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Unfortunately, it’s inevitable that not everything is going to be perfect at your wedding–however, there are moments that absolutely will be! For Audrey, that moment came as she was walking down the aisle with her father by her side, surrounded by their friends and family. Though the Marlsgate Planation and beautiful weather certainly helped, the best part was the realization that she was about to marry her best friend, Kasper. With sweet Southern details woven throughout their wedding day, Audrey and Kasper celebrated their marriage with a seated dinner that would make any Southern grandmother proud–it included fried chicken, collard greens, and cheese grits, just to name a few!

Gracious, I’m sure glad Amanda Watson shared this lovely day with us!

P.S. Can we please take a moment to talk about Audrey’s amazing Southern bump and custom Lea-Ann Belter gown? I positive this look just shot to the top of my list of classic Southern style favorites!

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. My mother and sister met me in Dallas and we made a weekend of it! After a long, super exhausting (but fun!) day on Saturday, we narrowed it down to one dress at each boutique, but I still didn’t feel like any of them was “the one.” Our last appointment was at the Bridal Boutique in Lewisville, Texas, which I chose because they are the only boutique in DFW that carries Berta. The dress I had in mind was lace with long sleeves. After trying several of this style on, the store was closing and I still didn’t feel like I had found the right dress. Our stylist said “Hang on a minute, I have something in the back that you might like.” She brought out a fitted, dupioni silk dress with a trumpet skirt and a dramatic train. When I put it on, we all knew that it was the dress that I would walk down the aisle in. It was a one-of-a-kind design that they were sending back to the designer. Our stylist called Lea-Ann Belter in Toronto, and she agreed to design a custom dress just for me! It fit like a glove and was absolutely perfect!

We decided to do a first look in the English gardens beside the plantation house. We really wanted to have that moment together in private to see each other and soak in what the day was all about before the craziness began. Also, it made taking pictures so much easier, as we got all the group pictures over with before the ceremony and were able to go straight to the reception without holding up the dinner.

My most memorable moment was when my dad walked me down the aisle and I saw Kasper standing on the porch. The whole view of the plantation was perfect, the weather was perfect, the string quartet on the balcony was perfect, the wedding party looked amazing, and all of our friends and family were there. I couldn’t believe that it had all come together so perfectly and I was actually getting married to my very best friend. It was surreal and I will remember that forever.

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: Our favorite detail of the wedding was the event branding by my sister, Jessie Russell. Jessie is an art director with a Master’s degree in Communication Design from the Pratt Institute in NYC. She pulled the whole wedding together, from the invitations, to the programs, to the menus, and even the wax seal design that we used on the envelopes and the rice bags. We were truly blessed to have Jessie to make every detail cohesive.

Charlie Roberts designed the perfect cake for our big day. It was a classic and elegant, five-tiered cake with alternating flavors of strawberry and vanilla. It had white buttercream icing with a layered rake design. The base of each tier had a string of white edible pearls. It was topped off with beautiful flowers and the base was decorated with eucalyptus garland.

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? The Southern thread was woven all throughout our wedding. For starters, the venue was an old, Southern plantation that has been around since 1885. The reception was a seated dinner that comprised of a lovely watermelon/pecan spinach salad with pepper jelly vinaigrette dressing, bone-in fried chicken (the ultimate Southern dish), sautéed collard greens served in a mini mason jar, cheese grits, cornbread muffins, and sweet potato biscuits, with sweet tea to wash it all down! All of the guests were given mini bags of rice that were thrown during our send-off. My husband, Kasper, comes from a family of rice farmers, so the traditional rice had to be used.

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. We met in the fall of 2012 when we were introduced by our mutual friends. We went to dinner in Little Rock, Arkansas and ended up talking until the restaurant closed. The chemistry was undeniable and it was apparent to both of us that this was the beginning of something special.
Tell us all about the proposal! One Saturday morning in May 2015, Kasper took me to the farmers market in Fayetteville, Arkansas to walk around and listen to the music. We got coffee and then walked by these beautiful flowers in the middle of the town square. Kasper got down on one knee, and I was in such shock that all I remember is saying “YES!!!” and then turning around to see my brother, sister, cousins, Kasper’s sister, and several friends cheering and taking pictures. We all went to lunch together and celebrated for the rest of the day. It was the best day of my life, until the wedding, of course.
When did y’all get married? May 21, 2016
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 200
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? We had our wedding officiant read from 1 Corinthians 13:4-13, as well as Ephesians 5:22-33. He also read the seven things we love most about each other (our planner, Catherine Tapp, had us send them to her without us knowing what she was going to do with them). It was a fun surprise and the guests loved hearing them and seeing our reactions.
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. We wanted the ceremony to be very traditional. The John Jarboe String quartet sat on the balcony of the plantation and played Canon in D for the bridesmaids processional, the Bridal Chorus when I walked out, and the Wedding March for the exit. One special song that played was “Sunrise, Sunset” from the musical “Fiddler on the Roof.” That is one of my mother’s favorite musicals, so they played that for the seating of the parents. Of course, my mom cried the whole way down the aisle!
How did you plan for your marriage while planning your wedding? Kasper and I went to premarital counseling with his hometown preacher from the Jonesboro Church of Christ, Chris Harrell. We also did a couples devotional and listened to the wise advice that our parents shared with us.
What’s next for you as a couple? What memories are you looking forward to making together? We are making our home in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Kasper is an attorney and I am a physician recruiter. We are looking forward to summer fun at the lake, relaxing evenings at home, cheering on the Razorbacks this fall, and holidays with friends and family.

Photographer: Amanda Watson | Videographer: Jessie Swaffar | Planner: Catherine Tapp | Venue: Marlsgate Plantation | Florist: Carly Jones | Cake Baker: Charlie Roberts | Caterer: Simply the Best Catering | DJ: Ryan Thetford | Special Details and Photo Stylist: Lindsey Zamora | Paper Products: Jessie Russell | Bride’s Gown: Lea-Ann Belter | Bride’s Jewelry: Sissy’s Log Cabin | Hair Stylist: Sara Beth Leader | Makeup Artist: Bobbi Brown Cosmetics | Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Alfred Angelo | Groom’s Attire: Walker Brothers | Groomsmen Attire: Generation Tux | String Quartet: The Jarboe String Quartet | Audio Visual and Ceiling Draping: Central Arkansas Entertainment | After-Party Venue: Little Rock Marriott Hotel

marissa Written with love by Marissa
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We often joke around in the office about how often Lisa and I cry reading the sweet interviews from our bride and grooms. However, sometimes, with the gravity of the stories shared with us, it’s almost impossible not to. After her father’s sudden passing just two months before their wedding, Maggie shared with us how Travis tenderly cared for not only her, but for her family. Carrying that servant’s heart into their marriage, Maggie and Travis started their wedding day by washing each other’s feet and the feet of their immediate family members and wedding party, together. But, that’s not the only way these two honored their family– they also carried on the tradition of getting married in Cape Charles, the town where Maggie’s grandmother grew up in. With so many sweet memories from the past, and even more from their wedding day, Maggie remembers that returning for Thanksgiving after the wedding was magical!

We’re delighted that Gracie Blue shared this special day with us!

What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they have any special significance to you? Yes! Cape Charles is the town my grandmother grew up in. I always admired and respected my grandmother for her gumption, resilience, and poise. She was married in Cape Charles, my aunt was married in Cape Charles, and my cousin/best bud was married in Cape Charles. We still have the house she grew up in, and have spent summers, Easters. and Thanksgivings there. It means so much to me and to Travis, who fell in love with it the first time he visited. Getting married in this place was a way to honor our heritage and our family history, and to carry on the tradition. Returning there for Thanksgiving after our wedding was MAGICAL! I kept thinking about how all of “our people” had been in this town, in this house even. I walked down these steps in my wedding dress. We said “I do” right on this dock. It is so sweet that the place we got married is a place we will return to time and time again. It made Cape Charles more special than it already was!

I went dress shopping with just my mom because I didn’t want to be overwhelmed by opinions (plus, my mom has EXCELLENT taste). We went to a total of three places, and I knew I did not want anything strapless or lace. The dress I ended up with was the second dress I tried on at the first place we went, Anna Be in Denver. I wasn’t sure at first, but as I looked at myself in the dress, I started to cry, which is SO unlike me. Sure enough, that dress was both strapless and lace. After that, I compared every dress to the second one I tried on and nothing had the same WOW effect. Mom and I both knew it was “the one” and went back to Anna Be to seal the deal. When they put the veil on me, I was blubbering. I still adore my dress and wish I could wear it every day!

Music is really important to both of us. I love piano so we HAD to have a piano, which was perfect for “Interlude” by Shane and Shane for my walk down the aisle. It’s a really lovely song. Trav loves “Come Thou Fount” as a proclamation and “Divine Romance” is what my relationship with Jesus has been marked by. One night, Trav and I were driving late and he played the Glee version of “Teenage Dream” by Katy Perry. We started laughing about the idea of playing it for a few seconds at the wedding. Then we both said, WAIT, why not?! Our friends were able to play it on the piano and we had a short, surprise dance party. We take marriage seriously and we honor and love the Lord and those around us, but we are also lighthearted and fun.

What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? For us, the loss of my dad two months before the wedding was a sucker punch. It made everything so hard. We had to keep planning, but desperately wanted to grieve and curl up in a ball and hide. In hindsight (I was too shocked to realize this at first), Travis stepped up in a way no other man could. He was so present and supportive. He helped my mom navigate planning the service and finances, he reached out to my friends to let them know how I was doing, he helped around the house, he comforted my brothers and supported them like a brother and father would. He was phenomenal. He was so supportive and gentle with me, seeking to love me and care for me and understand. Meanwhile, he learned how to honor and navigate his own grief. I was just blown away by him and how he stepped up. During that time, preparing for our marriage, which was the MOST important thing, seemed so overwhelming. We just had to pray that the Lord would be present on that day and that he would be working in the crevices of our heart to bring healing and redemption. And He showed up, big time. :)

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? The location, the food, the traditions, the music/band…so many things! Not to mention the fried chicken, oysters, mac and cheese, sweet potato biscuits, country ham, shrimp and grits, watermelon salad…

I wanted traditional, Southern flowers that were full of color. I wanted stargazer lilies and peonies because they are my mom’s favorite flowers. Hydrangeas, magnolias, and gardenias were incorporated because both my grandmothers and my mom carried them in their bouquets. My mom and I have expensive flower taste, but we both really cared about the flowers and my bouquet (which was absolutely fabulous–they nailed it!).

How did you plan for your marriage while planning your wedding? We went to counseling regularly and took time to pray together often. We went on dates and tried to NOT talk about the wedding. Something that was important to us BEFORE engagement was to feel like we were really on the same team, a united front. We started counseling before engagement (but only went once, actually, before he popped the question!). It kept us grounded and focused, and reminded us of the purpose of our wedding. Though we put in a LOT of effort to make it an amazing weekend, we really were over wedding planning because we just wanted to be married!

Don’t miss Maggie and Travis’ wedding film by Light Cannon Films below!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. Travis and I met in the summer of 2008 at Camp Timberline in Estes Park, Colorado. He was the photographer; I was a counselor. Our friendship began over a love for our other home, North Carolina. At the end of the summer, Travis asked for my number–I thought he just wanted to be friends. The following fall, I was cruising through my sophomore year at the University of North Carolina and, lo and behold, Mr. Travis Bartlett continued to show up in Chapel Hill to “take me out.” He continued to check in and say hello, but I was not really having it. Travis was present throughout my final years at Chapel Hill and many of my college friends recall his visits, but we never became anything more than friends, though he certainly tried. Moving along, I spent summer 2012 in Kenya for work. At that time, I raised my salary, and one night, I was in the lodge working on a donor update email. On a whim, I decided to include Travis on my update, though we hadn’t spoken in awhile. To this day, I have no idea why I added him, but we are both glad I did. He emailed me back and offered to support me monthly ($100/month!). He became the biggest personal donor I had and, immediately, I wondered aloud if I would have to marry him based on his support! I moved back to Denver in August of 2012. Once we we back on the same coast, we began talking again, and, of course, I now had to stay in touch with him because he was supporting my salary. Then, a Tuesday night phone call in November tugged at my heartstrings. After that three-hour conversation, I hung up and could not stop smiling. Travis was finally about to win his girl. We began dating long distance and he moved to Denver in June 2014. We got engaged in November after dating for two years.
Tell us all about the proposal! From Travis: I had this amazingly elaborate scheme of proposing to Maggie in a park close to where she grew up in Denver. We would always go on walks to the park and along the Highline Canal (something that Maggie did a lot of growing up). I wanted to set up Christmas lights in the trees, so I showed up early Friday morning (the day of the planned proposal) and did so, equipped with tons of layers, lights, and equipment. After work, I showed up at Maggie’s house to find her sick and feeling terrible. To make matters worse, one of her best friends got engaged the same night, and there were dolphins and sunsets and all kinds of epicness. I was like, DANG! We got in the car to drive to her parents’ house because she didn’t want to stay at her place that night, as her roommate was throwing a dinner party. On the way over, she was still sick, but her mom told me, “Travis, just do it. This is how life goes.” However, I realized I just couldn’t do it that night because she was so sick. Saturday came and I was up early along with the snow…tons of snow. Mags was still not feeling well, but I was doing my best to get her to go on a walk. We were all scheming to get her out of the house, but the last thing she wanted to do was get out of bed and walk in the cold. Finally, I convinced her to go on a six-block walk to the park where I was going to propose. When we saw the park, Mags said, “I am ready to go back.” But I stood behind her as the lights turned on, and handed her a letter and journal. She started freaking out, trying to understand what was going on. When she turned around, I was down on one knee. She jumped up and down, ran AWAY from me in excitement, then ran back and slid to me in the snow. I gave her the ring and she said YES! We sat in the snow under the trees for 30 minutes, crying and laughing, as we read through my letter and journal that I kept throughout the ring-buying and engagement process (because I knew she would want to know all of the details). After we got too cold, we walked back to her parents’ house to find her family waiting for us in excitement.
When did y’all get married? June 20, 2015
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 250
Did you decide to do a first look? Why or why not? No, I wanted the first time Travis saw me that afternoon to be down the aisle, surrounded by friends and family. That was also such a fragile moment because my dad passed away suddenly just two months before the wedding…it was really tender and sacred. We also didn’t do a first look that day because we knew we would see each other that morning. We planned to wash each other’s feet and then wash the feet of our immediate family members and wedding party, together. That was absolutely one of my favorite memories. It was a powerful way to share Jesus with others and to proclaim that the banner over our marriage was selflessness and sacrifice for others. It was very emotional for so many reasons–for the loss we had faced, for the loss others had faced, for my cousin/best friend who was diagnosed with cancer when my dad passed, for those who humbled themselves to receive it, to hear Travis pray over our marriage and relationships and friendship. It was incredible. Hands down, the best way to start a day and our marriage.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Remember that your marriage is far more important than the details of your wedding day. Make decisions quickly, don’t drag them out. Hold your wedding loosely–so many things can change that you CAN’T control. Don’t stress so much about how you look–be healthy and you will GLOW on your wedding day!
What’s next for you as a couple? What memories are you looking forward to making together? For now, resting and nesting. Spending time together, still loving NOT planning a wedding, grieving the loss of my dad and cousin, and enjoying time with family and friends. We want to travel and live abroad in the next year, but also want to get back to Sun Valley, Idaho (where Travis used to live) to explore the mountains (we’re mountain people!).

Photographer: Gracie Blue | Videographer: Light Cannon Films | Planner and Special Details: Alex Meyer Events | Venue: Private residence | Florist: Palette of Petals | Cake Baker: Cape Charles Coffee Shop | Caterer: Sweetwater Cuisine | Rentals and Lighting: Big Top Entertainment | Band: Risse Band | Paper Products: Travis Bartlett and The Paper Lady | Bride’s Gown: “Abelle” by Anna Maier | Bridal Salon: Anna Be | Hair Stylist and Makeup Artist: Behind the Veil | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: “JH5412” in Blush by JLM Couture | Menswear: Men’s Wearhouse

marissa Written with love by Marissa
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I spent Christmas and New Year’s in my home state of Texas, and I must admit, I miss it already! Thankfully, I have Lauryl and Langdon’s lovely Pilot Point wedding to admire from afar and give me a little dose of the Lone Star State in North Carolina today. This sweet couple was inspired by the natural beauty of their venue (White Oaks Ranch, which you may recognize from this V7 editorial!), and with the help of their planner, After Yes Weddings, and florist, Coco Fleur, they celebrated their marriage with a wedding that struck the loveliest balance between rustic and elegant.

Thank you so much to Apryl Ann for sharing this beautiful wedding with us!

My something borrowed was the beautiful long veil I wore, loaned to me by my matron of honor. Putting the veil on for the first time was one of my most emotional moments of the day. My something old was my ring, which had belonged to Lang’s grandmother, who passed away before we met.

Describe your wedding flowers. White Oaks is so lush and green, so I really wanted to keep the flowers minimal and let the natural greenery be the star. Our invitations incorporated ferns, so I asked our florist to do the same, which she did beautifully.

I loved the altar covered with ferns. Our florist left empty vases on it for each of our mothers to put their bouquets in. We then combined their bouquets with mine during the ceremony to create a unity bouquet!

The ceremony featured acoustic guitar renditions of some favorite songs, including “Here Comes the Sun” by George Harrison for our parents, “Best Day of My Life” by Bright Eyes for the wedding party, “Rise” by Eddie Vedder for my walk down the aisle, and “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz for the recessional.

What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they have any special significance to you? I’ve spent a lot of time in Pilot Point with my parents, riding their horses on the local trails, so I already loved the area. I wanted a casual outdoor ranch wedding, and Lang wanted a more traditional, formal wedding. The outdoor pavilion at White Oaks was the perfect mix of traditional elegance and a very natural, outdoor setting. I also loved the 100-year-old tree where we held the ceremony.

Describe your wedding cake or dessert. We had a toasted meringue-covered Quatros Leches Cake from La Duni. We love La Duni, and I loved the simplicity and color of the meringue.

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? We both wore our cowboy boots and encouraged our wedding party, family, and guests to do the same with their black tie attire. We also had the band play lots of classic George Jones and Don Williams!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. We met at a karaoke dive bar in Dallas with a large group of mutual friends. A friend wanted to introduce us because we had the same last name. Lang sang several songs that night, the highlight being Dean Martin’s “That’s Amore,” which became the song he would always sing to me at karaoke bars.
Tell us all about the proposal! We were on vacation with my family at Lake Tahoe over Christmas. Lang had asked my dad for his blessing before the trip, so everyone knew his plans except for me. After a day on the slopes at Squaw Valley, Lang sat down next to me at the top of the mountain as I was putting on my snowboard and proposed. He’d bravely kept the ring in his pocket all day while skiing!
When did y’all get married? May 3, 2014
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 125
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. Our first dance was to our favorite slow song, Keith Whitley’s classic “When You Say Nothing at All.” We ended the night with all the guests swaying arm-in-arm in a big circle to Dean Martin’s “That’s Amore.”
What was one way you saved money or cut costs at your wedding? I have graphic resources through my work, so I opted to purchase artwork files from the invitation designer and then sourced a local letterpresser to do the printing, formatting, and assembling of everything. I also recruited the help of crafty friends and family for the frames, signs, and table numbers.
What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? Our band, The Revolvers. We received so many compliments on them from our guests, and they learned countless new songs for us. They really made the night special for us!
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? If you can hire planners, even for just the day or month of, it’s well worth it. I could not have imagined a more stress-free wedding week or weekend. Amanda Connolly with After Yes was wonderful to work with through every step of the planning process.

Photographer: Apryl Ann / Planner: After Yes Weddings / Venue: White Oaks Ranch / Florist: Coco Fleur / Wedding Cake: La Duni / Caterer: Gil’s Elegant Catering/ Rentals: Ducky Bobs / Lighting: Absolute Lighting / Band: The Revolvers / Invitation Design: Antiquaria / Invitation Letterpress Printing: Elefant Press / Bride’s Gown: Allure / Hair Stylist: Rachel Andonian / Makeup Artist: Rachel Andonian and Rebecca Longmire / Bride’s Shoes: Lucchese / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J. Crew / Photo Booth: Photobooth Love Notes

lisa Written with love by Lisa
7 Comments
  1. avatar Anastasia reply

    I adore her paper goods! The ferns in the envelope are gorgeous, as is her dress! Love!

  2. avatar Dana reply

    pretty cowgirl boots!!!

  3. avatar Caitlin Sullivan reply

    Every detail in this wedding is absolutely stunning! And it looks like it all starts with the venue and the lace dress!!

  4. avatar Stacy {Woodsy Weddings} reply

    Look at all the beautiful greenery and florals. The greens are so rich, it really compliments her the white flowers.

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