Southern Weddings

We’re starting this week on a seriously lovely note, thanks to today’s Boone Hall wedding! Amanda and Jason’s story is nothing if not serendipitous–she runs a stylish boutique, he owns an antique wholesale company, and after meeting at his store and falling in love, they became partners in crime at antique festivals around the country and across the globe. It’s no surprise, then, that their wedding was chock-full of the prettiest vintage finds, most of which they pulled from their own collections. I can only imagine how special it is to now have these same pieces in their newlywed home!

Thanks so much to Whitney Neal for sharing this sweet day with us!

I had recently moved back home to the Kentuckiana area (Louisville, Kentucky and Southern Indiana) from Chicago for my next adventure in life. I had always dreamed of opening a boutique, and while planning my store opening, I also helped my mom redesign her hair salon. One day, while scouting for display products, my mom suggested we go to a place called Blue Ocean Traders that sold all kinds of interesting things. My mom, her business partner, Dyan, and I went one March afternoon, and were totally amazed by all the beautiful antiques! While shopping around, the owner, Jason, started helping us and showing us around the warehouse. Dyan said after leaving, “That’s your man, Amanda, he is the one!” Jason and I proceeded to email about product details, and of course, I had to go back for “more wall sconces to finish my mom’s hair salon project”…and more wall scones and more wall sconces. On one of those trips for more wall scones, Jason asked if I was available for dinner that night! Of course, I agreed. We quickly learned how much we had in common–we are both entrepreneurs, always looking for that next best antique. We quickly joined each other for 5 A.M. wake up calls to antique markets across the country!

Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? We did, and it was the best! The whole day, I was anxious, and I didn’t feel like myself until our first look. I will never forget that moment. We laughed, we cried, and we sweated a lot…Charleston is really hot in mid-June!

Describe your wedding flowers. They were gorgeous! The flowers and decor were one of my favorite things to plan. I have an obsessions with fresh flowers, and we used lots of coral and minty green colors.

What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? My aunt and godmother, Donna, read the Irish Blessings. It was beautiful and so meaningful.
Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We did not. We both cried the entire ceremony, and never would have never made it through it if we had!

Y’all, how gorgeous is Amanda’s swiss dot veil? Love!

My family has always traveled to Charleston for vacations and I have always had a love for the area. We both knew we wanted to do a small destination wedding there with our favorite people in attendance!

Boone Hall Planation is undeniably Southern! Our wedding had an old Southern glam feel, complete with lots of beautiful antiques. We brought all of our own farm house tables, settees, lighting, and decor, all the way from Louisville. Our meal was served family-style, and we had a biscuit bar at the end of the night! It was so yummy!

What was one way you saved money or cut costs at your wedding? Working with amazing vendors! We were also able to provide a lot of our own decor.

Describe your wedding cake or dessert. We had a small cake and cake pops. They were so cute and delicious! The cake was coral (of course!) and we used my own jadeite cake stands for the display.

We both loved our first dance so much!! Our song was “Bonfire Heart” by James Blunt. It was fun, fast-paced, and really showed our love and the spark that we create for each other. We truly have so much fun together.

Tell us all about the proposal! I tagged along with Jason on one of his buying trips to Europe, and we had an amazing trip, hopping fences to be the first at the antique markets, and enjoying great dinners in small villages throughout eastern Europe. On the last leg of our trip, Jason took me to Eger, Hungary, where we spent a day enjoying wine and visiting the charming wineries. He proposed to me at one of the wineries, telling me how he knew we were meant to be. He said, “There was time in my early 30’s when I wasn’t sure I was suppose to be married. and I was okay with it. I had a wonderful life and got to do what I loved every day. I never felt what my friends had talked about with their wives until I met you. I now know that I am meant to get married, and that person is you.”
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 120
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? We love spending time together, helping each other grow, and pushing each other to new levels with our careers. Hopefully, we’ll be starting a family soon!

Photographer: Whitney Neal / Videographer: Low Country Wedding Films / Planner: The Burlap Elephant / Venue: Boone Hall Plantation / Florist: Jaclyn Journey / Wedding Cake: Cakes by Kasarda / Caterer: Salthouse Catering / Rentals: Dress & Dwell, Blue Ocean Traders, and Ooh! Events / Band: Calhoun’s Calling / Paper Products: Blue Glass Designs / Bride’s Gown: Matthew Christopher / Bride’s Veil: HeadCandi / Bride’s Jewelry: Dress & Dwell and Lulubelles / Hair and Makeup: Meg Workman / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: BHLDN and Dress & Dwell / Menswear: Banana Republic and Collard Greens

Written with love by Lisa