Southern Weddings

Allison + Charlie met at {Noah’s Ark}, an animal rehabilitation center and children’s care home.  Charlie’s family runs the organization and Allison came to volunteer.  Through giving back and their mutual love for children and animals, the two fell for each other.  How sweet! Their love brought them to February 14, 2009 and a wedding ceremony at {Serenbe}.  And a few furry friends helped out in the celebration… Allison rode down the aisle on a horse in a stunning {Vera Wang} gown. All the beautiful shades of green and white flowers were arranged by {Gloriosa}. Photography by our friends Jesse and Whitney at {Our Labor of Love}.  Check out more of Our Labor of Love’s work: {Kaley + Josh}, {Sarah + Richard Part I}, {Sarah + Richard Part II}, {Ashley + Dusty}, {Jennifer + JR Part I}, {Jennifer + JR Part II}, {Katrina + Matt Part I} and {Katrina + Matt Part II}.

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story: We met at {Noah’s Ark}, I was doing volunteer work and we were just kindred souls that found each other.
Describe the proposal: He picked me up from the airport and took me to Noah’s Ark and proposed on the bench where he first saw me.
What attracted me to my husband was: His love for people, animals, kindness, love for children and his honesty.
Why do you love your husband? He is my soul mate and the person I was looking for to spend my life with.
What attracted me to my wife was: Honesty, inner beauty and love for kids and animals.
A date we went on that we’ll always remember: When we went to St Augustine for Charlie’s birthday.
Tell us about finding your wedding dress: I went with my mom and it was the first dress that I tried on, I knew it immediately.
What was the design inspiration for your wedding? To represent who we were.
Were there any special family traditions you included in the wedding? My earrings were the ones that my mom’s dad gave her on her wedding day and we passed out Pecan twirls at the reception, which he invented.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Walking to the ceremony with my Dad.
Funniest moment? When Charlie started saying his vows he was talking to Stephen the minister and he told him to talk to me.
Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase/verse/or line? Parts of them… how our lives are joined like two streams that connect
The most unexpected event on our wedding day was: When the sun came out right when our ceremony began.

More to come from Allison + Charlie…

Emily + Neil’s ceremony lead to a fabulous reception at the {Grand Hyatt Atlanta}.  Guests enjoyed dinner and dancing with live music from {Flavor}.  One sweet element from the reception was the wedding cake by {Frosted Pumpkin Gourmet}. The classic tiers and swirl detailing was absolutely gorgeous. This event was planned by {Terry Saxe of Special-t-Events}.  To see more shots from this amazing wedding check out Laura Negri Photography’s {blog}, and for more of Laura’s work, check out her other SW features: Leslie + Fernando, Victoria + Nishan Part I and Part II, Erin + Taylor Part I and Part II, and Kari Beth + Josh Part I and Part II.  Happy Friday!

The weather on our wedding day was: Raining, but that’s good luck, right?
What was the design inspiration for your wedding? Winter Wonderland.
Favorite design element of your big day: The white branches, hanging crystals and candlelight.
Describe your wedding flowers: Our flowers were different shades of whites and creams. I wanted lots of textures without adding too much color. Our Chuppah and centerpieces consisted of white branches, white blizzard roses, and different types of orchids. We also had hanging candles, pillar candles and crystals to add a romantic and wintry feel.
Describe your wedding cake: It was a vanilla cake with raspberry and white chocolate ganache filling. The butter cream icing was a gold color to match our linens with antique scroll piped in cream. The cake was four tiered although it originally was suppose to be five tiered due to the number of guests. I was worried it would look to big so we had the baker make a bunch of sheet cakes in addition to the wedding cake so we could have the four tiered cake and still feed everyone.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: The candy bar. I loved it! It was not only our gift to the guests as they left, but it made for a really neat design element. We had clear glass containers that were different shapes, sizes and heights that held only white and cream colored candy to keep with the theme of the wedding.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Walking into the reception room as Mr. and Mrs. Neil Halpern and being welcomed by all of our guests.
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Romantic, Magical, Fun.
What advice would you give to someone planning their wedding? Take it all in because the entire process goes by really quickly. Also, don’t sweat the small stuff; in the end the wedding will turn out exactly how you envisioned it!
Best advice or most memorable comment someone made to you during the wedding celebration. “You both are glowing and seem so happy and in love.”
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? Beginning our new life, growing as a couple and striving for our dreams with the support of one another.

Congratulations to Emily + Neil.  We wish you the best as you begin to live out those dreams!

The lovely Laura of {Laura Negri Photography} sent us this beautiful classic Atlanta wedding.  The two were married in a beautifully decorated ceremony site at the {Grand Hyatt Atlanta}.  The floral arrangements were created by the talented Arrangements by Catherine Walther.  I’ve got to say, I love Emily’s choice in bridesmaid’s dresses from {Priscilla of Boston}.  These lovely satin chocolate brown dresses are fab and something I would love to wear as a bridesmaid.   Emily looked stunning in her {Melissa Sweet} bridal gown.  Of course what is even more fab would be the way Neil proposed to Emily.  Sex and the City fans read on….

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story: We met at an event on Christmas Eve of 2005. Although our parents had known each other since elementary school. I guess it was meant to be!
Describe the proposal: We went for a sushi dinner and then back to Neil’s house where the master bathroom was flooded with candles and rose pedals. He then led me to the custom closet he had built for me! Neil got down on one knee (in my new, exquisite closet) and asked me to marry him! It was really ironic because {Sex and the City}, the movie, came out right after we got engaged. As I watched Big propose to Carrie that same way, I was overcome with the emotion I had felt on my engagement night.
What attracted me to my husband was: His caring nature, friendly, out-going, laid back personality and warm eyes. He is also really funny!
Why do you love your husband? He values me and makes me feel like I am the only one in a room crowded with people.
Tell us about finding your wedding dress: I knew exactly the style of wedding dress I wanted. It took me six different times of dress hunting but as soon as I walked into Priscilla of Boston, I saw it on the mannequin. I got goose bumps and immediately knew it was the one.
Were there any special family traditions you included in the wedding? Yes, we actually had many. We used my grandmother’s, of blessed memory, Kiddush cup and table clothe to cover the Chuppah and Neil’s grandparents Kiddush cup from Israel. I used my mother’s wedding dress as décor along with my parent’s preserved wedding cake. I also used a piece of my mom’s wedding dress as a covering for the Challah. Lastly, I got married in a ring my dad made for my mom when they got married.

More to come from Emily + Neil…