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Laura and Jonathan’s Texas wedding is absolutely lovely, as you’ll see below, but what’s most inspiring about this couple is how much they prioritized what matters most during their three-month (yes, only three!) engagement. They left most of the details in the hands of Chrissie Stuntz and Branching Out Floral and Event Design, and spent their time as an engaged couple focusing on preparing for their marriage. Laura described their celebration as “casual and comfortable and good for the soul,” and from the looks of it, that is exactly what they achieved!

Thanks so much to Stephanie Brazzle for sharing this sweet day with us!

Describe your wedding flowers. Oh gosh, to be honest, I don’t have a clue what a single flower in there was called. All I know is that they were stunning! Debby Jewesson brought my dreams to life–beautiful greens and whites in a beautifully imperfect, but still elegant, combination. I remember explaining the vision for our wedding to her as “casual and comfortable and good for the soul.” She brought that to life in the best way.

Planning for our marriage was absolutely the priority for Jon and me. We prayed for our marriage–a lot. We worked hard to make sure the actual wedding took a backseat to our relationship. We read books that older, wiser couples recommended to us. We went to professional premarital counseling and had the opportunity to talk through our communication and conflict styles, our expectations, and other difficult topics, such as budgeting and families. We really recommend it!

Our vows were a hybrid of the traditional wedding vows and vows written by a pastor at Living Hope Church in College Station, Texas. I really love every line, but I will share just a few here! From Jonathan’s, “By God’s grace, I will love you and lead us towards Christ. I will provide for you, pursue you, and keep you safe.” From mine, “I will encourage you, support you, and in all things, fight to put your needs before my own.” From both, “I will never leave you, because God commands me, and because I love you.”

What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they have any special significance to you? I love trees and Jonathan loves anything outside, so I immediately started looking for a giant, majestic tree to host our ceremony in front of. I didn’t realize that most of the trees that serve as wedding venues are located a bit outside the city. After a LOT of searching, we found the Cooper Hotel and Fitness Center right in the middle of Dallas. We were able to have the ceremony and the reception outdoors at Cooper, so it was the perfect choice for us.

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? The food! Blue Bell ice cream, brisket, quesadillas, and cornbread. There is nothing like Southern cooking, and we enjoyed sharing these traditions with Jonathan’s family, who came from all over the country. Also, the fact that we had an outdoor wedding in late October was quite Southern–you can’t do that in the North!

What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Sitting down at dinner next to Jonathan and looking around to see everyone he loves and everyone I love together in one place, eating and laughing and enjoying the evening. These are the people who will stand by us through every hard thing, whose relationships we cherish, and in that moment, we were able to look around and remember “Every person here is a gift to us. We are thankful.” I will never forget that!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. I met Jonathan in India during our intern year at International Justice Mission, an NGO that protects the poor from violent injustice. We had both just graduated from college and moved across the planet to begin this work that meant so much to us, and we were initially a bit annoyed to find a really incredible, relatable, and distracting member of the opposite sex working in the department next door. We hesitated to begin a relationship for a lot of reasons, but after several months, Jonathan asked me to dinner at the nicest restaurant he could find. We fell in love over French-pressed coffee and chicken tikka masala, while driving his scooter through the streets of a city so dear to us, and constantly learning something new about our good and gracious God.
Tell us all about the proposal! Jonathan COMPLETELY surprised me, which is impressive because I was on high alert! Back in the States, I flew home from meeting his family in Milwaukee. We had a tearful goodbye, and I had no idea that he was totally faking it and jumping on the next plane to follow me to Dallas! I was walking through the Arboretum with my best friend Kellie, when there he was, this incredible man, asking me to be his wife. I said YES!
When did y’all get married? October 25, 2014
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 170
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Our timeline! We wanted a three-month engagement, so we didn’t have the luxury of shopping around. Fortunately, we had Chrissie Stuntz (the greatest wedding planner of all time) to lead the way–she knew everyone and everything, and with her connections, we were able to make bookings very quickly!
What was one way you saved money or cut costs at your wedding? We used a LOT of greenery, which was far more affordable than flowers and just as beautiful. We lined all our own envelopes and e-mailed out our save the dates. Cooper Hotel let us bring in our own alcohol, so we bought all the wine and beer at Costco. We also used Uber for our getaway car, which I highly recommend!
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Make a list of things that you and your fiancé really, deeply care about including in your wedding. Stick to those priorities regardless of what challenges them. Take a deep breath and LET GO of everything else. Two other random suggestions: 1. Take an AdvilPM the night before your wedding so that you actually sleep, and 2. Give a bridesmaid the specific job of looking you in the eye about every hour or so and saying something like “Stop. Look around. Remember and give thanks for this moment.” I wish I had remembered better to stop and be so grateful for the incredible people surrounding me all day, and for all they were doing for Jon and me.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? Jonathan and I are enjoying the cozy apartment life in our completely new city of Madison, Wisconsin (brrrrr!). We start law school (Jon) and graduate school for social work (me) in the fall. We loved living in India and are certainly open to moving back, but until then, we are learning how to be married and enjoying the American life–cheeseburgers, coffee shops, and baseball games included. :)

Photographer: Stephanie Brazzle / Planner: Chrissie Stuntz / Venue and Catering: Cooper Hotel and Conference Center / Florist: Branching Out Floral and Event Design / Cake Baker: Romano’s Bakery / Rentals and Lighting: Taylor’s Rental Equipment Co. / Band: Inside Out / Special Details: Destiny Foundation / Paper Products: Minted / Bridal Salon: Bridal Boutique of Lewisville and Olivia Caballero / Hair and Makeup: La Bichette / Bride’s Shoes: Vans / Bridesmaids’ Dresses and Groom’s Attire: J.Crew / Groomsmen Attire: J.Crew and Banana Republic

lisa Written with love by Lisa
4 Comments
  1. avatar Lee reply

    I love how you incorporated your Kappa pin! I am also a Kappa and have been trying to find a way to “wear” mine and my sisters’ pins as part of my something blue or something borrowed. This is a beautiful wedding!

  2. avatar Martha reply

    Such a great wedding story. Loved reading it! Any chance we could get the details on the designer and style of that gorgeous dress?? I absolutely LOVE it!

  3. avatar Featured: Southern Weddings » Dallas Wedding Photographers – Stephanie Brazzle reply

    […] If you missed out check out Laura and Jon outdoor wedding on Southern Weddings […]

  4. avatar Marisol Arguello reply

    Beautiful pictures and Beautiful wedding.

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Hayden and Logan met when they were just tykes, and the two grew up together, spending their Friday nights the good ol’ Southern way–at high school football games (Emily, our resident Friday Night Lights fan, will love this detail)! H + L knew they were meant for each other, and by the time their wedding came around, their marriage had been a long time coming (eight years to be exact!). The two planned a beautifully touching day at Hayden’s family farm. Of course, the venue was gorgeous, and there were even chandeliers in the tree and cows that overlooked the ceremony(!), but my favorite part of this wedding has to be Logan’s response to his favorite part of the day: “I couldn’t tell you who was in the crowd that day because my eyes were glued to the only thing that mattered. She was beautiful and perfect and about to be my WIFE! It was the best feeling in the world.” I joked with Lisa that she sent me a note about how pretty this wedding was, but didn’t warn me that I’d cry while reading their interview!

Thanks to Tucker Images for sharing such a romantic day with us!

My mom, grandmother, and two sisters flew down to Houston for a day of dress shopping. After going to two places with no luck, we finally headed to my favorite boutique. I was so sure about the style I wanted: trumpet, sweetheart neckline, and no lace. I went to that store to try on a particular dress I just knew was perfect, but when I tried it on, it just wasn’t the one. My heart was crushed that the dress I had been dreaming about wasn’t for me. I then tried on one more that my sister had found, and it was beautiful, but it had lace, so I was a little hesitant. When I came out to look in the mirror, I couldn’t stop smiling, and seeing my family’s reaction, I just knew that was the one. It was even better than what I had envisioned for myself!

Describe your wedding flowers. We went for a soft, garden-like feel with creams, whites, blushes, and peaches. We used ranunculus, Juliet garden roses, peonies, white lilac, eucalyptus leaves, O’Hara garden roses, hydrangeas, and snapdragons.

The Homeplace is my family farm, and it is so dear to our hearts. My family has been spending holidays and summers there since before I was born. Countless memories have been made, from picking out Christmas trees on the hayride with all the cousins, to hunting in the deer stand all afternoon with Logan. Logan has learned to love the farm almost as much as I do–he has been visiting it with me for seven years, after all! The ceremony was held under The Elephant Tree, a century-old oak tree that my great-great-grandmother planted years ago. Growing up, my cousins and I have climbed that tree countless times, spending hours in it. When thinking of venues, we couldn’t imagine our wedding being anywhere other than our favorite place in the world.

These two are so stinkin’ cute!

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: We had cafe lights strung in a zigzag fashion inside the tent and draped over the dance floor outside. Without them, our venue wouldn’t have felt as intimate as we wanted it do. Another one of my favorite details was all of the signs that were staked in the ground. Logan pulled up part of an old fence in our backyard and sawed them into arrows, and my mom and I stayed up late one night at the farm painting them all while listening to the sounds of the outdoors. That one night of peacefulness with her during a hectic week is a wonderful memory.

Describe your wedding cake or dessert. Since we got married in the middle of nowhere, we used this little country bakery, who had actually been on Cupcake Wars! They are so talented! I showed them a picture of what I wanted and they knew exactly how to make it, adding in a little of their own creativity. My cake was three tiers with a taller middle tier. The surface was buttercream frosting with horizontal ridges in it. There were different flavors in each layer: New York strawberry cheesecake, lemon, and (my favorite) orange Dreamscicle. I also surprised Logan with a groom’s cake. Since he is in the Air Force and is training to be a fighter pilot, we had a 3D F-16 plane made out of raspberry chocolate fudge. It was all so delicious!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. I can’t remember the moment we met because we always kind of knew of each other. Even though we played in the same soccer organization and were both in middle school band, we never said much more than hi to each other. Finally, by the end of eighth grade, Logan informed our mutual friend that he thought I was cute. We instant messaged each other for a couple of months before we bumped it up a notch and went to the movies together. He asked me to be his girlfriend while we were waiting for his parents to pick us up! After that, we fell for each other fast, knowing the Lord was already preparing us for marriage at such a young age. High school consisted of watching Logan quarterback for our football team as a cheerleader on the sideline every Friday night. After we graduated from high school, we went to two separate colleges–he went to the University of South Carolina and I went to Texas A&M. We weren’t sure how we were going to handle long distance, but I’d say it worked out pretty well. :)
Tell us all about the proposal! After dating for almost seven years, Logan finally asked me to be his wife at his Air Force graduation. He had gone off to boot camp for two months, so I could only talk to him through letters. I was so diligent about writing him every day. His graduation finally came and the day couldn’t have gotten any better. Both of our families flew down for it, and we planned to take some pictures to commemorate it all with Logan in his Air Force uniform. Logan led me down a path by ourselves to scope out a good spot for us to take pictures, and I could tell something was different. He wasn’t saying much and his hands were clammy. I immediately knew it was happening and my heart started fluttering as he led me to the garden. He proceeded to tell me he had waited long enough to call me his wife and that God had prepared his heart so much after being away from each other for two months. He then got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife, and my family all came out from hiding after they watched it all! Once it was all over, Logan told me that he had no idea he was going to propose at his graduation before he left, so he had exchanged letters with my grandmother during boot camp, asking for one of her loose diamonds to make into a ring. My grandmother and his dad did everything to make sure the ring was perfect by graduation. It couldn’t have been more special.
When did y’all get married? May 3, 2014
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 220
Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? We decided not to do a first look. When we discussed it in the beginning, Logan said that he really wanted to see me for the first time walking down the aisle to be his wife, so that’s what we did. I loved building the anticipation and wondering all day what he was going to think of me. We did, however, hold hands around a corner and talk for a little while to alleviate some of the nerves, which we were so thankful we did, because it calmed us down during the hectic-ness of the day.
Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? One of the biggest visions we had for our wedding was to make it feel personal and intimate. We wanted our guests to feel like they were included in our relationship, which every one of them was, and for them to understand our love for each other. With that in mind, we decided to write our own vows. We each wrote our own, which was so special. My favorite vow of his was, “I promise to fight for our marriage and pursue you from this day forth. To protect you from your fears and to guard you heart.” My favorite vow of mine was, “I promise to support you as the leader of our family and follow you wherever God leads you.”
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. We had our friends play the violin, viola, and guitar throughout the ceremony. I walked down the aisle to Canon in D. I dreamed of walking down the aisle to this song since I was a little girl and knew it was perfect. During communion, they played “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” and helped us center the commitment we were making on God. We played “Gone Gone Gone” by Phillip Phillips for our recessional, which kicked off the party with its upbeat rhythm. Our first dance was “You are Mine” by Spencer Combs. I had never heard of this song before, but stumbled upon it while watching wedding videos. The words were so true and meaningful for us.
Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! For something borrowed (and old), I wore my great-great-grandmother’s gold wedding band. For my something blue, I wore a blue topaz ring that my grandmother bought each of my sisters and my mom on our 18th birthdays. For my something new, I wore my veil (which I ripped on the day of my bridals, but superglued back together!).
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? The most Southern detail about our wedding was having it at our family farm in the countryside while the cows overlooked our ceremony. Logan also built corn hole for our guests to play during the reception. And the night wasn’t complete without lots and lots of sweet tea!
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? The biggest challenge for me, besides trying to stay within budget, was planning a wedding while finishing nursing school. I was five hours away from my family and six hours away from where we were getting married. It was so hard to stay focused and be diligent with my studies, while at the same time, needing to make decisions on napkins and meet with vendors. My grandmother really stepped up and helped me by constantly calling me and seeing what needed to be done. She would call me at least three times a week and tell me what she had done, and it just felt like such a relief each time she would say something was marked off. She really was my wedding go-to girl and I’m so thankful for my Nanners! Our wedding wouldn’t have been possible without her.
If you are comfortable responding, what range did your wedding budget fall into? $10,000-$25,000
What was one way you saved money or cut costs at your wedding? We cut costs by having the wedding at our farm. This saved us by avoiding a venue fee and being able to choose our own catering company. We have a family friend who owns a yummy Mexican restaurant, so he helped us out a lot! I also had my high school friend DJ for us, which made it so much more personal and fun.
What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? We were so thankful for our photographers, Britney and Ben Tarno, from Tucker Images. We had met them right after we got engaged and knew that they were so talented, but we had no idea what down-to-earth, Jesus-loving, kind people they were. The wedding day wouldn’t have been the same without them. They kept us comfortable and sane all day and gave us amazing direction when it came time to take pictures. To us, it is most important to spend your money on great photographers, because that’s what you’re going to have to remember your day by. And let me just tell you, we were so impressed by ours. Britney and Ben just completely made our day.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? From Hayden: It is so hard to pick one most memorable moment, but I would have to say it was driving away in our little car after everything was over, and being able to step back and realize that we were finally husband and wife after eight years! It was the first time no one else was around and we could replay all of the wonderful, intimate moments of our day. From Logan: Hands down, it was seeing her come through the curtains and walk down the aisle to me. The anticipation had been built up so much, and after years of imagining what that moment would be like, it was finally here. She looked stunning and I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. I couldn’t tell you who was in the crowd that day because my eyes were glued to the only thing that mattered. She was beautiful and perfect and about to be my WIFE! It was the best feeling in the world.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Don’t sweat the small stuff! I would get so bogged down in little details that didn’t matter or that would work themselves out. I was so nervous that no one would know where to put my decorations on the wedding that I actually sticky-noted each and every little thing and told them where to put it. In the end, that stuff didn’t even matter. I would also advise taking the time to really talk to your fiancé, and I don’t mean going on dates and talking about the wedding. Make a pact that you will only talk about wedding details for a certain amount of time each day. This way, you can focus on the commitment you are about to make and get your heart and your mind ready.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? We are living in Dallas and I just got a job as a nurse at UT Southwestern Hospital. Logan works at SBM Management at Bell Helicopter and is in the South Carolina Air National Guard, training to be an F-16 fighter pilot. We are praying fervently that God will open up a position for him within the year, which could possibly take us anywhere in the US. Coming from big families and long distance, it was hard for us to get any alone time together. After eight years of dating, we finally have a place to call ours where we can make our life together. We love getting into a daily routine and figuring out where to grocery shop, what church we want to join, and all of the little decisions a family makes. We are so excited to see where God takes us!

Photographer: Tucker Images / Venue: Private residence / Florist: La Tee Da / Cake Baker: The Luscious Crumb / Caterer: Carmona’s Tex-Mex and Cantina / Rentals: All American Party and Tent Rentals and Iron Inspired / Bride’s Gown: “Sabrina” by Matthew Christopher / Bride’s Veil: Patsy’s Bridal Boutique / Hair and Makeup: Micaela Soto / Bride’s Shoes and Bridesmaid Dresses: J. Crew / Men’s Attire: Jos. A. Bank

Tucker Images is a delightful member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

marissa Written with love by Marissa
3 Comments
  1. avatar Lisa reply

    So beautiful! I love their proposal story, and all of their portraits are absolutely dreamy!

  2. avatar Kat reply

    Loving her centerpieces! Gorgeous!

  3. avatar Mario Valtierra reply

    I’m really liking the groom’s suit. Could you provide me with details on where to find it? It looks like it’s light blue. Is this correct? What’s the name of that color? I’m getting married late this year, and we’re doing a beach wedding. Thanks!

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A bride whose nickname growing up was Miss Scarlett, who has her wedding at an antebellum plantation, serves beignets, and puts “Roll Tide” in her interview? I think I might have found a new BFF (sorry KNW!)! Jessica and Thomas are absolutely my kind of folk! Southerners through and through, these two planned their wedding day with a “Gone With the Wind-meets-modern-elegance feeling” that I think turned out divinely! From their Alabama-inspired welcome baskets to mama-made praline favors, each detail was not only a nod to the South, but to their families and the traditions they had grown up with.

Big thanks to Ms. Leslie Hollingsworth for the gorgeous photos of their lovely day!

What was one way you saved money or cut costs at your wedding? Our wedding was definitely full of DIYs! My mom made the delicious praline wedding favors, and we had a very sweet family friend who designed the adorable stickers for the praline bags. My best friend/maid of honor/official matchmaker did the calligraphy for our save the dates and designed our wedding koozies. My mother-in-law and mom made most of the delicious goodies in our welcome bags. My mom and dad went above and beyond the “DIY call-of-duty” by re-covering lounge furniture and pillows so that I could have the lounge seating area I had always wanted!

As soon as we had our wedding venue booked, I knew I wanted to find my wedding dress. I am the most indecisive person on the planet, so I wanted to give myself plenty of time to make the decision! I made two appointments in Birmingham one Saturday with my mom, future mother-in-law, maid of honor, and my bridesmaid. At the first salon, I was so convinced that I had found the one, we almost didn’t go to the second appointment! We decided to go anyway, just to make sure. I am so glad we did because the last dress I put on absolutely took my breath away. I, along with the rest of my group, was in tears, and I didn’t want to take it off! I still loved the first dress, but there was definitely something very special about this second dress.

Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? We did decide to do a first look. As we started planning, we both realized that we were probably going to be nervous wrecks on the day of the wedding! We decided that it would help us relax to see each other beforehand, and I am so glad we did. It was such a special moment that we got to share alone during the craziness of the day, and seeing his face as I walked down the aisle was still one of the most wonderful moments of my life.

What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they have any special significance to you? Thomas and I are Southerners through and through, so I knew our wedding had to be as Southern as possible! From day one, I knew I wanted to get married outside at an antebellum plantation under live oak trees, and have a reception in a beautiful white tent. Nottoway Plantation had everything on my wish list! One of our favorite parts about Nottoway was the fact that our ceremony, reception, and guest accommodations were all in the same place. This took so much stress away from us and our guests! Nottoway is also very close to New Orleans, one of our favorite places. We decided to make the whole weekend a getaway for our family and friends, starting with the rehearsal dinner in New Orleans that Friday night.

Describe your wedding flowers. I did not have a specific vision for flowers, but I knew I wanted them to be neutral with hints of blush. Kali at The Plantation Florist did such a wonderful job turning my vague vision into a beautiful reality! She used mostly white, ivory, and blush pink flowers with hints of greenery and dusty miller. My bouquet was mostly ivory and blush peonies. I cried the first time I saw it because it was so beautiful! We incorporated succulents into the reception flowers to add a little something different to the arrangements, and we wrapped all of the bouquets in gorgeous ivory and blush French silk ribbon from Frou Frou Chic.

Describe your wedding cake or dessert. Thomas and I are two of the biggest sweets lovers you will ever meet (and so are both of our families), so the wedding cakes were extremely important to us! After two different tastings, I finally chose a sour cream pound cake with layers of cream and fresh strawberries in between the layers, covered in a traditional buttercream frosting. Thomas chose a chocolate cake with chocolate icing covered in chocolate ganache, and needless to say, there wasn’t much left of it afterwards! As a nod to his love for hunting, he topped his cake with a fondant wood duck next to a sign that read, “The Hunt is Over.”

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: It is a close tie between our wedding cakes and the photo booth. Our cakes were unbelievably delicious, and I definitely had more than one slice of each! We ended up adding the photo booth at the last minute, and I am so glad we did. It has been so much fun to look back at the pictures of our friends and families having fun at our reception, and seeing some of our guests in a much different light than usual!

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? What wasn’t Southern about our wedding?! A spring outdoor wedding at a beautiful antebellum home outside of New Orleans with a traditional ceremony is about as Southern as it gets! My nickname growing up was Miss Scarlett, so I knew I wanted the wedding to have a Gone With the Wind-meets-modern-elegance feeling. From my lace off-the-shoulder gown to our traditional Second Line dance at the end of the reception, everything about the wedding was quintessentially Southern. One of the most important parts of the wedding to us was having food with a Southern vibe, because we did not want our guests to leave hungry! We began the weekend with welcome bags full of mini king cakes, cheese straws, and elephant candy (ROLL TIDE!), all handmade by my mother and mother-in-law. For the reception, we served some personal favorites, like shrimp and grits and red beans and rice. We also had a sandwich station where guests could make their own barbecue sandwiches, topped with goodies like fried green tomatoes. We ended the night with mini corn dogs, sweet potato fries, and fresh beignets! As wedding favors, we passed out my personal Southern favorite: pralines handmade by my wonderful mother.

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. Thomas and I were introduced during our freshman year of college by our mutual best friend, Mary Meigs (my maid of honor!). Thomas began his college career at Auburn University while I was at the University of Alabama, but he came back home to Tuscaloosa to visit his friends regularly. Mary Meigs casually staged a “run-in” between us one weekend–little did I know that Mary Meigs and our other mutual friend Catherine (another future bridesmaid!) had been talking me up to Thomas via Facebook! We ended up going our separate ways shortly after we met, but I never forgot about him. He returned to Tuscaloosa for good that summer and began his quest to win my heart over (again). After over a year and a half, I finally agreed to go on a first date with him (again), and we have never looked back after over five years together!
Tell us all about the proposal! I spent the majority of last summer studying for the Alabama bar exam, while Thomas spent the majority of last summer trying to cheer me up while I was studying! When I got back from taking the bar, Thomas (still trying to cheer me up) suggested that we head up to Birmingham that Saturday to have a celebratory dinner and do some shopping. Deep down, I wondered if he was planning to propose, but I put it out of my mind because he seemed WAY too calm to be planning anything sneaky, and my mom was out of town that weekend and would have killed him if she wasn’t there for our proposal. As I was getting ready, his mom invited us to meet her and Thomas’ niece and nephew by the Black Warrior River for some yogurt on our way out of town–they knew I couldn’t resist ice cream and babies. When we got there, Thomas suggested we walk down to the river to wait for them, since they were running late. Well, instead of getting ice cream, he got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife! His wonderful sister-in-law captured the whole thing on camera, and when we headed back to his parents’ house for some champagne, he surprised me again by having my parents there waiting for us. It was absolutely perfect!
When did y’all get married? March 29, 2014
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 110
Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We had a traditional Episcopalian ceremony, which we think is one of the most beautifully written ceremonies. Since we were not married in a church, it was very important to us to have a traditional Christian ceremony to keep God as an integral part of our wedding. Tradition is very important to us, and reciting vows that have been in our church for hundreds of years held a very important significance for us.
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? We chose three traditional scriptures for our ceremony and had each of our sisters-in-law to read them: Song of Solomon 2:10-13, 8:6-7; Colossians 3:12-17; and John 15:9-12.
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. I walked down the aisle to Trumpet Voluntary–my heart swells every time I hear it, and I have always dreamed of walking down the aisle to it! Our first dance was “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” by James Taylor. Thomas told me the day after we got engaged that he always thought of us when he heard that song, so it was a no-brainer for our first dance. I chose “The Way You Look Tonight” for my first dance with my dad. It is one of my favorite wedding songs, and the Frank Sinatra version was a perfect fit for my dad and me.
Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! Of course! My something new was a beautiful cross necklace that Thomas gave to me the night before our wedding. For my something borrowed, I pinned the pearl drop that my dad gave to my mom on their wedding day on my bouquet. I wore a lace garter with blue ribbon for my something blue, and the ribbons for my bustle were also blue. For my something old, I carried my great-great-grandmother’s handkerchief and a dime in my shoe. The dime belonged to Thomas’s maternal grandmother and has been worn by his mom and both of his sisters-in-law on their wedding days!
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? It definitely wasn’t easy planning a wedding in Louisiana while I lived in Tuscaloosa and my mom lived in Mississippi. Thankfully, we were able to do so much over the phone and through email, and only had to make a few trips to Louisiana during the planning process. Thomas did not see our venue in the daylight until two weeks before the wedding! My mom and dad also live relatively close to New Orleans and Nottoway, and they were so sweet to take a few trips over there for us when we couldn’t get away!
What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? This is an absolute no-brainer: Leslie Hollingsworth! Leslie went above and beyond her job as photographer the entire weekend, and we were so lucky to have snagged her. There were definitely some tense and stressful moments that day, but Leslie was always there to calm me down and cheer me up. She made me feel like a rock star all day! Our pictures could not be more gorgeous and they perfectly captured the happiness and joy that Thomas and I felt on our wedding day. Brides, if you are in need of a photographer, book Leslie immediately before someone else does!
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Enjoy every minute! I was very fortunate to have two families and a wonderful fiancé who enjoyed helping me plan, so the whole process was a lot of fun for us. Soak up every precious moment because it is such an exciting time in your life, and it passes by way too quickly!
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? We bought a house in Tuscaloosa and are having so much fun decorating and making it our own. And our dog, Scarlett, is enjoying having her mom and dad under the same roof finally!

Photographer: Leslie Hollingsworth / Videographer: One Louder Productions / Venue and Catering: Nottoway Plantation / Florist: The Plantation Florist / Cake Baker: Sweet Impressions Bakery / Band: Rewind / Bouquet Ribbon: FrouFrou Chic / Bride’s Gown: Martina Liana / Bridal Salon and Veil: Ivory & White / Paper Products: Kyle Fine Stationery / Hair and Makeup: The Salon at Nottoway / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: After Six / Bridesmaid Dress Salon: Sash Bridesmaid Boutique / Groom’s Attire: Jos A. Bank

Leslie Hollingsworth is a delightful member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

marissa Written with love by Marissa
7 Comments
  1. avatar Abby reply

    wow!! what a stunning venue!!! Beautiful wedding! Congrats Jessica and Thomas!

  2. avatar Wedding Rental Supplies reply

    Gorgeous wedding! Loved the beautiful details and unique theme of this wedding. Also loved the pretty colors used.

  3. avatar Friday Fresh Squeeze #140 | Floridian Weddings reply

    […] elegance perfection (we wouldn't expect anything less!) from our Fave, Leslie Hollingsworth, at this plantation wedding in […]

  4. avatar Jessica & Thomas’ Nottoway Plantation Wedding | Leslie Hollingsworth, New Orleans Wedding Photographer | reply

    […] *FEATURED ON SOUTHERN WEDDINGS HERE […]

  5. avatar Danielle reply

    i am really interested in the green bridesmaid dresses how do I go about purchasing them? Please help many thanks Danielle

    • avatar Lisa reply

      Hi Danielle! The bridesmaid dresses are by After Six. You can find them here: http://www.dessy.com/bridesmaid-dresses/aftersix :)

  6. avatar Rachel reply

    I love the koozies. Where did you order them from?

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