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Carolina bride Sarah Ann shares her monogram-filled wedding at the Merrimon-Wynne House!

Today’s wedding holds a special place in my heart because the bride and groom are dear friends of mine! Earlier this year, Sarah Ann and Blake said their “I do’s” in front of their family and friends on the mildest North Carolina July day I can ever remember (a weather home run thanks to some savvy burying of the bourbon!). And while the images are breathtakingly gorgeous and details are both plentiful and personal (all that blue and white!), I strongly encourage you to not miss a word of Sarah Ann and Blake’s advice to those of y’all who are actively wedding planning. I know she speaks from the bottom of her heart when she says, “make your wedding your own. We thought of each decision as an opportunity to reflect what makes our relationship special.”

I couldn’t agree more with this sage encouragement, and love how SAT + WBS’s relationship shined through every last detail of their wedding celebration. Now, without further ado, dig into one of the sweetest celebrations I’ve ever had the privilege of witnessing. And yes, the back of Sarah Ann’s dress is all the heart eyes — I audibly gasped when I saw her. She was the epitome of a classic Southern bride.

Biggest hugs to Graham Terhune of Anagram Photo for these beautiful images and kudos to Rebecca Rose Events for pulling together all of the details!

What was your favorite detail from your wedding? My favorite detail from the wedding was the use of blue and white. Our invitation suite, with its ode to beach music, monograms, and grosgrain ribbon was a preview for all of the blue and white we used throughout the wedding. Seeing Gigi’s chinoiserie collection on full display was absolutely breathtaking. I’ve grown up in a house full of blue and white ginger jars and porcelain pieces, and having her collection there made the Merrimon-Wynne feel like home. Blake’s favorite detail from the wedding was our late night snack, Frito Pie and Topo Chico. The guys from Long Leaf Swine did an amazing job of using this dish to reference our shared love for the Lone Star State. We discovered Frito Pie in Texas, and we loved being able to introduce this Southwestern staple to our North Carolina loved ones.

Tell us your love story in one sentence. Carolina girl returns home from Texas to start a new adventure and in reconnecting with her forever sweetheart, begins her greatest adventure yet.
When did y’all get married? July 29, 2017.
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 155.

I wore something old (my pearls), something new (my dress), something borrowed (Blake’s grandmother’s brooch), something blue (a gingham, monogrammed label, stitched into my dress and a second one wrapped around my bouquet), and an extra special sixpence (marked with Gigi’s birth year) in my shoe.

What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Getting married in the city we’ve come to call home, Raleigh, was important to us. Our church and so much of our community is in the Oak City. We felt strongly that the Merrimon-Wynne mirrored our identity as a couple: understated, sweet, and deeply sentimental. In selecting a venue, it’s also worth noting that I gave tremendous consideration to my Mema. She is 93 years old and she is our only living grandparent who was able to attend the wedding. Having our ceremony and reception in one spot made transitions easier, and we have the fondest memories of her on the dance floor throughout the reception!

What was your favorite thing about wedding planning? My favorite part of wedding planning was identifying ways to pay tribute to the people we love and cherish the most. Blake and I are deeply sentimental and we looked at our wedding as a space for sharing our hearts for the people who continue to shape us. One of my favorite tributes was wearing my Mema’s wedding band. Her little band means the world to us. It means a Christ-centered marriage. It means making a daily commitment to my Papa Curtis’s patience and devotion and to my Mema’s grace and humility. It means honoring traditions, like green punch and homemade candy every Christmas. It means listening more than you talk. It means choosing love, faith, and joy.

Tell us the highlights of finding your wedding dress. It took two rounds of dress shopping before finding “the one.” For the first round, we went to a beautiful bridal shop in Wilmington, North Carolina. Gigi (my mother), my sister-in-law, Mamma Jan (Blake’s mother), and my soon-to-be sister-in-law were all in town for our engagement party. We were excited about finding the perfect dress, and Mamma Jan even brought champagne! Though I tried on a dozen or so dresses, we left feeling somewhat defeated. For round two, Gigi and Mamma Jan met me at a boutique in Raleigh. I arrived before they did, walked a lap around the store as I was waiting, and found the dress within minutes. I met them in the parking lot to share that I had found the dress. I tried on several other dresses first… but when I slipped on “the one,” I didn’t want to take it off… a phenomenon a dear girlfriend had shared would happen. It was all that I had hoped for… simple, so very chic, and y’all, it had bows!

I told y’all! All the heart-eyes!!

I adore my Daddy, and he gave the most beautiful toast. His thoughtful words not only produced an abundance of joy and laughter, but also moved us to tears. He shared anecdotes from my childhood, describing the catalyst for my childhood nickname, “Scooter” and detailing far too many memories that involved my hands on my hips. He described the tender moments wherein Blake has become a part of our family. And in wishing us well, he shared out my favorite poetic verse, reading from Rudyard Kipling’s the “Mary Gloster.” I will forever treasure the memory of him raising a glass to toast our new marriage.

Our pastor, Justin, did a beautiful job of leading our ceremony, and we are eternally grateful that he was a part of our special day. We loved that he threaded our story into the traditional Methodist service, speaking to our struggles and our commitments. We loved that he spoke directly to our guests, reminding them of the vows they were taking to stand by us in our marriage. We exchanged traditional vows and chose to include Colossians 3:12-19 and Romans 12:10-13. Our sister-in-law, Stephanie, and Blake’s step-sister, Brooke, read these verses, reminding us to daily choose to love one another and to thoughtfully serve others.

What was your most memorable moment from your wedding day? After the ceremony, Blake and I snuck away to the bridal suite at the Merrimon-Wynne House. There were plates of food waiting for us and we relished in that sweet, stolen opportunity to share a meal on our wedding day. We talked about getting ready with our dearest friends and our favorite parts of the ceremony. We peeked out of a second story window, catching a glimpse of our guests, all settling into the reception. Blake played our song and we danced. We couldn’t stop smiling.

My parents spoiled us and our guests with our favorite Southern fare, including pork BBQ and beef brisket, mac and cheese, potato salad, and chicken and waffles. Blake and I hope to continue in that tradition of welcoming and loving people well throughout our marriage.

What was one way you saved money or cut costs at your wedding? The most significant way we cut costs was by using Gigi’s blue and white porcelain throughout the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. Providing these vessels helped us to make the most of our floral budget. Many of Gigi’s pieces didn’t require flowers at all and when combined with candles and clustered together, they made for the sweetest centerpieces. Additionally, I opted to address each invitation. My handwriting is a small part of my identity and there was something really special about writing each guest’s name, requesting that they come and be a part of the celebration and blessing of our marriage. It was an opportunity for me to reflect on the impact that each person had made on our lives.

What did you serve for your wedding cake or dessert? Here’s a hard truth. I don’t care for cake. In lieu of a wedding cake, we served Blake’s favorite dessert, blackberry cobbler. Blake is an N.C. State graduate and we surprised him with Howling Cow ice-cream. Though we didn’t serve cake at our wedding, there were the most special cakes served at the Bridal Luncheon and the Rehearsal Dinner. For the Luncheon, my Aunt Tammy included a cake pull. I had no idea that she had planned to incorporate this fun, Southern tradition, but I am so very thankful that she did. I loved seeing the charms that each of the bridesmaids pulled! For the Rehearsal Dinner, Mamma Jan and my sister-in-law worked together to design a three layer cake with some of Blake’s favorites, including Snickers, Coconut Key Lime, and Oreo. The cake celebrated his love for golf, Mario, and our beloved Texas Longhorns, along with a topper, “WBS + SAT – Hooked for Life.”

Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. For the seating of the mothers and the wedding party processional, we used my late grandmother’s favorite hymn, “In the Garden” and Gigi’s longtime favorite, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” These selections were a surprise to Gigi and she still talks about how much having them played meant to her. I walked down the aisle to “Short Trip Home.” During the ceremony, we included a congregational hymn, “Come Thou Fount.” We printed song cards with a watercolor blackberry print for every guest. I am having one framed to hang in our bedroom. Our recessional was Blake’s favorite song, “This Must Be the Place.” I will never forget the look of joy on his face when he registered that the string quartet was playing his personal anthem. For our first dance, we shagged to an old Temptations song, “Lady Soul.” I danced with my Dad to the Dells’ “My Life is So Wonderful.” Blake danced with Mamma Jan to the Tams’ “Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy.” Also, in planning the wedding, my Daddy made very few requests. Among them, he asked that he get a solo dance with Gigi. They danced to Van Morrison’s “Have I Told You Lately That I Love You.” It was one of the most special and romantic moments of the wedding.

Tell us all about the proposal! Blake and I met as two small-town teenagers, what feels like forever ago. Since we first met, we’ve chased after college dreams, pursued careers and degrees, and conquered new cities. When I moved back to North Carolina from Texas, we prioritized our relationship. One quiet weekend, Blake asked if I’d like to go “look at jewelry,” inviting me to try on engagement rings. Shortly after, he made a special trip home to Mount Airy to ask my Dad for my hand in marriage, and my precious Daddy (without hesitation) told me on the very same day that Blake had sat down with him. Still, I had no clue that Blake was planning to ask when he did. Not more than a week after sitting down with my Dad, that rascal, Blake, used a date night out with friends as a diversion and ultimately took me to one of my favorite places in all of Raleigh- the North Carolina Museum of Art. A mentor of mine serves as a docent at the museum, and I’ve made several big decisions in that very space. Blake knew as much. We walked through the park at the museum and when we came upon Thomas Sayre’s “Gyre,” Blake dropped down to one knee, pulled out the prettiest piece of “jewelry,” and asked me to marry him. A dear friend was there capturing each moment with a camera. Blake’s sweet smile was my favorite part.
Did you decide to do a first look? We did not do a first look. I wanted Blake to see me for the first time walking down the aisle, and Blake is mildly superstitious. We did, however, exchange notes and gifts. He gave me a stunning bracelet, and I gave him an N.C. State needlepoint wallet with a note in the postscript, “You’ve earned this gift… for wearing Carolina blue today. Thank you from the bottom of my Tar Heel-loving heart.”
What was Southern about your wedding? It made our hearts swell when one of our family friends commented that our wedding was the “the epitome of Southern charm.” I hope our guests found Southern charm in our commitment to traditions. We buried the bourbon and were blessed with the most mild July day. And we all had one big, shag dancing party with our favorite beach music band, Jim Quick and Coastline. I especially loved that our reception cards included lyrics from one of my favorite beach music songs, “Now it’s a drag if you can’t shag, you better learn how to move your feet.” There was also charm in the aesthetic and the look of our wedding. Bows and monograms abounded, our family photos and heirloom collections peppered the house, and our linens were a fun blend of buffalo checks, ginghams, and ticking stripes in pinks and blues. I loved seeing my bridesmaids’ in seersucker and I was thrilled that Blake’s mom had saved his navy, linen Eton suit from when he was little and that our nephew Holden, was able to wear it as a ring bearer. Beyond the tradition and the aesthetic, the hospitality of our loved ones was the most Southern part of our wedding. We put together the most darling surcees for our out-of-town guests, including my sister-in-law’s delicious homemade cheese straws and artwork created by our incredibly talented family friend, Sidney Hunter.
What was the hardest part about planning your wedding? The first most difficult part of wedding planning was building our guest list. We developed a few ground rules for building the list, including an agreement that neither Blake nor I would be meeting someone for the first time on our wedding day. Identifying our shared values around who would be present helped tremendously. The next most difficult part was carving out time for wedding planning amidst the whirlwind of life. I travel a great deal for my job, Blake was wrapping up graduate school work, and together we were transitioning from temporary housing to home ownership. Throughout all the busyness, Blake reminded me to take deep breaths and to savor in the season. He grounded me in the best possible way.
What advice would you give to someone currently planning a wedding? In reflecting on our wedding, Blake and I would offer these five pieces of advice. 1. Make your wedding your own. We thought of each decision as an opportunity to reflect what makes our relationship special. 2. Set aside time for just you and your partner on your wedding day. Sneaking away, just the two of us, after the ceremony proved to be one of our most beloved parts of the day. 3. Give as much thoughtfulness to preparing for marriage, as you to do preparing for wedding. Our time with our minister helped us to learn about replacing judgment and pride with understanding and humility, about serving and celebrating one another at every opportunity, and about continually modeling grace. 4. Graciously accept the contributions others are eager to make. Our family and friends were excited to pour into us throughout our engagement season and especially during our wedding weekend. They found creative ways to love us well, preparing wedding day snacks, transporting luggage, and staying late to do a sweep of the venue. We had one set of family friends that had to go plates and a basket full of our favorite goodies waiting for us in our hotel room at the end of the night. 5. Give strong consideration to partnering with a planning and design firm. Working with the women of Rebecca Rose Events allowed both Blake and I, as well as our families, to be fully present in the celebration of our marriage. We are deeply grateful for their commitment and their contributions to the most meaningful and joyous day of our lives.

Photographer: Graham Terhune Photography (now Anagram Photo) | Videographer: Heart Stone Films | Planner and Florist: Rebecca Rose Events | Ceremony and Reception Venue: The Merrimon-Wynne House | Caterer and Dessert Baker: Longleaf Swine | Rentals and Lighting: Party Reflections | Band: Jim Quick & Coastline | Paper Products: Rebecca Rose Creative | Bride’s Gown: “Nazar” by Rosa Clara | Hair Stylist and Makeup Artist: Lula Hair & Makeup | Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Coren Moore | Linens: La Tavola | Vintage Furniture: Greenhouse Picker Sisters | Watercolor Illustration: Sidney Hunter | Ceremony Musicians: Arioso Strings

Graham Terhune from Anagram Photo, Heart Stone Films, Rebecca Rose Events, Rebecca Rose Creative, and LULA Hair and Makeup are all lovely members of our Blue Ribbon Vendor directory!

kristin Written with love by Kristin
2 Comments
  1. avatar Davy Whitener reply

    Love this! Great work Graham!

  2. avatar Sheffield Wedding Photographer reply

    It just keeps getting better. Love your posts Kristin!

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I’m pretty convinced that at Southern Weddings, we get to feature the sweetest couples in the South–not only because they do such a beautiful job planning their weddings, but also because of the heart and intention they pour into their big days. Alex and Cole are a perfect example of this, and I had so much fun poring over the details they shared with us in their interview! These elementary school friends-turned-high school sweethearts have an adorable love story, a huge heart for the South, and style for days (can we call that the trifecta?), so it’s an honor and a delight to share the day they became husband and wife at Magnolia Plantation today!

We’re so glad Landon Jacob Photography was on hand to capture every magical moment!

Cole and I decided we wanted to get married in Charleston pretty soon after we got engaged. Charleston has always held a special place in my heart. My family has owned a small beach cottage on Isle of Palms since I was a little girl. I have some of my fondest memories with family and friends in our sweet home. Once Cole and I began dating, he started coming along with us on random trips, which ended up including each summer for July 4th. It became a really fun tradition that we both looked forward to each year! Once we began looking at venues, I immediately was drawn to the idea of a beautiful plantation wedding. I grew up going to Easter sunrise service at a plantation in Charleston and have always loved the aesthetic and beauty there. I called Magnolia after falling in love with their website, and they had one Saturday left! My mom, being the greatest momma in the world, drove to the plantation without me, toured the property, FaceTimed me, and booked the venue right then and there! A few months later, we both went back and walked through it again and I knew it was a perfect fit!

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. I was so anxious about finding my wedding dress! I set up an appointment at Alexa’s Bridal in Raleigh for a Saturday in July. I had my mom, both of my sweet grandmas, and my mother-in-law with me. I began trying on very simple, spaghetti strap dresses. They were gorgeous, but I just didn’t feel like a bride when I had any of them on. I was a bit discouraged, but my sweet stylist was so encouraging and walked through the store with me. That is when I found a perfectly timeless and Southern detailed dress. From the quarter-length sleeves to the bow around the waist, and even the beautiful ivory material, it was exactly what I wanted! Even more, I loved that Cole would never expect me to wear something like it, but I knew he would absolutely love it! It only took me six dresses and about 45 minutes to find the perfect one for me!

I absolutely adore flowers–I swoon at the sight of them no matter where I am! I really wanted bright, bold pinks and a touch of maroon with some elongated, whimsical, flowing pieces. I wanted my bouquet to be big! I was torn on what to do for my bridesmaids, but went with small bouquets for them, which I ended up loving! And even more, my honorary bridesmaids held one big peony with ribbon! It was gorgeous! I decided to add ivory ribbon to the bouquets to add some more texture against the dresses and the bouquets, and I loved the look.

Did you decide to do a first look? Why or why not? We did decide to do a first look on our wedding day! Cole really wanted to do one from the beginning but I was a little more torn at first. I had always dreamed about the moment I would walk down the aisle and Cole would get to see me for the first time in my wedding dress. I was afraid doing a first look would take some of that “magical” element away. I was SO wrong! We decided to do a first look for a few reasons. First, to help calm any nerves we may be feeling. Second, to have some time to ourselves where we could enjoy each other and soak in the fact that it was finally our wedding day! Third, we recognized that it didn’t matter where we were in that moment because it was going to be the most magical part of the day. We decided we really wanted that special time to be between just the two of us. It was such a blessing! On our day, I was nervous! Cole was the only person I wanted to see and get a big hug from, right before we committed to years of love, laughter, hardships, and memories in front of all of our closest family and friends. I am so thankful for that time during our first look on our wedding day and would not change it for the world!

Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We did write our own vows! That was something that was extremely important to Cole and me. We really wanted our vows to be personal to us. They were short and sweet, but by far the sweetest part of the service! One of Cole’s vows was, “Sharing my life with you has brought down the walls I took so long to build, and you have transformed my heart in a way only true love can comprehend.” And mine was, “I pray the Lord will teach me to love you without condition, remind me to honor and support you always, encourage me to challenge you and to be a listening ear.”
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. When it came time to pick out our wedding music, Cole gave me full rein on choosing, so I began googling and searching for music to use. I wanted to find songs that were meaningful to Cole and me, but also to our families and friends. Our ceremony was such a special, spiritual, and emotional time, and I wanted the music to reflect that. I chose four songs because the words meant so much to me and said much more than I could say that day. First, I have such a “Good, Good Father” for giving me my family. They have shaped me and made me into the person I am today. Next, I picked “O, Come to the Altar” for our bridal party processional not only because Cole and I were walking up to the altar, but also because our friends were too. They were there to support us in making this amazing covenant. Third, I chose “Jesus I Come” to play while I walked down the aisle to my sweet Cole because I felt those words in my soul. It was so important that Jesus was, and is, the center of our marriage, and I wanted every moment, but especially the moment before my precious daddy gave me away, to shine with His love. Last, I picked “I’ve Always Loved You” because Jesus knew Cole and me long before we knew each other and had this incredible day planned for us long before we could have ever fathomed it. Knowing that and how much He loves us was the greatest gift He could ever have given us. Cole picked out our first dance song, which was so special to me! He was so sure he wanted our song to be Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love” so that is exactly what we danced to! It was perfect.

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? I think the biggest Southern detail was the wedding being in Charleston. The moss-covered trees, the river, and the gorgeous plantation are exactly what I envision when I think of the South! My other favorite detail that was subtly included in most of my wedding was a pineapple. I had the pineapple on our wedding invitations and in a lot of our table decor, including the centerpieces. Lastly, I had to have monogram! I was so excited about my new monogram, so I put it on my Jack Rogers that I wore for our wedding. It was a perfectly subtle detail!

I went super simple for our wedding cake! I fell in love with some handmade flamingos as cake toppers, so I went with a three-tier, traditional white buttercream cake with striped frosting. The flamingos were super fun, so I wanted those to be the center of attention! I then did two non-traditional one-tier cakes on either side of the main one (to have more flavor options, because who doesn’t love cake?). These had flowers on the top of them. I loved the aesthetic of the height differences and the pops of color!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. Cole and I have known each other since first grade at Wesleyan Christian Academy. It seems we always had crushes on each other. One of my favorite things to do is look through my elementary school diary and see his name pop up every once in a while! In third grade, Cole gave me a valentine asking if I would be his girlfriend (I still have it!). We became best friends in eighth grade and started dating after he asked me to homecoming our freshman year of high school. We have had the privilege of growing up together and it has been the most exciting adventure! I would never trade falling in love through the awkward stages and getting to know each other so closely over these past eight years. It has been the sweetest experience and we feel so blessed that the Lord has put us on this awesome journey together!
Tell us all about the proposal! From Alex: My sweet Cole got an awesome internship at Idaho National Lab near Idaho Falls, Idaho for 13 weeks over the summer. I had a job in Greensboro and the flights to and from Idaho were expensive, so we didn’t think we would be able to see each other at all. Luckily, my aunt, uncle, and cousins were headed to Pray, Montana and brought me along! On June 13, 2015, Cole insisted that I go hiking with him. After a few hours, as we began packing up, Cole reached down to put the supplies into his bag, and when he turned back around, he had the most beautiful ring on his pinky finger. I think I did a double take three times before realizing what it was because I was so shocked! I could hardly believe it! I was so excited! Cole got down on his knee and asked me to marry him. I was elated with joy and immediately said YES to forever with the guy I had been loving for almost seven years!! From Cole: I was beyond ready to get out to Idaho for a summer internship that I hoped would be full of learning, outdoor adventure, and overwhelming experiences. At the same time, I was trying to figure out how in the world I am going to propose to Alex in the timeframe I had planned in my head so long ago. It was almost time to head across the country, and I still hadn’t asked Ricky for his daughter’s hand in marriage. Of course, Alex was utterly convinced that I would have to wait until I returned home at the end of the summer. In a moment of desperation, I realized I could just stop through Charlotte on my way out of the state to speak with Ricky and Kelly. After a few weeks in Idaho, I was as ready as ever to give the rest of my life to Alex when she came to visit in Montana. I will never forget the day I got down on one knee in front of her. I’d never seen someone so elated. I had managed to surprise her against all odds! I could not have been happier!
When did y’all get married? May 29, 2016
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 200
How did you plan for your marriage while planning your wedding? Cole and I had the privilege of being engaged between our junior and senior years of college. Call us crazy! I was in Winston-Salem at Wake Forest and Cole was in Raleigh at NC State. Luckily, the process of planning our wedding became prep for planning our marriage. It takes sacrifice, communication, and lots of meeting in the middle (literally and figuratively!). The biggest part of planning our marriage was making premarital counseling with our pastor a priority. Cole had a very rigorous schedule at school and our pastor was in Greensboro, but we both agreed that it was a priority for both of us. We spent about three hours one Saturday with our pastor and his wife, and it was one of the most life-giving, fun-filled learning experiences for both of us!
What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? Jessica Rourke. My wedding planner was the sweetest! She was organized, calm and reassuring, and always there when I needed help or had a question. The day of my wedding, there was supposed to be a hurricane and I was so nervous! Jessica found a tent, had plans A, B, C, and D, and was ready to go! She called me and reassured me how wonderful everything was going to be, and that was the most precious gift she could have ever given me. I am beyond grateful for her and for her heart. The Lord blessed me in so many ways when crossing our paths! I also absolutely adored working with Jessica of Simply Jessica Marie on our paper goods! They were one of my favorite elements. I went a bit non-traditional and had so much fun dreaming up different ideas and pieces with her. The best part of working with her was becoming friends along the way! I can’t wait to hang our invitations in our new home!
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Soak it all in. It is hard to explain how special of a time engagement is. It goes by so fast! Most of all, stay organized! I have helped coordinate a handful of weddings and even considered planning mine myself, but I can’t stress enough how much I recommend a wedding planner, even if it is just a day-of coordinator. I was still just as involved in the design planning, but I had organizational and logistical help that would have been a lot of work for me, especially on my wedding day.
What’s next for you as a couple? What memories are you looking forward to making together? We are living in Raleigh and absolutely loving it! I am working at Baker Roofing Company and assisting coordination with Gather Together Events on some weekends. Cole is getting his PhD in Nuclear Engineering at NC State. We just moved into our first home and it is a dream! I am so looking forward to starting new family traditions. We want to start traditions now that we can continue once we have our own kids one day. We also absolutely adore traveling and can’t wait to start planning our next big adventure!

Photographer: Landon Jacob Photography | Videographer: Almond Leaf Studios | Planner: Jessica Rourke | Venue: Magnolia Plantation and Gardens | Florist: Fern Studio | Wedding Cake: DeClare Cakes | Caterer: Beyond Expectations | Rentals and Lighting: Ooh! Events | Band: 17 South Band | Paper Products: Simply Jessica Marie | Bride’s Gown: Rosa Clara Bridal | Hair and Makeup: Lashes and Lace | Bride’s Shoes: Jack Rogers | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: “The V-Neck Cinch Gown” in Azalea by Natalie Deayala | Groom’s Attire: Liles Clothing Studio | Groomsmen Attire: The Black Tux

lisa Written with love by Lisa
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When Nicole and Tyler struggled to find a venue that felt just right for them, their planner, Rachel Youd, suggested celebrating their ceremony in Nicole’s parents’ backyard. With the help of some thoughtful planning to make it work, Nicole’s father was able to see his daughter come down the very same stairs she’d walked down in the years past for her dances and proms. Creating a moment so meaningful might not always be the easiest option, but I imagine that out of all the memories on those stairs, this day probably tops the list! After saying their vows under the oak trees, Nicole and Tyler celebrated with their guests just a few miles away at Panama Country Club with a reception that looks equally as fun as it was stylish!

Thanks for sharing, Jennifer Blair!

Describe your wedding flowers. Our flowers were soft and delicate. We had mainly white flowers with splashes of blush and green. We had peonies, garden roses, hydrangeas, seeded eucalyptus, freesia, and anemones to add a graphic punch.

Did you decide to do a first look? Why or why not? Yes! Seeing each other for the first time was such a surreal experience, and I’m glad that we had a chance to take in the moment. We loved getting to spend the whole day together and share some quality time on our wedding day. I can’t imagine not being able to burst into conversation upon seeing my groom for the first time! It was so wonderful to snap a few family photos after the ceremony and then be able to run off to the party! Doing a first look also allowed us the time to have a private dinner. We were able to talk about the ceremony and actually eat, and I had the chance to touch up and bustle my dress in peace!

We looked at several wedding venues and nothing felt quite right. I remember early in the planning process, my dad had mentioned he wanted me to get ready at the house so he could see me coming down the stairs, like he had done for all my dances and proms when I was younger. Our wedding coordinator suggested the backyard, which we hadn’t even considered as a prospect. After walking through the yard and envisioning the ceremony, we couldn’t think of a better place to have our ceremony than under the oaks on the bay in a place we have so many memories. It was so special to be able to walk down the stairs of my house that day! The reception was at a country club about five minutes away. The club has beautiful bay views and tied in to the waterside feel we had at the ceremony.

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: Our favorite detail was the aisle. My parents’ yard didn’t really allow for a traditional aisle, so we decided that the dock would be the aisle! I arrived to our ceremony via boat, which added a fun Floridian touch to our ceremony.

My something blue was also my old and new. Tyler had given me a beautiful pair of sapphire and diamond earring when I graduated from Auburn University. I was on my Master’s Practicum in London while I was in grad school at Florida State, and lost an earring while sightseeing. I remember calling Tyler that day, so sad, and I exclaimed “That was going to be my something blue!” under my breath. He heard and I was quickly embarrassed. He took the remaining earring and had it made into a simple and dainty necklace that he gave me for Christmas, just a few months before the wedding. Our something borrowed was the venue!


Our cake was so good that as we were about to make our grand exit, we stopped to asked the caterer for a to-go box to stick a big slice in! The cake was the most important thing to Tyler, so we were set on finding a baker who could make a beautiful cake with buttercream, as neither of us like fondant. We chose a classic white almond cake with buttercream icing. We are both eagerly looking to our first anniversary for another slice!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. Tyler and I met at a fundraising gala when I was home from college for Thanksgiving break. Neither of us was really supposed to go that night, but my parents had an extra ticket. I tried to stay home with the dog, but was (thankfully) unsuccessful. Tyler’s mom was sick, so Tyler went in her place. Our fathers know each other, so they ended up chatting at the event, and I talked to Tyler’s dad a bit. Soon after, Tyler came over to say hi to my mom and dad (who he had met before). He introduced himself to me when I was mid-bite of red velvet cake. Unbeknownst to me, we had gone to the same high school and were both on the golf teams at the same time, but we had never met! We ended up chatting, and later on that night, he asked me to dance. He asked me to play golf that week, and we’ve been hanging out ever since!
Tell us all about the proposal! Tyler conspired with my two best friends to surprise me! My two best friends were teaching at the time, and I was about to enter my last semester of graduate school, so we decided to plan an elaborate girls night out at Rosemary Beach to celebrate the end of school! When we arrived, it started to sprinkle, but they were insistent on walking across the street to get a quick picture before dinner. We spotted a man with an umbrella in the exact spot we wanted to take the picture, so I was hesitant, until I realized the man under the umbrella was Tyler! He said a lot of sweet things I don’t remember due to my state of shock. He had our parents waiting at a Mexican restaurant nearby so we could celebrate in the best way…with margaritas!
When did y’all get married? April 9, 2016
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 180
Tell us about finding your wedding dress. I bought my wedding dress the first time I went to try on dresses. I went in with one idea and left with a completely different thing! I tried on about 20 dresses, and when I put on mine, I remember feeling so comfortable. Seeing yourself in a wedding dress is a strange experience, and despite all the dresses being gorgeous, most made me feel like I was in a bride costume. I felt like myself in my dress, but it still had that something that made me feel special! It also didn’t hurt that my mom, mother-in-law, and maids of honor immediately said “That’s the one!” without hesitation!
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? We were all nervous about the Florida weather cooperating with our outdoor ceremony, so we relied on the tradition of burying the bourbon. Tyler and his dad are avid bourbon collectors, and him and his father are also Kentucky Colonels. The bottle selected to be buried was an Elijah Craig that was aged 23 years, to reflect my age when we got married!
How did you plan for your marriage while planning your wedding? Tyler and I took a premarital counseling course through our church. Additionally, we were putting together our first home together while we were engaged. Design decisions and DIY home upkeep, while still living in two separate places, will teach you teamwork and compromise quickly!
What’s next for you as a couple? What memories are you looking forward to making together? We are working on our first home in Tallahassee, Florida, where we plan to stay for a few years as we build our careers. We just added to our family with Walter, our three-month West Highland Terrier puppy! We are enjoying settling into living together and celebrating our other friends who are tying the knot!

Photographer: Jennifer Blair | Videographer: Jason Tuno | Planner, Florist, and Paper Products: Rachelle Youd | Ceremony Venue: Private residence | Reception Venue: Panama Country Club | Wedding Cake: Sweet for Sirten | Caterer: Chef Paul Stellato | Rentals: H&M Tent | Band: Creativity | Bride’s Gown: Maggie Sottero | Bride’s Hair Accessories and Jewelry: BHLDN | Hair Stylist: Bunny Franklin | Makeup Artist: Rebecca Griffith | Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Alfred Sung | Groom’s Bow Tie: Brackish | Menswear: Men’s Wearhouse

marissa Written with love by Marissa
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