Good morning friends! Have any of you watched the TV show, Hart of Dixie? I just caught an episode last night and fell in love with the melodic accents. Plus, I love Rachel Bilson — she’s so fab.
For those of you out there who aren’t morning people, this wedding will do the trick. It’s like a happy jolt of wedding coffee! We could not stop talking about Katie + Max’s wedding when it landed in our inbox and appeared on our computer screens during last year’s Real Wedding call for V4. The bright colors and huge amounts of handmade details (and this time I mean details — no corner of this wedding was ignored!) were the sweetest bits of eye candy. Katie + John are both artists working in the film industry and brought an energetic burst of life to the events. I don’t know where to begin with these images from Jodi Miller Photography, so I’ll let you soak in the joy at your own pace.
How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. I had just gotten my dream job. I walked in on the first day, and Max, who was an intern at the time, saw me as I first walked in to the front desk. Being new and needing training on the studio tools, I was put into a class with interns. Max was also in that class. After we started dating, Max was hired full time. We’re lucky to work at a place that accepts employee couples. We’re actually even in the same department.
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Bright, casual, intimate
How many guests attended your wedding? We had 42 family members, family friends, and close friends.
What was the design inspiration for your wedding? Why was this design special to you as a couple? We wanted a modern, colorful, fun, and casual design. I was so happy about marrying Max, but to be honest, I was also nervous about being a bride and receiving attention. I tried to counteract that feeling by really focusing on making the wedding casual and fun. Because we are both artists, we really had fun getting into the nitty gritty details. I probably spent way too much time deliberating over things that people would never notice, but it was so much fun to do anyway! I was quite happy with how everything turned out because I felt that it was a good melding of our styles. We made a lot of the details ourselves, but in doing so, decided to keep shapes, designs, and ideas simple. In deciding to make so much of it, what really helped more than anything else was a digital cutting tool. It could cut vector designs out of so many materials: cardstock, adhesive cardstock vinyl, and fabric ironed on to interfacing to name a few. I got it for Christmas, and I’m sure it has now paid for itself many times over!
Tell us about finding your wedding dress: I am pretty obsessed with my wedding dress, and if you had told me that I would be saying that even two months before the wedding, I wouldn’t have believed it. The hunt was extremely challenging and without hope for a long time. I knew what I wanted, but I just couldn’t find it. I wanted something romantic, but casual. I was about to lose hope until a friend at work encouraged me to keep up my search. I had a back-up dress that would work just in case, but I went to go look again. I ended up finding the dress on Etsy. It was what I had wanted all along. The girl who designed and made it even let me tweak a few of the details! It arrived less than a month before the wedding, which is terrifying, but what a relief!
Briefly describe your wedding flowers: The dining table arrangements were clusters of pink and orange ranunculus, yellow mums, and billy buttons in bud vases. The cocktail table arrangements were ranunculus and chamomile. My bouquet was made of white, light pink, dark pink, yellow, red, and orange ranunculus, delphinium, scabiosa, billy buttons, and chamomile.
Tell me a bit about the wedding ceremony. The sun came out for the first time in days right before the ceremony began. An unbelievably fun bluegrass band, Northridge, was playing as we all walked down the aisle. We had a lot of fun picking out the songs, and we decided on Teardrop Waltz and Lover’s Waltz for the processional. It really helped keep the feeling casual. We had a very sweet and brief service. We had a reading of Robert Fulghum’s Union. At the end of the ceremony, we walked back down the aisle to Big Rock Candy Mountain, which is a very whimsical, fun, and upbeat song.
Did you try anything new or untraditional? Is mistakenly allowing your partner to put the ring on the wrong finger considered new or nontraditional?
Photographer: Jodi Miller Photography // Planner: Merriment Events // Designer: Merriment Events, the bride and groom // Venue: Kilmarnock, Virginia // Florist: Merriment Events // Wedding Cake Baker: The Buttercream Bee // Mini Pies: Sweetest Thing Bakery // Caterer: Mosaic Unique Events // Bride’s Dress: Ouma // Hair Stylist: Avenue 42 Designs // Makeup Artist: Avenue 42 Designs // Bride’s Shoes: Delman Shoes // Bride’s Jewelry: Tiffany & Co. // Groom’s Fashion: Al’s Attire // Paper Goods: designed by the bride and groom, invitations and save the dates printed by Thousand Pound Press // Rentals: Classic Party Rentals, Skyline Tent Company, Festive Fare // Linens: BBJ Linen and Classic Party Rentals // Ceremony Décor: Honeycomb Balls from Devra Party Corp., glassine bags from Garnish // Reception Décor: Table number frames from Ikea, napkins printed by For Your Party, straws from Garnish, cornhole set from Cornhole Worldwide, painted by Merriment Events, munny from Kidrobot // Lighting: Skyline Tent Company // Band: Northridge booked via Sam Hill Entertainment
Jodi Miller Photography and Merriment Events are a part of our fabulous Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!
Are you crazy for this wedding? You might like these:
Kate + Jojo’s colorful and springy outdoor wedding here and here
Towne + Andy’s rainbow ribbon-decked wedding here and here
My engagement ring is also an estate ring. It was my fiance’s great grandmother’s ring, given to her by his great grandfather. It is an aquamarine set in a white gold band. His mom had been holding it in her jewelry box for just the right girl…and it ended up being me! I love the ring itself very much, but I love the history behind it and what it represents so much more.
Oh Ali, that sounds gorgeous! Even if you’re a Gator! ; ) I am obsessed with vintage jewelry and the stories behind them! Hopefully you’re able to continue the tradition! xx, Marissa
My ring is not an estate ring, but I love it just the same! It’s a 2 ct. emerald cut in a cathedral (very high) setting. My band is super thin, as is my wedding band (that I will get on April 14! eek!) I really do love this tradition, though. My fiance’ and I have talked about starting that tradition for our family…I would be honored to know that my diamond is treasured long after I am gone!
Hi Brittany! That is such a sweet idea to start the tradition with your ring! I’m sure that your daughter in law would absolutely LOVE a 2 ct. sparkler! xx, Marissa
I know I’ve shared this story before but probably over 1 1/2 years ago. My engagement ring is an estate piece–it was my man’s mother’s, grandmother’s, AND great grandmother’s ring. It’s an antique setting with a single band but the top has two rows of five diamonds each (I don’t know all of the correct terminology, sorry!). Since I’ve always thought it looks more like a wedding ring than an engagement ring we’re going to actually use my grandmother’s diamonds to design an engagement-looking wedding band! This way my hand is full of his family AND my family’s history, as well as our own ideas!
I love this, Erin! What a great way to honor both families!! And it sounds divine! xx, Marissa
I have always loved estate jewelery. Sadly no one in our families had rings to pass on thus I decided to start this tradition.
I picked an authentic 1920s Art Deco ring for our engagement. 2.14 ct old mine cut in a square detailed filigree platinum setting. I love it so much I picked a plain wedding band to wear on my right hand as we did not want anything to “steal” from the beauty.
Gorg-eous! I LOVE Art Deco pieces! They are always so unique! xx, Marissa
My engagement ring is a three-stone diamond ring that has been in my now-husband’s family since the Civil War era, beginning with his great-great-great-great grandparents. When I tried on the ring for the first time, there was no re-sizing needed. It fit my ring finger perfectly. I remember the joy and sense of wonder in my heart that day as I tried on the ring for the first time, knowing that a proposal was soon to come. I am so honored to carry on this family tradition and wear this beautiful piece of history that I will one day pass down and continue the family tradition.
Seriously, Angela?!? The Civil War? That is SO cool! I am a little green with envy (I love my ring, but that is just too cool, not to love!). Thanks for sharing! xx, Marissa
Angela Alpaugh: oh. em. gee. It’s like the K.A. of rings!!! :)
Neither one of us had an estate ring in our families; however, many have commented on the ring Matt picked out as looking very vintage and very much like an heirloom! It’s a round cut with sidestones, and a halo surrounding all three diamonds. The band is very thin and has diamonds as well–in short, it is very sparkly, which is exactly what I wanted! Matt and I definitely want this ring to stay in our family, passed down from generation to generation.
Katie, your ring sounds gorgeous! I am sure that your daughter in law to be will love to have that passed down to her!
While my engagement ring is new {pear-shaped with a halo and pave-diamond band}, I will definitely be incorporating estate jewelry from my fiance’s and my family’s lines on our wedding day! With my wedding dress, I’m going to wear my grandmother’s engagement diamond on a pendant around my neck, and Drew’s late mother’s and grandmother’s engagement rings on my right hand. It’ll be a lovely way to have a little piece of them with us on our special day.
My ring is also an estate ring. My great-grandmother was given the ring in 1923 and was happily married for 56 years. When my grandmother died I got it from her estate. It is a beautiful solitaire set in white gold and was the perfect fit! My fiance got a ring wrap custom made to make it even more beautiful without having to change my great-grandmother’s ring at all. I am so happy to continue the legacy because all of my fiance’s grandparents were married over 50 years as was mine. I’m planning a beautiful June wedding here in NC. : )
My fiance’s sister has always wanted the “family ring,” which belonged to their grandmother, so I insisted that it was hers to have when the time came. My fiance proposed last July, and gave me a ring that he “built.” Rather than using the family ring, he took his grandmother’s diamond watch to our jeweler and had the main stones removed. He then purchased my center stone, and added the remaining family watch diamonds to create an absolutely beautiful “new heirloom.” The three stone, pave set engagement ring that he created specifically for me is a perfect combination of family and future! Gee do I love that man :)
I’m not sure mine is quite old enough to qualify as an estate diamond, however, it is the same stone that my fiancé’s father proposed to his mother with about thirty years ago. Matt, my fiancé, had a new band designed to hold the solitaire diamond for me. He actually carried it around in his pocket for a month before finding just the right moment to propose! I just love it and it really is that much more special knowing the love stories behind it.