Southern Weddings

Two months ago, we had the pleasure of meeting Brandi of {Brandi Brown Events} at {engage!08::the encore}. Were we instantly impressed by her kindness, joy and hard work that she puts into her planning business.  We love this elegant Georgia wedding that she designed at {Pebble Hill Plantation}.  Take a look at the bride’s wedding gown (by {Lazaro}) with the beading and crystal detail. Wow! Floral design by {Missy Gunnels}, catering by {Catering Capers} and {John Thomas Cowboy Grill}, wedding cake by {Linda Rodin’s Cake Gallery}, photography by {Charlie Pappas Photography}. Thanks again to Brandi for sending this beautiful Southern wedding our way!

How did the two of you meet?  Phil went to Rhodes College, where he ended up in the same fraternity as one of Catherine’s close friends from high school. After graduating from college (Catherine from Mount Holyoke College and Phil from Florida State University), we were both working in Washington, DC. The mutual friend also started working in DC, and introduced us in July 2003. We hit it off then and were dating by that early fall. About a year and a half later, we applied to law schools together and decided to go to Suffolk University Law School in Boston. We figured if we could make it through that grueling first year together, we’d be just fine. And we did!
Describe the proposal: During our winter exams of second year of law school, I (Catherine) had just crammed for and taken a Family Law exam. I had just furiously typed for three hours about divorce, custody, alimony, etc. Exhausted and not necessarily feeling so romantic, I walked in the door at home. Phil asked what I’d like to do for the rest of the day, and I replied, “oh, I don’t know, maybe just relax.” He then said, “how about spending the rest of your life with me?” I turned around in the living room, and there he was on his knee with a ring! I said, “WHAT??” He asked, “Will you marry me?” I started screaming! He finally said, “Um, is that a yes? Can I stand up now?” We both started laughing and hugging as I said, “of course!”
A date we went on that we’ll always remember: We had a restaurant that we loved in Boston (The Butcher Shop). It’s tiny and doesn’t take reservations, but it has some of the best food we’ve ever had and a terrific wine list. It’s always crowded early on, but it thins out and becomes quiet and romantic by the end of the night. We only went a few times, but every time we did, we ended up sharing to-die-for meals and chatting for hours. Especially compared to our hectic law school lives, we loved those nights of relaxing with each other.
What was the design inspiration for your wedding? I have always been in awe of Audrey Hepburn, so she was my style inspiration. We also wanted to be outside, but to have a space that was formal enough to match the “old movie” vibe. Pebble Hill Plantation may be the only place where you can wear a cathedral-length veil outside!
Tell us about finding your wedding dress: My dress was one of the most important things to me. I wanted something that combined a timeless style with a contemporary twist. While I had originally thought I’d want white lace, after trying on many dresses I ended up completely changing my mind. I finally fell in love with a gorgeous dress and matching cathedral veil by Lazaro. The dress was a white, strapless, hand-beaded and embroidered gown with a sweetheart neckline, dropped waist, circular skirt, and chapel train. With all the beading and embroidery, it took four trips to the tailor to get it just right.
Describe your wedding flowers: I wanted them to match the theme of the wedding colors and the vibe of the plantation. We knew we didn’t need much because the grounds were so beautiful, but I wanted the tent and bouquets to complement that feeling. The florist did a terrific job of creating interesting combinations of the deep red, rich green, and white that were the theme of the rest of the event. I carried a white bouquet and my bridesmaids carried red bouquets that matched their dresses. The colors popped beautifully against the white plantation buildings and the green lawns and trees.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: We didn’t really want a typical guest book because we didn’t think we’d ever read it and guests seem to find them tiresome to sign, but we wanted something to commemorate our family and friends in attendance. We rented a photo booth, which was a lot of fun. The guests got to get their pictures taken and then they left a copy in a book and signed it. At the end of the night we got the bound book of all the pictures and funny messages. It was a great added touch that truly personalized the guest book idea.
Were there any special family traditions you included in the wedding? 1) I was photographed in an antique Belgian ivory lace veil, which has come down for generations on my paternal grandmother’s side. No matter what kind of dress the bride wears, she is always photographed in the veil. My grandmother has an album of all of the women in the family who have worn it. For the actual ceremony, I wore the Lazaro veil that matched my dress, but it was wonderful to be photographed in the family veil for tradition’s sake. 2) Phil’s family has a sword that dates to the Revolutionary War. His grandparents, parents, and sister all used it to cut the cake at their respective weddings, so we also kept up that tradition. It’s not every day one gets to cut a cake with a sword!
Funniest moment? During the ceremony, the ring bearer, who was only 2 years old, walked over to the fountain behind the Bishop and pulled out a hose and started playing with the stream of water! We were facing the scene and thought he was actually going to spray the Bishop! Fortunately one of the groomsmen saw it as well and ran over and caught him before he could actually do any damage, but it was hilarious. Later, during our first dance, we were a little nervous, but the ring bearer walked onto the dance floor next to us and started dancing. The crowd’s laughter lightened the mood tremendously!
What advice would you give to someone planning a wedding? You will go over your budget, no matter how careful you think you are being. There will just always be another thing you haven’t thought of. And things take more time than you would think. So plan for extra time and extra money. Then again, know how to rein yourselves in. Some details only you will notice, so cut costs by keeping perspective on what really matters to you and the people who will be there. Most importantly, have fun! This is the time to think of the little details that reflect on your personalities and bring them together to show all your loved ones why the two of you are choosing each other.
Best advice or most memorable comment someone made to you during the wedding celebration. Take a moment during the reception for the two of you alone to take a little walk around or just step away and reflect on the day. It happens to fast and you’re running around so much talking to people that you need to consciously make yourself stop and appreciate all the hard work you’ve done and the very reason you’re there, which is to celebrate the love between you and your new spouse.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? We are settling into our new careers as attorneys in Maryland and have added two Vizsla puppies to the family, Mason and Dixon! We are looking forward to hosting our first family celebration and just being married!

Congratulations to Catherine + Phil! We wish the a lifetime of happiness!