Southern Weddings

The first thing that needs to be said about this wedding at the historic Annandale Gold Club in California?  Hello, gorgeous bride! (And, while we’re at it: hello, gorgeous groom!).  The second thing?  Hello, gorgeous photography! (Thanks, Leigh Miller!)  The white dinner jackets and black bow ties, the bride’s classic Melissa Sweet gown, the clouds upon clouds of baby’s breath courtesy of Amy Smith Florist, the perfect white heels… le sigh.  We’re in love.  Reception details coming up soon!

How did the two of you meet?  Tell us your story.  I had seen Nathan at the gym many times and thought he was very handsome. I was far too shy to introduce myself, so my father took the liberty to do so. Nathan nonchalantly asked me to dinner and a movie about one month later, and the rest is history! We dated for five years before deciding to get married!
Describe the proposal: We had gone up to Annandale for an open house and afterwards Nathan wanted to play a few holes of golf, so we got in the cart and went on the course. When we got to the sixteenth tee, which overlooks the Los Angeles skyline, Nathan came around to my side of the cart, knelt down on one knee and asked me to be his wife! It was very personal and romantic.
What was the design inspiration for your wedding? When Nathan’s dad suggested the guys wear white dinner jackets, everything else flowed from there. I wanted the wedding to be simple, elegant and classic. I also had a small budget so I tried to use things that were budget-friendly.
What was your favorite design element of your big day? I would have to say the flowers were just amazing.  The baby’s breath along the aisles and the roses lining the columns were just beautiful.
Tell us about finding your wedding dress: I went to a sample sale before I was even engaged! I knew the day was in the near future so I just wanted to see what was out there. Coincidentally, I found the perfect dress but it was still a little too pricey. I looked on Craigslist.com and found the exact same dress, once worn. It was as good as new once it was professionally cleaned! It was the best decision I made by far.
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Elegant, romantic and old-fashioned.

Trust us: you need to see pictures of Emily + Nathan’s stunning reception!  Check back soon for Part II!

There’s something about a bold purple color palette and peacock feather motif that’s at once lavishly elegant and sophisticatedly contemporary, and Marie + Kevin’s dramatic wedding (captured by Travis Hoehne and planned by the FABULOUS Angel Swanson of Events of Love Splendor) really was all that and more.  Judging by these fab photos, chic California hotspot, Seven Degrees, was an idea venue for the couple’s outdoor ceremony and modish reception.  While I was initially struck by the bride’s richly-colored and be-feathered bouquet from Irvine Village Flowers (I’ve never seen a bridal bouquet quite like that before!), it was the classic lines and couture detailing of Marie’s Vera Wang gown that really had me wowed.  And wow, what a dress it was!  For those brides looking for a unique alternative to the usual single-flower boutonnière, check out the groomsmen’s dramatic feather + flower combo.  (Unfortunately, it may be a little harder snatching up the bridesmaids’ romantic lavender frocks, as the bride chose custom dresses made by her own mother!)  Cupcakes from Sabor y Cultura Café rather than a traditional wedding cake gave this ultra-cool, luxe affair just the right amount of personal flavor and flair.  I love Southern Weddings!  Do you?  Check out our latest contest and show us your love!

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story.  We met in summer school while studying in the same astronomy class and lab group.  I would always try to race the other people in my lab group to see who could finish first, but Kevin was really the smartest in the class.  He sat back and let everyone else do the work and then copied their answers later!     

Describe the proposal: Kevin swept me away to a romantic destination on our sixth anniversary where he surprised me with a proposal!

What was the design inspiration for your wedding? Modern, clean and elegant, very much inspired by Philippe Starck’s interior designs. 

Favorite design element of your big day:  There are so many favorites!  We loved  the gigantic paper flower pomanders that my mother made, the peacock feather motif on the escort cards and the actual peacock feather in the pewter vases.  The turquoise napkins which were a surprise gift from our coordinator! 

Tell us about finding your wedding dress:  One day at work, I read about the Saks’ sample sale on Daily Candy.  I decided to stop by to see what was there, not planning on purchasing anything.  I expected a mob but found the store to be somewhat empty with just a few brides leisurely browsing.  I picked up a few samples to try on for fun and ended up finding the perfect dress!  The girl sharing my dressing room even told me how perfect the dress was!  That day, I walked out of the store with my wedding dress.

The most unexpected event on our wedding day was:  An earthquake!  4.7!

Did you write your own vows? Yes, but we had the officiant read them to us so we didn’t have to memorize them. 

What advice would you give to someone planning their wedding?  On the day of your wedding, make sure you remember to relax!  Let other people deal with whatever issues arise.  If possible, hire a day-of coordinator.  And enjoy every single moment of being engaged and planning your wedding!  It is such a special time.   

Congratulations on your marriage, Marie + Kevin! 

When Emily told me Jessica + Neal’s North Carolina nuptials as photographed by Cunningham Photo Artists made for the perfect summer wedding, I had no idea how right she’d be!  The Cliffs at Walnut Cove proved the ideal venue for this outdoor mountain wedding.  How magical does the reception tent look under that towering oak tree?  We love how the fruit accents (check out those lime slices in the centerpieces and the fresh clementines and lemons decorating the four-tier Icing on the Cake confection) complement the bright oranges, pinks and greens of the Aria Floral arrangements and how the bridesmaids’ bouquets seem to be bursting with seasonal color and freshness.  (Side note: the ladies’ custom-made silk sheaths in shimmery orange and pink just might be my new favorite!)   Designer Shay Brown really captured the rustic outdoor feel Jessica + Neal were going for with an authentic tree stump cake stand and tiny, tree-hanging votives.  P.S.  How stunning does the bride look in her ruched Melissa Sweet trumpet gown? 

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. We met through mutual friends three years ago after an Alive After Five concert in Uptown Charlotte. At the time, we were both seeing other people. A year or so later, several of us started getting together for dinner and concerts and Neal and I became good friends. We had so much fun together! That summer, Neal had several people over to his new house for swimming and a cookout on the 4th of July, when our friendship took a turn… 

Describe the proposal: I thought Neal and I were going to the beach for the weekend with our good friends, who happened to know Neal planning on proposing. Neal had to be out of town that Friday and his flight from New York back to Charlotte was delayed. He called and asked me to meet him at his house. When I arrived, I was already feeling very rushed since we had a five hour drive ahead of us and would be leaving during rush-hour. Neal slowly made his way down the stairs with a huge smile on his face and said, “I’ve played a trick on you.” I looked at him puzzled and asked what he meant. He told me that we were not going to the beach but that he could not tell me where we would be going. I quickly realized we were heading towards Asheville, NC where we took a trip together in August of 2007. We arrived at the beautiful Grove Park Inn & Resort and spent the day sight-seeing and lounging by the pool. That evening, Neal wanted to go out to the terrace and watch the sunset. We were having a great time people-watching and enjoying the beautiful evening. When it got dark, Neal asked me if I knew why he brought me there. I began to quickly answer, but he cut me off and said “Let me tell you why.” He spent the next half hour recounting how our friendship turned into a relationship. Hearing all the key points of our relationship from Neal’s perspective was the sweetest moment of my life! He finally said m “That brings us to tonight” and slipped his hand in his pocket and got down on his knee. I can’t recall exactly what he said at that moment except the “Will you marry me?”  

What was the design inspiration for your wedding? The outdoors and mountain scenery! We wanted our wedding to be intimate, elegant and romantic but with a laid-back mountain feel to it as well. We both wanted to have the wedding at a place that provided incredible views of the mountains during the ceremony and reception.

Favorite design element of your big day: Since everyone made the trip out of town, we tried to make it into a big wedding weekend. We hosted a North Carolina BBQ welcome and rehearsal dinner for all wedding guests at a privately-owned farm outside of Asheville. We also hosted a Farewell Brunch on Sunday before everyone headed out of town.

Tell us about finding your wedding dress: I purchased my gown at J. Major’s Bridal Boutique in Charlotte, NC. I selected a Melissa Sweet strapless, ruched, ivory Taffeta trumpet gown with asymmetrical lines. I actually brought in a photo of the dress from a magazine into the boutique and, luckily, they had the dress in-stock. I loved it from the minute I put it on; it just felt right. I went to two other boutiques but my mind kept going back to the Melissa Sweet gown. The next week, I went back to J. Major’s and ordered the gown.

Describe your wedding flowers: I wanted brightly-colored flowers to match our wedding colors (orange, pink, lime green and chocolate brown) and that’s exactly what I got!

Describe your wedding cake: We had the best wedding cake! The cake had two flavors: chocolate with raspberry filling and carrot cake with cream cheese filling (one of Neal’s favorites!).

What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? A special moment for me was when my father saw me for the first time. He came over and looked at me and tears started rolling down his face. It was just between the two of us and not captured on film, but I remember every detail of those first few moments together.

Congratulations, Jessica + Neal! The SW girls wish you many more years of happy memories!