I have been so excited about featuring this wedding from {Gandy Photographers}. Remember our SW Round 1 Photo Contest winners? Well, they had a fabulous southern wedding the day after that shot was taken! Susanna and Justin embody true southern style and grace. Getting to know them has been such a pleasure. Congratulations, newlyweds! From photographer, Jeff Gandy…“The outstanding floral displays were created by Doug Carter and Guerry Mashburn. Food and beverages by Covington’s Catering. Tents, tables and chair rentals were provided by Andrew Tent Company of Albany, GA. Band: 14 Karat Gold, Ceremony Music by: Nephtali Santiago, Brides Cake: Sister’s Bakery, Grooms Cake: Ashley Strickland, Videography: Doug Sebastian Productions, Wedding Planners: The Wedding Belles, Wedding Director: Paula Martinez. And all of this took place at Alcyone Plantation. The perfect location for a Southern Wedding.“
The weather was: Fortunately in our favor-beautiful!
Did you have a theme for your wedding? The rehearsal dinner was a Kentucky Derby theme since the wedding was derby weekend. The wedding was centered around all things southern and elegant: the oak tree was used as our motif throughout the engagement and wedding.
If so, what inspired the wedding design? The colors were fresh and lively –indicative of a fun celebration. The oak tree represented the oak underneath which the ceremony was held. It symbolized the stability and strength of our relationship with each other and with our families.
What colors did you choose for your wedding? Raspberry and Chartreuse Green
Describe your wedding flowers: Flowers were shades of the raspberry, greens, whites and deep purples. Urns holding peonies, hydrangea, roses with bells of Ireland were scattered around the tents. Many other flowers were used to create high and low arrangements on all of the round and square tables.
Describe your wedding cakes: Bride’s Cake: Square tiered swiss dot with butter cream frosting. It was a rum cake in prelude to our honeymoon to St. Martin and St. Barths. The top held fresh flowers of raspberry and chartreuse green color. Grooms Cake: the classic Southern red-velvet armadillo cake!
How did the two of you meet? We met when I was 14 and he was 17 because I was not allowed to go on a date and the stipulation was that I had to get another couple to go as the double date – he was the other guy. Ten years late we met while we were out with friends in our home town.
Describe your engagement: Justin tricked me into thinking that we were going over in the middle of the week to The Cloister at Sea Island for a business dinner with another couple. All behind my back, he orchestrated a proposal in the Rose Garden when we arrived. There was no other couple – only champagne and a fabulous dinner together to celebrate.
What attracted me to my husband was: Justin has a definite unique sense of style that ranges from his clothing to his sense of humor. He is entertains wherever he goes. I found someone that loves to laugh with me. We both value working hard and playing hard. His mother raised a true Southern gentleman form the word go!
What attracted me to my wife was: She is definitely the most beautiful girl I have ever met, inside and out. I was drawn to her smile and personality. She is truly my best friend. She has great style and I think she is so funny. She is so meticulous in everything she does and I love that about her.
A date we went on that we’ll always remember: Such a cliché’, but our first date. We went down to one of our friends’ restaurant’s, 306 North. It was a lovely dinner, and we spent almost 3 hours talking, laughing and drinking wine until we realized we were some of the last people in the place. And we got there early, because well, Susanna likes to eat early. It was great. Not your typical first date with odd silences or stupid stories, but a true connection and one the both of us will never forget.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: The ceremony. We went against tradition and opted for a private family ceremony under the oak tree. We included our wedding party in addition to the less than 15 family members. It was a tough decision to make but ultimately everyone agreed that it could not have meant more or have been more intimate. I remember every moment of the ceremony and every face around us.
Check back later for Part II of Susanna + Justin…
I love that they did the "bleedin armadillo" cake!! Ok – going to make sure this weekend includes some Steel Magnolia watching!! =)
So beautiful! What a wonderful story and a great couple!
Beautiful couple, Beautiful colors, Beautiful cake. Truly a Southern Wedding.
Susanna’s colors were as vivid and vibrant as she is herself. Justin and his bow ties make him such an individual and classy gentleman. The write up of how they met, first date, engagement etc. is like a romantic movie, but even better because I know them personally. This is a splendid example of a true southern wedding with all the trimmings and POSH. It deserves a place in your magazine.
Susanna, your wedding was scrumptious, just as one would expect. You, your dress & veil were so much you! Love the bride’s maids dress style & color. You’re so sheike. Best wishes.
The wedding was as beautiful and fun as the pictures illustrate. What a great day!
It was a beautiful setting for a southern wedding. The bride was beautiful, the flowers were beautiful, and the pictures look like everyone was having fun. This was obviously a wedding with true southern charm.
Such a beautiful bride. Whoever said perfect weddings do not exist obviously did not attend this wedding. Everything about it was perfect.
BEAUTIFUL! BEAUTIFUL! BEAUTIFUL! EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL!
Susanna and Justin’s wedding couldn’t have been more beautiful! Everything was exquisite…the table arrangements, the food, the band, the location, even the restrooms were a sight to see! It was so much fun and a wedding to remember!
I love the site for the wedding! The moss covered oak trees give it a very southern touch.
The couple seems to have really fun personalities & their wedding was beautiful! Jeff & Julie are amazing photographers! I love reading their blogs & look at their most recent photos. As a bride & photographer I find it funny that the first thing that everyone ask me about my wedding is “who are your photographers?” Gandy Photographers!!! They are great people to do business with & I love the look of their photos!
IF I WERE GETTING MARRIED ANYTIME SOON I WOULD CERTAINLY LOOK UP GANDY PHOTOGRAPHERS!!!MARIE
Congratulations Justin and Susanna! Everything about your special day was lovely and picture perfect. The Gandys did a wonderful job of highlighting the exquisite and intricate details that came together to make your wedding day so extravagant.
Susanna and Justin made this wedding so much fun! Everything was perfect…a truly Southern Wedding!!!
The Wedding Belles had a fabulous time working with the Dover family. Their attention to details made us realize the wedding weekend would be perfect and it was just that. It is always a pleasure to work with the Gandys’ as they are true professionals.
This wedding was unforgettable!! It fit both bride and groom perfectly! As the groom’s sister, I would not have expected anything less!! It was superb!