Southern Weddings

Fellow UGA alums Erin + Patrick said their I-Do’s in the quaint Wesley United Methodist Church and, boy, do I love the ceremony pics from Laura Negri Photography!  The bride’s dramatic one-shoulder Romona Keveza gown was timeless and sophisticated while her bridesmaids’ fun, flowy Tibi dresses added a subtle pop of citrus color and flair.  Erin’s hand-tied bouquet of white garden roses and lilies of the valley from the Sea Island florist, Rose Sinclair, is ultra-elegant (and one of my very favorite arrangements) but check out those sleek modern arrangements of calla lilies and hydrangeas!  And yes, brides, the couple’s ring bearer is carrying a seashell ring bowl of lush green moss.  Totally organic and oh-so original.  While Erin + Patrick’s Sea Island ceremony is picture-perfect and sweetly Southern, I think you’ll be blown away by their glitzy reception. 

What was your favorite design element of your big day?  Our favorite design elements were the flowers and the lighting at our reception.  We achieved a soft, romantic glow by placing brushed-gold candelabras for the corners of the ballroom and putting clear glass tapered candlesticks with votive toppers on each of the tables.  In addition to the soft lighting, I also really loved the bamboo-wrapped floral arrangements of white orchids, hydrangeas, tulips and bells of Ireland.  These tall arrangements nicely balanced the lower, square containers holding single cluster arrangements of all white callas, tulips, garden roses, hydrangeas and hanging amaranthus.  Of course, food was also at the forefront of our design vision!  The food stations were creatively placed throughout the ballroom.  We had a sushi station and a friend mac-and-cheese station!  Melissa Ippensen and Rose Sinclair of Sea Island really helped make our design vision a reality.
Describe your wedding dress:  Romona Keveza was the designer, and I was attracted to the classic and timeless look of the gown.  The one shoulder ivory gown was made of silk taffeta and featured a draped bodice with a soft sweetheart neckline.  The back of the dress was highlighted with a watteau train and fitted ruched skirt.  I finished the look with a classic cathedral length veil and blusher of ivory silk tulle.
Describe your wedding flowers: My hand-tied bouquet was filled with all-white garden roses and lilies of the valley. My Maid and Matron of Honor carried bouquets of all-white hydrangeas and garden roses.  Our flower girl carried a small nosegay of white roses and freesia with a trailing ribbon.  Patrick and our two fathers wore lily of the valley boutonnières.  The other groomsmen wore boutonnières of white dendrobium orchids.  Our ring bearer carried a sea shell filled with green moss.

You’re in for a treat with the reception photos in Part III!