Southern Weddings

I am in love with this wedding! First, because of Jennifer’s dress. How classic with a chic twist. Jennifer shares that she went bridal dress shopping but couldn’t find what she was looking for. She went to Page Bradshaw who created this masterpiece of a dress that fit this wedding perfectly. This leads me to my next love, the ceremony site. Jennifer + Briggs were married at a old school house converted to a wedding chapel. Lucky for Jennifer + Briggs they were the first couple to say “I do” in this Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia chapel. After the ceremony, the couple and guests headed to {The Water’s Edge Country Club} where they were met with dinner by the staff and a wedding cake from {Billie’s Cakes}. This wedding was planned by {Smith Mountain Lake Weddings} and the flowers came Melinda at Petal Pushers. Photography by {Holland Photo Arts}. See more images on Holland’s photo {Blog}.

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. We met at Benjamin Franklin Middle school in the Sixth Grade. We were an item throughout Middle School, but the awkward phases hit, and we parted ways until right after High School. During the summer of 1998, we realized that there was a flame that could not be doused and we have been together ever since.
Describe the proposal: The ring was burning a hole in Briggs’ pocket! He wanted to wait for a special occasion, but was too antsy, so on a Tuesday night, he asked me if I wanted to do something fun for dinner and I said, “Absolutely!” (As a teacher, I have lots of free time in the summer). When I walked downstairs after I had gotten ready, there he was ring in hand!
What attracted me to my husband was: His silly personality.
Why do you love your husband? Briggs is the perfect man, he is gentle and sweet but still masculine. He is my biggest fan and would do anything to protect my wellbeing.
What attracted me to my wife was: I cannot remember not being attracted to her at any point – that means from age 11 until this very day. She is beautiful in a very unique and delicate way. I am thankful for everyday we have together.
A date we went on that we’ll always remember: More like a summer-full of them. When we first started dating, Briggs would pick me up on his parent’s boat and we would go to an Irish Pub across the lake. Briggs’ brother John used to embarrass us by saying that we were a cross between Dawson’s Creek and the Blue Lagoon!
The weather on our wedding day was: It was made to order, a perfect October day.
What was the design inspiration for your wedding? I wanted a very casual and relaxed feel to our celebration
Favorite design element of your big day: My dress.
Tell us about finding your wedding dress: I only tried on maybe five dresses and felt so overwhelmed in them all, finally I decided that I wanted something fun and it just was not out there. I found a wonderful lady, Page Bradshaw, who worked with me to design my dress. We went through so many different designs until we finally ended up with the final product.
Describe your wedding flowers: I really don’t remember much except for the fact that they were beautiful. My philosophy was to hire good people and not worry about the rest.
Describe your wedding cake: Our cake was beautifully decorated with fresh flowers.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: The chapel was our favorite detail of the wedding. The moment we saw the chapel we fell in love.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Logistics, we were married in a very rural area with a five hundred mile lake separating the only resort and our wedding location. It was a challenge getting everyone where they needed to be.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? It sounds so cliché, but I loved when the chapel doors opened and I saw Briggs waiting for me at the end of the isle, I wish I could go back and do it again in slow motion.
Scariest moment? The bouquets and boutonnières were lost for a short while, I think there was some miscommunication between the wedding planner and florist.
Funniest moment? Our bungled attempt at a wedding dance!
Hardest decision you made in planning? Whether or not to elope, we were very close, but we are so excited we did not!
The most unexpected event on our wedding day was: My beautiful new wedding ring. Briggs was very secretive and picked out my ring on his own. I was absolutely what I’ve always wanted. I was so impressed with his choice.
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Initially nerve-wracking, then beautiful, then relieving!
Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase/verse/or line? My sister was the reader in our wedding and she read a selection from the Velveteen Rabbit.
What advice would you give to someone planning their wedding? Be nice to your mother.
Best advice or most memorable comment someone made to you during the wedding celebration: Don’t eat the yellow snow.
Who was your most honored guest at the wedding? Briggs’ 92-year-old grandmother who made the twelve hour trip from Florida.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? Lots of good days before children, and great days raising them!

Congratulations to Jennifer + Briggs. We wish you the best and enjoy all the days ahead!