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That’s right, y’all! Only seven days until V5 arrives. To hold you over until then, how about a pretty wedding to feast your eyes on?

Leigh is a bride who knows exactly what she wants. Being a fashion and design lover, there was no doubt that she’d don a knockout Monique Lhuillier creation down the aisle and devote herself to imagining the sweetest ways to honor her family and their traditions. We love that Leigh + Lander bonded over their shared family history in cotton and showed it in their big day. We have to give big kudos to the ladies at Ooh Events for making the ideas a reality! Big hugs also go out to Tim Will for sharing this lovely day with us.

Tell us about finding your wedding dress: I knew exactly what I wanted to begin with – I wanted a showstopper. I wanted it to be soft, romantic and feminine but with a bit of edginess. It had to have a lot of subtle detail without being over-the-top. And it had to be big. I couldn’t walk down that magnificent avenue of oaks in anything less than something reminiscent of the spectacular dresses of my literary idol, Scarlett O’Hara. At the same time, my dress also had to be light and comfortable because I planned on doing a lot of dancing. Yes, I expected a lot from my dress. Nitsa’s bridal in Charlotte was first. They had a Monique Show coming up so I called and set up an appointment. A woman named Naomi called me back a day or two before my appointment to see what I was looking for. I mentioned all the things above, adding in the fact that I really liked the asymmetrical look of one shoulder dresses. We spent only five minutes on the phone when Naomi said, “I think I have the perfect dress.” I was skeptical, but when Naomi showed me the ML “Bailey,” I knew she was right. Naomi masterfully appealed to my love for design and we had the most fun over the next seven months getting that dress exactly the way I wanted it. We removed the second sleeve, but used it to create little tufts around the sweetheart neckline to balance out the very strong right shoulder. We also added a matching belt to further accentuate my waist and, in true Scarlet O’Hara style, we added more pickups to the skirt to create more oomph. As I stood there, I saw everything that I had been searching for: glimpses of old Hollywood, Southern charm, and a very happy girl about to get married to the love of her life, in the dress of her dreams.

We kept mostly traditional vows, but tweaked a few things here and there and added a line at the end from the book of Ruth, which was my favorite part. It goes, “Wherever you go I will go, and even death shall not part me from you.” There is a connection between the first half of this phrase and the lyrics of “All I Ask of You,” which was played during the ceremony. In the song, there is a line that goes “anywhere you go, let me go, too,” and I think the significance there is that Lander and I truly enjoy each other’s company. We are the best of friends and nothing could be better than being by each other’s sides no matter where we are.

We asked my step-grandmother to read “A Perfect Love” and the preacher to base his homily on passages from the Song of Solomon. These readings spoke to us because they talk about longing for love and how sometimes the search for “the one” seems utterly pointless. The great lesson for us was to realize that some stories must wait to be told because when the time comes, God will surprise us with a love more wonderful than any of us could ever dream. As Lander and I were both in our 30’s when we met, we both had to learn to be patient and put our trust in God. As any Southern girl knows, this can be hard to do, especially at an age when people stop telling you that you’re not being picky enough and start telling you that you’re being too picky. My heart kept telling me to hold on, that God had someone in mind just for me, and guess what? I have finally found the one whom my soul loves.

Describe the proposal. It was Christmas Day. I woke up and got ready to do my usual duty of driving to Grandaddy Griggs’ house with Dad while Mom stayed home with Grandma Johnson whom she takes care of full-time. But this year, Dad got up early and flat out left me. Just as I was about to say something about it, Mom asked me if I would stay with Grandma while she ran into town to pick up some laundry detergent. Without really waiting for an answer, Mom ran out the door just as it dawned on me. “Where in the world is she going to find laundry detergent on Christmas day in Hartsville?” Clearly, my family had gone nuts. When Mom returned some hours later, I finally got a chance to drive to my Granddad’s, but as I walked in the door, I realized my dad wasn’t there. When I inquired as to his whereabouts, someone said they’d seen him moving furniture down the street. If you’ve ever met my family you’d realize that this was not as weird as it sounds. Lander was supposed to arrive at around four and so I decided to stay there until he arrived. About 30 minutes before Lander showed, Dad walked in, acting as though this Christmas had been no different from any other so far. Sure that Mom wanted to see Lander, I was ready to say my goodbyes, but Dad was adamant that Lander and I go take a look at the little pond house he’d rebuilt. So I told Lander to jump in the car so we could make the quick trip — but he was insistent on driving his car too. Assuming that everyone was crazy at that point, I simply agreed. As soon as I walked in the door to the pondhouse I’d spent so much time in before it had burned down, I forgot all about the crazy Christmas Eve thus far. There were candles everywhere and Christmas music playing in the background. A Christmas tree had been set up, furniture had been moved in (courtesy of Leigh’s parents of course), and a garland had been placed along the fireplace. Lander had brought wine and cheese but continued to play it off like this was all just his Christmas present to me. He even gave me a “Christmas” present – a pair of bright red Ray-Ban’s I’d been wanting forever, and I loved them! Nearly an hour passed before Lander actually got down on his knee and asked me to be his wife, pulling out a gorgeous Asscher cut diamond and a bottle of champagne with 2011 written on it. As you all know, I said “yes” and we spent the next several hours driving from one family member’s house to the next. To make things even more special, the very next morning we all woke up to a vision of beautiful white snow – a rarity in South Carolina especially around Christmas time!

If I had to pick one design element that we used throughout and that carried the most meaning, it would be cotton. I am a farmer’s daughter, and the Griggs family has been in the cotton growing business since their arrival. Cotton from the Griggs family farm showed up in everything: my bouquet, our dad’s boutonnieres, around the cake, on the flower girl’s baskets, in the wreaths that my great-aunt made, and (my personal favorite) the cotton bale ring pillow carried by Lander’s nephew. As it turns out, cotton is in Lander’s family also, as Lander’s granddad was a cotton merchant at one point in his life. Since this was one thing we had in common, we would talk about my family’s farm often. Lander and I hadn’t known each other but eight months before we got engaged, and during the time right before our engagement, Lander’s granddad got very sick. It was nearing the holidays, and I tried to think of something to cheer him up while he was in the hospital. So, Lander and I made a trip to Hartsville and it occurred to me to take him a piece of cotton. Lander’s granddad started grading it immediately and after a quite thorough inspection, he told me to tell my dad it was some good-lookin’ cotton. I’ll never forget that moment. Lander’s granddad never made it to the wedding, as he passed a short while after our visit, so the cotton that was used everywhere was just as much a symbol for him as it was for my own family.

Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding. The prelude was “In the Garden” by C. Austin Miles. It’s my grandmother Doris’ favorite song. The processional was to “All I Ask of You” from Phantom of the Opera, my favorite musical. The bridal processional was to “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles. Our hymn was “Surely the Presence of the Lord is in this Place” by Lanny Wolfe. We recessed to “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee” by Henry van Dyke. Our first dance was to “Por Una Cabeza” from the movie “Scent of a Woman.” Lander and I performed the tango for our first dance. In my mind, there was no way around it. I had talked Lander into taking ballroom dancing with me while we were dating and as more incentive, I let him choose the dance we’d learn. So what did he choose? The tango. Every Wednesday night for several months, our “date night” included dinner, drinks and 30 minutes of tango. When months later, we told our instructor we were engaged and what we wanted to do, she got busy cooking up a brilliant, but difficult, routine. It took us two months to learn it, but it was totally worth it. I felt like we were straight out of the movie and we nailed it! The roar from the crowd sent chills down my spine!

What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Plan like crazy, then just go with the flow. Things will come up, but don’t let them ruin your day. Don’t be afraid to get your dress dirty! Make your yoga teacher proud and stay in the moment. Every now and then throughout the day, look around, and take it all in.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? Lander’s graduation! Seriously though, no more school for either one of us.

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. We like to believe our love is the result of the many prayers prayed by ones who love us most, and God’s perfect timing. We knew many of the same people for years, but had met only briefly many years ago. The moment was so brief that one fateful evening some 10 years later when a mutual friend tried not-so-subtly to introduce us, I had forgotten the meeting entirely and began to introduce myself. There was no need for that though, as Lander remembered not only my name, but also where I was from! After that, we talked all night and I decided to do something I’d never done before and ask the guy out. It went something like this: “Hey, so I’ve got this golf tournament coming up soon and I really need to go to the driving range tomorrow. Want to join me?” How could he resist an offer like that?! I’m not sure we’ve played golf together since that first date, but it was the start of an adventurous courtship that included anything from picnics on rooftops, learning the tango on Wednesday nights, and numerous boat rides with our beloved dogs, Riley and Granger.
In what month did you get married? November, 5, 2011
How many guests attended your wedding? Approximately 250 super-awesome guests. Seriously, though, our guests are what made the weekend so special. I’ll never forget one of my friends jumping on stage pretty early on in the night and performing the robot by herself — I loved it! After my friend broke the ice, there was a lot more dancing and singing on stage with others starting dance-offs, and even some breakdancing broke out among the crowd! It made us so very happy to look around throughout the night, having all of our favorite people around us having such a great time. The love in the air for us was electrifying.
Did you decide to do a “first look”? We decided not to, for tradition’s sake. But honestly, if I had to go back and do one thing differently, I think seeing me before all the hoopla began might have calmed Lander’s nerves a little bit and been just as special.
Describe your wedding flowers: I wanted my flowers to embody the eclectic look and feel of the wedding and all the little details that made it special. I also wanted them to be gathered in a way that was totally organic and unkempt, like a patch of the most beautiful wildflowers that has sprung up from the ground in a way that shows you they were just meant to be. Admittedly, I don’t know much about flowers, but Ooh Events took the image right out of my head and made the most luscious, yet whimsical bouquet consisting of Juliet garden roses, soft yellow ranunculus, caspari balls, scabiosa pods, cotton pods, succulents, peach/coral hypericum berries, dusty miller, and a touch of seeded eucalyptus for a soft gray color with the stems wrapped in a band of burlap ribbon.
Describe your wedding cake or dessert: Ours was a four-tiered pale ivory cake with butter cream icing and a flower design that was inspired by my dress. Our bottom tier was caramel cake, the third was carrot cake, the second was chocolate/caramel cake and the top tier was another carrot cake.
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? As far as Southern goes, the first thing that comes to mind is the fact that we were married at the picturesque Litchfield Plantation. Litchfield’s history dates back to the 1700’s and the scenery is simply enchanting. Majestic live oaks dripping with Spanish moss provided a stunning natural cathedral ceiling for our ceremony. To add to the “church-like” flavor, Ooh Events brought in church pews to mark the family’s reserved seating. After the ceremony, we guided the guests with these adorable signs that my great-aunt made out of wood from one of the old barns on our farm, to the back of the plantation house where cocktails were served. My family and I had rented the plantation house for the weekend, so it was easy to feel like we had all stepped out of a scene from Gone With the Wind. This place has an old-world charm and tons of character — just like us Southerners! Moreover, my family owns a sinfully delicious meat-and-three out in the country where I grew up. For our favors, my step-grandmother made several batches of their famous biscuits, and we passed them out along with the recipe. As far as traditions go, there were many. Our parents both had 1st Corinthians as the passage read at their weddings. Thus, we incorporated some of the wording from 1st Corinthians into our “thank you” to our parents in the wedding program. My something borrowed was a bracelet that my mother-in-law designed and that I truly admired. What made it even more special was the fact that the pearls were given to her by her husband and the golden broach that served as the clasp to the bracelet was given to her by her father. My something old was a garter that my aunts made from the pearls and lace of a dress that my grandmother once made. I am my grandmother’s namesake, and although she passed before I was born, I’ve always felt a special connection to her. I decided not to throw a garter, so even though no one even saw it the whole night long, it was the most precious item I wore all night. Another tradition (and another something old) that we incorporated in the wedding were these two old dolls of my mother’s that were dressed up as brides. I have always admired them ever since I was a little girl. One of the dolls was made to look like my mom on her wedding day, so it only seemed fitting that she would be there on my wedding day! The song “In the Garden” was my grandmother Doris’ favorite song and was also played at my older cousin’s wedding. Our “getaway car” was a 1965 red convertible mustang, which belonged to my late uncle with whom I shared a special connection. He was always trying to “adopt me” as his daughter and I would joke and tell him I would go for it if he bought me a shiny red convertible in exchange. Unfortunately, he passed away just weeks before we got engaged. It seemed only fitting to honor him at our wedding by driving away in that shiny red convertible he always promised me.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Lander and I had too many things going on at once and more importantly, within the last three months before our wedding. Throughout the year, I had been planning a wedding whilst in the busiest time of my career as an attorney, which proved difficult enough. But in the last three months before the wedding, we really piled it on. I started interviewing for new jobs and moved out of the house I had rented for three years. Lander moved out of his rented apartment and moved in with his parents, and we attempted to buy a new house while trying to sell the house Lander owned but had been renting out. It was, surprisingly so, not the end of our relationship — and I think I have to give a lot of the credit here to the wonderful ladies at Ooh Events. It was at this point that I really had no choice but to turn everything “wedding” over to them, and it was one of the best decisions I ever made. Jerri was my hero and I don’t know what I would’ve done without her. She had everything organized to the last detail and I trusted her wholeheartedly with my most precious of days. Terri was my confidant and served as an ear when I need to vent, listening to all my ranting about the world all with a smile on her face. Lisa was my fairy godmother and she made my dreams of having a storybook wedding come true.
What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? Our band, “The Mighty Kicks.” Anybody who knows Lander and I knows that we love music, and that we love to dance. It was important to us to have a band that could bring the music-lover out of everyone and make each of our guests want to hit the dance floor. They were a hit! Our guests complimented the band all night long and danced the night away. One of our guests even tried to book them that night for her own upcoming wedding!
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Lander’s favorite moment of the wedding day was when we were eating dinner in an intimate little room set aside just for us. It was really the only alone time we had together until the night was over. My favorite moment of the whole weekend may have actually happened the night before. When you’re as involved as I was in planning your wedding, nothing is really a surprise. But at our rehearsal dinner, after all the toasts were given, Lander got up to toast his bride. I will never forget the words he spoke as he shared some verses from scripture, comparing me to a woman depicted in the Bible as good, strong, faithful, smart, beautiful, and loving. His speech was a total surprise to me, and the comparison he made touched me deeply; I hope to live up to it for the rest of my days. As for the ceremony, one of my favorite moments was hearing about how God added his own touch to the wedding and allowed the sun to come out and shine bright right behind me as my dad and I walked down the aisle to “Here Comes the Sun.” Now how is that for timing? I also loved every bit of saying my vows to Lander and cherished the meaning of the words as I spoke them. During the reception, other than nailing our first dance, I think my favorite moment had to be when Lander jumped on stage to sing the song that he’d written for me called “Farmer’s Daughter” (some of the lyrics made it on to the back of the koozies we’d been handing out) and I was right there beside him, dancing on along.

nicoleyang Written with love by Nicole
10 Comments
  1. avatar Shelby reply

    This one goes down in the books, hands down one of the most beautiful weddings I’ve seen grace this blog! & that says a lot!

  2. avatar Madi reply

    Now that’s a gown for a Southern girl! Love it!

    If Leigh comes across this comment, I would love to see your vows in full! I am in the process of planning a wedding myself and my fiance and I are trying to gather inspiration for vows of our own…and are really loving the idea of using Ruth! We want to do traditional with a mix of personal vows or promises to one another. Any help would be appreciated!

    • avatar Leigh Griggs Cason reply

      Madi: Hi Madi! Congrats to you and your fiance! We did a mix of a bunch of different things and then added the Ruth part at the end. Please see below for our vows in full.

      “I _____, take you _______ to be my wife/husband. Striving to follow Jesus Christ in faith and trust, I promise to love you and comfort you, to honor you and keep you, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better or worse, forsaking all others. Wherever you go I will go, and even death shall not part me from you.”

  3. avatar Jocelyn reply

    I love her veil! I’ve ordered the”Phoebe” veil for my wedding as well!

  4. avatar Cara reply

    Beautiful wedding!! Love all the little family details!!

  5. avatar Lauren reply

    I love this wedding, the dress, the family values, the tango. AWESOME

  6. avatar Rose {Rose and Ruby Paper Co.} reply

    So fabulous!! Looks like they had so much fun! And the dress is made for her!
    Love!
    x

  7. avatar Coco&Cowe »  Wedding Wednesdays: The Late Night Snack, Arguably The Best Part of Any Wedding…. reply

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  9. avatar Jennifer reply

    Where are the flower girl dresses from?
    Thanks!

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I am SO excited to introduce our Southern Bride of the Month to y’all. Like last year’s November SBOM, Lauren was a familiar face to the Southern Weddings ladies already, since she’s one of our lovely readers who comments often (we love when you join the conversation!). I hope you enjoy! And ladies, make sure you take a minute to answer Lauren’s question at the end!

Hi! What’s your name?
Lauren Leschper (on Twitter)

What’s your fiancé’s name?
James Zarzour (on Twitter)

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story.
It was my sophomore year of college at the University of Georgia, and I had waited until the last minute to try to find a date for my sorority’s semiformal. My friend’s date had two roommates that I could’ve been set up with – but luckily everyone decided James and I would be a good fit. It was the first and last blind date for the both of us, and we spent the whole night talking and laughing.

A few of Lauren + James’ engagement photos by Lacey of Scobey Photography

Now tell us alllll about the proposal.
It was last December, and James and I had been together for 5 years. At this point we had been talking about marriage for a while, so I knew it was coming but not when. So when he suggested we drive up to Athens to go to dinner, visit our favorite brewery, and walk around historic North Campus, I was a little suspicious. We hit terrible traffic on our way up, so we were afraid we wouldn’t have time to stroll around campus at all, but luckily we made it to town just when the sun was starting to set. If you aren’t familiar with North Campus – it’s full of gorgeous old magnolias, historic buildings, and a beautiful fountain next to the field where UGA played their very first game. After what seemed like hours (but was only about 15 minutes) walking around campus, we were standing by the fountain just talking. Then he got down on one knee – and admittedly I don’t remember what he said (I’m sure it was very sweet and romantic). I do remember that I said YES! It was the perfect proposal – just the two of us.

Lauren’s engagement ring photographed by Lacey for Scobey Photography

When’s the big day?
December 8, 2012

Where might you two be tying the knot?
The Old Courthouse on the Square, Decatur, Georgia. Decatur is such a sweet little town, sort of a mini-destination just outside of Atlanta. It has everything guests could want, including all of the wedding events, so once they arrive for the weekend they can just enjoy themselves! (And no cars needed!)

How did you pick your ceremony and reception venues? What do you love most about each space?
We’re holding both the ceremony and reception at the Old Courthouse on the Square. I’ve known for a long time that I didn’t want a ballroom wedding, but I just fell in love with the marble, tall ceilings, and huge windows at the Courthouse. It’s a perfect blank canvas that still has lots of personality. And I sort of love the fact that we’re having a “courthouse wedding,” even though it’s a very traditional ceremony.

The Old Courthouse on the Square (photos by Woodland Fields and Michelle Scott)

Tell us a little bit about the wedding you’re planning: style, theme, feel, colors?
This may sound like an oxymoron, but we’re planning a wedding that is both formal and fun; “Southern vintage” is probably the closest to a true theme.

Our colors are navy and ivory, with accents of sage green and champagne. Even though it’s technically a “winter” wedding, we wanted to keep a warmer, less “icy” palette.

Who or what has been most helpful and/or inspiring in the wedding planning process?
Not to be stereotypical – but Pinterest! I also love looking at blogs (ahem – Southern Weddings) for photos and inspiration. We’re attending about 8 weddings this year, too, so I’m getting some tips on what to do (and maybe a few things to avoid) firsthand!

We love Lauren’s color palette! How we’re envisioning it… (Photos by Jose Villa with flowers by Amy Osaba, Patrick Moyer and Jennifer Dery via Elizabeth Anne Designs)

How have you involved your “community” (friends, family, etc.) in the wedding planning process?
One of the most exciting parts was getting to involve my sister (who isn’t quite so passionate about white dresses and flower arrangements as I am) in the wedding through design. She’s an amazing artist, and designed my invitations herself from scratch. She’ll also be helping me with some of the DIY elements, like our chalkboard program and menu board.

Has your vision for your wedding changed or evolved over the course of your engagement? If so, how?
Yes and no. Some of the vendors I’ve been in love with from the beginning and that has only grown – my caterer Sun in my Belly, my florist Maria from Amy Osaba. The main thing that has changed is my original idea of a more rustic wedding, maybe in a barn – obviously the Courthouse is a far cry from that, but I love it!

What wedding-related decision have you been the most indecisive on?
Napkins! That’s the silly detail I’m wrestling with now – but honestly, most of the most difficult decisions have been some of the smallest in the grand scheme.

Which part of your wedding have you been most intentional about planning?
James and are incredibly passionate about food. He’s a beer rep (keeps our house very well stocked!) so the bar was key, too. Luckily, we found Sun in my Belly immediately from a recommendation from my boss. As soon as we met them and tasted their locally-sourced menu, we were sold! We carefully chose a menu to reflect our backgrounds: the cocktail hour will feature Middle Eastern food in honor of James’ father’s Lebanese and Egyptian family, and dinner will be incredibly Southern (think fried chicken and mashed potatoes). We’ll only be including craft beer and spirits as well – some from the US, some from abroad.

With a beer rep groom, you know the drinks will be good! Lauren loves these Pimms Cups and this clever sign (photos by Jose Villa and from Martha Stewart Weddings

How has the budgeting been? What’s your best budgeting tip?
The hardest part was determining a budget in the first place. I obviously haven’t ever planned a wedding before, so my mom and I had NO idea what things would cost! The best tips I can give: lots and lots of research, and use spreadsheets to keep track! Also, don’t be afraid to ask – for example, we have coffee service with dessert for a fifth of the usual price, because we asked our caterer about other options for serving (rather than the fancy and very expensive silver carafes).

Tell us about the one that got away. Is there one dream thing or vendor you wish you could have fit into your budget?
A videographer. Having someone capture all the little moments that photos can’t show would be so amazing, but it’s just not something we could justify in the budget.

Have you picked your dress yet? How’d that go? What will you be wearing on the big day?
Yes! I actually bought it in January – it’s been sitting in my closet for months, since the designer accidentally rushed the order! I went with just my mom, and we didn’t cry when we found “the dress,” but it was such an amazing experience to share with her. Of course, it’s nothing like what I thought I’d pick!

Lauren loves sleek updos, and so do we! (Photos by Cristina G and Raquel Reis)

Do you have a favorite Etsy or independent store you’d love to tell us about?
Clark and Charola at Tough and Twisted do amazing work – we ordered personalized, handforged bottle openers for our groomsmen gifts (can you tell beer is a theme yet?). They just came in and are incredibly cool.

Any plans for a honeymoon? Where do you want to go and what will you do?
We’re sort of doing a dual honeymoon! Some of our good friends live in San Francisco, so we’re spending a few days there on our way to Hawaii! The “real” honeymoon is seven days in Maui at an amazing resort there.

Any advice you’d like to pass along to fellow brides?
Be organized, and only try to do one big thing at a time. There were definitely stressful moments, but the fact that I kept very detailed spreadsheets of every vendor contacted and every one that had been booked saved my sanity. It also meant that I could keep track of the budget constantly. (I recommend Google Docs, because you can share and collaborate with any vendors, or your parents or anyone else helping plan and pay for the big day).

Now it’s your turn to ask for advice – is there anything you’d like to poll the SW readers on?
What color napkins should I choose?? But seriously – I’d love to know what one detail of your wedding is the most special to you. Maybe I’ll get some inspiration!

Thank you so much for joining us today, Lauren! I’m so glad we got to know better! Readers, if you’d like to apply to be a Southern Bride of the Month, check out this post for all the details! If you’ve already emailed me, you’re still in the running for future months!

Scobey Photography is a fabulous member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

emily Written with love by Emily
15 Comments
  1. avatar Katie reply

    Exciting!! We share the same wedding date! I have no idea what to tell you for your napkin color…it all depends on how you’re involving your other colors. Good luck!

  2. avatar Anna reply

    Love your ideas! I think you should do navy and ivory napkins!

  3. avatar Anna reply

    I love that beer is one of the themes here! This sounds like a great, fun wedding. Also, the story of this couple meeting is so sweet! I can’t believe they met in college. Best of luck!

  4. avatar Emily reply

    Too hard to pick just one detail that was the most important, but I have to say that we spent a TON of time choosing the readings and musical selections for our ceremony! Totally worth it in the end :) Other than that, I had a very clear vision for (and was very excited about!) my bouquet!

  5. avatar morgan klaus reply

    Hey Lauren! Jazzed for you guys.

    A little advice on the napkins – color won’t matter in the grand scheme of memories but white fuzz will be remembered! As long as they won’t shed and color everyone’s laps white, you can’t go wrong!

  6. avatar Laura reply

    I had hoped for a videographer too, but didn’t have the budget for it either. But after the wedding, I found time to write down everything I could remember (as recommended by Emily) and I think that will help me remind me of the details that I might forget down the road.

    The one detail that I was so happy that we did was have a big group picture with all of the guests on the front steps of the church. It only took a little bit of wrangling, but it ended up looking amazing!

  7. avatar Kristin reply

    I vote for deep navy napkins with a gorgeous swirly ivory monogram! (If you have a few extras you can save them and bring them out on your anniversary each year!!)

  8. avatar Ashleigh reply

    LOVE the Pimms Cup idea! I’m searching for a signature cocktail to add to our beer & wine options. I actually love the whole beer theme! My husband-to-be is a huge craft beer lover – he’s already picked out the local brews for our big day! Good luck!

  9. avatar Miriam Patrick-Prince reply

    I’m not sure if Lauren remembers, but she and I went to high school together (only for a year when I moved)….. I got married in June and the one thing that made my wedding so special and I’d recommend to every bride is to do your own version of the Jewish tradition of yichud. It is a traditional way of giving the bride and groom a few minutes of peace and quiet before going out to see family and friends. My sister, and maid of honour, helped us out. When we left, we slipped into a back room of the venue and my sister brought us full plates of food. We got to eat in private, just the two of us. Then we were able to go out to the party and mingle without starving.

    I wish you the best! Happy wedding!

    Miriam

  10. avatar Taylor J reply

    Oh, please go with navy napkins!!! Maybe an ivory border to them…or even y’alls monogram! Can’t go wrong…navy is SO classic!

  11. avatar Kat reply

    hi lauren! girl i know EXACTLY what you mean about the little details sometimes being the hardest! i’m currently planning a july affair and some of the SMALLEST things have been stressing me out! some advice i was given: think about practicality as well as style. of course, you want the napkins to blend with your wedding & to fit the color scheme (and in the that case i love the idea of classic navy or a rich sage green!), but when guests look back on it, they probably won’t remember what color they were! however, i bet they do remember if they shed white fuzzy’s all over their little black dress! :) good luck with the last month of planning girl! best wishes on a the day of your dreams & the marriage full of happiness :)

  12. avatar Katie reply

    Best wishes, Lauren! This last month will FLY by.
    One of my favorite, most special moments was our exit. We made sure to stand at the top of the stairs for just a few seconds and take in all our family and friends cheering us on!!! (and the immediate silence when the door closes on your getaway car and you realize you’re FOR REAL married) oooweee you’re going to have such a great day!

  13. avatar Southern Weddings Bride of the Month: Lauren Leschper » Lacey for Scobey Photography reply

    […] sure to head over to Southern Weddings and show them some […]

  14. avatar Lauren reply

    Thanks everyone for the advice! We went with the sage green napkins – they just fit better with the softness of the overall decor (lots of ivory and blush tone-on-tone). We did splurge a little and chose specialty linens for the head table – a gorgeous ivory-on-ivory geometric pattern. We’re so excited – less than 2 weeks to go!

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As much as I love the glam surroundings of Becky + Brian’s wedding at a Kansas City art museum, it’s the sweet heartfelt sentiments in their film that stuck with me. Of course, having a long dating history of my own makes me feel a kinship with these two, as well! Please enjoy these highlights from Creative Films!

P.S. More wedding films here.

Creative Films is a fabulous member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

emily Written with love by Emily
3 Comments
  1. avatar Emily reply

    Yep, this deeeefinitely just made me tear up. I LOVE the idea of this!!!

    xoxo
    Emily
    emilyannestyle.com

  2. avatar Gabriel Malgo reply

    great venue!

  3. avatar Kelley reply

    Every time I reflect back on Becky and Brian’s wedding day, I feel complete joy! It is so well captured by Maura! The fun, the love, the party! Truly a special day. The team was amazing and the families were genuinely wonderful to work for.
    I’m so excited to see it here!
    Kelley

Southern Weddings reserves the right to delete comments which contain profanity or personal attacks or seek to promote a business unrelated to the post.  And remember: a good attitude is like kudzu – it spreads.  We love hearing your kind thoughts!

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