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One of BDK and I’s favorite things to do is reminisce about when we met. There is just something so fun about remembering our first date, as well as my absolute favorite, the silly get-to-know-you games we used to play while sitting in his hammock on the balcony of his college apartment! So, of course, I appreciated Jaimi and Mike’s super sweet proposal story all the more! I also appreciate how Jaimi defined a Southern wedding as a “close-knit support system filled with love and faith…your favorite people, supporting you in the biggest decision of your lives.” I don’t believe we could have said it better ourselves! Jaimi, you make the Sweet Tea Society proud!

Big thanks to Brooke Images for sharing this beautiful day with us!

From the time I started paying attention to wedding dress designers (probably about 10 years ago), I loved Monique Lhuillier lace dresses. My budget, however, was never going to allow me my dream Monique gown. Luckily for me, I have a very generous aunt, and upon getting engaged, she told me to pick out whatever dress I wanted and it would be her wedding gift to me. After the initial shock, excitement, and gratitude, I started my search. Then I found out that Monique Lhuillier was having a trunk sale at my favorite bridal gown shop in Atlanta, Joan Pillow! I had to wait two weeks, which was so hard because I was so excited! The fourth dress I tried on was THE dress. I was crying, my mom was crying, and even the sales person was tearing up. It was exactly what I was looking for, and I will never forget sharing that sweet moment with my mom.

My most memorable moment of the wedding was our first look. I had no expectation of what it was going to be like, and maybe because of that, I was so surprised by how much I loved having that personal moment. Due to the rain, our photographers positioned me in one spot and had Mike walk up to me. I loved that because he got to see me before I saw him, and when I turned around to see my groom, my heart just melted. Our eyes locked and there was so much raw emotion in that moment. He was shaking, I was shaking, and we both had tears in our eyes–it was just so cool!

What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they have any special significance to you? Finding the perfect spot for our wedding was actually a huge challenge for me. I knew I did not want to do it in Atlanta (where we live), and I wanted a place with a destination feel that wasn’t super far away. I had heard great things about Amelia Island, so Mike and I went down to check it out. Not only was the property of Walker’s Landing gorgeous, but the space for the reception was warm and open and filled with huge windows to let in natural light. After seeing so many venues that did not work, I know when I saw this venue that it WOULD work.

We did not write our own vows, but we spent time piecing together our favorite lines from wedding ceremonies we found online and through our officiant. My favorite line was, “Mike and Jaimi, may you pledge to each other to be loving friends and partners in marriage. To talk and to listen, to trust and appreciate one another; to respect and cherish each other’s uniqueness, and to support, comfort, and strengthen each other through life’s joys and sorrows. May you promise to share hopes, thoughts, and dreams as you build your lives together. May your lives be ever intertwined, your love keeping you together.”

What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? My worst nightmare was that it was going to rain on my wedding day and my outdoor ceremony was going to move inside. Well, that happened, but you know what? It did not change the outcome of the day. I still married my best friend and we still danced the night away with our family and friends, and it was meaningful and beautiful. So, my biggest advice for a bride who is planning an outdoor wedding is to have a legit backup plan–not some small, dingy room in the basement of a hotel. Really put some thought into it. Go over the rain plan with your vendors so that everyone is on the same page. And at the end of the day, just enjoy it all!

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: In lieu of table numbers, we designated a destination we had been together to each table. On each table card was a name of the place we’d been, and on the other side was a story about when we were there, and what we remembered/loved about it. Writing out these stories was such a fun walk through our memories together. I also loved the chalkboards for our food stations that I had ordered from a lovely lady I found on Etsy. There is something about hand lettering that makes me so happy, and our vendor delivered that in spades!

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? To me, a Southern wedding means a close-knit support system filled with love and faith. Our day was filled with our favorite people, supporting us in the biggest decision of our lives. We are so lucky that both of our parents have been happily married for almost 30 years each. Additionally, this Southern wedding would not be complete without a slider station filled with barbecue pulled pork, classic cheeseburgers, and fried green tomatoes!

Describe your wedding cake or dessert. Our wedding cake was two different flavors. One was called “For the Love of Chocolate” and included chocolate sponge cake, chocolate ganache, and chocolate truffle mousse. We added a raspberry drizzle since my groom loves chocolate and raspberry. The second flavor was something I came up with: coconut pound cake with raspberry and key lime cream and buttercream icing. It was so light and refreshing. As well as our large cake, we also served donuts to our guests!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. We met on a blind date! In November 2009, I got a text from a girlfriend from college (we were sorority sisters at FSU, go Noles!), who said she had a guy friend she had known since high school that I should meet. After a little Facebook investigation, I agreed. Meanwhile, Mike was doing the exact same thing (I guess there is no such thing as a complete blind date anymore with social media!). After exchanging some Facebook messages, we met in Buckhead, Atlanta at a fun restaurant called BluePointe. We immediately hit it off and the conversation was effortless–it was by far one of the best first dates I had been on. After that wonderful evening, Mike asked me out on a couple more dates, and from there, we became official and best friends (as cheesy as that sounds). During our courtship, we conquered the Atlanta restaurant scene–we both love to eat!
Tell us all about the proposal! On a Friday night, I got a call from Mike while I was at work. He said that he had made surprise dinner plans for us, but he would not tell me where we were going. Before we had dinner, I had plans with a girlfriend to get our nails done. A long time ago, I told Mike to never propose unless my nails were looking right, so he asked one of our good friends to go to the nail salon with me that evening. Between the manicures and surprise dinner plans, I had a good feeling about where this night was headed. When I arrived at our place, Mike had our favorite bottle of wine chilling for us to drink before dinner. It was a bottle of wine we had gotten in my hometown of Santa Barbara on a trip we took together in 2010. The name of this bottle of wine was called “Mrs,” and I always thought/hoped that we would one day drink it when I was his Mrs. It was December, so it was pretty chilly out, but our condo has a gorgeous view of the Atlanta skyline, so Mike suggested that we enjoy the “Mrs” outside. I had left my jacket in my car, so I grabbed his. He came out to see me wearing his winter coat and immediately gave me a different jacket (little did I know, the ring was in his coat pocket!). I could tell Mike was nervous, but we settled into our seats on our patio. He said “Let’s play a game–you tell one of your favorite stories about us, then I will, and we will cheers each time.” I LOVED this game and I started from the very beginning. We talked for two hours about everything we loved about the last three years we had shared together. When the time was just right, Mike got down on one knee and asked me to spend the rest of my life with him. I could not have been more happy and excited and speechless after the entire conversation! It was perfect and so us.
When did y’all get married? May 3, 2014
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 97
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. I chose to walk down the aisle to “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles. I have always loved that song. and my mom used to call me Sunshine was I was little, so the song was a nod to that. It turned out to be the perfect choice, because it rained the entire day until I walked down the aisle, when the sun came out as the song was played!
If you are comfortable responding, what range did your wedding budget fall into? $25,000-$50,000
What was one way you saved money or cut costs at your wedding? I talked the minimum down at our venue because we felt strongly that we were going to have a smaller wedding and did not want to have to spend a certain amount on food and beverages if our guest list would not accommodate that. I also used the bridesmaid bouquets as centerpieces on the head table, so right after the ceremony, my wedding planner scooped them up and put them into the vases that were waiting for them.
What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? Oh my goodness, our band! They completely rocked our night! People were raving all night about how much fun they were. I’ve always said that if people are dancing so much, they forget to eat their cake, the wedding is a success–and ours was!
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? We are looking for a house in Atlanta! We are excited for the adventures to come with home ownership and are soaking in the bliss of having nothing to do after work. We hope to travel somewhere abroad next year!

Photographer: Brooke Images / Day-Of Coordination: Flaire Weddings and Events / Venue: Walker’s Landing / Florist: Shea Hopely Flowers / Catering and Cake: Omni Hotels / Rentals: Jax Chair Boutique / Band: The Rivertown Band / Chalkboard Menus: Mary and Jack / Bride’s Gown: “Amaranth” by Monique Lhuillier / Bridal Salon: Joan Pillow Bridal Atlanta / Paper Products: Paper Daisies Stationery / Hair Stylist: Chelsea of Fifth Avenue Hair / Makeup Artist: Face by Maori / Bride’s Shoes: Nina / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Bill Levkoff in Petal Pink / Men’s Attire: Men’s Wearhouse / Groom’s Shoes: Cole Haan / Officiant: Michele Donnovan from Sensational Celebrations / Ketubah: Jennifer Raichman / Cake Topper: Better Off Wed

marissa Written with love by Marissa
8 Comments
  1. avatar Loverly reply

    That dress is stunning!

  2. avatar Occasions In Print reply

    They look so happy! Beautiful couple and a beautiful wedding!

  3. avatar Ashley reply

    Loved this wedding! Thank you so much for publishing it!

  4. avatar The Wedding Printer reply

    What a cute cake topper! And that cake was stunning too.

  5. avatar Southern Weddings Weekly Round-Up – Southern Weddings Magazine reply

    […] Jaimi and Mike had to resort to their rain plan at their Florida wedding, but everything was just as beautiful. Hayley and Barton‘s Texas ballroom wedding was equally elegant and super fun! Emily and Justin were married on Emily’s family’s gorgeous farm–a dream come true for this sweet bride. […]

  6. avatar Stacy {Woodsy Weddings} reply

    You can tell the couple really enjoyed themselves, even with the rain. Peonies are always beautiful and I love how there is a touch of yellow blooming from the soft pink in her bouquet.

  7. avatar Jenny reply

    Beautiful wedding!! Where did you get your koozies from?

  8. avatar Jaimi and Mike’s Walker’s Landing Wedding in Amelia Island » Jacksonville, Florida Wedding Planner and Coordinator | Flaire Weddings & Events reply

    […] Also a fun fact – this beautiful event was featured on Southern Weddings! You can see the feature (with more images!) here. […]

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We love seeing our darling Southern Bride Bloggers’ weddings! We’ve been enjoying following along with today’s sweet bride’s journey for quite a while! We aren’t surprised that Tori + Andrew’s Florida wedding was classic and stylish (hello, hot pink heels! ), but I can’t help but point out the very sweet details that we didn’t expect. I’m especially fond of the love letters they passed each other before the wedding where they “vowed that no matter what life throws our way, we will never give up on each other.” Such a powerful message to start a marriage with!

Big thanks to Tera and Wes of Armosa Studios for capturing this lovely day, and heartfelt congratulations to them on their sweet baby Olive!

Finding my wedding dress may have been one of the easiest decisions I made during wedding planning! I had an appointment with a huge gown shop in Atlanta with my mom. We went with the mindset that I would narrow down my options and get a feel for what I was comfortable in, then come back a few weeks later with my sisters and best friends. I picked a handful of gowns, all different styles and fabrics, and my stylist picked one she said she knew I would love. I tried her suggestion on first. That was that! After countless gowns, I couldn’t forget the first one. It was perfect for me. I chose a simple and elegant silk taffeta ball gown by Amsale, with skinny straps and a small flower detail on the low back. I felt like the ultimate princess, but at the same time, I still felt like me.

I clearly remember how Kristin and I swooned hard over the back of this Amsale gown at last year’s Bridal Market, and Tori looks absolutely stunning in it!

Describe your wedding flowers. Perfection. I began planning our wedding thinking I wanted all neutral colors, and then out of nowhere, I was dying to add more color and fun! Our florist nailed it. My bouquet was gorgeous and full of pink peonies and fresh greens and berries. My bridesmaids had similar, smaller versions of my bouquet. Pops of pink became part of our wedding decor and I loved it!

We had a very traditional Christian ceremony that felt so personal. Andrew is Baptist and I am Catholic. Every reading was from the Bible and centered around the sacrament of marriage. We chose to have our loved ones share stories and well wishes at our intimate rehearsal dinner, and Andrew’s grandfather blessed our meal by leading us in prayer before dinner was served at our reception. I am really happy with how we included readings and prayer outside of our ceremony.

My most memorable moment was stepping off the dance floor to pull my hair back, and looking around. It was later in the night and the string lights and chandeliers lit up the reception. I couldn’t believe how many people were there, dancing, smiling, laughing. All those people had traveled to celebrate Andrew and I. It still amazes me how much love was surrounding us.

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? Andrew’s family is from Mississippi and Alabama, so we really wanted to incorporate some of their favorite foods on our big day. We had a raw bar during our cocktail hour, filled with fresh seafood from the gulf. I made honey jar favors for our guests using honey from a local bee farm in our new hometown of Fairhope, Alabama. Honey Moon Bee Co. makes the most delicious honey I have ever had and I was excited to share it with our guests. We also had a farewell brunch on Sunday. You guessed it, more Southern food! Grits and biscuits were part of the amazing Southern menu as we thanked all of our loved ones for traveling to see us tie the knot!
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? For most of our engagement, I was so caught up in pleasing everyone and worrying about what others would think. I finally realized that wasn’t as important as making our day about Andrew and I. It was a lot less stressful when I figured that out.

We had a simple white wedding cake that was delicious! Our florist and baker teamed up to adorn it with beautiful peonies. We also had a dessert station with all of our favorites, including black and white cookies and cannolis.

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. Andrew and I met while we were both at Auburn University. We had a lot of mutual friends, but didn’t formally meet until our junior year. We talked for hours the first time we met and the rest was history. Within two months, we were spending every day together and really haven’t separated since. We went on to enjoy so many milestones together–Auburn’s National Championship season our senior year being one of them!
Tell us all about the proposal! Andrew was coming to visit me in Auburn one weekend, which he did often, since he was working three hours away in Mobile. When he got into town, we went to a nice dinner at one of our favorite restaurants outside of Auburn. Looking back, Andrew was cool, calm and collected. The dinner seemed like it lasted hours, and Andrew insisted we wait until we heard from his best friend before we headed downtown to meet our friends. I knew something was definitely up his sleeve after dinner when he passed downtown and headed toward Samford Hall, a monument for Auburn students and fans. Samford Hall is a beautiful, red brick building with a historic clock tower that sits on the well-known Samford Lawn. The lawn is lined with perfectly-bloomed flowers and lights up beautifully at night. When we parked, I froze. Andrew came and opened my door–Mr. Cool, Calm and Collected seemed very nervous now. As we walked to the front of the hall, Andrew told me about the first time he met me and how he knew he would never stop loving me. We both cried when he got on one knee and asked me to spend the rest of my life with him. We even have a few blurry photos from that moment that his best friend took while hiding in the bushes. I will never forget that night or how I felt.
When did y’all get married? May 18, 2013
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 160
Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? We decided against doing a “first look,” although we had contemplated both up until the day of! I considered doing a “first look” simply because of timing and convenience. After talking to my sweet photographers and hearing them ensure us that either one we chose would be perfect with out timeline and schedule, we decided to wait. I am so thankful we did; that moment is so breathtaking.
Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? Andrew and I didn’t write our own vows. We exchanged letters before with personal vows to each other in them. We vowed that no matter what life throws our way, we will never give up on each other.
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. For our ceremony, we chose traditional wedding songs for the violist to play during the prelude and seating. My favorite choice was for the seating of our grandmothers and mothers. I chose “Ave Maria” by Schubert, because that was my late grandmother’s favorite song. Our first dance was to “Snow Outside” by the Dave Matthews Band. When I first heard it, I immediately called Andrew because every verse was so fitting for us. I was thrilled that our band was able to learn this song and sing it live for us. The night continued with a great playlist of some of our favorites by Elton John, Van Morrison, Allman Brothers, Bob Dylan and Billy Joel.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: How do I chose? My favorite detail was having all of our close friends and family with us to celebrate. We had the best time preparing and getting ready for the big day with our wedding party! The hot pink heels and and gorgeous flowers were a close second.
If you are comfortable responding, what range did your wedding budget fall into? $50,000-$75,000
What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? Gosh, can I pick all of them? Our photographers surprised us the most. We instantly connected with them during our engagement shoot and I am forever grateful they were able to be there (pregnant and all)! They are so genuine, hardworking and talented. They gave us a gift that can never be tarnished. Our florist, caterer and stationer went above and beyond to ensure that every detail was perfect! They took care of all the things I could have never even thought of! We also hired a month-of coordinator and couldn’t be more thankful for her help and attention. She dealt with a big crowd flawlessly and ensured everything went without a hitch!
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Have fun and don’t let the stress get the best of you. Also, do your research. With so many vendors to chose from, chose wisely. Chose vendors who are authentic and that you believe in. They should be just as happy to work with you as you are to work with them.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? Andrew and I are enjoying married life to it’s fullest. We are learning more and more about each other everyday and are so thankful for where we are. We are still figuring out the odds and ends of growing up and cannot wait to see what God has in store for our future.

Photographer: Armosa Studios / Planner: Savoir Faire Weddings / Ceremony and Reception Venue: St. Augustine Green in Rosemary Beach, Florida / Florist and Lighting: Fisher’s Flowers and Events / Wedding Cake: Cakes by Tanis / Caterer: Dine by Design Catering, LLC / Rentals: HM Tents / Band: Tim Tyler and Lane / Bride’s Gown: “Rosalie” Gown by Amsale / Paper Products: Honey Bee Invites / Bride’s Veil: Bliss Bridal / Hair and Makeup: Vivo Spa Salon / Bride’s Shoes: Dior / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: “Blair Long Style #53072” Joanna August from Bella Bridesmaid / Men’s Attire: Jos. A Bank / Bow Ties: Collared Greens / Men’s Shoes: Beau Outfitters / “Welcome” Bag Items: Southern Shirt Company

marissa Written with love by Marissa
13 Comments
  1. avatar Emily reply

    Yay, Tori!!! What a beautiful day!

  2. avatar Kim Pitchford reply

    Thank you so much, Tori! It’s lovely to be able to relive your and Andrew’s fabulous day in these amazing pictures.

    You were both a delight to work with and I wish you both the very best!
    Kim

  3. avatar Emily reply

    So pretty! Love those pink heels, and love seeing Dad’s reaction!

  4. avatar Jennifer reply

    Tori, what a beautiful day for you and Andrew! You were absolutely stunning and looked so very happy! The propsal definitely gave me goose bumps!!

  5. avatar Victoria reply

    YAY! What an honor! Thank you all so much for featuring our wedding. So happy to relive this day. Extra gratitude to our amazing vendors! Simply THE BEST! xoxo to all the fabulous SW ladies!

  6. avatar Carly reply

    Tori! This was such a great surprise to find on SW today because I’ve seen sneak peeks of this gorgeous wedding, but I’ve been dying to see the entire day. BEAUTIFUL! I also love Tori’s dad’s reaction.

  7. avatar Desiree reply

    Super sweet and I’m definitely digging the subtle stripe details in the bowtie, table numbers & favors. adore!

  8. avatar Allie reply

    Absolutely gorgeous!!!!! Tori, you did an amazing job with your wedding!!! I know you put a lot of thought into all the details and it shows! And you made that dress STUNNING!!!!!! xoxo

  9. avatar Kendra reply

    Where did this wedding take place? The venue looks amazing.

  10. avatar Nedělní snění | Originální Svatba reply

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  11. avatar Myrtle Beach Wedding Photographer | Pasha Belman reply

    so beautiful.

  12. avatar First Look Friday – …Algo Azul reply

    […] {via Southern Weddings} […]

  13. avatar Inspiration : 5 thématiques de couleurs pour un mariage | Je Wanda Magazine reply

    […] : Make Me My Cake, Cakes Decor Armosa Studios Southern Weddings Gerad’s Florist & Decorators Kay English Photography Belle The Magazine Suburban Faux […]

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Y’ALL. Before we even get into how much I love this wedding, can we just talk about how adorable these little sheep are??

I had to get that out of my system. As soon as I saw the images in this post, I emailed Marissa and squealed about the furry farm animals to her! Though it’s a huge plus, it’s not the only thing we love about Casey + Craig’s wedding. Casey actually said she had trouble figuring out exactly how she wanted the wedding to look within their five-month engagement. “I had always wanted to get married, but for some reason I always skipped the wedding and dreamed about the marriage itself. Which is good, but not so much for wedding planning!!” Thankfully, Casey’s friends gave her a lot of advice. However, to me, it feels like the couple made each decision based on what they like, not what matched their inspiration board — and I kind of love it. The result feels elegant and easy. Big hugs to Landon Jacob Photography for sharing this one with us!

These invitations kill me. The bold black calligraphy is so fun! After searching fruitlessly for invitations that she loved, Casey actually drew out the invitations herself and then took them to a local printer. I also love Casey’s pick for her bridesmaid dresses. They’re romantic and flow beautifully, but her bridesmaids will probably rock them for multiple other occasions!

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. 
I found my dress at Evelyn’s Bridal in Lugoff. It was the second place I visited, and I’m so glad that I did. They were extremely patient with me as I tried on dress after dress after dress. I wasn’t really sure what I was looking for, which made starting difficult, but they were so helpful! The dress I ended up loving was unlike anything I’d seen, but still so simple and classic. The bow was definitely a selling point for me because it was different from all the lace that’s in style right now. The buttons also went all the way down the back, which I found so romantic and sweet.

Describe your wedding flowers. 
I love flowers, but I really wanted to keep things simple and classic, so I wanted a lot of greenery and just a few white flowers for contrast. There were white tulips and hydrangeas and magnolia leaves everywhere. Honestly, my favorite of all the flowers was my bouquet. I wanted something less structured but still very pretty, and Jordan really delivered — I loved it!

I die!!! Too cute.

We did decide to do a “first look” and it was honestly my favorite part of the day. I stayed with the bridesmaids at Old McCaskill’s Farm in Rembert, about a 15 minute drive from the ceremony site, so everyone popped over for pictures beforehand and it made the transition from ceremony to reception seamless and easy (the ceremony was done on one side of TenEleven Galleria and the reception on the other). After all of those were finished, Craig stuck around for five or ten minutes and we got to just be still together and enjoy a few minutes of calm before things got crazy. It was such a sweet moment for us to get to enjoy each other’s company while engaged for one last time. It definitely helped to ease both of our nerves before the ceremony. I was originally concerned that it would take something away from how special my walk down the aisle would be, but I think it actually added some excitement and comfort and reminded me of how completely ready I was to be this man’s wife. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who’s considering it!


We didn’t have any readings at our ceremony, however we were very concerned about the pastor’s remarks — we wanted it to be a ceremony full of truth about the Gospel and what marriage is really about. Jon did such a great job, and I really think the Lord was glorified. I like to think we tricked many of our friends and family who don’t know the Lord into coming to a service to hear about Him. Ultimately, we wanted things to be about Jesus, not about us.

What was Southern about your wedding? 
One of the biggest Southern things about our wedding was the food at our reception. In the South, we’re big on comfort and hospitality, and as a couple, we wanted everyone to feel welcome and warm and comfortable. So we had a coffee and hot chocolate bar, a mashed potato bar (with regular AND sweet mashed potatoes — seriously my favorite ever), and parmesan-encrusted chicken with macaroni and cheese bites, which were perfectly warm and cheesy and AMAZING.

Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding. 
As people were arriving, we had Travis and Ashley sing “Forget Me Not” by The Civil Wars, one of my favorites. Mothers and grandmothers walked to “Where the West Wind Blows” by Green River Ordinance, which was very light and sweet, two things I really wanted the music to convey about our relationship. We have so much fun and are definitely goofier than subdued, but there have been such sweet undertones to our relationship from the beginning. I really felt like the music we chose for the ceremony reflected that well. I walked down the aisle to “I Am Yours” by Bethany Dillon, which was meant to be a reminder that even though from the ceremony on, I’ll be Craig’s, I belong to God first. We walked back up the aisle to “Gone, Gone, Gone” by Phillip Phillips. For the reception, we had the bridal party introduced to “Sexy Back” and we walked out to “Ignition (Remix),” which was some of the most fun I had! Our first dance was to Frank Sinatra’s “You Make Me Feel So Young” — it’s always been a song we love, but it grew a lot in sweetness as we realized how applicable it will (hopefully!) be in 40 or 50 years. I loved our first dance. It was appropriately sweet but still upbeat and so much fun!

I LOVED my wedding cake! I had such difficulty discerning how I wanted my wedding to look. I really struggled with wanting to make sure it wasn’t too “pinterest-y,” but I also wanted it to be sweet and cute and very much inspired by who we are as individuals and as a couple. That said, choosing my cake was an absolute breeze. I had seen a picture of a petal cake that I loved, so we basically replicated it with different flavors for each tier. The bottom was vanilla with cream cheese filling, then marble with chocolate filling, the third tier was lemon with lemon filling, and the top was vanilla and cream cheese. I LOVE all things lemon, so that third tier was really all for me, but I also loved giving our guests some options to choose from. I was so pleased with how it turned out. The stand was a big thing for me, as well – I didn’t want anything too big or shiny because I thought the cake itself would be much more beautiful on its own. We found a round pre-cut piece of wood from Lowe’s and stained it dark brown — it was absolutely perfect.

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. 
We met at the beginning of summer 2011, when we had the same group of friends from church and hung around each other all summer. We never had much of an individual friendship until the smoke detector went off in my house with super high ceilings — while I was in the shower! I couldn’t get it to stop and couldn’t reach the detector without jumping from a chair, and he was the only one to answer my phone call and come to the rescue. He’s super tall and fixed it with ease, cleaned my blood off the ceiling (because I had somehow cut myself trying to turn it off) and then sat down and began asking me about myself. That was really when I decided that I thought he was pretty cool. We were friends for a few more months, and then one night my roommates and I had everyone over to watch a movie. One by one, everyone left except Craig, and he and I ended up on opposite sides of the couch talking about everything from our families to broken bones to the things we wanted to do in life. Before I knew it, it was 6:00 in the morning. So he promptly left and I got a few minutes of sleep before my exam that morning at 8:00. We both just found each other so interesting, and he began texting me throughout the day and calling me pretty much every night and we’d talk for hours and hours. One of those nights, he called and said he wanted to pray about pursuing me as his girlfriend. We started officially dating a little while later, and exactly a year to the day after he told me he wanted to pursue me, he asked me to be his wife!!
Describe the proposal. 
I was SO convinced it wasn’t happening that I didn’t catch on, though I should have guessed what was happening. Earlier that day, I had lunch with a friend and I specifically said that I knew it wasn’t happening because we had “plans” with his sister after our date, and that just didn’t seem very indicative of a proposal to me. However, that night I met him at his apartment where we ate dinner that he had prepared. Afterward, he told me there was a “part two” to our date, so we went to his car and he blindfolded me while I sat in the front seat (howwww did I not know?!) We drove for what seemed like FOREVER, and then finally parked. He carried me on his back for a few minutes. When he finally put me down and took off the blindfold, we were in the middle of Williams-Brice Stadium, our alma mater’s football stadium, which seats more than 80,000 people. It was empty but the lights were on, so it was one of the most overwhelming experiences of my life. His speech was short but sweet. We had saved saying “I love you” for engagement, so getting to finally hear those words was the absolute best. I had always said I would never cry, but I bawled like a baby. Then he blindfolded me again and took me to my best friend’s house, where all of our closest friends and family were gathered to celebrate with us. It was the BEST. I loved getting to share one of the best moments of my life with those people I care about most.
In what month did you get married? 
February
How many guests attended your wedding? 
175
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: 
I asked Craig what his favorite detail of the wedding was (just out of curiosity) and his reply was, “You! Your dress, seeing you — you were my favorite thing.” (The perfect answer, right?!) But when all is said and done, I agree with him. There were so many special and fun details that I loved. The mink I wore was my great-grandmother’s and the chandelier in the ceremony space — oh that chandelier, I fought SO hard for that thing! All I wanted was a crystal chandelier for that window, and we couldn’t find one for what we thought was a reasonable price. We found a working chandelier and spray-painted it an antique bronze. My sweet dad drilled holes and we strung thin pieces of wire through them to connect the crystals, most of which had been a part of my great-grandmother’s crystal chandelier. The venue was another favorite. As soon as we walked in, we both said, “Yup! We’re getting married here!” It just had such a warm and relaxed feel, which was something we really wanted. But however much I am in love with all of those things, on the day of the wedding the only person who was there to me was Craig. Seeing him and being with him, that was my favorite part. Because once the wedding is over, your marriage is what’s important and I just felt (and still feel!) so blessed to even know him, much less get to spend my life with him.
What range did your wedding budget fall into? 
$10,000-$25,000
What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? 
Staying with my bridesmaids at Old McCaskill’s Farm! It was such a pleasant and relaxing experience. And the LAMBS!! They had the sweetest lambs that we got to take pictures with; getting to play with them was one of my favorite parts of my wedding day.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? 
When I think about my wedding day, I automatically picture myself on the porch steps with Craig after our first look was done, hugging and giggling and repeating over and over, “We’re getting married today!!” It was definitely my favorite moment of the whole day.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? 
Don’t get too caught up in the details. I think weddings now are great because they’re less traditional and give the bride a chance to make things more personal, but I also think that lends itself towards putting a lot of pressure on her to have a very detail-oriented day; I know I definitely felt that. But in reality, the day is SUCH a whirlwind that those things you thought were important just aren’t anymore. No matter what things look like, you’re getting married!! And that’s the whole point.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? 
Right now, we’re living in Columbia and learning how to be married, which has been so much easier than we thought, and the most fun I’ve ever had! We’re still praying about where the Lord wants us to be and looking forward to growing together in Him as a couple and individually. I just know I’ve already learned so much about God’s grace and patience through the way Craig loves me and patiently cares for me, and it’s so great! Marriage has been the BEST.

Landon Jacob is a delightful member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

nicoleyang Written with love by Nicole
18 Comments
  1. avatar Lisa reply

    Wow! They are absolutely gorgeous together, and I love their wedding planning perspective and advice!

  2. avatar Emily reply

    I never ever comment on posts (something I’m working on!) but there is something special about this wedding. Not only is incredibly beautiful, it is so heartwarming to see a couple so in love with each other and with God. I particularly enjoyed the sheep pictures, the simple flowers, the brides handmade invitations, and their sweet love story!

  3. avatar Madi Sanders reply

    Now I have loved a lot of weddings on here, and I don’t know if I’m just feeling super emotional today or what…but this one just makes me misty! I love the sweet simplicity of every detail and Casey- your words about marriage and your love for one another is truly inspiring! I just love this so much!

  4. avatar Shelby reply

    Oh my lucky stars, this wedding couldn’t come closer to perfect if it tried. The lambs are the cutest things I have ever seen, but besides the adorable overload, her flowers were pure perfection!!

  5. avatar Elizabeth reply

    This is now one of my favorite weddings featured at Southern Weddings. I love that Casey and Craig personalized so much for their wedding day and didn’t lose sight of what it’s all about. They made their ceremony about Jesus and joining together for a marriage that will last with Christ as the center and foundation. I love that Casey used her great-grandmother’s mink (which is beautiful, by the way!) and her crystals for the chandelier and that dad was a part of that, too. I also love that she savored the moments leading up to “I do” both with Craig and her bridesmaids at the farm. Those sheep are so cute! I love that Craig’s favorite detail was Casey. This is an all-around gorgeous wedding. So inspired by this one. Congratulations and many blessings to Casey and Craig!

  6. avatar Jessica Leighanne reply

    One of my favorite weddings I have seen on Southern Weddings. Which is shocking for me, since I am not usually so drawn to indoor weddings. But Casey and Craig did a wonderful job at planning a wedding that was romantic, classic, and rustic all at the same time. I also loved that their love for The Lord was so evident in their ceremony! Most definitely saving ideas from this wedding! Congrats to the new bride and groom!

  7. avatar Emily reply

    I knew before I even clicked on the comments that this one was going to be a huge hit.

    Y’all, this is the best wedding you’ve ever featured on the blog, hands down. I have never been so moved by a story and by a bride’s words. Casey, your perspective is refreshing and beautiful and SO perfect for the Sweet Tea Society. Thank you for sharing and reminding us all of what is most important, the Lord and each other, and that is all. I know Lara must be loving this feature so very much.

    What a stunning couple, inside and out.

  8. avatar Ashlee reply

    What a beautiful wedding and truly inspiring story of how this couple met and got engaged! How blessed they are to have found each other. And the ceremony? I love that they centered it around the Lord. Beautiful, beautiful post!

  9. avatar Inspired by This Blog reply

    Such a simple and gorgeous wedding…loving all of it! :]

  10. avatar Lauren reply

    I love that cake so much. I love how simple but beautiful it so. Wow

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  14. avatar samantha reply

    Is there information regarding the bridesmaid dresses?

  15. avatar Teresa reply

    Where can I get the bridesmaids dresses in that light blush color in the post by nicole on 4/9/2013 for the Landon Jacob post??

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  18. avatar Nancy Sweeney reply

    Beautiful Wedding!!
    I am very interested in finding out the designer of your bridesmaid dresses. They are lovely, flowing, & perfect for an outdoor farm wedding! Thank you, Nancy

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