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We love when things come full circle! Samantha + John’s photo in our Engaged Reader Round-Up was too adorable (read their proposal story and it gets even better!) Their April wedding by the water took place just a few miles from the Southern Weddings office and was full of community-made charm. I love that Samantha’s lace dress was a Goodwill find and that she and her new hubs decided to mix their two favorite love songs together for a dream walk down the aisle. (And bonus points to Samantha for sharing one of my favorite songs, too!) We’re dishing out big hugs to our friend, Nancy Ray who captured all of S + J’s sweet moments.

Tell us about finding your wedding dress: We had a very tight budget to work with ($2000), and I had just seen a feature in which the bride found her dress at a second-hand shop. I kind of scoffed and thought, “Well that would be nice, but how often does that actually happen to people?!” A week later, I was in Goodwill and saw a gown bag hanging, and thought I’d give it a look-see, preparing for 80s-style gigantic tulle sleeves. Instead, I found a lovely, simple white wedding gown. It was marked at $100 and I was alone, so I just kept walking. For months I wondered about that dress, but figured it had already been bought. Later, I went back with my roommate looking for a pie plate and left with THAT gown, which had been marked down to $50 and fit me like a glove! The manager of the Goodwill actually stopped and shook my hand, saying “We’ve been waiting for the right lady to find that dress, and you’re it!” I may not have had a boutique experience, but that was perfect!

Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? We decided not to. I adore first look photographs, and think it’s a great decision for many couples! John and I both felt the same in waiting until I was coming down the aisle. I just think there is something so precious and timeless about a bride being revealed and presented as she walks down the aisle toward her husband-to-be.
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding. Our friends made up a small acoustic ensemble of a guitar, banjo, violin, and piano. It was phenomenal and just what we wanted! John and I are both musicians so the songs we chose and the instrumentation were very important to us. I had always hoped to walk down the aisle to the theme of one of my favorite movies, Romeo + Juliet, Balcony Scene/Kissing You.” John had always dreamed that his bride would walk down the aisle to a song from his favorite movie, Braveheart, “The Secret Wedding.” We arranged both themes together in one song, and it was absolutely gorgeous and perfect for us! We recessed to the We Bought A Zoo theme by Jonsi. Our first dance was “This Magic Moment” by Ben E King and the Drifters, a la Squints and Wendy Peffercorn from The Sandlot.

Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We did. I was actually freaking out a bit because it was the last thing we had to figure out and we did it the day before the wedding! John and I met the morning before our wedding day, prayed, developed a kind of structure we’d go with, and parted ways for a few hours. I went to the dock by the lake and prayed again and then just started writing. Later we met with our friend and officiant, Dan, who helped us make some small tweaks, but was clear to tell us how perfect our vows were! It’s hard to pick a favorite line or phrase because every line was packed with meaning. It was definitely a special moment for us and for everyone who was there to witness.
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? Psalm 45, which was originally written as a wedding song. It’s beautiful.

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? Both John and I were born and raised in Raleigh, with both of our families having a long heritage in the area. I’ve always wanted an outdoor wedding, so when we were offered the house and considered the budget, all of those quaint and lovely Southern details came about very naturally. We used hay bales for seating and decor, rocking chairs, mason jars for drinking and decor, corn hole that my brother-in-law made, and many Southern vintage touches all over.

Describe your wedding cake or dessert: I asked the many Southern cake-makin’ women in my life to bring their best homemade cakes and pies for all to enjoy! We had a mix of coconut cake, pineapple cake, carrot cake, apple pies, and more. Southern women are serious about baked goods.
What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? Food! Our good friends are amazing chefs and have experience in catering, so they purchased all the ingredients and spent two days making all of the food! It was like a good ol’ family reunion. We had potato salad, baked beans, three kinds of cole slaw, and of course, a pig pickin’.

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. John and I met almost 10 years ago! He is my best friend, Jess’s little brother. The many years that I spent at their house eating meals, making music and hanging out, John was always just like my little brother — but everyone knew he had special eyes for me. I went off to college and we both dated other people and lost touch with one another. When I graduated and moved home, I was single and began working at the same Chick-fil-A as John. It was there, on our lunch breaks, that we re-kindled our friendship and I got to know John as a very wise, adventurous, loving, and handsome young man. Soon after I moved home, however, he moved to Africa for three months, leaving our relationship being a little difficult to interpret. After 10 years, we had never once spoken about any romantic feelings between us! So, I waited and hoped he was feeling the same as I was. When he came home, it was clear. He was a man on a mission to win my heart! We dated for a year and were engaged for four months.
Describe the proposal. John and I had openly talked about our intentions and had been looking at different styles of rings, so I knew a proposal was coming but had no idea how surprised I would be! One night, after falling asleep, I heard a knock on my bedroom window. Certain there was an intruder, I turned on the light prepared to run into my roommate’s room when I hear “Sam! Sam! It’s me John!” Still groggy-eyed and heart racing, I opened the door to him with a huge smile on his face. He passed me a note and said, “I’ll be out here when you’re ready.” The note had a list of things to pack: two outfits, one warm and one nice. We were off on a midnight road trip! John had made a bed for me in the back of the car, complete with blankets and pillows. Hours later, we arrived at a small cove at one of our favorite beaches. John parked the car facing the sunrise, set up the back with roses and candles, and after some sweet words, got down in the sand on one knee.
In what month did you get married? April
How many guests attended your wedding? Approximately 130
Describe your wedding flowers: They were a mix of tulips, stock flowers, snapdragons, and asters, cut fresh and locally grown from Homestead Flower Farms. They were arranged by family and friends.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: The fact that so many of our closest friends and family came together that weekend and helped make it happen. A friend of mine told me later that it reminded her of the Amish. People just came together and brought whatever was needed to make sure it happened beautifully — and it did! Everyone loved having a hand in making it happen. When the sun went down and the trees lit up with lights and hanging lit mason jars, that was pretty magical!
What range did your wedding budget fall into? Less than $10,000
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? It’s so difficult to pick just one, but I’d have to say the whole ceremony. There was something so tangible, special and inclusive about our ceremony. I’ll never forget how blue and intense John’s eyes were as they set on me, coming toward him down the aisle. We just locked our gaze. The sun was just over us, peeking out from behind the clouds with a light breeze, and I had a peace and presence of mind the whole time to remember it all. Saying our vows was the most precious moment, and many of our guests agree that it was theirs, as well.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Embrace the craziness. A good friend of mine told me that there would be stressful moments, and no matter how great I was at planning and organizing, there was no way around it. So don’t be discouraged! Embrace the stress, craziness, and alleged “imperfections” as good, normal, beautiful things. You’re getting married — aim to enjoy it all!
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? John and I love to make music and we love to travel. We’re currently set up in our cozy home in Raleigh with our instruments and dreams of living in a number of other countries as ministers. We’re also looking forward to having lots of kids! We’re not sure how those things all go together, but we’ll find out.

nicoleyang Written with love by Nicole
13 Comments
  1. avatar Lauren reply

    Everything about this wedding is absolutely perfect, right down to the shot gun shells stuffed with flowers! I dream about a wedding like this one! Thank you for sharing your special day.

  2. avatar amanda reply

    It’s not very often that a GROOM catches your attention but that groom is adorable!! He looks SO insanely happy I can’t stand it! LOVE LOVE LOVE. The pictures at the end with the bride in the short dress are my fave, they are so dreamy! It’ just a fun wedding filled with l-o-v-e! Perfection!

    • avatar Nicole reply

      Hi Amanda! I absolutely agree — I love how happy this groom is to marry his sweetie! Their engagement photo is just as adorable.

  3. avatar Victoria reply

    I think the humility and genuineness of this couple shines so much through this interview and the way they handled their wedding, so precious and inspiring!

  4. avatar Ashley reply

    What a beautiful wedding! I love Suzanna’s Antiques and I’ll definitely be shopping there for my upcoming wedding :) Such sweet details!

  5. avatar Maddison reply

    Who is that lovely man in the suspenders? Is he single? I love this wedding! I just love down to earth weddings!

  6. avatar Liz reply

    Nicole/Anyone know where the flower crown that the bride is wearing in the last couple of pictures is from?!?! I love it :)

    • avatar Samantha reply

      Liz: Hi Liz! Here is the link to this head piece http://www.etsy.com/listing/97944846/flower-hair-bridal-flower-crown-wedding

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  8. avatar Megan reply

    Hello! I was wondering where I can find a mint colored gingham shirt! I love the look but have yet to find one for my future hubby!

    • avatar Emily reply

      Hi Megan! J.Crew is always my best source for gingham shirts. They don’t have any online right now, because they’re not really in season, but check early next spring! In the meantime, they do have this solid oxford that looks like it’s mint: http://www.jcrew.com/mens_category/shirts/oxfordshirts/PRDOVR~27156/27156.jsp

  9. avatar Lauren Shaw reply

    Hello! I love this whole look. Can you tell me where this venue was? Thanks!

  10. avatar Pamela reply

    The Wedding was beautiful …they are so cute

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Y’all might be disappointed to know that while Emily and I have had our bulletin boards hung above our desks for weeks, they’re still half empty (but we’re both proud to say they’re looking quite snazzy with the bow ties we pinned to them). It’s so hard to choose which images you love most! Among some of my favorite photos from V4 that I’m choosing between is the one of Paige + Adam’s polished wooden picnic tables. Topped with burlap, candles and colorful flowers and with string lights hanging above, it’s one that appeals to the perfect marriage of natural and refined. As for the other details, we’re just nuts for the newlywed’s oversize chalkboard menu, china seating display and cake buffet. Biggest thanks to Tanja Lippert for sharing this wedding with us!

What kind of food did you serve during the cocktail hour, dinner and dessert? Wine and beer were passed as well as three different appetizers: sweet potato fries, bruscetta, and caprese skewers. We served Texas wines from Becker and Messina Hof Vineyards, and Shiner (a Texas beer) was also served. Additionally, we had a chip and dip bar with guacamole, salsa, queso, and pico de gallo.
Tell us a bit about your first dance. Our “official” first dance was a two-step to Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire.” However, the first song we actually danced to at the reception was Journey’s “Don’t Stop Belivin.” It was candid and unchoreographed, but all our guests thought we had planned it out ahead of time!
Describe your wedding cake: Our main cake was a three-tier traditional white cake with a vanilla butter cream and fondant ribbons. We had three additional smaller cakes that consisted of chocolate cake with chocolate icing, red velvet cake with cream cheese icing, and strawberry-filled white cake with vanilla butter cream icing. The three smaller cakes were displayed on white cake stands and our larger cake was displayed on a large round wooded cheese box. They were 100% delicious!
What is the one thing that made your wedding different from anyone else’s wedding? I’m not sure how unique this is as far as weddings go, but I really tried to put our guests first, including our wedding party. I didn’t want any part of our wedding day to be a hassle or a burden, and I wanted people to thoroughly enjoy themselves. We bussed the guests to the venue from the hotel and even had a bus drop off guests downtown who wanted to keep the party going on 6th Street. I wanted the wedding to be a blessing and ultimately a joyful memory for all.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? We’re looking forward to a future in Austin! We have an amazing community of friends here and a church we love. We hope to pursue Christ first in our marriage and to live on mission for the gospel every day. As we’ve already discovered, this is no small task!
What advice would you give to someone planning his or her wedding? The reality of engagement and wedding planning is often in stark contrast to the romanticized idea of it all. At some point, you will be at odds with your family, with your fiancé’s family, and with your fiancé. You might struggle with a budget, a guest list, and many, many other details. Engagement may very well be the most stressful time of your life. Unfortunately, it is during this time that you should also be preparing for the biggest, most humbling life change you will be making to date. In my case, I was wrestling with all the things God was calling me to be as a wife and everything our marriage would symbolize: a living picture of Christ’s love for His church. I encourage all couples to participate in marriage counseling prior to their wedding and to remember what the wedding day is really all about. It’s the first day of the rest of your lives together as one flesh.

Photographer: Tanja Lippert // Videographer: Paul Raila // Coordinator: Lizze Belle Events // Band: Blind Date // String Quartet: Barton Strings // Venue: Kali Kate Equestrian Center // Florist: Petal Pushers // Wedding Cake Baker: Simon Lee Bakery // Caterer: Crave Catering // Bridesmaid Dresses: bridesmaids’ own, Bride’s Dress: Carolina Herrera // Hair Stylist: Zig Zag Salon // Makeup Artist: Mandy Morrison // Bride’s Shoes: Tory Burch // Bride’s engagement and wedding rings: Andy Feist, Premier Diamonds (972-994-9292) // Bride’s Veil: Warren Barron Bridal // Groom’s Fashion: Suit from JoS. A. Bank, bow tie from Tux & Tulle (etsy.com/shop/tuxandtulle), suspenders from Suspender Store (suspenderstore.com), boots from Lucchese (lucchese.com), Groomsmen Fashion: suits from JoS. A. Bank, ties from Tux & Tulle, suspenders from Suspender Store // Paper Goods: Save the dates from Wedding Paper Divas, invitations from Inviting Affairs, calligraphy by Bailey Amon // Rentals and Linens: Premiere // Ceremony/Reception Décor: guestbook fingerprint tree by Bleu de Toi, table numbers by Pertyfultings, burlap table runners by Straight Stitch // burlap welcome banner by Funkyshique, cake-top banner by Ready Go, hammered table number spoons by Wooden Hive, embroidered handkerchiefs by Embroidery by Melissa // Transportation: R&R Limousine and Bus and Transportation Consultants // Sound: Filo // Officiant: Andy Baxter

We think you’ll love these weddings, too!
Melissa + Eric’s garden wedding here and here
Alex + Paul’s Sperry-tented wedding here and here
Caroline + Tyler’s peachy Georgia wedding here and here.

nicoleyang Written with love by Nicole
7 Comments
  1. avatar Madelynne Miller reply

    Best, most candid and realistic advice I’ve ever seen on this blog. I may just have to copy and paste it onto my own blog!

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  5. avatar doree reply

    what was the menu – it’s hard to read from far away

    • avatar Elaine reply

      Grilled Beef tenderloin, mixed field greens, rosemary garlic potatoes, mac n cheese with toppings

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Natalia + Levi’s wedding was a beauty despite the couple’s not-so-extravagant budget. It’s really an inspiration to many of us (myself and Emily included!) who love shopping flea markets for great surprises. Many of our favorite details were items that Natalia and her mother found while scouring flea markets and antique stores. French doors that displayed table assignments were a steal for $20! Natalia’s mother saw an old house being torn down and paid someone to have the doors delivered to her house instead of being discarded. We love how Natalia + Levi paid homage to the South with their dessert fare. A cake buffet and a “white spot,” a Krispy Kreme donut with a scoop of vanilla ice cream in the middle, paired with Coca-Cola filled tummies all night until the gorgeous sky lantern send off. It’s food that we won’t see anywhere in Paris, but honestly, who’s complaining? That’s why we love the South. Thanks again to Melissa Schollaert Photography for sharing!

Groom’s favorite detail of the wedding: (From the groom) I thought the old cotton warehouse where the reception was held was really cool. I loved seeing how all of the wedding décor complimented the original architecture. Oh, and Hairy Dawg was awesome. Like, REALLY awesome. Go Dawgs!
What was the biggest challenge you faced when planning your wedding? My mom likes to tell me that I have champagne taste and a beer budget. With our big ideas and strict budget, she and I were forced to get creative. We scoured antique markets and found beautiful things in unique places. For example, she saw a construction team tearing down an old home and offered a guy $20 to deliver the beautiful old French doors to my parents’ house. We used the doors at the wedding to display table assignments. It wasn’t always easy, but we had so much fun together on our adventures!
Did you try anything new or untraditional? My godfather, who is like my second father, walked me part way down the aisle and then handed me off to my dad. It was a surprise to me and really touched my heart. My florist and I devised a plan to surprise the mothers. She left two peonies detached from the rest of my bouquet. When I got to the end of the aisle, I was able to pause and present each mother with a peony and a hug before stepping forward into the altar area. We mixed up our bridal party and had both bridesmaids and groomsmen stand on both sides of the altar. I didn’t want it to feel like they were here for only the bride or the groom, but rather for us as a couple.
Describe your wedding cake: Classic City Confections baked the most delicious assortment of cakes! Levi and I cut into a two-tiered red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting in a rosette design. Other flavors included French vanilla with raspberry and pistachio, coconut with lemon curd, chocolate hazelnut with sea salt caramel icing, strawberries and cream, and a chocolate turtle groom’s cake baked by Levi’s sister. Guests also had the option to have Coca-Cola floats and Krispy Kreme donuts – our homage to Atlanta!
Tell us about your grand exit. Our exit was one of my absolute favorite details. Our guests gathered outside the barn and formed a circle around Levi and I and we all released sky lanterns. The view of the sky lanterns floating across the night sky was nothing short of magical!
What advice would you give to someone planning his or her wedding? Hire vendors that you trust implicitly. Working with people who you know will follow through will save you so much stress. Also, never forget that the process is supposed to be fun! If you’re not having fun, you’re not doing it right. Don’t let anyone tell you a wedding has to have or be anything. Want to wear a purple dress and serve cotton candy instead of wedding cake? Do it! A wedding, as traditional or untraditional as it may be, should always celebrate the couple.

Photographer: Melissa Schollaert Photography // Planner: bride, Epting Events // Designer: bride, Epting Events // Venue: Tucker Plantation // Florist: MG Floral // Wedding Cake Baker: Classic City Confections // Caterer: Epting Events // Bridesmaid Dresses: Paul & Joe Sister // Bride’s Dress: Casablanca // Hair Stylist: Scoobie West // Makeup Artist: Scoobie West // Bride’s Shoes: Max Studio // Bride’s Jewelry: earrings by Kenneth Jay Lane // Bride’s Veil or Hair Accessory: veil by Brenda’s Bridal Veils, hair flower by DK Designs // Bride’s Other Accessories: belt from Daniel Design // Groom’s Fashion: Indochino // Groomsmen Fashion: groomsmen’s own // Paper Goods: Red Table Stationary // Rentals: Epting Events // Linens: Epting Events and Cloth Connection // Table runners: screen printed by Satisfactory Print Shop // Reception Décor: cake mugs from Anthropologie, heart pine table tops from Epting Events // Lighting: monogrammed gobo from Epting Events and Live Event Solutions

Love this wedding? You might also like these Real Weddings:
Meredith + Blake (here and here)
Victoria + Michael (here and here)
Caroline + Tyler (here and here)


Melissa Schollaert is a member of our fabulous Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

nicoleyang Written with love by Nicole
13 Comments
  1. avatar Laura reply

    I love absolutely everything about this wedding. From the cotton bouts to the sky lanterns to Krispy Kreme! Gorgeous, and so much inspiration for planning my own wedding.

  2. avatar Amy reply

    Absolutely beautiful wedding! I’m planning a southern destination wedding in Charleston, SC and I love every single detail! I hail from Colorado but I think I’m really a southern girl at heart. I am wondering what the source is for “The South” sign? That is a detail that I would love to incorporate into my own wedding if possible!

    • avatar Natalia reply

      Hey Amy! There are several online sellers, but this was the first website that came up. Hope this helps! :)
      http://store.finishingtouchesetc.com/southsign.html

  3. avatar {chicago wedding photographer] Caroline Ghetes reply

    Wow! I love that table runner. And the bride’s hair is so beautiful! She has a stunning face!

  4. avatar Tim Duncan reply

    Beautiful wedding! The last few photos are gorgeous!

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  6. avatar Floral Cotton reply

    SOOOO CUTE! Love the cotton place markers. We have cotton!

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  8. avatar Dorijean reply

    I absolutely love the personal touches. I am doing similar things and was wondering about the lanterns. I have always wanted to do it and thought my wedding would be perfect since we aren’t really doing a send off. So I was wondering if there was any laws you had to follow. Or if there were restrictions as per say a fire hazard or something? Thanks for the info and pictures.

  9. avatar Savannah Perkins reply

    Were the table numbers purchased or DIY?

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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