Southern Weddings

It took us a few (okay, more than a few) minutes to get over how ridiculously cute the groomsmen’s socks (in contrasting American and British flag patterns) are, but once we did, we saw there was a heck of a lot we loved about Merrie + Simon’s cross-cultural wedding – photographed by Kari Crowe.  The bridesmaids wore rich navy frocks from Stardust Celebrations and carried sunny yellow Billy button bouquets from Branching Out Events.  The bride, in a drop-waist Pronovias gown, married her groom at the Robert Carr Chapel before slipping into a pair of yellow topsiders.  Two points for you, Miss Down-to-Earth Bride!

How did the two of you meet?  Tell us your story.  Simon and I met while I was doing a study abroad program my senior year of college.  I originally wanted to study in Ireland, but it wasn’t an option, so I chose a school in England for it’s proximity to London.  Simon and I met at that school a little over a month after I had moved.  I had always wondered what people meant when they said, “When you know, you know”, but after I met Simon, I understood.  And I knew.  We took a trip to Rome in April, and that’s when we knew we would be together forever.
Describe the proposal. Simon proposed in July of 2009 when he was visiting Texas.  He was very creative and had planned an Italian-themed night inspired by our recent trip to Rome.  He took me to Trevi’s Restaurant at the Omni Mandalay Hotel by the canals in Las Colinas.  He had planned a gondola ride at sunset after dinner, but halfway through our meal, there was a terrential downpour, so the gondola ride was postponed.  After the rain let up, we decided to go for a walk by the canal.  He got down on one knee, and pulled out a ring box.  Obviously, I thought this was my ring, but instead he opened it and asked if I would have the key to his heart.  Out of his other pocket, he pulled out a lock which had, “Will you marry me?” written on it.  In Rome, there is a church across from the Trevi Fountain where lovers lock locks on the gates.  Simon and I did this and threw the key into the Trevi Fountain.  My ring was attached to the lock, so I had to use the key to unlock the lock and get my ring.
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Casual, elegant and fun.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: At the end of the ceremony, our granddads (all!) stood up and spoke a blessing over us.  It was a really amazing and touching moment. 
Tell us about finding your wedding dress:  Finding my wedding dress was quite an ordeal.  After thinking I had found “the one,” my mom and I ordered it from a store online since it was cheaper.  This turned out to be a horrific knockoff from China.  The day we got it in the mail, we headed straight back to the dress shop where I had originally tried my dress on.  I wanted to try the real one on again, as well as my second choice dress.  After I put the second dress on again, I knew I had made a mistake with the original dress and immediately bought the second one.  I was so happy with it, and it fit me like a glove!