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In the Sweet Tea Society, we share a belief that simple is often better, and Rachel and Sam’s wedding day is a perfect example of this sentiment. They chose to honor God, their family, and their own love story at their sweetly simple wedding, reminiscent of Southern celebrations from times past. They held a morning ceremony at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, where Rachel’s grandparents were married in 1950, followed by a brunch reception, complete with sweet tea and the buzz of good company to celebrate their day. I love how Rachel and her mom kept each other focused during their planning by asking “what kind of significance will this really have?” when considering details. What a poignant question to keep in mind.

Big SW hugs to my friend Brooke Glassford of Colorbox Photographers for sharing this lovely day!

I had originally decided that I wanted to wear my mom’s dress. It is a beautiful lace gown that I loved, but we knew there were a couple of things we would want to change about it. We went wedding dress shopping just to get ideas, but the girls at The White Room really did their job well! I ended up falling in love with an Anne Barge dress, and I was really torn about it, but my mom assured me that it was my dress. I am so happy with the choice. We ended up using some lace from my mom’s gown on my veil that she sewed herself, which ended up being even more special to me. It is something we will pass down for generations to come.

Our wedding was more like the Southern weddings in times past–it was at 11:00 in the morning and we served brunch with lemonade and sweet tea afterwards. We enjoyed the company of friends and family and didn’t have anything fancy going on other than the buzz of good company.

What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they have any special significance to you? My grandparents were wed at St. Paul’s in 1950. It is the church that I grew up in and that my father grew up in and that my grandfather grew up in. It was very special to my family and to Sam and I that we were married in a place with such rich history and deep meaning.

What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? This is a hard one. I think the most memorable moment of our wedding day was saying my vows to Sam. That was the moment when everything started to really sink in for me. I also really loved this moment that after we were announced as husband and wife, we turned around to face our friends and family, and the whole church joined in to sing the Doxology. It was such a joy to get to see so many loved ones and to sing praise to the Lord with them!

How did you plan for your marriage while planning your wedding? The main way that we planned for our marriage was through prayer for our future. We prayed for each other as well as ourselves in the new roles we were about to take on. Our main desire for our marriage is that the Lord be honored and glorified.

Our wedding flowers were beyond gorgeous! The day before our wedding, I had to run by the church and ended up walking into the reception venue. I was immediately in tears because of how beautiful everything was, and because of the people who blessed me with the talent they have been blessed with. Two women who have had a big impact on my life, and especially on my walk with the Lord, were in charge of all of the flowers. They, along with a team of family and friends, created more than I could have ever asked for. The flowers certainly pointed to the beauty of the Lord and the brilliance of what He creates.

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. Sam and I met in kindergarten. Although we “dated” from 7th-12th grade, we say that we truly started dating our junior year of college after we became Christians. We know that it is only because of the Lord’s great mercy on our lives and His great love for us that we are able to love each other.
Tell us all about the proposal! October 10, 2014 is one of my most favorite memories. It was just a normal Friday, and a close friend of ours had invited us over to eat with their family at their cabin, about 30 minutes outside of Auburn. I didn’t think twice about it, even though Sam came up with a thousand excuses for why the Sheils were coming to the cabin after us. He was basically on one knee the second we stepped out of his truck and onto the porch. He recalled lots of things that had happened over our 11 years together and talked about wanting me to be his wife. I was completely shocked and so excited that I didn’t say anything for a while! He then prepared a delicious meal for us and we sat on the porch for hours, excitedly talking about our future together and thanking the Lord for allowing it all to really happen as we had always wished.
When did y’all get married? July 18, 2015
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? Around 250
Did you decide to do a first look? Why or why not? We did decide to do a first look. We really wanted to have that moment to ourselves to soak in the day before all of it moved too quickly to remember. Seeing him at the end of the aisle waiting for me was still just as special and exciting as I had always dreamed it would be.
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? 1 Corinthians 13 was read during our ceremony by our officiant, Sam’s dad. He talked about how our home needed to be built on Godly love in order for our home to be sustained.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? I think the biggest challenge for us was our guest list. We knew we wanted a more intimate ceremony, and although 250 guests doesn’t seem very intimate to some people, in our small, Southern town, it is! Cutting down the guest list was definitely challenging for us.
What was one way you saved money or cut costs at your wedding? My parents asked me to choose three things that were really important to us for our wedding. We chose three big, important things and tried to cut corners on everything else. My mom and I would stop each other and ask, “Is this really that important?” Or “What kind of significance will this really have?” It made the planning process a lot more enjoyable.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? My advice is to enjoy the process! It is something you will never have the opportunity to do again, and it’s neat to think that the Lord planned this specific time just for you. Praise Him for it, thank Him for it, and give it up to Him. Planning seemed like a breeze because I knew I wasn’t doing it alone.
What’s next for you as a couple? What memories are you looking forward to making together? Right after we got married, we moved to Tuscaloosa from Auburn. We both just started new jobs here and are looking forward to getting plugged into a local community in this new place.

Photographer: Brooke Glassford of Colorbox Photographers / Videographer: David Haygood / Venue: St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Carlowville / Florals: Catherine Gilmer and April Lane / Caterer and Cake Baker: Granny B Catering / Rentals: Encore Rentals / Paper Products: Kadie Smith / Bride’s Gown: “Pembroke” by Anne Barge / Bridesmaids’ Hair and Makeup: Amber Todd / Bride’s Shoes: Toms / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: David’s Bridal / Menswear: Jim Massey Formals / Ties: Landisun

marissa Written with love by Marissa
5 Comments
  1. avatar Stephanie Scholl reply

    I love, love, love the heart and simplicity behind this wedding! It’s so refreshing to see a wedding these days that evokes the feel of weddings of the past… less focused on the details and the party and more focused on simplicity, family, community, and love. Thanks for sharing this one – it sure it gorgeous & is one to remember!

  2. avatar Brooke Glassdord reply

    Thank you SO much for featuring this wedding! It was an honor to capture AND an honor being featured by SW!

  3. avatar Southern Weddings feature: Sam + Rachel » Colorbox Photographers reply

    […] Weddings for featuring Sam + Rachel’s summer morning wedding on their blog today! Click here to see the […]

  4. avatar Jehnel Oboza-Davison reply

    Seriously, seriously beautiful wedding. I am so in love with the central focus of love, family, and God in this wedding. This reminds me of looking through your grandparents’ old wedding albums and it was just chock-full of happy pictures; a blushing bride and a dapper groom. So beautiful. Let’s return to this again, y’all!

  5. avatar Donna Harrison reply

    I watched this couple grow up…It was indeed a great day!!! A glorious day!

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Y’all, I feel a little guilty about sharing this wedding today, especially if we have any readers joining us from the Northeast. If you weren’t already craving warm spring days and juicy peaches, you will be now–I know Kristin might want to jump right into these photos, as she herself had a beautiful, peachy detail-covered wedding of her own! There is so much more to Julie and Michael’s big day than the gorgeous weather though. We could talk about the gorgeous blooms, or the perfectly placed vintage furniture, or even their pecan pie favors. But, what makes me swoon the most has got to be the importance of family weaved throughout their day. Julie not only wears Michael’s great-grandmother’s engagement ring, she also donned her mother’s wedding gown on the big day. If you think you need even more sweetness before you reach for a tissue, be sure to read about the empty row at their ceremony to honor their late family members. Y’all, this Louisiana celebration is such a gem!

We’re so thankful Ashleigh Jayne shared this wedding with us in V7!

My engagement ring originally belonged to Michael’s great-grandmother, Rose Danna. Her husband purchased the diamond in 1930, and the two were married in 1934. They had two children, Patricia and Carmella, who each got married and had children of their own. Carmello Danna (Pawpaw) passed away in 1999, and Rose Danna (Maw-maw) lived a long, full life as the matriarch of the family. I was blessed to know Maw-maw for several years before she passed away at age 98. When Michael decided to propose to me, he began shopping around for an engagement ring, and when he told his mother the news, she gave him Maw-maw’s ring. Now, it is not only a reminder of our marriage, but also a memory of Maw-maw that we will forever cherish, and one day pass on to one of our children.

What was the design inspiration for your wedding? Why was this design special to you as a couple? Prior to our engagement, Michael and I had discussed getting married and what we imagined married life would be like. We didn’t, however, talk about what type of wedding we would want when that day came. After we figured out the logistics, the fun part began (fun for me at least!). I read wedding magazines, created Pinterest boards and started a wedding planning book to stay organized. It was at that point that I knew I wanted to hire a wedding planner to help pull all of my ideas together. From the moment Angela came on board in May 2013, the planning really took off! I described my inspiration to her, including family traditions, like wearing my mother’s dress. We wanted to have a “comfortable” wedding–nothing too formal, but with lots of attention paid to the little details.

Living in Louisiana, it is impossible to predict the weather. One year before our wedding date, I remember sitting on the patio of my parents’ house with propane heaters to keep warm! When we chose Nottoway as the venue for our wedding, we planned for all of the festivities to take place outside, so all we could do was pray for nice weather! The days before and after our wedding were quite hot, but that Saturday was absolutely perfect!! Beautiful sunny skies with a high in the low 80s. I could not have imagined a more perfect day to get married!

The ceremony was brief, but very special. Our officiant, Donna, began the ceremony with a touching Blessing of the Hands prayer. We incorporated our Catholic religion into the ceremony with two bible verses and a presentation to Mary. After the presentation to Mary, we handed roses to our mothers and grandmothers to thank them for all they have done for us. We decided to use traditional vows instead of writing our own, and although the words have been said by many before us, it was so special to promise each other our love “till death do us part.”

What was your reception like? It was held in the Grand Pavilion at Nottoway Plantation, which consisted of a giant white tent reception space and a courtyard with tables, a fountain, and a fireplace. The dance floor was packed the entire night! Our band, Press One for English, was fantastic and kept the crowd on their feet. We rented lots of vintage furniture, such as whiskey barrels, vintage dressers, and chandeliers. About 600 mason jars of various sizes held votive candles and lit up the tables, courtyard, and walkways at the plantation.

Ever since I was a little girl, I dreamed about wearing my mother’s wedding dress and looking as beautiful as she did on her wedding day. After Michael proposed and we began planning our wedding, my mom took out her wedding dress, which had been boxed up since 1984. The dress fit almost perfectly! Of course, I knew there were a few things I wanted to change (like the giant puffy ’80s sleeves!), but with the help of our tailor, I knew it was going to be perfect for my big day. It was truly special to have my dad walk me down the aisle in the same dress my mom was wearing when he married her almost 30 years ago.

Did you include any Southern traditions in your wedding? Michael and are both very Southern and enjoy all of the traditions that the South has to offer. Having the wedding at Nottoway Plantation was Southern in itself, as it is the oldest antebellum mansion in the South. We prepared welcome bags for all of the guests staying on the plantation, and included water bottles with custom labels, mini burlap bags full of Louisiana spices, treats and snacks, and a weekend itinerary. At the reception, we did a cake pull with the bridesmaids, where each pulled a fortune charm from the cake.

Our wedding cake was a four-tiered white cake prepared by Ambrosia Bakery in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The cake filling alternated between cream cheese pecan and traditional cream. The cake was topped with flowers and surrounded by peaches. The groom’s cake was a replica of an Atlanta Braves baseball jersey, specifically Chipper Jones. Michael is a HUGE Braves fan and has cheered for the team since he was very young.

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. Michael and I met in 2002 during our freshman year of high school. We shared many of the same classes and quickly became friends. We were prom dates our junior year, and we officially dated during our senior year until we went our separate ways for college. During our time in college, Michael and I stayed in touch and caught up over holidays and summers back home. No matter how far apart we were, we were still great friends. During the summer of 2010, we both headed back to Baton Rouge. We spent the summer together and decided we were ready to start dating again. After that summer, Michael began his first year of law school at Mississippi College while I returned to Auburn for my final year of school. The long distance was tough at times, but it truly brought us closer together. After my graduation, I found a job in Baton Rouge, bringing us only 2.5 hours apart. For Michael’s last semester of law school, he was able to get an internship in Baton Rouge–we were glad to finally be living in the same city!!
Tell us about the proposal! In celebration of our two-year anniversary, Michael and I decided to spend a weekend in New Orleans. After relaxing in our room at the Hotel Monteleone, we headed to dinner at The Court of Two Sisters. The weather was beautiful and we had a table outside on the courtyard, underneath the hanging lights. After a delicious four-course meal, Michael left the table for the restroom, while I sat soaking up the wonderful evening. Upon his return, he got quite serious and said he wanted to discuss something with me. He started a speech about how much he loved me, everything we had been through, and how he wanted to spend forever with me. Then he got down on one knee, pulled a ring out of his pocket, and said, “Julie Marie Barth, will you marry me?” I was in complete shock!! When I finally came back to reality, I said “Of course I’ll marry you!” Our waiter brought out a new menu that said “The Court of Two Sisters welcomes Michael and Julie on their engagement.”
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Southern, unique, memorable
How many guests attended your wedding? Around 175
What was the most memorable or touching moment about your wedding day? The most special part of the ceremony was the reserved seats in the front row that remained empty in honor of our family members who had recently passed. One was for Michael’s great-grandmother, Maw-maw–she was an incredible lady and very important in our lives. She passed away in 2011. The other empty chair was in honor of my precious younger brother, Samuel Michael Barth, who died in a motor vehicle accident in November 2012. Losing him was the hardest time in my life, but taught me to appreciate every single moment. I did not know at the time, but was told afterwards about a very special moment–some people believe (myself included) that a dragonfly symbolizes the soul of a lost loved one. Since my brother passed away, I have had frequent encounters with dragonflies. During our reception, a dragonfly sat at the tip of the white tent for the entire evening. I know it was Sam watching over us and enjoying the party from the best seat in the house.
Were there any family traditions you included in the reception? I am the only girl that has been born into the Barth family in almost 100 years. Needless to say, most “Barth family weddings” involve one of the male cousins. At all the receptions, my dad and his three brothers would call out the new woman joining the family and induct her in with the “Barth family song,” an original created by my grandfather and his sons. About halfway through the reception, my dad and uncles hopped on stage and called Michael and I to join them. They welcomed Michael to the family, and of course, sang their rendition of the Barth family song.
What’s next for you as a couple? Since May, we have enjoyed our new life as a married couple. I have stayed extremely busy with nursing school and Michael with his career, but we still manage to make time for the silly adventures that we have always enjoyed together.

Photographer: Ashleigh Jayne Photography / Videographer: Dan Jones Film and Cinematography / Planning and Design: Angela Marie Events / Venue and Catering: Nottoway Plantation / Florist: Poppy & Mint Floral Company / Cake Baker: Ambrosia Bakery / Bride’s Shoes: BHLDN / Bridesmaid Dresses: Amsale / Hair Stylist: Alison Smith of Paris Parker Salon / Bow Ties: Me and Matilda / Signs and Banners: Whatchawant Design / Paper Goods: MillerLine Design / Rentals: Timeless Vintage Rentals / Linens: Ballard Designs and Doug Olinde, LLC / Monogrammed Forks: Found Purpose / Transportation: Ascension Golf Carts / Embroidery Hoops: Mama Bleu Designs / Ribbon Wands: kate kate nyc / Guest Book: Go Rustic / Boxes and Buttons: Pick Your Plum / Welcome Bags: Wedding Chicks / Ring Pillow: Hannah Aspens Bridal

marissa Written with love by Marissa
3 Comments
  1. avatar Stacy {Woodsy Weddings} reply

    The ring is stunning and with the story behind it, she couldn’t have gotten a better one! I love the ribbons to wave as the two walk through, cute and colorful!

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