Southern Weddings

The gorgeous blue and white affair by Paul Johnson Photography continues! From the linens and monogrammed pillows to the hydrangea-topped cake by Katie’s Cakes & Catering and potted plants, the color theme was carried out flawlessly. Amanda + Brent were absolute troopers and laughed through their first dance on their rain-soaked dance floor. After celebrating under the beautiful trees of The Southwood House, the couple made their getaway through garnet and gold pom-poms, a nod to Brent’s Alma Mater, Florida State University. The garnet and gold show up in Brent’s groom’s cake, too (a tradition Marissa taught us all about here!). In the South, we know school pride comes right behind family loyalty.

See all the photos from Amanda + Brent’s wedding in their Real Wedding Gallery!

Describe your wedding flowers: My bouquet was all white tulips and my bridesmaids’ bouquets were white tulips and white irises. The mothers’ corsages were orchids. To add to the heirloom feel, we added a vintage-looking diamond earring around each one. We decorated the house in magnolias and hydrangeas. Inside the house, we used more hydrangea to create splashes of color on tables, the mantles and in the midst of the generational pictures. Instead of using vases, we used silver pitchers, coffee pots and Revere bowls to hold the hydrangea.For our center pieces we had either a silver candelabra or white flowers. We had different flowers on each dining table but each arrangement was white. Our design concept was to make it look like we went and cut fresh flowers from behind the plantation house. We had gladiolus, larkspur, tulips, irises, callas, hyacinth, lily siberia, and delphinium.
Describe your wedding cake: Our cake was a three-tier cream cheese pound cake with cream cheese icing. We had blue hydrangeas between each tier.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: Brent’s favorite detail was the garnet and gold (for Florida State University) pom poms for the grand send off. My favorite detail was getting to spend the day with my bridesmaids upstairs in the Southwood house and watch the house transform into our wedding venue.
What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? The photographer!! Paul Johnson photographers were even more amazing than I could have ever imagined.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Our first dance. Since it rained 45 minutes before the wedding, the dance floor was soaked. When we started dancing, my dress absorbed the water and became more of a mop than a dress. It stuck to the floor and made it difficult to dance. Without skipping a beat, I picked up my dress and held it in one hand while Brent and I danced and laughed together.
Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? The officiant, my aunt, discussed that in the Book of Mark, the apostle tells us, “From the beginning of creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; and they shall be one flesh: so then they are no more two, but one flesh.” She then began to describe a custom in an area of the Netherlands that exemplifies this verse. After the wedding ceremony, the newlywed couple enters their house through a special door. The door is never used again until one passes on and the body is carried out through that same door. God designed marriage like that house. It has one door that is locked tightly. That lock, which keeps the marriage bond secure, is loving commitment for life, which includes a commitment to being reconciled if the relationship should falter.

Photographer: Paul Johnson Photography // Planner: John Gandy Events // Venue: The Southwood House // Florist: Missy Gunnels Flowers // Wedding Cake Baker: Katie’s Cakes & Catering // Caterer: Catering Capers // Bride’s Dress: Simply Elegant // Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Jim Hjelm

Written with love by Nicole