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After a long distance romance, Amanda and Adam took to planning a beach wedding that told the story of their love! They mixed Southern touches in honor of their roots with chic vintage decor to create a lovely bohemian vibe. The contrast of the dapper gents in black bow ties and the organic handpicked wildflowers play off each other perfectly! I must say, I love Amanda’s advice for folks planning a wedding: “You can’t avoid the craziness, so just embrace it!” Such sage advice that can be applied to all aspects of life!

Special SW thanks to Kaytee Lauren for sharing this gorgeous day with us!

Could these fellas get any more dapper? So very GQ!

Since our wedding encompassed a vintage and bohemian vibe, I knew immediately that I wanted organic, handpicked wildflowers to complement the antique and rustic decor. We had every type of colorful wildflower you could imagine, with pops of pink peonies and bright billy balls. My favorite floral detail was the magnolia leaf garland we hung from our driftwood arbor and our sweetheart table. It was absolutely stunning.

What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they have any special significance to you? The Outer Banks is one our favorite places in the world. We have both spent a lot of time there over the years, but more importantly, it was the first place we visited and spent time together as a couple, almost five years ago to the day that we got married.
Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We decided to recite traditional vows, though we exchanged letters to each other prior to the ceremony that expressed our love to each other in our own words.

No first look for us. As much as we wanted to shy away from a lot of the formalities of a traditional wedding, there were still a few traditions that we wanted to retain. There’s something truly romantic about waiting to share that first look moment right before the ceremony–we will cherish that for the rest of our lives.

Adam’s late grandfather was a Baptist minister, and he had married countless couples over many years. He had a prayer he said for every ceremony that we incorporated into ours. It was beautiful.

Both of our rings hold special meaning. Mine were custom-made by a small, family-owned jeweler in NYC. They symbolize the start of our marriage in one of the greatest cities in the world. Adam decided to use his late grandfather’s wedding band. He and Adam’s grandmother were married for over 60 years. Adam had the inside of the band engraved with his grandfather’s initials, followed by his own, with the intention of passing it on through our family.

Describe your wedding cake or dessert. We did a simple buttercream cake for cutting, but also wanted to offer a variety of our favorites desserts for our guests to enjoy: key lime pie, glazed doughnut holes, and cupcakes.

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. From Adam: Amanda and I met in 2008 through work and mutual friends. Just as we began to feel our relationship could be something more, Amanda moved to Nashville, Tennessee to finish school. Almost six months after she moved, I flew to Nashville with a buddy for a weekend. Amanda and I reconnected and I ended up canceling my flight home so that I could stay an extra day. From then on, we traveled to see each other whenever we could, and lived for the moments that we got to spend together, even if they were only a weekend at a time. We knew that if we could make that situation work, we could get through anything together.
Tell us all about the proposal! My family was vacationing in Virginia Beach, where I was raised. The night before we headed home, we went out to dinner and then decided to take a walk to enjoy our last night of vacation. When we got to the street I grew up on, Adam took my hand and we walked out onto the beach. The sun was going down and it was gorgeous. We stood there together just looking out at the ocean when Adam turned to me and dropped down on one knee. The next few moments were a bit of a blur, but it was incredible to be able to say YES!” in a place that means so much to me.
When did y’all get married? June 7, 2014
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 85
Tell us about finding your wedding dress. I think finding my wedding dress was the easiest part of the whole wedding planning process. From day one, I knew the exact vibe I was going for and I immediately fell in love with a Sarah Seven gown I had seen online. I booked an appointment at Lovely Bride in NYC, and after trying on the “Practically Perfect,” I was sold. It was the perfect beachy boho dress.
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? We wanted to stay true to our Southern roots without going over the top, and we knew that food was the easiest way to get that right. We served Carolina BBQ, coleslaw and potato salad–as traditional as it gets. Burlap and vintage doilies covered the tables and we used mason jars for glassware. In lieu of a traditional guest book, we had our guests sign vintage postcards from our favorite Southern cities.
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? We saved money by choosing our venue, Pelican’s Landing. It’s the perfect classic beach house located on the oceanfront in Corolla. It’s a one-stop shop that includes everything from ceremony benches to place settings. The property owner also owns a local catering company, which we used to cater our wedding, and our guests couldn’t stop raving about the food.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Relax, don’t sweat the small stuff, and enjoy every second. You can’t avoid the craziness, so just embrace it! You’re getting married and that is the most important thing. Also, don’t skimp on a day-of coordinator–they are life savers!
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? We are enjoying life in New York City and looking forward to what the future holds. We’re getting the chance to begin our journey as husband and wife in a place neither of us had ever imagined, so we are living for the moment and making the most of each day.

Photographer: Kaytee Lauren Photography / Planner: A Premiere Event / Venue: Pelican’s Landing / Florist: Bells & Whistles / Cake Baker: Hibou Pastries / Caterer: Coastal Provisions / Rentals: Metro Rental / DJ: Outer Banks Music Masters / Bride’s Gown: “Practically Perfect” by Sarah Seven / Bride’s Accessories: Ivy & Aster / Makeup Artist: Rebecca Wood / Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade / Groom’s Attire: Zara / Groomsmen Attire: J. Crew / Ties: The Tie Bar

marissa Written with love by Marissa
11 Comments
  1. avatar Alisha reply

    Kaytee is my photographer too! She did such an amazing job on this wedding and I can’t wait until mine in September! :)

  2. avatar kristin partin reply

    yeah kaytee get it girl!! these are incredible.

  3. avatar Loverly reply

    Absolutely stunning! Looks like a dream-come-true wedding!

  4. avatar chapel2chapel reply

    Wow! Loved this. The groom’s suit–fit, texture, the whole nine–was absolutely amazing!

  5. avatar Emily reply

    Reminds me a bit of the portraits at my wedding – also black tie on the beach! Of course I love :)

  6. avatar katelyn james reply

    Awww! So fun!!! Small world! This is Michael’s cousin and his beautiful bride!! :) Yay!!! Love this Marissa!!!! xoxo

  7. avatar Wedding Venue TX reply

    I love the concept about this black tie beach wedding, looks like a music video with a happy ending, lovely couple and the beach just make the day perfect

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On my first day at Southern Weddings, the girls asked me two very important questions: do I prefer dark or milk chocolate (dark, always), and what is my favorite color–and to be careful answering because I couldn’t change it! I said peach, and as well as loving the peach monogrammed binder on my desk as a result of that conversation, I’ll never tire of peachy weddings! Courtney and Lamar hit it out of the park with the prettiest blooms and the most amazing pair of Jimmy Choos I’ve ever seen, but even more than that, I love their romantic love story. The way Lamar proposed was epic, and the last dance at their wedding sounds like a dream!

Thank you so much to Matt and Julie for sharing this lovely day with us!

We had planned a post-bar trip to Italy and had an overnight stay in Paris, but Lamar convinced me that he was not going to propose on the trip because he was too nervous to bring the ring through security and didn’t want to worry about it while we were traveling. Knowing Lamar, that made sense! Right when we got to Paris, I was ready to start painting the town, but he convinced me to take a shower and do my hair (which is great since we had just gotten off an overnight flight). I noticed he was being impatient and questioned him about why he was rushing me after he was the one that told me to get ready. As soon as we got to the bridge, we started walking to the middle and I said “Oh, I wish we had brought a lock.” He said “I actually brought one” and pulled out a lock with the words “Will you marry me?” engraved on it with our names and the date. He got down on one knee, said some really sweet things I don’t remember, and asked me to marry him. He then told me that there was a photographer on the other side of the bridge who was photographing the whole thing! She opened champagne for us and took more pictures. We spent the rest of the afternoon wondering around St. Germaine. It was the greatest day!

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. I looked and looked! The first time I went dress shopping, my mom and sister came with me and we had a great day. We tried on tons of dresses and had lunch at Neiman Marcus in downtown Dallas. I didn’t find my dress that day, and ended up going to every store in the area over the next couple weeks, but I couldn’t find the perfect dress. Finally, I went back to Stanley Korshak to try on a dress that I had liked the first day we went shopping. While I was there, I spotted “the dress” and wondered why I hadn’t liked it the first time I went in. I tried it on and it was perfect!

First Baptist is the church I went to growing up. I was baptized there and was maid of honor at my sister’s wedding there, as well as a flower girl there many times. It was so special to finally walk down the aisle there as the bride at our own wedding.

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? So many things! We had a cigar roller, our reception was at an old Southern train station, we had a country band, our signature drink was an old fashioned, and we served chicken and waffle sliders, fried green tomatoes, fried chicken and mashed potatoes, and shrimp and grits.

Describe your wedding cake or dessert. We had a one-tiered wedding cake with smaller cakes around it on pretty white cake stands. All the cakes were displayed on antique pieces of furniture.

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. When people say that you find love when you least expect it, they are not kidding. I met Lamar on a Monday night in the law library at SMU. I had chosen to study in a different area of the library, and I sat down a few tables away from Lamar. Of course, he thinks this was no coincidence! Over the course of finals, we began to talk. Talking led to a friendship, which led to our first date. Over the summer, our friendship grew, but I knew that Lamar wanted it to be something more. He agreed to give me some space over the summer, but we still hung out all the time. One day, while having dinner with my parents, I told them about Lamar, and they both said that my face lit up when I talked about him. That is when I began to think seriously about dating him. In September, Lamar told me that he was tired of being “just friends” and we decided to make it official. Dating Lamar is the second best decision I have ever made. Our story reminds me that God’s plan is so much greater than my own!
When did y’all get married? May 3, 2014
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 350
Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? No, we are pretty traditional and I wanted to see the look on his face when he saw me for the first time walking down the aisle.
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. Our first dance was to “I Can Love You Like That” because that is how Lamar acted toward me when we first started dating. He was the one who initiated the relationship, and in the end, he was the one who could really make all my fairy tale dreams come true (part of the lyrics are, “they read you Cinderella, you hoped it would come true”)!
Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! My something old was my handkerchief made out of my mom’s wedding dress and my something borrowed was her original Tiffany’s wedding band. My something new was my shoes. My something blue was a clip-on earring from my grandmother that I used as a brooch on my bouquet.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Getting all the pieces together. We had a ton of details and a ton of vendors. Thank goodness for our wedding planner, Lottie!
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 made our own photo booth–I ordered props and a backdrop. We also saved money by buying our own wine and beer.
What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? The Jeremy Powers Band was amazing! Jeremy did an amazing job working with us to coordinate the night. We got tons of compliments on how great their performance was!
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Our last dance under the stars outside by the railroad tracks. I loved hearing the sounds of the trains going by!
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Enjoy the process. Know that you cannot control every aspect, and let the day happen the way it naturally does. Some of my favorite memories were things I didn’t expect or plan!
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? Getting our house in order! We are in the middle of “wedding season” with our friends, so we have barely had a weekend at home. We are looking forward to unpacking and just enjoying making our home together.

Photographer: Matt and Julie / Videographer: Darren Pike / Planner: Grit + Gold / Ceremony Venue: First Baptist Church Sherman / Reception Venue: Katy Depot / Florist: Southern Table / Cake Baker: Mom’s Bakery / Caterer: At Your Service / Rentals and Lighting: Big D Rentals / Band: Jeremy Powers Band / Bridal Salon: Stanley Korshak / Paper Products: Caroline Creates / Hair and Makeup: Jill at Blushington Dallas / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J. Crew

lisa Written with love by Lisa
9 Comments
  1. avatar Kat reply

    LOVE that cake display!!!!

  2. avatar Laura reply

    Those florals are AMAZING! So gorgeous!

  3. avatar Matt + Julie reply

    Y’all! Thank you so much for this feature, it looks gorgeous on here :) !!!

  4. avatar Callie Davis reply

    I am so in love with those florals! Especially her INCREDIBLE bouquet! I also prefer dark chocolate !

  5. avatar Lindsay {Everistta} reply

    In love with those gold sparkly linens! Great color palette in this wedding.

  6. avatar Bridget reply

    Those charcoal bridesmaid dresses are a fantastically chic complement to the sweet peachy flowers. Very stylish.

  7. avatar Orange County Party Rentals reply

    Gorgeous wedding! Loved the beautiful details done so exquisitely. The reception area decor with the touch of shimmer looks pretty.

  8. avatar Catherine Grace reply

    I love the gold glitter backdrop !

  9. avatar Lottie Fowler reply

    Thanks for the love! This was such a fun design and even more fun was working with this super sweet couple!

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Happy Valentine’s Day week, belles! We’ve been saving some of our most fabulous pink weddings for this week, and we hope y’all love them as much as we do!

When it comes to meaningful venues, Catherine and Kyle hit the jackpot. They were married at the incredibly beautiful Swan House, which was built in 1926 by Catherine’s great great grandparents, and has since been the venue for many special family memories. The Swan House is an iconic landmark in Atlanta, and it was the perfect place for Catherine and Kyle to combine their New York City sensibilities and Catherine’s Southern roots at their stylish wedding.

Thanks so much for Pink Shoe Photography for sharing Catherine and Kyle’s wedding with us!

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. This was my favorite part–I wish I could do it all over again! I found my dress in New York at Mark Ingram. The designer was having a trunk show and I decided to try on my dress. It was perfect and so unique. I’ve never seen anything like it.

We decided to do a first look because we knew we were both going to be really nervous. We felt it would help us relax and enjoy the ceremony.

Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? No we did not. It would have been too nerve wracking!
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? My good friend read the E.E. Cummings poem “I carry your heart with me (I carry it in).”

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: The location. It was very special to me because my great great grandparents built the house in 1926. My father spent time there, and since he is no longer with us, I wanted to honor him and have his presence with us that day.

How amazing are these linens? The stripes are such a unique touch, but the neutral colors keep the overall look classic and elegant.

Our wedding cake was amazing! My friend had the same lady make it for her wedding three years ago, and the moment I tasted it, I knew that it had to be my cake. The lady is the head baker at Ingles grocery store in northern Georgia and she makes a mean buttercream!

What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Being with all of our friends and family for the whole weekend. Our guests traveled from all over the USA and we were so thankful for that. We loved celebrating with everyone and getting down on the dance floor.

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. We met on a cold, snowy January night at a bar in New York City, where we were both attending separate birthday parties. I approached him because I thought he was good looking, and we ended up hanging out all night! At the end of the night, I realized I left my credit card at the first bar I went to that evening, and since it was too late to go get it, Kyle asked me if I wanted to meet with him this week so we could get it together. Since then, we have been inseparable.
Tell us all about the proposal! I went to happy hour with my girlfriends after work and told Kyle I would be home at 9 p.m. He was nervously waiting in our apartment for me to come home, and I ended up staying out until 10:30. When I finally walked in the door, he had balloons, fake cocktail rings and Full House’s Jessie and the Rippers song “Forever” playing in the background. It was an amazing moment that I will never forget.
When did y’all get married? April 6, 2013
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 200
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. I walked down the aisle to a string quartet playing Elvis’ “Can’t Help Falling in Love” and we left to The Beatles’ “All You Need is Love.” Our first dance was to Nikki Bluhm’s cover of “Danny’s Song.” We had a very difficult time agreeing on what our first dance song should be, and the week before our wedding, we went to see Nikki Bluhm in concert. She and her husband sang “Danny’s Song” and we fell in love with it!
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? All of the food was traditional Southern food. Not living in the South has me constantly craving Southern food, so I thought it would be the perfect way to honor my heritage. Plus, I wanted the out-of-towners to experience the best food in the world!
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Two of Kyle’s sisters became pregnant and were due around the day of our wedding. They were unable to attend, and it was really heartbreaking not to have them there. The older sister ended up scheduling an emergency c-section and gave birth during our rehearsal dinner. So thankfully, they were at home in Brooklyn and not at the dinner!
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Elope! Just kidding! Surround yourself with good people, don’t get caught up in other people’s drama, and don’t stress too much. Everything will end up perfectly.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? We are still living in New York City and hope to eventually move back down South. We are excited to see where life takes us!

Photographer: Pink Shoe Photography / Planner: Debbie Felker, by Special Arrangement, LLC / Venue: The Swan House / Florist, Catering, and Rentals: Keith Robinson, Gloriosa / Cake Baker: Tammy Aldridge / Bride’s Gown: Junko Yoshioka-Rio / Paper Products: Peggy Peel and Paces Paper / Bride’s Veil: Saks / Hair Stylist: Debbe Myers / Makeup Artist: Page Luther / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: BCBG / Groom’s Attire: Red by Hugo Boss / Groomsmen Attire: Men’s Wearhouse / Band: Anita

lisa Written with love by Lisa
7 Comments
  1. avatar Wedding Rental Supplies @ Apex Tent and Party reply

    Absolutely gorgeous and touching wedding! Loved this beautiful place and also the beautiful details.

  2. avatar Emily reply

    I adore Catherine’s gown, and of course the romantic Swan House is a jaw-dropping backdrop for their wedding! So fun to hear more of its history. Also, I just found out that scenes from Catching Fire were filmed here, which makes this an even more exciting venue! :)

  3. avatar Amanda {Planning It All} reply

    Gorgeous venue!

  4. avatar Dana reply

    the flower in the cup is an adorable detail!

  5. avatar {Published} Catherine & Kyle’s Swan House Wedding | Pink Shoe Photography reply

    […] you to Southern Weddings Magazine for publishing the gorgeous wedding of Catherine & Kyle. Click here to read all about this […]

  6. avatar Mere Found Her Beau: The Ceremony – Southern Weddings Magazine reply

    […] music inspiration from Megan and Aaron (by Chris Isham) and Catherine and Kyle (by Pink Shoe […]

  7. avatar Sarah G reply

    So lovely! I’m thinking about having my wedding here as well. Do you know where the reception was held? Thanks!

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!

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