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I had to stop myself from saying “Amen” out loud while reading Casey and Jordan’s love story–while everyone’s story is different, I think we can all relate to these words in one way or another: “We have learned to embrace our imperfect story and understand that all of life is a process. Our relationship has seen brokenness, but it has taught us that the most beautiful things come out of that brokenness.” One of those beautiful things that came out of Casey and Jordan’s story was none other than the special day we’re sharing with y’all today! These two were married in a relaxed and joyful celebration that centered around the vows they wrote for one another, their families (love the story behind their maple syrup favors!), and the shared vision they had come up with for their dream celebration. A blank slate venue involved lots of coordination, but I’m sure you’ll agree that they pulled it off wonderfully!

Thank you so much to Flora + Fauna for sending Casey and Jordan’s day our way!

We met in college at a campus ministry event when we were both freshman. I was drawn to him immediately and thought he would be someone I would like to spend time with. We ended up reconnecting the next school year and dated for a few months before parting ways. We were only 19, after all, and not prepared to be in a serious relationship! We decided to give it another go a few years later. Jordan moved overseas to do a year of ministry and, while over there, ended the relationship. A few months after our break up, I moved to DC for my dream internship. Shortly into my time in there, I found myself sitting across a table from Jordan, shocked to be listening to him as he told me that he had moved to DC for an internship, in hopes to pursue me again. I needed time to figure out what I wanted, and Jordan waited patiently. It was a process for me of allowing my heart to trust Jordan again and become more peaceful, joyful, and in love. We have learned to embrace our imperfect story and understand that all of life is a process. Our relationship has seen brokenness, but it has taught us that the most beautiful things come out of that brokenness. Our story was better and more perfect than one we could have dreamed up, and we are better people for it.

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. For whatever reason, I really don’t like most wedding dresses! I was really struggling with what I wanted to do because I knew I wouldn’t find something I liked at a traditional bridal boutique (and wasn’t into the prices either). My mom found the Dreamers & Lovers website and sent it to me, and I was immediately drawn to the laid back, boho feel of the dresses. Plus, the prices were more reasonable, as well. They have a home try-on option on their website, so I ordered two to try on, loved one of them, and that was it!

We decided to do a first look because Jordan wanted to be able to see me and have some alone time before we were with all of our friends and family. It was really special and worth it for us to have that time together. We also really wanted to be at the cocktail hour to maximize time spent with all our loved ones, so logistically, it made more sense to take all of the photos before the ceremony.

Describe your wedding flowers. I didn’t have a very specific vision for the bouquets–just a few general things I knew I liked. I wanted there to be lots of greens with not a ton of color. Our florist also suggested including herbs, which was an awesome and great-smelling idea. They turned out beautifully!

What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? We read Isaiah 58:6-12 at the ceremony. Jordan read those verses to me when he proposed and they are our life verses that we want to live out together. Jordan’s dad also read a prayer that was read at his own wedding. Our favorite line is, “Grant to them, we pray You, a long, rich, and fruitful ministry in the service of Jesus Christ; and when their days on earth are done, and the sun is setting, may they then be found, then as now, hand in hand, still thanking God for each other. May they serve You joyfully and faithfully together until at last one shall lay each other in the arms of God.”

Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We did write our own vows, and we highly recommend it. My favorite line that Jordan wrote me was, “I will always seek to know your heart and understand your perspective with tenderness.” Jordan’s favorite line that I wrote was, “I promise to follow you, for where you go I will go and where you stay I will stay.”

We really wanted full creative freedom and a blank slate. The venue we decided on was cheap, totally hands off, and laid back. We could do whatever we wanted! Although it was much more work for us to plan and coordinate all of the vendors and details, from food and drinks to flatware and tables, it was worth it for us. The property itself was so beautiful with its Spanish moss and trees, so we decided to have the ceremony right outside of the reception venue.

What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? Our photographers were amazing. We had such a fun time with them and really cherish the photos and video from our wedding. Another meaningful detail we loved was our favors. Jordan’s family is from Ohio, so we got maple syrup from Richard’s Maple Syrup in Chardon, Ohio shipped down and gave it out in little glass bottles as wedding favors. About four months after our wedding, we visited his grandparents in Ohio and actually got to go to Richard’s and see it in person!

What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? As a recovering people-pleaser, I know how hard and daunting it can be thinking about two families coming together and wanting everyone to be happy. Don’t be consumed by the temptation to make decisions solely based on other’s opinions or expectations. As much as you can, embrace the fact that someone will ALWAYS have an opinion on something–from etiquette to traditions, to things you should or shouldn’t do–and let it go! Don’t be afraid to execute your vision, even if others don’t understand it. You as a couple are going to look back on your wedding day and love everything about it, and that’s all that matters.

Tell us all about the proposal! From Jordan: I wanted to have a private engagement moment, so we went hiking in a local state park in St. Augustine on the intracoastal. I took my big camera and camera bag, but instead of accessories and extra lenses, I stuffed it full of wine and celebratory snacks, hoping she wouldn’t look in the bag! We ended up reading on a private beach. I was pretty worried about finding the perfect place to read, which only made sense to her later! After reading together for a while, I asked to read a letter I wrote to her on a typewriter I gave her as a Christmas gift. At first, she thought it was part of her Christmas present, but then she eventually realized it was more than that. I read the note and got down on one knee. She giggled for a while and finally said yes. It was a perfect place to sit and enjoy the moment, and we eventually went back to her parents’ house to celebrate with our families.
When did y’all get married? August 8, 2015
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 175
Describe your wedding cake or dessert. Our dessert was made by my incredibly talented and servant-hearted roommate, Megan Beaudin. I don’t really like cake and was floored when I found out how much wedding cake cost, so I knew it wouldn’t be worth it for us. My roommate at the time of our engagement is an amazing baker, so I talked to her about the idea of making all of the dessert for our wedding. For some crazy reason, she said yes (thankfully!). She tested out different recipes, I gave her some ideas, and we finally decided on the final list. Everything was so dang goooood!
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: From Jordan: My favorite wedding detail was my dad reading a prayer over us that was read over my parents at their wedding. I also liked Casey’s dress. And her hair smelled really good. From Casey: My favorite wedding detail was Jordan surprising me by bringing a Polaroid camera to take photos of each other before we got married. It was such a great idea and special that we took them of each other.
How did you plan for your marriage while planning your wedding? We read a book together called “The Meaning of Marriage” by Tim Keller. We would get together and talk through chapters, or even read chapters out loud to each other. Having structured time was a great way to prepare for marriage. We also did premarital counseling, which was very helpful!
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? We wanted to be able to use our creative freedom and vision, but going that route provides its challenges. It was way more time consuming to have separate vendors for each individual part of our wedding, and we always felt like we didn’t have enough time. Being in graduate school and planning a wedding was hard! Also, neither of us are planners by nature, but are energized by ideas. We would have all of these ideas floating around, but actually taking the time to plan out the logistics was exhausting for us.
If you are comfortable responding, what range did your wedding budget fall into? $25,000-$50,000
What’s next for you as a couple? What memories are you looking forward to making together? We are moving to Alaska this summer and will be working as tour directors! We both have a permanent case of wanderlust and wanted to take some time to travel before we get jobs. We both just graduated with our master’s degrees and are thrilled to be taking a break to see new places. When we get back, we will both get jobs in our fields–Casey as a social worker and Jordan as an urban planner. And we’re pretty excited about that, too, because we love what we do. We look forward to following God’s call and trusting Him to lead our lives.

Photographer and Videographer: Flora + Fauna | Day-Of Coordinator: Coastal Coordinating | Ceremony and Reception Venue: St. Augustine Rod and Gun Club | Florist, Special Details, and Bride’s Accessories: The Conservatorie | Cake and Dessert Baker: Megan Beaudin | Caterer: 4 Rivers Smokehouse | Rentals: St. Johns Illuminations | DJ: Travis Tosi | Paper Products: Artisan2 | Bride’s Gown: “Catherine Backless Lace Dress” by Dreamers & Lovers | Hair and Makeup: Casey Powell | Bride’s Shoes: Steve Madden | Groom’s Attire: Banana Republic | Guest Favors: Richard’s Maple Syrup | Signage: Audra Jean Calligraphy

lisa Written with love by Lisa
8 Comments
  1. avatar Paperlust reply

    What a lovely rustic setting for the perfect wedding

  2. avatar Dana reply

    syrup favors! I would want to have attended this wedding!

  3. avatar Danielle Smith reply

    Absolutely love the prayer that was read at this wedding! Is there anyway I could get a copy of the whole thing? I would love to use it on a banner at my wedding this fall.

  4. avatar Occasions In Print reply

    Beautiful wedding! I love the pews outside – what a great look!

  5. avatar MODENOVA reply

    What a beautiful spread. We really like your pictures! Best, MODENOVA I http://www.modenova.com

  6. avatar Cebu Wedding Photographer reply

    What a great and elegent wedding!I like the wedding theme,so beautiful and romantic!Thanks for sharing!

  7. avatar Occasions In Print reply

    Sweet wedding! I love that they moved the pews outside for seating!

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In the Sweet Tea Society, we believe that while details are nice, true love always, always wins. When the heritage and family that we value so much becomes part of a wedding day through the details, it’s incredible, and I think Amber and Patrick found that magic combination with their family wedding portrait display! I love how they not only honored their families, but also strong marriages, by sharing how long each couple had been married. I can only imagine the stories those couples could tell, and the sage advice they could give!

If you know me, you know I also can’t pass up giving Amber props for her AND her bridesmaids’ stoles–so chic!

Big hugs to The Nichols for sharing this sweet day!

Tell us all about the proposal! The night of the proposal, Patrick planned dinner for us at The Driskill, a beautiful, historic hotel in our hometown of Austin, Texas. I think Patrick knew I would say yes after he treated me to red wine and a juicy steak! After enjoying dinner, we walked around downtown until we came to a special bench near Patrick’s work building, Frost Bank Tower. The bench has special meaning because we sat there and prayed together the day before his job interview over a year ago. We prayed for a lot of things that day–obviously, that his job interview would go well the next day, but also for our future together and that God would use us and our relationship to glorify Him. We sat on the bench and started talking about how much we had grown in that year, and then Patrick got down on one knee and proposed! After the proposal, we walked to The Belmont, a really cute concert venue nearby. We saw one of our favorite local Texas country artists, Wade Bowen, and Patrick surprised me by having a bunch of our close friends at the concert waiting to celebrate with us! Later that night, we also made a stop by J.Blacks, the bar where Patrick and I first met! The next day, both of our parents came up for the University of Texas football game, and then we all went out to celebrate with some Mexican food!

Describe your wedding flowers. Our florist used large, lush, organic mixed greens and red and burgundy flowers, including dahlias and ranunculus, with a few pops of plum and fuchsia flowers for depth. The bouquets were accented with trailing burgundy velvet ribbon.

We knew we wanted our wedding to feel cozy, so we kept that in mind when we were looking at venues. It seemed right when we saw an indoor fireplace and an outdoor fire pit with rocking chairs around it at the venue we chose. It was out in the Hill Country of Austin, so there were beautiful views. Chandeliers hanging from the ceiling made the venue feel very elegant, while still maintaining the cozy feel we wanted.

Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. We had a solo acoustic guitarist play the music during the ceremony. The most significant song during the ceremony was “Come Thou Fount,” which we had him play when we had communion. It meant a lot to both of us because our faith is the most important thing to us. Our first dance song was “Oh Tonight” by Josh Abbot Band. We both love Texas country music and have always loved singing this song together in the car, so it just seemed right that it was our first dance song. My father-daughter dance was to the Texas fight song, because my dad and I are both University of Texas alumni. Our whole family went to The University of Texas, so we are very big Longhorn fans, and it is a big part of our bond as a family.

What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? I would advise wedding planning over wine, cheese, and especially chocolate! What helped take stress away from us was remembering that the wedding is only one night, but marriage is forever.

Our wedding cake was a four-tiered vanilla pound cake with vanilla frosting. The groom’s cake was a pecan pie from Sugar Mama’s Bakeshop. We also had chocolate cupcakes topped with salted caramel and vanilla cream cheese frosting, drizzled with salted caramel. Patrick’s favorite dessert is pecan pie, so his mom always makes one before we visit them. For Patrick’s “grooms cake,” we had a pecan pie, and his mom also made 150 mini pecan pies for the guests.

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. We met through mutual friends at a bar in downtown Austin, Texas. We saw each other again the next day at a church service and ended up going out the next week for our first date.
When did y’all get married? February 7, 2015
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 275
How did you plan for your marriage while planning your wedding? We prepared for marriage by doing pre-marital counseling through our church. We read books and material on specific subject matters like finances, in-laws, communication, etc.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? I am a people pleaser and love for everyone to be happy, so when planning, telling someone I didn’t like something was very hard for me. My wedding planner, Ellen Westcott with Westcott Weddings, was very helpful with taking care of the challenges!
If you are comfortable responding, what range did your wedding budget fall into? $50,000-$75,000
What was one way you saved money or cut costs at your wedding? We kept the alcoholic beverages to beer, wine, and champagne, rather than liquor. Instead of doing a bunch of different appetizers, we did one big appetizer, and we opted for a DJ instead of a band. All of these decisions saved us a lot of money and turned out great.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Patrick and I gave a speech together after the maid of honor and best man toasts. It meant so much to stand in front of our friends and family and thank them for their love and support on this journey.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? We are looking forward to learning how we can use our talents together to help serve others.

Photographer: The Nichols / Videographer: Moonlit Weddings / Planner: Ellen Westcott of Westcott Weddings / Venue: Ma Maison / Florist: Meredith of Brisol Lane Floral Design / Wedding Cake or Dessert Baker: Sugar Mama’s Bakeshop / Caterer: Whole Foods/ DJ: James Jumonville / Paper Products: Minted / Bride’s Gown: Lazaro / Bride’s Hairpiece, Earrings, and Sash: Sabina K W / Hair Stylist: Mandy Silver / Makeup Artist:Makenzi Laine / Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J. Crew / Groom’s Attire: Banana Republic / Groomsmen Attire: Jos. A Bank

marissa Written with love by Marissa
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We’re starting this week on a seriously lovely note, thanks to today’s Boone Hall wedding! Amanda and Jason’s story is nothing if not serendipitous–she runs a stylish boutique, he owns an antique wholesale company, and after meeting at his store and falling in love, they became partners in crime at antique festivals around the country and across the globe. It’s no surprise, then, that their wedding was chock-full of the prettiest vintage finds, most of which they pulled from their own collections. I can only imagine how special it is to now have these same pieces in their newlywed home!

Thanks so much to Whitney Neal for sharing this sweet day with us!

I had recently moved back home to the Kentuckiana area (Louisville, Kentucky and Southern Indiana) from Chicago for my next adventure in life. I had always dreamed of opening a boutique, and while planning my store opening, I also helped my mom redesign her hair salon. One day, while scouting for display products, my mom suggested we go to a place called Blue Ocean Traders that sold all kinds of interesting things. My mom, her business partner, Dyan, and I went one March afternoon, and were totally amazed by all the beautiful antiques! While shopping around, the owner, Jason, started helping us and showing us around the warehouse. Dyan said after leaving, “That’s your man, Amanda, he is the one!” Jason and I proceeded to email about product details, and of course, I had to go back for “more wall sconces to finish my mom’s hair salon project”…and more wall scones and more wall sconces. On one of those trips for more wall scones, Jason asked if I was available for dinner that night! Of course, I agreed. We quickly learned how much we had in common–we are both entrepreneurs, always looking for that next best antique. We quickly joined each other for 5 A.M. wake up calls to antique markets across the country!

Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? We did, and it was the best! The whole day, I was anxious, and I didn’t feel like myself until our first look. I will never forget that moment. We laughed, we cried, and we sweated a lot…Charleston is really hot in mid-June!

Describe your wedding flowers. They were gorgeous! The flowers and decor were one of my favorite things to plan. I have an obsessions with fresh flowers, and we used lots of coral and minty green colors.

What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? My aunt and godmother, Donna, read the Irish Blessings. It was beautiful and so meaningful.
Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We did not. We both cried the entire ceremony, and never would have never made it through it if we had!

Y’all, how gorgeous is Amanda’s swiss dot veil? Love!

My family has always traveled to Charleston for vacations and I have always had a love for the area. We both knew we wanted to do a small destination wedding there with our favorite people in attendance!

Boone Hall Planation is undeniably Southern! Our wedding had an old Southern glam feel, complete with lots of beautiful antiques. We brought all of our own farm house tables, settees, lighting, and decor, all the way from Louisville. Our meal was served family-style, and we had a biscuit bar at the end of the night! It was so yummy!

What was one way you saved money or cut costs at your wedding? Working with amazing vendors! We were also able to provide a lot of our own decor.

Describe your wedding cake or dessert. We had a small cake and cake pops. They were so cute and delicious! The cake was coral (of course!) and we used my own jadeite cake stands for the display.

We both loved our first dance so much!! Our song was “Bonfire Heart” by James Blunt. It was fun, fast-paced, and really showed our love and the spark that we create for each other. We truly have so much fun together.

Tell us all about the proposal! I tagged along with Jason on one of his buying trips to Europe, and we had an amazing trip, hopping fences to be the first at the antique markets, and enjoying great dinners in small villages throughout eastern Europe. On the last leg of our trip, Jason took me to Eger, Hungary, where we spent a day enjoying wine and visiting the charming wineries. He proposed to me at one of the wineries, telling me how he knew we were meant to be. He said, “There was time in my early 30’s when I wasn’t sure I was suppose to be married. and I was okay with it. I had a wonderful life and got to do what I loved every day. I never felt what my friends had talked about with their wives until I met you. I now know that I am meant to get married, and that person is you.”
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 120
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? We love spending time together, helping each other grow, and pushing each other to new levels with our careers. Hopefully, we’ll be starting a family soon!

Photographer: Whitney Neal / Videographer: Low Country Wedding Films / Planner: The Burlap Elephant / Venue: Boone Hall Plantation / Florist: Jaclyn Journey / Wedding Cake: Cakes by Kasarda / Caterer: Salthouse Catering / Rentals: Dress & Dwell, Blue Ocean Traders, and Ooh! Events / Band: Calhoun’s Calling / Paper Products: Blue Glass Designs / Bride’s Gown: Matthew Christopher / Bride’s Veil: HeadCandi / Bride’s Jewelry: Dress & Dwell and Lulubelles / Hair and Makeup: Meg Workman / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: BHLDN and Dress & Dwell / Menswear: Banana Republic and Collard Greens

lisa Written with love by Lisa
7 Comments
  1. avatar Cambron reply

    I love the invitations! Where are they from?!

  2. avatar Amy reply

    Oh, just beautiful. Loved looking at the smiling bride and groom. Look at all the love – Many happy wishes for lifetime of beautifulness – in every way.

  3. avatar Jess Petrie reply

    What such an adorable couple and wedding. The photography is simply outstanding too. Gorgeous work

  4. avatar Emily reply

    Every detail is seriously gorgeous, but my favorite might be the seating chart board – perfection!

  5. avatar Classic Wedding Invitations reply

    The bride is stunning! Congrats to the happy couple!

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  7. avatar Kaitlyn reply

    Beautiful wedding! Where are your shoes from??

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