Southern Weddings

Abby, I’ve got to hand it to you: I love your chic + sleek Tara Keely gown almost as much as your money-saving prowess when it came to shopping for your all-important dress.  The romantically-tiered frock fit the bride like a glove, and gave the rustic White House at Hickory Nut Gap Farm where the couple exchanged their vows a sophisticated update.  Abby’s maids were decked out in coordinated – but not matchy-matchy – Anne Taylor frocks, and the groom and his gents donned classic suspenders and gingham shirts in lieu of traditional suit coats.  Come back soon for more images from North Carolina-based photographer, Olivia Griffin.

How did the two of you meet?  Tell us your story.  We met at a friend’s birthday party back in 2006.  We were friends for a while, but we soon began spending more and more time together.  We both enjoyed doing outdoor activities, so we often skied and road bikes.  As we started to realize our feelings,  our friendship quickly turned into something more!
Describe the proposal.   Nate and I had been dating for well over 2 years, when Nate asked my dear friend Claire, a jewelry designer, to get started on a shiny new piece of hardware.  Over the next few months, Nate and Claire put their heads together to create something beautiful.  But I was slick, and Nate had to watch his every move so that the surprise wouldn’t be ruined.  One day in late August, Nate sent me an email asking me to go on an after-work hike with him.  We drove up to Craggy Gardens and hiked up the bear-infested trail.  I was so oblivious as to what was happening that I didn’t even think twice about the bottle of wine Nate had brought for the trip!  I even invited some other hikers to join us!  When we finally got to the overlook (alone), Nate waited for the perfect moment before getting down on one knee to pop the question.
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Romantic, charming and intimate.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: The DIY nature of the day.  It was so great to have friends and family be a part of making the day happen.  We wanted it to be rustic, but romantic and elegant at the same time.
Tell us about finding your wedding dress: My mom and I started dress shopping on my birthday, about a month after our engagement.  We started at your normal everyday wedding shop, and while I found some dresses that I liked, I wasn’t in love with any of them.  We left the shop and went to a few others, but without any luck.  We decided to go to a more upscale shop, but worried that we wouldn’t be able to afford any of the dresses there.  I told the woman my smaller than normal budget, and she brought out some dresses.  I thought I was going to hate them all!  She kept urging me to try them on, and the one she was urging me to try the most ended up being my favorite.  I didn’t want to take it off!  My mom cried and I cried, but the greatest part was that the dress had been marked down from $3,000 to $650.
What was Southern about your wedding?  What details or traditions did you include in your celebration?  The mountains!  We had the ceremony and reception at an old farmhouse up in the mountains.  We wanted to keep the flowers and décor in line with what you would find in the mountains.