Southern Weddings

Weddings don’t get much more rustic than Lisa + Andrew’s celebration at the University Camp in Wimberley, Texas.  The key to capturing the earthy feel this nature-loving couple was hoping for?   Bunches (and bunches!) of organic and locally-grown sunflowers, gerber daisies and wheat grass courtesy of Anosky Flowers.  The bride and groom chose an earth-tone color palette (we love the bride’s ivory Joli Bridal gown and her husband-to-be’s cream-colored suit) to accent the natural beauty of their outdoor ceremony site.  Good thing this couple is eco-friendly: wouldn’t you know it started pouring minutes before their ceremony?  We’ll be back soon with more shots from Houston-based photographer, Akil Bennett!

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story.  Andrew and I met at Texas State University.  We both worked for the outdoor recreation program on campus.  We became fast friends while going on various outdoor trips.  We spent so much time getting to know each other through long car rides to the Grand Canyon and Big Bend National Park.  I considered him my best guy friend by far; it was such an easy friendship.  After a week-long ski trip to Steamboat Springs, Colorado I knew he had a crush on me but I didn’t think I felt the same about him.  The next summer, I went to work in Russia and couldn’t overcome this crazy feeling I had.  I missed him so much.  After I got back, we spent every night for the next two weeks staying up late and talking on his porch.  Then one night, he finally kissed me.  Just before graduation, I was offered a job in Maine.  It was really funny how our discussions centered not on whether or not he would be coming along with me after graduation but where the two of us would go together! I always knew we would stay together, it was just a matter of where we would be.  We were in Maine for a couple of years and tied the knot with our friends and families at University Camp where we  hadspent lots of time while we were in Texas.
Describe the proposal:  Andrew was waiting until our two-year anniversary to propose, which of course I had completely forgotten.  We planned to go backpacking for the weekend in Baxter State Park, then I got sick.  I realized Sunday morning what he had been planning and I was so upset because my sickness ruined everything.  He was still determined to propose, so we drove up Rider’s Bluff overlooking Bangor, Maine.  It was a simple and sweet proposal. 
The weather on our wedding day was:  Bleak, rainy, and absolutely perfect.
What was the design inspiration for your wedding?  I wanted it to feel earthy and natural.  I try to live my life in an environmentally-friendly way, so the wedding had to go along with that feel.  We used burlap for the tablecloths, wheat grass for centerpieces, and organic, local flowers.
Favorite design element of your big day:  The cedar arbor decorated with sunflowers and paper cranes.  Andrew’s father put it together the day before our wedding and we actually got to take it home with us to Maine.  It now adorns our garden.  What wonderful memories.
Tell us about finding your wedding dress:  I found my dress in one day and never looked back.  I was back home in Atlanta, GA visiting my parents for the weekend, and my mom and I went to a small boutique in Roswell.   I found the dress on about the second or third try.  I found myself swaying and swishing back and forth and new it was the right one.  My mom insisted we try one more place.  We ended up going to a big store with way too many rooms full of dresses!  I didn’t even know where to start.  The lady asked if she could help narrow down my options and asked what my price range was, I told her under $1000.  She looked at me and said they didn’t have any dresses for under that price.  I knew right then that I had made the right decision.  The gown arrived a few weeks before the wedding.  It was so perfect that I didn’t even need to have any alterations made!