Southern Weddings

Emily must have been on the prowl for some inspirational tablescapes and floral arrangements when she found Chandra + Matt’s Cedarwood wedding, and Phindy Studios definitely didn’t disappoint with their fun images.  (Fun fact: the newlyweds are a match.com success story!)  Chandra wore a slim-cut gown from the Bridal Garden and classic Stuart Weitzman pumps, and decked her maids in royal purple sheaths from Nordstrom.  The cheerful bouquets and bold centerpieces were offset by the couple’s clean and ultra-modern square confection from Patty Cakes.  Emily is training me to be more detail-oriented, so let me direct your attention to the couple’s fun playbill-inspired menus.  (Did I say that right, Em?)  Visit Phindy Studio’s own post about this wedding for a few more shots from the day!

How did the two of you meet?  Tell us your story.  We met on match.com in 2004.  Matt “winked” at me, which communicates interest without a formal email.  And, I, managing a flurry of winks, ended up sorting my inbox by height.  Matt (who is 6’5”) was first on the list, and that’s how it all started.  We corresponded via email and IM for five weeks before we met for the first time halfway between Manchester, CT and Tyringham, MA for a six hour dinner.  According to Matt, he knew from the moment he saw me that he wanted to marry me.  I, too, was equally intrigued by him, and secretly envisioned our future together, even from day one.

Describe the proposal: Matt and I were living in Chicago and he persuaded me to take a bike ride to the lake.  He had packed a picnic of snacks, so we sat on a blanket staring at the lake, nibbling and chatting about our highly-anticipated future in Nashville, TN (iwe were moving in two months).  Matt was in the process of editing videos – one of his many hobbies – so I didn’t think anything of it when he gave me his iPod and headphones, and told me he had a video he was working on that he wanted to show me. The video was a six minute overview of our 3.5-year relationship that ended with white text on a black background that said, “Our Future.”  I was in tears, and took of my sunglasses to find an engagement ring in Matt’s hands and tears in his eyes.  I was completely surprised.  Our wedding save-the-date was electronic and included the video Matt created to propose to me: http://www.mattandchandra.com/savethedate.html
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: The Hatch-show print cards announcing our marriage tucked in the napkins at each guest’s seat.  Behind the Hatch-show cards were ten different cards corresponding to the ten guests seated at any given table.  These cards gave guests extra details about our wedding and provided an opportunity for guests to interact with each other.  Here’s the list of card topics:

1. First Dance Lyrics, Ben Folds “The Luckiest”
2. Explanation of the Beer & Wine selection
3. Specialty Drink Menu
4. Dinner Menu
5. How well do you know Chandra & Matt TRIVIA: The Early Years
6. Details about the cake flavors & the surprise late-night snack:  empanadas & fondue
7. Part of Matt’s Match.com profile
8. Our first email exchange

10.  Comments card

Tell us about finding your wedding dress: Every Thanksgiving, we visit Matt’s family in Greenwich, CT.  On black Friday, my mother-in-law and I ventured into NYC to find my dress.  I had an appointment at the Bridal Garden, which is NYC’s only bridal boutique whose proceeds benefit education for NYC children.  I loved the concept, and the fact that all their designer gowns are up to 75% off retail prices. The first dress I tried on at the Bridal Garden ended up being “my dress.” It was a fun-filled afternoon with my mother-in-law who was an incredible support throughout all phases of the wedding planning.
Describe your bouquet: I carried a hand-tied bouquet with green mini hydrangeas, green roses, plum dahlias and mini calla lilies wrapped in green moss satin ribbon with copper satin ribbon crossed on the stems.
Describe your wedding cake: We served a four-tier square cake with dark brown ribbon and marzipan green apples, plums, acorns and leaves with a fresh plum dahlia and berries. The entire cake was covered in white chocolate cream cheese frosting.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day?  My favorite memory of the day was our ceremony. It was written by us, but still full of surprises and filled with humor.  We had two friends pick and share readings, one of which was personally written.  Others shared photos that symbolized something about us, resulting in lots of tears and comic relief.  We also had a close friend officiate the wedding. As this happened, our rings circulated the crowd to be touched and “blessed” by the hands of our guests. Since I am from Oceanside, California and Matt from Greenwich, CT, we blended sand from the east and west coast to symbolize our past, present and future.  It was beautiful in every sense of the word and VERY memorable.
Did you write your own vows?  If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? A week before the wedding, we talked about what we wanted from each other.  Those requests became “promises” and we each said 3 promises as our vows. Here’s mine:

Chandra: “I Chandra, choose you Matt, to be my lifelong partner. I promise to be the healthiest version of myself I can be; to support you, and all of your interests and endeavors; and to prioritize our family, friends, and loved ones amidst the day to day business of my life. These things I promise you, my partner and best friend, on this day, the next day, and every other day, for the rest of our lives.”
What’s next for you as a couple?  What are you looking forward to in the future?  We’re excited about buying a home, traveling before kids and enjoying each other’s company in Nashville.

Congratulations, Chandra + Matt!  We wish you all the best as newlyweds and beyond.

Want gorgeous wedding photography? Be sure to enter the Brion Hopkins giveaway by March 1 for a chance to win a wedding photography package!