Southern Weddings

“We like frosting.” The banner above Jeni + Nate’s dessert table (crafted by Beaches Pastry) pretty much sums up this sweeter than sweet wedding, don’t you think? The Southern Weddings gals all adored the mix and match centerpieces full of poppies put together by Shea Hopely, and are so glad Brooke Images was on hand to capture all of the pretty!

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? The main things were the beautiful venues, especially the reception site with the spectacular hanging moss on the trees surrounding it.
Describe your wedding cake: I preferred the homemade cake look that has been really popular lately on the wedding blogs and in the DIY scene. To me, it looked so much more appealing and appetizing than a perfect, hard, decorative cake fondant. I found a pastry chef that was amazing and she concocted the most unusual strawberry cake, made with real strawberries. It tasted as though you were biting into a strawberry. She topped it off with a variety of frostings: buttercream, strawberry buttercream, and cream cheese. There were 3 small cakes and several dozen cupcakes for variety. What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? The biggest challenge was time. I’m in a Masters program for Interior Design in DC and my semester lasted from January to the middle of May. I had almost no time to plan! Critical elements came together in the last 2-3 weeks before the wedding (like finding the DJ, minister, baker, and florist!). I think this proves that anything is possible.
What range did your wedding budget fall into? $10,000 – $25,000
What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? The flowers! My florist was amazing, I could never have come close to what she did. I had a vision and I needed someone who could implement that and Shea Hopely was flawless. What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Definitely when my dad was walking me down the aisle and I was able to see all at once everything coming together, from the music and clothing to the decorations and the setting. I had so many concerns, but the whole scene was better than I had hoped and the sense of support, to have all of our friends and family in the audience, was truly a once in a lifetime experience.
Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? I was very inspired by the traditional nature of the royal wedding, which took place about 1 month before our wedding. The content resonated with me so much that I literally transcribed every word and used it as a starting point. It turns out that a lot of it is simply traditional vows, but it also inspired other readings and aspects of our ceremony. I particularly loved the clear explication of exactly why we get married which provides a foundation for the rest of the ceremony.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? We are staying in DC! I recently began working for an architect firm as a designer, and Nate is continuing his job on the Hill. We’re both enjoying married life and I’m particularly excited to design our home!

Photographer: Brooke Images // Planner: Christina Kopecki // Venue: The Plantation Beach Club // Florist: Shea Hopely Flowers // Wedding Cake Baker: Beaches Pastry // Caterer: The Plantation // Paper Products: Paper Source, designed by the bride // Bride’s Dress: Amsale via PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com // Bride’s Hair Accessories/Veil: Suzanne Newman // Bride’s Shoes: Classiques Entieres // Bridesmaids’ Dresses: BCBGeneration // Accessories: earrings from MontBlanc

Written with love by Emily