I am pretty sure that today’s bride, Corinne, and I are wedding soul sisters–a spring date, a church ceremony, a classic getaway car, snazzy signature cocktails, and blush blooms galore? Yes please to all of the above! While even the smallest details (hello, gorgeous escort card board!) can contribute to the moments you’ll remember from your wedding day, I love the way Corinne and Greg were also sure to plan a few particularly special opportunities for the two of them to celebrate together, like their post-ceremony getaway car ride and the private last dance they shared to close out their reception. That commitment to creating intentional moments has even carried over into their newlywed life–one of Corinne and Greg’s favorite activities is hosting dinners on the porch of their new Atlanta townhouse!
Thanks so much to our Blue Ribbon Vendor Graham Terhune for sharing this special day with us!
Tell us about finding your wedding dress. I decided to take a lunch break to look at dresses one day. I ended up finding one that I absolutely loved, but I knew I couldn’t make a decision without consulting my mom. I tried on a few more dresses at boutiques in Atlanta, but nothing could quite live up to the delicate lace and silk organza of the dress at Nitsa’s in Winston-Salem. The store was really accommodating and actually sent the dress to their Charlotte location for me. I tried it on one more time and knew it was the one!
I had seen pictures of beautiful white and blush bouquets on Southern Weddings that I used as inspiration for our florist! We included white peonies, ranunculus, and David Austin roses in all of the bridesmaid bouquets, all tied up with hand-dyed silk ribbon. My bouquet had a special touch of white lilac and a jeweled piece from my mom’s wedding bouquet.
Did you decide to do a first look? Why or why not? We had a traditional Catholic ceremony that started at 2 P.M., a bit earlier than most weddings! We decided to wait until the ceremony so that we could have that special moment of seeing each other for the first time as the church doors opened.
Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We did not write our own vows. We thought the traditional ones were just as meaningful, though!
One of our favorite details of the day was the vintage car that we drove away from the church in. Since we had the “Just Married” sign on the back, people cheered and honked as we drove to the reception!
What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they have any special significance to you? St. Pius X in Greensboro is a beautiful church and our family’s parish. We chose the Greensboro Country Club for our reception venue because of their great service, beautiful ballroom, and outdoor space for cocktail hour!
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? The biggest challenge we ran into was planning from afar. Greg and I had both just moved to Atlanta and it was difficult for us to break away from our new jobs to make trips up to NC. We had great vendors who made it easier, and my mom did a good amount of the planning remotely!
Greg and I are huge fans of dessert! We had a simple, four-tiered cake with chocolate (for him), lemon (for me), and traditional almond. We included our custom monogram from the invitation suite in gold on the third layer and decorated it with fresh flowers. It was delicious!
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Greg and I danced the night away at our reception, and before we exited, we had one last dance, just the two of us. The band played Ray LaMontagne’s “You Are The Best Thing” for us. It was such a special way to close out the best day of our lives!
How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. Greg and I met at our alma mater, Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. Two of our best friends (who are now married as well) set us up on a blind date for homecoming weekend! We dated long distance for four more years as Greg finished up school in Charlottesville and I worked in Georgia and North Carolina.
Tell us all about the proposal! We met my sister and brother-in-law at my family’s home one weekend when my parents were out of town. We love to spend time in our hometown together and we had plans to eat at all of our favorite restaurants and play golf that day. My parents have a small boat, so we all decided go for a ride before dinner that night. Greg got down on one knee at the dock on the way down to the lake. To my surprise, my family and Greg’s then appeared around the corner to pick us up and kick off the celebration!
When did y’all get married? April 23, 2016
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 185
How did you plan for your marriage while planning your wedding? Once Greg and I were both in Atlanta, we began pre-marital counseling with our local Catholic church. While we had been dating for a few years before getting engaged, the counseling provided a framework to discuss important aspects of our relationship.
What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? We were absolutely thrilled to have Graham Terhune Photography as part of our wedding. Graham and his wife, Samantha, are such professionals and did a great job documenting the day and making us feel comfortable. We were also so happy to have our family help us make the welcome bags for our guests! Greg’s aunt made her famous “butter crunch” toffee and my sister made her signature decorated sugar cookies. We loved sharing a piece of both our families in those bags.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Our advice for wedding planning is to not sweat the details! Our priest ended up getting sick and not being able to make it to the wedding (thankfully, he has recovered and is doing better). We never expected such a big twist in our plans, but at the end of the day, nothing is more important than being surrounded by your closest family and friends on the day you get to marry your best friend!
What’s next for you as a couple? What memories are you looking forward to making together? We are living in Atlanta for the next few years as Greg finishes up his training. We recently bought a townhouse and have loved hosting our friends and family for dinners on the deck! We are looking forward to getting to know the city better and taking trips as a married couple!
Photographer: Graham Terhune | Videographer: Twenty-One Films | Ceremony Venue: St. Pius X Catholic Church | Reception Venue: Greensboro Country Club | Florist: Botanica | Wedding Cake: Delicious Bakery | Rentals: CE Rentals | Band: Attraction | Paper Products: Southern Engraving | Bride’s Gown:“Addison” by Rivini | Hair Stylist: Emily Joyce of Mod Studio | Makeup Artists: Faith Webb and Shannon Brinn | Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Alfred Sung | Groomsmen Attire: Jos. A. Bank | Ice Cream Truck: Ice Queen
The prettiest bride — Corinne was positively glowing that day! Such a fun wedding and special couple. So many amazing details!!!
Beautifull wedding.
It was a memorable day for everyone and Graham captured it perfectly! The bride and her family did a wonderful job with every last detail, creating a special day we will not soon forget.