Google+ barn wedding ceremony Archives - Southern Weddings

Southern Weddings

Tag: barn wedding ceremony

One of my favorite things about the South is that we have equally amazing cities and countrysides. While this makes the South so versatile, it can also present a challenge for brides–swanky city wedding or laid-back country celebration? I struggled with this decision myself recently, so I love Dana and Jeben‘s perfect solution–do both! Their ceremony and cocktail hour were held at the gorgeous Walnut Way Farm in the heart of Kentucky horse country, and then guests adjourned to the historic Henry Clay in downtown Louisville for dinner and dancing. As a result, their many out-of-town guests had a full Kentucky experience, and Dana and Jeben got to enjoy what they love most about both settings!

Thanks so much to Lang Thomas for sharing Dana and Jeben’s wedding with us!

We met in 2008 when we were both were working at Google (me in NYC, Jeben in California) and would often work on projects together. In early 2010, I transferred to San Francisco, and in the daunting process of looking for a place to live, Jeben conveniently rushed to my aid. He offered up his insight into the city and his car to help chauffeur me from Craigslist appointment to open house, and in the process of seeing over 33 apartments, the seeds of love were being planted. We got engaged a few years later in early 2013, and were married that fall.

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. I found my dress at Jin Wang Bridal in San Francisco with one of my bridesmaids, Lee. In order to make the deadline, I had to confirm it was “the dress” in 12 hours (not enough time for my mom to fly out from Kentucky!). The store wouldn’t allow photographs, but would allow video calls, so we did a video chat with my parents and sister on the farm in Kentucky. While I wished my mom and bridesmaids could have all been there, it was a ridiculously memorable, long-distance, technology-enabled process.

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: We have many friends who contributed their artistic talents to the wedding in the form of hand-painted murals, a custom monogram, hand-painted signs, bride and groom sculptures, a hanging string installation in the wedding barn (which we made ourselves and installed with brave friends), a custom quilt, a costume for our “flower girl” miniature pony Peekaboo, a monogrammed bourbon barrel, tables and chairs made from a felled tree from the Walnut Way Farm property, and more.

We followed the Southern tradition of burying a bourbon bottle one month in advance of the wedding, and it certainly paid off with perfect 78-and-sunny weather on our wedding day! To us, Walnut Way Farm epitomizes the best of the South and Kentucky’s horse country, so the setting provided the perfect Southern backdrop. We were so lucky to have Walnut Way Farm’s champion horses and historic carriages to bring the parents, flower girl, and me to the wedding ceremony barn. We had the official bugler to the Kentucky Derby/Churchill Downs announce the arrival of the carriages to the wedding location, and during the cocktail hour at the stables and gardens, we featured a local bluegrass band, The Slow Charleston.

Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We wrote our own vows, and attempted to answer three things during them: what do you mean to me, how will I honor you for the rest of my life, and how am I better because of you. Our vows ended up very different in format, but we both touched on those themes. And we wanted to keep them at two minutes or less!
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? In addition to our officiant’s remarks about loving one another, we had a reading of “The Desiderata” by Max Ehrmann, a poem that we feel reflects a universal approach to love and sharing a life together. This poem was also an important passage for my family and has been shared before at previous family weddings.

What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? Walnut Way Farm, our ceremony and cocktail reception venue. It was a dream come true location–the perfect venue for a contemporary, yet classic, Southern wedding. Our guests couldn’t stop raving about the farm and everything it provided. Their only complaint was that they wanted to stay there longer!

Describe your wedding flowers. I wanted a Southern-sophisticated-romantic-classic look (think more Ralph Lauren than rustic), with a touch of whimsy. It also needed to be appropriate for the farm setting, but able to transition to the downtown reception. Luckily, our florist was a genius and translated my vision into amazing arrangements at the farm and all throughout the reception. They featured soft whites, ivories, light pinks and peaches with lots of dusty miller and seeded eucalyptus. The bridesmaids wore three colors of dresses, so we opted for all-white bouquets of long-stemmed roses and astilbe. I grew up riding horses, so we displayed the flowers in silver trophies that I had won over the years, as well as other trophies from Marilyn MacFarlane (owner of Walnut Way Farm). It was both personal to me and appropriate for the farm!

What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Logistics! We had grand visions for our guests (80 percent of whom were out-of-towners) to enjoy as much of Kentucky as possible, so we had a lot to coordinate. Our guests stayed in downtown Louisville, our wedding ceremony was on a hill in the back of the 300-acre Walnut Way Farm property, our cocktail hour was down the hill at the stables and gardens at Walnut Way Farm, and our reception was at the historic Henry Clay in downtown Louisville. We were able to work it out, though, thanks to several shuttles and detailed logistics. Everyone got to experience several picturesque locations across the farm, a Kentucky sunset at Walnut Way, and the charm of downtown and the Henry Clay.

We opted to not have a wedding cake, and instead, had a spread of Silver Spoon desserts for everyone to enjoy and try–from bread pudding to chocolate ganache. We did, however, have a “Father of the Bride” cake, which was a dark chocolate cake with a Maker’s Mark-inspired red glaze over the top, and a groom’s cake which featured two of Jeben’s favorite things: a Nike Blazer shoe box with his Boston Terrier, Wally, popping out of it.

Tell us all about the proposal! Jeben created an elaborate book chronicling our relationship through photos, stories, poems and private memories, and planned to propose with the book in early February. However, when the book arrived, all the text had been erroneously replaced with hieroglyphics and WingDings font, rendering the book absolute gibberish. Jeben contacted the book company and was told to expect a replacement in mid-March. On March 1, after a long week, we left work a bit early and spontaneously went to a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, where we enjoyed a bottle of wine, kettle chips, and a couple un-winning lottery scratchers. When we went home, Jeben saw a book-shaped delivery sitting on the doorstep, earlier than expected. Sensing the timing was right, he presented the book and proposed as I read the final pages.
When did y’all get married? September 28, 2013
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? About 175
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. For the ceremony, we wanted the songs to be familiar, but also to capture the reverence of the moment and the beautiful farm setting, so we chose contemporary songs performed by a string quartet. Our mothers and bridesmaids walked down the aisle to “Here Comes the Sun” and “What a Wonderful World,” respectively. Dana walked down the aisle to “To Make You Feel My Love,” and we walked out to “Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch.” Our first dance was to “How Glad I Am” by Nancy Wilson. We first heard the song on a road trip to Palm Springs before we were engaged, and it immediately became our anthem.
Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! I borrowed an antique pearl bracelet from my mom, wrapped my bouquet in satin from her old wedding dress, wore a new custom veil, and donned some blue undergarments!
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Standing together during the ceremony in the quiet Kentucky field, under the big blue sky, surrounded by all of our favorite people in the world. We’ll never forget it.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? First, push yourself to write your own vows or say something personal at the wedding. It’s challenging, but in this once-in-a-lifetime moment, you’ll be glad you did, and your guests will enjoy hearing it more than you think. Second, work on projects as a couple or enlist your friends and family to contribute–it makes the entire experience a collaborative and memorable process, and produces one-of-a-kind details for the wedding.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? We’re looking forward to throwing anniversary parties forever. The wedding was so much fun that we want to celebrate in style with friends and family for years to come.

lisa Written with love by Lisa
4 Comments
  1. avatar Emily reply

    What an amazing experience Dana + Jeben created for their guests! I would have loved to attend this wedding!

  2. avatar Jessica reply

    I LOVE the “you make me a happy camper” card. Absolutely adore these lovely letterpress beauties!

  3. avatar Shelby H. reply

    I must know who did these invitations! I tried perusing around to find credits but I’m too excited to stay focused.

Southern Weddings reserves the right to delete comments which contain profanity or personal attacks or seek to promote a business unrelated to the post.  And remember: a good attitude is like kudzu – it spreads.  We love hearing your kind thoughts!

Reply to:
close

If Caroline + Tyler’s invitation suite doesn’t immediately tell you how adorable and stylish these two are, then no fear, many more details lead to this conclusion! Their letterpress invites are so lovely, I could stare at them all day. Of course, once you see Caroline in her lacy and tiered Anne Barge dress, the show is stolen! Her fluffy bouquet of peonies, ranunculus and and garden roses accented with green snow on the mountain instantly stole my heart. We love how the soft colors of her bouquet were punched up for her bridesmaids’ blooms, designed to stand apart from their mixed pink and green dresses, no doubt. We’re positive that Tyler, looking mighty handsome in his tuxedo, was lovestruck all over again when Caroline walked down the aisle to exhange “I do’s” at Montaluce Winery & Estates. Big thanks to Heidi Geldhauser of Our Labor of Love for sharing!

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. We met in 2005 in Oxford, Mississippi when I was a sophomore in college and Tyler had just transferred to Ole Miss from Auburn. Our roommates were dating at the time, so they introduced us and we instantly had a connection. After being each other’s dates to several football games and sorority/fraternity functions, it was official. We knew it was really serious when we decided to move to Atlanta after graduation.
Describe the proposal. Last August we were in Curacao and had just gotten back to our hotel from a lovely dinner. Tyler had the idea of taking a walk on the beach and asked me to go downstairs and grab a bucket of ice so we could walk with our drinks. He knew the ice machine was broken so he knew this would give him time to get the ring out of his suitcase and distract me. Once we were on the beach, he led me to a cabana and pulled the ring out of his pocket. Before he had a chance to get down on one knee, I blurted out “Yes!” We called our parents and my sister immediately to tell them the news despite our $300 cell phone bill.
What attracted me to my wife was: The first couple things that really attracted me to Caroline were her big beautiful eyes and her wonderful smile. Once I got to know her a little more, I realized she was really down to earth and very smart. She could hold a conversation on almost any topic. After a while, I just could not imagine my life without her in it.
Why do you love your husband? Tyler is my best friend and helps me stay grounded in the most unpredictable of moments. Basically, he is the voice of reason in absolute chaos. He makes me laugh at the drop of a hat and can light up a whole room with his dry sense of humor and charisma. Most importantly, he understands how special my family and friends are to me and takes a genuine interest in their well-being.
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Timeless, intimate, and charming
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: Our ceremony was held in the production room at Montaluce Winery. We wanted the large wooden barn doors to be left open so the North Georgia mountains could be visible in the background. Since the ceremony was a few hours before sunset, the natural light only allowed the guests to see our silhouettes, creating a very intimate and personal effect. It seemed as if it was just the two of us in that room which felt very comforting and sacred. The ceremony felt like less of a blur.
Tell us about finding your wedding dress: I was lucky enough to only have tried on one other dress before finding “the one.” Mine was a custom Anne Barge gown with a sweetheart neckline made of pearl silk-satin organza with appliques of Alencon lace on bodice and a tiered skirt with Alencon lace bands and silk satin organza layers.
Describe your wedding flowers: My gorgeous bouquet was composed of big fluffy peonies, ranunculus, snow on the mountain, and garden roses. My “something borrowed” was my great grandmother’s handkerchief wrapped around the stems.We used these flowers throughout the reception as well, along with lots of dusty miller, stock, Queen Anne’s lace, lavender, antique roses, and veronica, just to name a few. We did mostly shades of pinks, whites, and greens.

Photographer: Heidi Geldhauser of Our Labor of Love // Planner: Erica Loesing for Amy Osaba // Ceremony venue: Montaluce Winery & Estates // Ceremony Music: Amati Chamber Music // Officiant: Reverend Ed Cook // Reception Venue: La Vigne at Montaluce Winery & Estates // Florist: Erica Loesing and Amy Osaba // Wedding Cake Baker: Frosted Pumpkin // Caterer: La Vigne at Montaluce Winery & Estates // Paper Products: Erica Loesing // Bride’s Dress: Anne Barge via Guffey’s Formal Studio // Make-up: Raney O’Keefe // Hair: Tukia Allen of Studio Bold Salon // Bride’s Shoes: Tory Burch // Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Simple Silhouettes viaBella Bridesmaid

nicoleyang Written with love by Nicole
11 Comments
  1. avatar Southern Weddings Weekly Round-Up | Gift Registry News reply

    […] green color palette! Stick their stylish party in a vineyard and I’d call it a winner. See it here and […]

  2. avatar Southern Style :: Veils 101 « Southern Weddings Magazine reply

    […] the rest of this lovely affair here), and Heidi from Our Labor of Love (for more of this beauty go here). The waltz veil is up next. This sweet and stylish option falls between your knees and ankles and […]

  3. avatar Amy Osaba | weddings | Caroline + Tyler at Montaluce reply

    […] if you haven’t already, check out Caroline + Tyler’s wedding on Southern Weddings!  Part I, Part II, and the whole […]

  4. avatar Achieving Petal Perfection: in style and on budget – Kailey-Michelle Events reply

    […] Lovely Inspiration {via}{via}{via}{via}{via}{via}{via}{via} […]

  5. avatar What’s Not to Be Loved About Amy Osaba!! | Montaluce Weddings and Events reply

    […] Don’t forget to check out Amy’s partner Erica Loesing! Erica has an amazing skill for coordinating and screen printing for her clients. Check out these pictures form Caroline and Tyler‘s Montaluce wedding featured in Southern Wedding! […]

  6. avatar Kelli Ahern reply

    LOVIN’ this wedding!!!!!! So sweet.

  7. avatar Vintage Wedding Flowers | How To reply

    […] Lovely Inspiration {via}{via}{via}{via}{via}{via}{via}{via} […]

  8. avatar Lindsay reply

    Hello,

    I saw that you had white Tory Burch flats to wear with your dress. Can you please tell me where you found this?!?!?

    Lindsay Hall

    • avatar Nicole reply

      Hi Lindsay! It looks like you can find the white Tory Burch flats here. I hope that helps!

  9. avatar Board {#7} Cream, Lilac & Cactus Green reply

    […] {First Row} Source not known, I Love Southern Weddings Magazine, The Sweetest Ocassion {Second Row} Grey Likes Weddings, Ruffled Blog, {Third Row} Wedding Chicks, […]

  10. avatar Board {#7} Cream, Lilac & Cactus Green | One to Wed reply

    […] {First Row} Source not known, I Love Southern Weddings Magazine, The Sweetest Ocassion {Second Row} Grey Likes Weddings, Ruffled Blog, {Third Row} Wedding Chicks, […]

Southern Weddings reserves the right to delete comments which contain profanity or personal attacks or seek to promote a business unrelated to the post.  And remember: a good attitude is like kudzu – it spreads.  We love hearing your kind thoughts!

Reply to:
close
Top