Southern Weddings

Happy early Valentine’s Day, my dear friends!! We’re always full of love in the office, but today we’re especially excited since this wedding is a red, pink and purple beauty.

When I first saw Valerie + Kevin’s wedding, a few thoughts popped into my mind. First, Valerie is a beautiful bride (and I immediately started singing Amy Winehouse when I heard her name). Second, how gorgeous are those mixed hues of pink dresses? Third, string lights win. Every time. You’d be surprised to know that those lovely ladies flanking Valerie aren’t her bridesmaids. With such a huge group of close friends, the bride chose to keep the wedding party to just family, but invited her girlfriends to wear their choice of dress in any shade of pink. Genius!

Valerie + Kevin’s wedding was so full of great images that we couldn’t fit them all in this post! Be sure to check out their Real Wedding Gallery for all of them.

Valerie + Kevin’s wedding was chock full of handmade charm. Family and friends created all of the decor and centerpieces. The cake tablecloth and custom pillows were made by Valerie’s mom and the sand dollar favors were collected by the flower girls and ring bearer from a nearby beach! And see that driftwood cake stand? It’s actually a mirror that was made for the bride and groom as a wedding present and now hangs in their home. So sweet, right?

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. In April of 2009, we met through a mutual friend in Atlanta, where we were both living at the time.
Describe the proposal. On Sunday evening, November 28, while I was visiting Kevin and his family in Saint Simons Island and Sea Island in Georgia, we had plans to go to dinner at The Lodge with his brother and sister-in-law. On our way to dinner, Kevin turned to go to Sea Island and I quickly asked, “Where were we going?” Kevin said that since we hadn’t had a lot of alone time over the weekend or a chance to take our ritual walk on the beach in front of his mother’s home, he thought we’d go now before dinner and enjoy the sunset. I then realized he was playing our favorite tunes on the radio, he was wearing the tie I had given him on his birthday a few days before, and the fact that we never went for our ritual walk on the beach all dressed up! I did not want to get my hopes up in case this was not the moment, though. We parked the car and walked to the beach and within a few minutes of our walk, he kneeled on one knee and proposed. It was wonderful and a beautiful evening. We then called my family back in Louisiana with the exciting news and went to dinner where all of his family gathered to celebrate the special occasion with us.
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Fun, celebration and beautiful scenery.
In what month did you get married? June
How many guests attended your wedding? 140
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: the lights over the dance floor at the outdoor reception underneath the live oaks and Spanish moss
Describe your wedding flowers: Casablanca lilies, stargazing lilies, hydrangeas, roses, peonies and snapdragons where all used in arrangements. My bouquet contained Casablanca lilies, white hydrangeas and white roses. The overall color scheme was very natural with lots of white and pops of hot pink. We put the flowers in antique tin creamers purchased at Scott’s Antique Market in Atlanta, antique Mason jars from my mother’s collection and oversized silver mint julep cups. All the flowers were arranged by friends and family.
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? Our gift bags included local Georgia Peanuts and homemade oatmeal raisin cookies by my mom, mason jars served as glassware for cocktails, sweet tea and fresh squeezed pink lemonade. As per the wedding tradition, I wore a silver sixpence in my shoe for good luck. Our save the dates had a piece of loose burlap monogrammed with the date on it, which carried over to the wedding day where we used burlap in the boutonnieres and center pieces of the tables. A quilt made by my grandmother and great grandmother served as a table linen at the sign-in table and antique lace from my mom’s wedding gown was used to make the ring bearer pillow. Food was served on an antique wagon that was restored by the Kevin. Additionally, the entire wedding weekend took place at Southern locations. Thursday evening, we went on a shrimp boat cruise with family and out-of-town guests that arrived early. Friday evening, the rehearsal dinner was on the lawn of Kevin’s parent’s home on Sea Island and featured crawfish etouffee and jambalaya, native food from Louisiana where the my parents live, and local seafood from the coast of Georgia. The wedding reception site was on the same property, 10 acres covered in live oaks, Spanish moss, palmetto’s and Tabby Ruins.
What range did your wedding budget fall into? $50,000-$75,000
What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? Our photographer, Melissa Schollaert.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Arriving to the wedding reception site with my husband in an antique 1915 Model-T Ford that my uncle owned and was driving. Then, getting out of the car and walking to the dance floor with Kevin holding my hand the entire way. As we began our first dance, the sun was setting over the river and marsh. A little while later when the sun was almost completely set, the lead singer of the band called an impromptu toast and drew the guests’ attention to the sunset and said “this looks like something in a movie scene” The timing was impeccable and just as I had envisioned.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? Having a family, learning the ways of life in the low country and sharing that with friends, and traveling together.

Photography: Melissa Schollaert Photography // Ceremony Venue: Wesley United Methodist Church // Venue: Private River Property in St. Simons Island, Georgia // Dress: Melissa Sweet via Bleu Belle Bridal // Shoes: Badgley Mischka // Bridesmaids Dresses: J.Crew // Planner: Lindsay Pitt forTOAST of the COAST by Toast Events Atlanta // Catering: Sea Palms Resort // Stationery: Evince Design // Bride’s Engagement Ring: Harlin Diamonds // Groom’s Wedding Band: Claddagh Ring // Cake: Sea Palms Resort // Rentals: Beachview Tent Rentals // Band: Ocean Street // Transportation: Historic 1015 Model T Ford

Love this wedding? Well then we recommend:
This glam St. Simons Island wedding (in three parts – here, here, and here)
This chic beach wedding, also photographed by Melissa Schollaert (here + here)
This wedding, which also had a fabulous mix of bright bridesmaid dresses!

Melissa Schollaert Photography and Toast Events are fabulous members of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

Written with love by Nicole