Southern Weddings

For any bride needing some DIY (do it yourself) project ideas, read on… We loved the personal touch that Eryn created by using a photo of herself or Craig with the guest as a place card. And the welcome sign and menu card that they created together are picture perfect.  This event was held at the {The John Oliver Michael House} with flowers by {European Floral Designs}.  Catering by {101 Concepts}, the company that Eryn works for.  All planning and design by Eryn and Craig! To see more stunning shots check out W. Scott Chester Photography’s {Blog}.  Thanks so much Cristen and Scott for sharing this inspiring wedding with us today!  Happy Friday ya’ll!

The weather on our wedding day was: BEAUTIFUL!! We were worried about it being swelteringly hot… it was the middle of August in Georgia! But it was a perfect day! A slight breeze, beautiful clouds, blue sky… we must have done something very right to be so blessed!
What was the design inspiration for wedding: A college friend and I created a hand drawn and watercolored map of the wedding weekend locations for all of the guests. We mailed it out to guests as a postcard and included it in our welcome bags. Also, our wedding invitation… it was a deep almost metallic chocolate brown cover and inside a folded card with our picture on the outside of the written invitation. It was tied with a chocolate ribbon.
Favorite design element of the day: I wanted it to feel very personal for each guest. I had always wanted to have a dinner party with photos for place cards. I am always that person taking a million pictures at every event (and telling people they’ll thank me later)! I envisioned finding that one picture that summed up my relationship with each person. So, when we got engaged I decided that this was the time! Along with the help of my mother and Craig’s mother, I managed to find a picture of either myself or Craig with each of the guests at our wedding. For example, for the mother of my best friend from second grade was a picture of the two of us on the beach 20 years ago. Since we weren’t having a seated dinner, I mounted each picture, and tied it with ribbon for the guests to hang from their chairs during the ceremony. (we only had a 6 month engagement so this was a daunting task!)
Describe your wedding flowers: I had such amazing luck with all my vendors! Maggie at {European Floral Design} and I, seemed to speak the same language! I was trying to explain that we were having our wedding in the country, outdoors, but wanted a southern, NOT country wedding (our location with all the rustic barns and the white farmhouse could easily lend itself to looking country). She immediately said “garden party!” Which was the perfect articulation of what I wanted! She used ivory hydrangeas and chocolate ferns. One of my favorite details from the wedding was the locket I had sewn into my bouquet, both Craig and I were very close to our grandmothers. They have both passed away, I carried a picture of each of them on their wedding days in the locket.
Describe your wedding cake: Simple, ivory icing with chocolate ribbon and a hand-cut, metal monogrammed H on top. I loved how elegantly simple it was.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: I loved the welcome sign and the menu board that Craig and I made together he cut all the wood and I stained and painted it! Of course the individualized pictures were a favorite touch. Instead of using the typical guest book, I used postcards. Craig and I love to travel so we have collected postcards from all the places we’ve been. I had a map with places we’ve been noted and postcards from all those places for people to write us messages. There was a mailbox for people to “mail” them in and now that mailbox hangs in use at our house!
Biggest challenge to overcome planning the wedding: I wanted so many personal touches and I was determined to do them all myself. Collecting and mounting the pictures was a big one.
Three adjectives that describe the day: Enchanted. blissful. Fleeting.
Advice to someone planning their wedding: Do it up!!! Don’t be daunted by time or financial constraints. This is a truly once in a lifetime event. I didn’t want to ever attend other weddings and wish I had planned that something extra. If something is too expensive try to make/create it yourself! Sit and imagine the day from beginning to end and think of all the memorable moments you can create! Decide what aspects are most important to you, for me it was personal touches and the photography, and then make those things happen.
Looking forward to in the future: Life-long happiness!

Congratulations to Eryn + Criag. We wish you a joyous marriage!

This is probably one of the most inspiring weddings I have come across. Eryn + Craig wrote their entire ceremony and weaved so many personal details into thier day.  They used family mementos in special places that they plan to pass down to their children one day. Photography by the uber-talented husband and wife team at {W. Scott Chester Photography}. I invite you to read this lovely interview and see how they pulled in special meaning to all aspects of the wedding day.

Describe the proposal: The one year anniversary of our first date was coming up and Craig told me he had a surprise trip planned! I begged for details but he didn’t give any clues. The day before our anniversary we arrived in Charleston, South Carolina! We stayed at the historic and romantic {Ansonborough Inn}. The next morning Craig woke me up with flowers, champagne and an amazing breakfast in bed… all of which I thought was for our anniversary. I could not have been more surprised when he got down on one knee!
Attracted me to my husband: Craig is the most self-possessed man I have ever met. He has a quiet confidence and is so intelligent! He has wonderful Southern manners and always knows how to put people at ease. He’s also a fantastic dresser and quite handsome!
Why do you love your husband: My Dad probably said it best in his toast at our wedding… “I couldn’t have invented Craig.” He is the most truly good person I have ever known. His actions are always noble and kind and he’s always looking for ways to be the best man he can be. He has amazing qualities. He is an entirely practical and pragmatic financial advisor and yet he celebrates and facilitates my interest in the arts.
What attracted you to your wife: I was initially attracted to Eryn by her warm and inviting personality. She is so easy to be around. It didn’t take long for me to really see the depth of her character. She is such an amazing women and I’m lucky to have her.
A date we will always remember: Craig loves to surprise me. After we had dated for a few months he told me he had a surprise trip planned for the beginning of July. I guess at some point I had mentioned how much I love fireworks! He waited until we were at the airport to tell me we were going to Boston! We had an amazing time exploring the city and watched the fireworks on the banks of the river listening to the Boston Pops!! It was an incredible trip… I ate my first lobster, we had fantastic seats to a game at Fenway… but the best part was that I don’t even remember telling him how much I love fireworks… He remembered an off-hand comment and planned this special and memorable trip!
Finding wedding dress: What an overwhelming and emotionally loaded task… as girls, we are always told we’ll “know it when we find THE dress.” Perhaps it works that way for some people… for me just standing in front of huge mirrors wearing a wedding dress was so overwhelming I couldn’t think! After a couple of attempts shopping with friends I ventured out on my own. I happened in to {La’Raine’s} in our neighborhood in the Virginia-Highlands. It is a quiet little boutique where the personal service is amazing. In such a calming, low pressure place I could really think and enjoy the process! My dress had a touch of the vintage in the lace but a little glam sparkle too! La’Raine’s also has an amazing seamstress that made the dress fit like a dream!
Were there any special family traditions: We tried to infuse our wedding with things I hope will be continued by our children. I wore my mom’s veil which my sister had worn. I hope our children will carry the locket I carried in my bouquet. I also carried as a hankie, the bonnet Craig wore home from the hospital. I gave Craig a watch on the evening before our wedding that we plan to give our son on his wedding day.
Did you write your own vows? We wrote the entire ceremony.
What was your favorite verse/phrase or line: “Craig and Eryn you are now accepting into your care and keeping the happiness of the one in all the world whom you love best, and, by the same token, something of the happiness of all whom you love and who love you.” I also liked the last line of our reading from The Invitation by Oriah…“It doesn’t interest me who you know or how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand alone in the center of the fire with me and not shrink back….”  And this section from Bread for the Journey Creating A Home Together, “True relationships among people point to God. They are like prayers in the world. Sometimes the hands that pray are fully touching, sometimes there is distance between them. They always move to and from each other, but they never lose touch. They keep praying to the One who brought them together.”— Henri Nouwen

Check back shortly for more from Eryn + Craig…