Southern Weddings

Who can blame this bride, a Louisiana native, for wanting to tie the knot with her high school sweetheart at her family’s Christmas tree farm?  (Yes, folks, a real Christmas tree farm!)  How romantic… and appropriately seasonal!  We love the Christmas trees (naturally) providing a ready-made seasonal backdrop for the couple’s Southern nuptials, the tractor parked near the Pepper family’s barn, the bride’s and her maids’ cowboy boots and, of course, Bailie’s Mori Lee gown.  Local florist, A Dream Come True, captured the rustic feel of the surrounding Christmas tree farm with sweet white and yellow bouquets bound in twine.  We want to see more… and get an office Christmas tree of our very own!  A big holiday thank-you to Two Suez Photography for these breathtaking images!

How did the two of you meet?  Tell us your story.  We were friends in high school and hung out with the same group of friends.  (I actually dated one of his friends during high school!)  What’s funny is that I always had the biggest crush on Chase when we were in school.  We shared a few little kisses but never dated.  After Chase graduated, he moved to Missouri with his family.  Since I hadn’t spoken to him since my graduation two years earlier, I didn’t even know he had moved.  A few years later, one of our mutual friends invited me to a bonfire.  It just so happened that Chase was in town that weekend.  I was sitting around the fire and Chase walked over to me and gave me a hug and said hey!  I hadn’t seen him in two or three years, and he didn’t know I had broken up with my boyfriend.  We soon reconnected on MySpace and spoke long distance on the phone.  We talked on the phone for hours every night before he finally moved back to Louisiana.  We’ve been together ever since!  
Describe the proposal.  It was late on Christmas Eve, and we just returned home from visiting relatives.  Chase told me he had me a Christmas present for me, but that he had left it down the road at his aunt’s house.  I was so anxious I made him go get the present, even though it was already midnight!  When he returned, Chase presented me with a huge box.  When I opened it, there was a smaller box and an even smaller box inside.  There were about 10 boxes inside of each other, and they just kept getting smaller!  Finally, I got to the middle and found a card.  I started to read the card, and started tearing up when he said he wanted to grow old with me.  Chase hit one knee and asked me to be his wife.  Of course, I said “yes!”
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Perfect, laid back and amazing.
What was the design inspiration for your wedding?  I grew up on my family’s Christmas tree farm so I always wanted to have my wedding there. Old style, country, laid back, all natural, comfortable – was what I was going for.
What was your favorite design element of your big day? I have two favorites!  We released “sky lanterns” into the night sky.  They were absolutely amazing.  I also loved it when all the groomsmen and Chase got out their guitars and put on a show for our guests.

Written with love by Lara Casey