Southern Weddings

For any bride needing some DIY (do it yourself) project ideas, read on… We loved the personal touch that Eryn created by using a photo of herself or Craig with the guest as a place card. And the welcome sign and menu card that they created together are picture perfect.  This event was held at the {The John Oliver Michael House} with flowers by {European Floral Designs}.  Catering by {101 Concepts}, the company that Eryn works for.  All planning and design by Eryn and Craig! To see more stunning shots check out W. Scott Chester Photography’s {Blog}.  Thanks so much Cristen and Scott for sharing this inspiring wedding with us today!  Happy Friday ya’ll!

The weather on our wedding day was: BEAUTIFUL!! We were worried about it being swelteringly hot… it was the middle of August in Georgia! But it was a perfect day! A slight breeze, beautiful clouds, blue sky… we must have done something very right to be so blessed!
What was the design inspiration for wedding: A college friend and I created a hand drawn and watercolored map of the wedding weekend locations for all of the guests. We mailed it out to guests as a postcard and included it in our welcome bags. Also, our wedding invitation… it was a deep almost metallic chocolate brown cover and inside a folded card with our picture on the outside of the written invitation. It was tied with a chocolate ribbon.
Favorite design element of the day: I wanted it to feel very personal for each guest. I had always wanted to have a dinner party with photos for place cards. I am always that person taking a million pictures at every event (and telling people they’ll thank me later)! I envisioned finding that one picture that summed up my relationship with each person. So, when we got engaged I decided that this was the time! Along with the help of my mother and Craig’s mother, I managed to find a picture of either myself or Craig with each of the guests at our wedding. For example, for the mother of my best friend from second grade was a picture of the two of us on the beach 20 years ago. Since we weren’t having a seated dinner, I mounted each picture, and tied it with ribbon for the guests to hang from their chairs during the ceremony. (we only had a 6 month engagement so this was a daunting task!)
Describe your wedding flowers: I had such amazing luck with all my vendors! Maggie at {European Floral Design} and I, seemed to speak the same language! I was trying to explain that we were having our wedding in the country, outdoors, but wanted a southern, NOT country wedding (our location with all the rustic barns and the white farmhouse could easily lend itself to looking country). She immediately said “garden party!” Which was the perfect articulation of what I wanted! She used ivory hydrangeas and chocolate ferns. One of my favorite details from the wedding was the locket I had sewn into my bouquet, both Craig and I were very close to our grandmothers. They have both passed away, I carried a picture of each of them on their wedding days in the locket.
Describe your wedding cake: Simple, ivory icing with chocolate ribbon and a hand-cut, metal monogrammed H on top. I loved how elegantly simple it was.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: I loved the welcome sign and the menu board that Craig and I made together he cut all the wood and I stained and painted it! Of course the individualized pictures were a favorite touch. Instead of using the typical guest book, I used postcards. Craig and I love to travel so we have collected postcards from all the places we’ve been. I had a map with places we’ve been noted and postcards from all those places for people to write us messages. There was a mailbox for people to “mail” them in and now that mailbox hangs in use at our house!
Biggest challenge to overcome planning the wedding: I wanted so many personal touches and I was determined to do them all myself. Collecting and mounting the pictures was a big one.
Three adjectives that describe the day: Enchanted. blissful. Fleeting.
Advice to someone planning their wedding: Do it up!!! Don’t be daunted by time or financial constraints. This is a truly once in a lifetime event. I didn’t want to ever attend other weddings and wish I had planned that something extra. If something is too expensive try to make/create it yourself! Sit and imagine the day from beginning to end and think of all the memorable moments you can create! Decide what aspects are most important to you, for me it was personal touches and the photography, and then make those things happen.
Looking forward to in the future: Life-long happiness!

Congratulations to Eryn + Criag. We wish you a joyous marriage!