Rachel reply

    AAA this looks so perfect it’s unreal. Someday i’ll have my dream wedding just like this lucky couple!

  5. avatar Eight Greenery Inspired Wedding Colors that You Can’t Miss in 2017 | Stylish Wedd Blog reply

    […] Photo Credits: via SMP/via The Knot/via SMP/Photo 3,4 via /via Southern Wedding […]

  6. avatar 10 Romantic Spring & Summer Wedding Colors for 2017 Brides | Stylish Wedd Blog reply

    […] via Southern Weddings […]

  7. avatar Isha reply

    Hi, are any of your bridesmaids looking to sell their dresses. I need 2 more of the heidi long dress in misty roses sizes (0,4 or 8) to complete my bridesmaids look.

    Regards,
    isha

  8. avatar Wedding Flower Favorites: Eucalyptus – Budget Friendly Beauty reply

    […] on Southern Weddings and photographed by Cassidy Carson […]

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