Southern Weddings

It’s getting colder by the day in North Carolina, but admiring Courtney and Cameron’s wedding warms me right up! Even more than the heirloom details and dreamy florals by Blue Ribbon Vendor Holly Chapple Flowers, Courtney and Cameron’s big day was a true testament to a community coming together in support of the newlyweds. After a huge derecho ripped through the area the day before the wedding, everyone from the wonderful vendors to the wedding party (the groomsmen carried Cameron’s grandmother up the stairs after the power went out!) went above and beyond to help give Courtney and Cameron the wedding they dreamed of!

Big thanks to Michelle Lindsay Photography for sharing this sweet day with us!

The night before we got married, the region was hit with a massive derecho that took down trees and cut the power supply to most of the area. It took heroic efforts to pull our wedding together. It was amazing to see so many people pull together to make the day happen. Our angel wedding planner and her husband were at my parents’ property long into the night helping to clean up damaged wedding decor. Skyline Tents was on site early in the morning to help prepare for the day. My hairstylist met me at a hotel so we could use generator power to curl my hair. The temple where we were married was also out of power, so the wedding party carried Cameron’s grandmother up five or six flights of stairs! Because the building had little light, we were married by flashlight. It ended up being very sweet–almost like being married by candlelight!

Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! I tied something borrowed, something blue, and something old to my bouquet. My new item was a beautiful necklace my dad bought me for my wedding day. The borrowed item was from my sister. She had inherited my Grandma Waters’ locket, which had pictures of my grandparents when they were young in it. My mother-in-law gave me an embroidered blue handkerchief from their side of the family. I also carried a handkerchief from my maternal grandmother to represent something old.

Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? We did do a first look. I’m glad we took pictures ahead of time because the wedding day flew by so fast! My photographer and her assistant were troopers. They endured intense heat the day before our wedding in order to capture some beautiful shots. Cameron was a trooper too. At one point during the photo shoot, I began to feel like I was going to pass out. It was such a weird feeling. My Virginia Military School graduate swept me off my feet (quite literally this time) and carried me back to the shade.

We had the reception at my parents’ home in Virginia. It was very special to have our wedding reception there. It added a level of intimacy and old-fashioned charm that I don’t think could have been replicated anywhere else.

Describe your wedding flowers. My dad worked in a floral shop during his college years, so he definitely had strong opinions about what these flowers would look like. The incredible Holly Chapple went above and beyond. The peach colors were stunning. As I was going through photos after the event, I even saw a real peach tree branch nestled into the décor.

Cameron really only had a few main requests when it came to wedding planning, one of which was that his brother, Calvin, be the DJ. I’m glad Cameron got his way because the music was incredible. I remember fawning over it for days afterwards. All of the music was fun to dance to, but was totally timeless. We picked an obscure song for our first dance, since it was just about the only song we could agree on! It was to a Ray Charles song called “I Love You, I Love You” that was one of Charles’ first recordings at the age of 18. We love it.

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. Cameron and I met when we were fourteen, but we didn’t date in high school at all. We spent years playing practical jokes on each other and writing letters to each other long distance, but we didn’t start dating until my last semester of college. It wasn’t very long after that before we were engaged.
Tell us all about the proposal! Cameron and I had known that we were going to get married for quite a while, so when Cameron presented me with a ring, the decision had been made long before. Cameron took me out to get burgers. Afterwards, he decided to take me to DC for a walk. We were walking around the area close to the Capitol; it was the same area we had visited about a year earlier when he planned a surprise trip to visit me over Easter break. As we were walking away from the Capitol, Cameron turned to me and said, “Are you ready?” I thought I knew what he was asking, but I didn’t want to jump the gun. Then he got down on both knees and asked me if I would marry him. Simple proposal. Simple answer. Yes!
When did y’all get married? June 30, 2012
Tell us about finding your wedding dress. For religious reasons, I needed a dress that had sleeves. I found a beautiful Demetrios gown and worked with a talented seamstress who had a background in costume design to rebuild the bodice. It was like having a custom made dress! I love the sheer ruffles in the back.
Describe your wedding cake or dessert. Our high school friend (and graduate of the Culinary Institute of America), Raewyn Cowherd, made us a beautiful and delicious cake. We love hazelnut, so she incorporated it into one of the tiers. I mostly ate desserts, while Cameron was the life of the party.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: Cameron and I both like ginger, so we served a ginger limeade.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Temples are very special places. As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we believe that families can be together forever, and that the temple is where this happens. Marriage is part of our Heavenly Father’s plan for us. After our ceremony, Cameron’s grandma came up to me and said, “Welcome to the family.” Cameron’s grandmother is somewhat of a pioneer in their family, and she exuded such love and sweetness in that moment.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Don’t get me wrong, weddings are fun. You get to celebrate a joyous event with people close to you. But don’t forget the difference between the party and the marriage. A wedding is just one day. Focus on what kind of people you and your spouse want to become.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? Cameron and I are adjusting to life in the City of Brotherly Love. We moved to Philadelphia this summer so that Cameron can pursue a career in medicine. A few months ago, my mom asked me, “What is the best thing about marriage that you didn’t expect?” Two things came to mind: the amount of worrying I throw at Cameron, and how well he handles it. He is a wonderful confidant. Secondly, I am pleasantly surprised at how much we laugh together. While we were dating, Cameron spent a lot of weekends with my family. I remember my mom telling me how my dad had heard us in the basement, just laughing and laughing. I love that about Cameron. He makes me laugh so much!!

Photographer: Michelle Lindsay Photography / Planner: Janice Carnevale of Bellwether Events / Ceremony Venue: Washington D.C. Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints / Reception Venue: Private residence / Flowers: Holly Chapple Flowers / Cake Baker: Raewyn Cowherd / Catering: Design Cuisine / Rentals: DC Rentals / Tent and Lighting: Skyline Tents / Table Runners: La Tavola / DJ: Calvin Squires / Bride’s Gown: “3141” by Demetrios / Veil: A Bride Beautiful / Bride’s Jewelry and Shoes: Macy’s / Paper Products: The Dandelion Patch / Hair Stylist: Kirsten Eike of Jewel Hair Design / Bridesmaid Dresses: Alfred Sung in “Firecracker” / Men’s Attire: Men’s Wearhouse / Dress Alterations: Jen Jackson of Altered Elegace

Written with love by Lisa