Google+ Real Wedding: Margret + Andres - Southern Weddings

Southern Weddings

{Casey Cunningham Photography} shared this fantastic wedding with our team and we knew we had to share it with our readers.  Not only is it Southern fabulousness but it also has a great story behind it of Margret + Andres combining their heritage to create one spectacular wedding.  Read on to hear how Margret used magnolias from her Grandfather’s farm in the wedding flowers, how Andres selected Spanish wines for the evening from his native Spain, Margret’s mom made the Pecan Pies for the reception and the list goes on. The reception was held at the {Charlotte Country Club} and the beautiful cake was baked by {For Goodness Cakes}.  For more photos click over to Casey Cunningham’s {Blog}.

How did the two of you meet? I was a junior at Davidson College when my best friend, Chiqui, announced that her brother, Andres, was flying from California for a visit. Andres and I hit it off instantly and began dating shortly thereafter, but distance and timing made it difficult for anything serious to emerge. Several years later, I went to visit Chiqui in Houston to celebrate New Year’s Eve. Andres and I reunited for the first time in over a year and the rest is history!
Describe the proposal: My little sister, Lee was visiting us in Houston in April 2008. Unbeknownst to me, Andres also flew in my parents from North Carolina so we could all “spend the weekend together.” Andres and Lee picked up my parents at the airport on Saturday evening, asked their permission, and took them to a restaurant where Andres’ parents were also waiting. I had been getting ready at his house when he returned to pick me up. He proposed at home and after I said “yes!”, we joined our parents and Lee for a celebratory dinner.
The weather on our wedding day was: Chilly, a bit cloudy, like a crisp winter day.
What was the design inspiration for your wedding? We wanted it to be elegant and reverent but also understated. We wanted to balance the luxurious romance of lace on lace and candlelight glow at the old historic church and at the reception with warm Southern hospitality, magnolia leaves from Grandpa’s farm, quail prepared to perfection, and favors of homemade pecan pies
Favorite design element of your big day: I loved our touches of dark red. It was the “bride’s color” and was only used for my bouquet, Andres’ boutonniere, rose petals around the wedding cake, and my favorite use – our red velvet wedding cake! I also loved the bridesmaid’s dress. I wanted something my bridesmaids would enjoy wearing and feel good in. Luckily, we were able to order the Saja dresses through our favorite boutique, Luna.
Tell us about finding your wedding dress: I went to at least 5 stores in Charleston and Charlotte with my mom and sister trying to find a gown. We quickly decided that the mermaid silhouette was perfect for my small frame. I have always admired Monique L’hullier’s work, so when I tried on her strapless Alencon lace mermaid gown, it was perfect! It just happened that my mom’s Alencon lace mantilla was striking over the lace gown; I was so happy to get to wear it.
Describe your wedding flowers: We used white everywhere with magnolia and other rich foliage with lots of different kinds of flowers – lillies, hydrangea, roses, Queen Anne’s lace, lilacs. The only pop of color was the deep shades of red roses and tulips in my bouquet, Andrés’ boutonniere, a scattering of red petals around the wedding cake and on our dinner table. All containers were silver, including family candelabra, and real beeswax tapers and votives provided a beautiful glow all evening.
Describe your wedding cake: White on white with cascades of sugar paste roses streaming down the cake. Red Velvet flavor with cream cheese filling! Elegant, beautiful and so delicious that every piece was eaten!
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: We wanted to acknowledge Andrés’ Spanish heritage. Our Director of Music, chose one Spanish composer for the Prelude and after the Seating of the Mothers, a beautiful soloist sang, acapello from the rear balcony, first in Spanish, and then English, “Surely the Presence of the Lord is in this Place”. We also loved that Andrés’ sister and my dear friend, Chiqui, was both a bridesmaid and lay reader.
Were there any special family traditions you included in the wedding? Andrés and the men enjoyed skeet shooting and barbecue on the Wedding Day at my Grandfather’s farm – just as my father and uncle had done on their wedding days. All the magnolia used to decorate the reception and church came from Grandpa’s giant magnolia, that was the backdrop for my parents’ wedding reception. My mom made all the reception favors, pecan pies, using my late grandmother’s recipe. The reception included a selection of Spanish wines and pan sautéed quail – cooked in a manner deemed awesome by all the Texans, including my husband!
Funniest moment? My cousin, Leah Marie, was enjoying dropping petals, then she turned around to pick up her “mess”….oh it was so sweet when the older Flower Girl, Hannah, encouraged her to join her in the walk down the aisle – hand in hand.
The most unexpected event on our wedding day was: Andrés’ ring was too large! Later, we would find that the highly respected jeweler had engraved and sent the wrong size.
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Reverent, joyful, true.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? Living together in Houston! For two years we have been splitting weekends between Houston and Austin while I’ve been completing the MBA program at the University of Texas in Austin.

Congratulations to Margret + Andreas. We wish you the best in love and happiness!

lara Written with love by Lara Casey
1 Comment
  1. avatar Erika reply

    Where did the bride get those adorable shoes? I love them!

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