Southern Weddings

Part II of Heather + Jordan’s rustic wedding almost needs no introduction.  Really, it’s that amazing!  From the gourmet spread and delicious candy bar to the magical barn set-up and elegant four-tier cake, this reception looks too good to be true.  Thanks and big hugs to Cameron Ingalls for making my day!  Didn’t see enough of Heather + Jordan’s wedding here?  Be sure to check out Cameron Ingall’s blog post about the chic California event here!

Describe your wedding flowers: Our flowers were one of our favorite details!  They included peonies, garden roses, dahlias, hanging amaranthus, scented geranium leaves and more!  Our colors varied by arrangement but all fell into the palette of papaya yellow, brilliant orange, schraparelli pink, raspberry, magenta and deep coral with punches of chartreuse.  The bridesmaids’ bouquets perfectly matched their vibrant gowns and the lilies on the men looked lovely but still masculine.  We planted hundreds of roses all around the property in our wedding colors and our florist, Camilla, complemented them with a pink rose petal scroll down our aisle and a lush floral arrangement above our wedding arbor.  Inside our barn, Camilla brought magic to the reception with birch trees dripping with orchids and mini crystal chandeliers.
Describe your wedding cake: We had an all-white cake with minimal details, complete with bride and groom cake topper.  The layers alternated between devil’s food with chocolate ganache and strawberry shortcake.  Yum!
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? The ranch where we married is set deep in a valley and is not traceable by any GPS or online mapping system, so we had to go to great lengths to make sure vendors and guests could find it and that we had enough power to run the celebration!  It took a lot more work on our end but the result was a memorable (and successful) retreat for friends and family, and the perfect wedding for us.
Were there any wedding traditions or new ideas you included in the wedding?  We intended all along to write our own vows, but when the wedding was only weeks away, the pressure of stringing together those perfect words was overwhelming.   In the end, we decided to recite traditional wedding vows.  Looking back, we couldn’t be happier with our choice and we know that those words will ring true for us forever.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? The toasts and our first dance.  We set out head table on a platform up in the middle of the room where everyone could see us.  Friends kept coming up to wish us love and happiness and our family shared the most loving words in their speeches.  It was all so amazing.
What’s next for you as a couple?  What are you looking forward to in the future?  Enjoying these first few years, starting a home together and cherishing the time we have to focus on one another before we have kids. 

Congratulations, Heather + Jordan!  We wish you both the best!

If there’s such a thing as wedding heaven, I am in it today with Heather + Jordan’s fairytale-perfect wedding from Cameron Ingalls.  (Planning and design courtesy of Creative Events, Etc.)  It’s hard to imagine a more beautiful setting than the groom’s family estate where the high school sweethearts’ nuptials were held.  The citrus pinks of the bridesmaids’ dresses and the deep fuschia accents in their Camilla Burns’ bouquets are the perfect contrast to the natural greens and golds at the Sharpe Family ranch.  And, wow, if the bride isn’t a vision in her ethereal gown!  I almost can’t wait for you to see their romantic barnyard reception!  You’re excited, right?

How did the two of you meet?  Tell us your story.   We met in the ninth grade when Jordan was fifteen and I was fourteen.   We didn’t take much notice of one another until a year later when we started appreciating spending time together.  While trying to think of a homecoming dance date at age sixteen, I thought about asking Jordan and got butterflies!  I’ve been in love ever since!   It only took two weeks for Jordan to ask me out on a date, which took place on Halloween six years ago this past October.  Two months later, Jordan was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and spent the next year in and out of the hospital undergoing several surgeries. T hat time, more than anything, is what brought us together.  After getting through “sickness and health,” the rest was easy!
Describe the proposal.  Jordan proposed a few days after I got back from a trip to Costa Rica.  In the time I was away he had planted a garden for me on one of the hills at his family’s ranch where we were married one year later.  We went up to the ranch to stay the weekend and, one afternoon, Jordan suggested we take a ride on one of the ATVs.   We drove up the hill to find the beautiful garden Jordan had planted for me, nestled in the tall grass under an oak tree with a bottle of champagne and two glasses!  We later enjoyed a lovely dinner in Pismo Beach, right on the water and returned back to the ranch surprise greeting from our families!
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Beautiful, elating and perfect.
What was the design inspiration for your wedding?  The Sharpe family ranch is far away from any main roads and distractions, not to mention that the views at sunset are beyond breathtaking!  We wanted people to be able to take in the raw, natural beauty of the mountains and the array of colors that turn as the sun sets.  We loved how the bright flowers (that matched the sunset!) popped on the green grass, so we brought that green inside with the tablecloths.  The rest of the magic came alive at night with tons of candles, pin-spotting and up-lighting.
What was your favorite design element of your big day? Our flowers!  I especially loved my bouquet.  It was so romantic and felt just right for our location.  Our florist is a true artist and the most lovely lady to work with.  She has given us a true gift that we will cherish forever.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: The lighting.  Though it wasn’t obvious to most of our guests, it brought a subtle glow of warmth to the reception and illuminated our tables and floral arrangements beautifully!
Tell us about finding your wedding dress: I spent hours in at least three stores trying on dresses before I found the perfect one. I tried on almost 40 dresses before my mom pulled out a gown from behind a rack.  I was determined to not wear a strapless dress but when I tried this one on, it completely changed my mind.  I decided on a drop-waist white gown with a mid-length train.  Touches of lace and bead work made the dress feel old-fashioned while the fitted cut felt much more contemporary.  It was the perfect dress for me because it felt elegant and formal but I still felt like myself when I wore it.

 Check back soon for more details from Heather + Jordan’s romantic shindig!