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With each and every wedding that appears on Southern Weddings, we are continually inspired by the creativity y’all pour into your wedding days to make them extra meaningful and beautiful. It was no small feat narrowing down this list of the most memorable decor and details of the year, but here are a few that stood out to us!

Katie and Josh‘s hydrangea-covered program table, by Callie Davis for Nancy Ray Photography

Alix and Dodd‘s magnolia ceremony arch, by Kat Braman

Abby and Matt‘s monogrammed ghost chairs, by Our Labor of Love

Amanda and Chip‘s Southwestern-inspired details, by Sara & Rocky

Sally Ward and Patrick‘s place cards, made of magnolia leaves from her childhood home, by Gene Oh

Emily and Josh‘s beautiful family photo display, by Haley Sheffield

Blakely and Curtis‘ nautical backyard reception, by Natalie Franke

Jennifer and Justin‘s pineapple centerpieces, by Nikki Santerre

Lauren and Chad‘s spirited favor display, by Sunglow Photography

Megan and Aaron‘s getaway truck, by Chris Isham

Don’t forget to take a look back at our most memorable bridal styles, bouquets, menswear, bridesmaid styles, and moments of 2014, and let us know which are your favorites!

Nancy Ray Photography, Natalie Franke, and Chris Isham are delightful members of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

lisa Written with love by Lisa
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It took exactly one year for Kimberly and Jason to go from their first date to their wedding day. As someone who never would have imagined I’d get engaged just eight months after starting to date my now-fiancé, I could not agree more with Kimberly’s sentiment: when you know, you know! These two couldn’t resist tying the knot on the same occasion that fell on their first date, the Kentucky Derby. Drawing from this beloved Southern sporting event for inspiration, as well as Kimberly’s passion for all things equestrian, Kimberly and Jason set out to plan a sweet spring wedding, complete with fabulous hats and an abundance of mint juleps. Marilisa of Chancey Charm Weddings was on hand to ensure the day went off seamlessly, and our Blue Ribbon Vendor, Chris Isham, captured every special moment and detail!

On Saturday, May 4, 2013, a dark bay colt named Itsmyluckyday ran in the 139th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Unfortunately for him, it was not his lucky day, as he finished near the end of the pack, but for Jason and me, that day changed our lives forever. It was the day we sat in a corner booth at The Capital Grille in Atlanta for over four hours on our first date. Less than a week later, we had a second dinner date that lasted over five hours, and by our third date, we both finally understood what the phrase “you will just know” meant. We both felt that all the years leading up to us meeting were years that God had used to mold and shape us to be ready for each other.

Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? The layout of our wedding day was a bit unusual in that we wanted to keep the ceremony very small and intimate, with only our families and extended families in attendance. Following the ceremony, we had a cocktail hour so that our ceremony guests could mingle, and the other 200+ guests who were invited to the reception arrived. We decided to do a first look before the ceremony, as we wanted a moment that was all ours to read the vows that we had written for each other. This was the most intimate moment of the day, and one we will never forget!

What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they have any special significance to you? When my dear friend, client, and business partner offered her farm to us as a wedding venue, the decision was a no-brainer–it is immaculately kept and so very serene! My horse is boarded at the farm, and I train clients’ horses, so I am there most days of the week. The farm is like heaven on earth to me! You could truly feel the presence of God at the farm on our wedding day.

I knew that our ceremony was going to be an emotional time, so we added a little comic relief by having my dog, Zhou, as our ring bearer! He goes to work with me every day, so he knows his way around the farm. He did perfectly coming down the aisle and sitting with us, but I guess he got a little bored, because he started rolling around in the grass at my feet. It was a great laugh!

What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Jason and I both agree that when our photographer took us to the pasture to have some photos taken between the ceremony and reception, we were truly able to breathe in the atmosphere. The reception guests had arrived, and the band was starting up, so from a distance, we were able to let everything sink in for a moment.

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: The Kentucky Derby theme was a lot of fun! It was quite significant considering our first date and wedding day were both on Derby Day. I have also ridden my entire life and have made my career training horses, so it fit my personality and passions. Our guests seemed to really enjoy the Derby attire, and everyone looked so posh! We wanted the overall feel to be elegant, yet comfortable, and I think the Derby theme helped us achieve this. From the Derby props in the photo booth to the lavender mint juleps, it was so much fun!

We wanted an environment that encouraged our guest to be up, moving and mingling. We had enough seating/tables for about half our guests, so those who wanted to sit had the option, but we also had a bunch of high tables set out for those wanting to stand. Mac the Cheese was the perfect fit for our desire to have people “grazing” on the Southern fixins’. They set up a couple of Southern food stations, and also served off the truck. We made sure to have plenty of sweet tea as well!

Jason and I discussed eloping right after we got engaged because neither of us considered ourselves “wedding” people, but it was so important for us to have our family there. I was not a girl who grew up dreaming of a fairy tale wedding, so I had to mentally break things down and think of it like planning a big party. In the end, it all turned out to be a fairy tale wedding, and we were so happy that we didn’t elope.

Don’t miss their teaser from Remedy Wedding Films!

Tell us about the proposal! On a Wednesday evening in early October, after having dinner in Chattanooga, Jason and I took a walk across the Walnut Street Bridge. While sitting on a bench overlooking the Tennessee River, Jason asked me to spend the rest of my life with him. We chose May 3, 2014 for our wedding date, and the 140th Kentucky Derby ran as our friends and families celebrated our union, exactly one year from our first date!
When did y’all get married? May 3, 2014
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 75 at the ceremony, about 275 at the reception
Tell us about finding your wedding dress. Finding my dress was one of the easiest parts of wedding planning! I thought it might be a daunting task, as I am not much of a shopper, and I had never thought about my future wedding dress. I made three appointments on one day and invited my mom and sister to join me. My second appointment was almost cut short, as I did not want to dig through the hundreds of dresses on the racks at Bridals by Lori, but my sister jumped at the opportunity and started bringing dresses to me in the fitting room. I tried on a few that were beautiful, but the fourth or fifth dress brought a tear to my eye when I walked out to show my mom. The dress was so unique and had so many different elements to it. It was a perfect fit for my personality!
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? For the ceremony, we wanted all the glory to be given to God. A childhood friend of mine, who is now an ordained minister, told our story of how God brought us together, and we took communion. We also put a unity cross together to represent two becoming one. We had scripture read, as well as praise and worship music played.
Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! My something borrowed was a hair clip that my sister (my matron of honor) had worn in her wedding. For my something blue, I had fabric that belonged to my late grandmother (a seamstress) sewn in the underside of my dress. My something old was an old Italian handkerchief given to me from our mentor couple on our wedding day. I wrapped it around my bouquet under the diamond horseshoe brooch that I had pinned to the stems.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Breathe…your engagement should be about the marriage, not the wedding. We attend North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, and we were blessed to go through their premarital mentoring program. It was time well spent leading up to the biggest decision of our lives. We loved our mentor couple and continue to seek their wisdom and guidance!

Photographer: Chris Isham Photography / Videographer: Remedy Wedding Films / Planner: Chancey Charm / Ceremony and Reception Venue: Serenity Farm / Florist: Bloomin’ Bouquets / Cake Baker: Cakes by Darcy / Caterer: Mac the Cheese / Rentals and Lighting: Classic Party Rentals / Band: Az Izz / Photo Booth: Wow Photo Booth / Paper Products: Ecru Stationery & Design / Bridal Salon, Bride’s Accessories, and Men’s Attire: Bridals by Lori / Hair Stylist: Studio Todd G / Makeup Artist: The Moore Agency / Bride’s Shoes: Benjamin Adams and Stuart Weiztman / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Bravura / Monogram Throw Pillows: I Do Linens / Transportation: Easy Ride Golf Carts

Chris Isham is a delightful member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

lisa Written with love by Lisa
8 Comments
  1. avatar Emily reply

    Love that their wedding was able to take place at such a special spot for them!

  2. avatar Occasions In Print reply

    I think the small ceremony was a great alternative to just eloping. Beautiful wedding!

  3. avatar Charmaine (Rustic Folk Weddings) reply

    Love how the couple incorporated the cross at the altar. Beautiful wedding!

  4. avatar Marilisa reply

    Such a blessing to have worked with this amazing couple! Their sincere focus on the marriage more than just the wedding details was refreshing and obviously radiates in their love for one another in the photos :) Thanks SW ladies for sharing!!

  5. avatar Rachel Nordgren reply

    As someone who LOVES horses, this looks like the most darling wedding! What a beautiful location, and I adore that they had their dog in the ceremony!

  6. avatar Sarah Chancey reply

    This wedding was such a blessing to be a part of!

  7. avatar Chris Isham reply

    Y’all are the best! Thanks so much for sharing this wedding!! :)

  8. avatar 5 Gorgeous Rustic Romantic and Elegant Wedding Ideas & Color Palettes – Elegantweddinginvites.com Blog reply

    […] Wedding Lady/via Southern Weddings/via Bryan N. Miller Photography/via Jane Means […]

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One thing we love most about the South, and Southern weddings in particular, is that accompanying a love for tradition is an equally strong love for being true to ourselves. Today’s lovely couple, Megan and Aaron, are a perfect example of this. Planning a wedding in six months, walking down the aisle to bluegrass music, and playing lawn games in October, for example, are all things that many people might consider “against the rules” when it comes to weddings, but as Megan realized, there really aren’t any rules! As a result, their wedding was full of moments and details that truly meant something to them.

We’re so inspired by Megan and Aaron–thanks to Chris Isham for sharing their wedding with us!

We had talked about getting married for quite awhile, but the night we got engaged was a complete surprise. Two of my friends from Nashville were in town for the weekend. Aaron found out the ring was ready on Friday, and after talking with the girls, he made a plan to ask me that same night. For the entire night, the girls were stalling me, but I had no idea–he apparently kept texting them to say he needed more time. After a leisurely stroll through the park, a concert, and a tour of my place, we finally arrived at Aaron’s house. His car wasn’t there, so I assumed he wasn’t home. After some coaxing to get me into the kitchen, I turned the corner to see him standing in the dark with candles lit, tons of flowers, and the cutest handmade sign ever. I was in complete shock, but of course, I said yes!

I knew I wanted a very neutral color scheme for the wedding overall, but I also wanted to have a few subtle hints of fall. My flowers were mostly white and blush with green accents and hints of rust and dark brown. I don’t know a ton about flowers, but I told the florist what I was looking for, and they completely nailed it!

Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! My old and blue was one and the same. Within the last few years, I lost my grandparents. They were the sweetest couple and I really admired their marriage. My grandfather served in the Vietnam War, and while he was away, he sent my grandmother a sweet pillow cover that said, “Sweetheart- Until we meet again, sweet thoughts to you I send, may all my blessings be with you, Your sweetheart always true.” I had my seamstress cut this part of the pillow cover and sew it into the bottom of my dress. It was a way to have them as part of the wedding even though they weren’t physically there. My something new was my dress and jewelry. For my something borrowed, one of my maids of honor took part of the leftover material from her bridesmaid dress after she had it altered and incorporated it into a garter for me.

We hired a bluegrass band to play at our reception and a few songs for the ceremony. Instead of going with traditional wedding songs, the wedding party and I walked down the aisle to some fun, upbeat, traditional bluegrass songs. It fit perfectly with the setting and casual atmosphere I wanted for the wedding.

Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We chose to say the traditional vows that our pastor provided us with, but there was a line in them that I hadn’t heard before. It said, “I pledge to never stop learning to be your husband/wife.” It was my favorite line because it’s so true that marriage is a learning process. Neither of us is going to be perfect all the time. The goal is to learn how to be a better wife/husband throughout this journey.

The biggest challenge for me in the whole wedding planning process was trying to find a venue. We got engaged in April and we wanted to get married by November. Since most brides plan their weddings at least a year out, I had a hard time finding availability. I stumbled upon a venue in Asheville called Yesterday Spaces and absolutely fell in love, but they only had Sundays available. After talking it over with Aaron and my family, we decided we could make it work if we had the wedding earlier in the day. Once the venue was locked in, wedding planning was smooth sailing from there on out.

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? Our wedding had a very Southern feel. The setting was on a farm and the ceremony was outside. At the reception, we opted for a buffet-style dinner with lots of yummy food, including a good ol’ Southern side of mac and cheese, and of course, sweet tea!

Describe your wedding cake or dessert. I went with a small, simple, white, round cake with ombre ruffles, and then had a variety of cupcakes with mini ruffles. Aaron isn’t a big dessert person, but he does love apple pie, so instead of a groom’s cake, we also had mini apple, pecan, and pumpkin pies. The desserts were displayed on white porcelain stands and slices of tree to give the dessert table the rustic and elegant look I was going for.

What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? You don’t have to go with tradition or do what everyone else does. In some aspects of our wedding, I felt like I needed to do the “traditional” things, but some of them just didn’t feel like us. After someone told me I didn’t HAVE to do anything, I quit stressing about the things I felt like I should do, and just went with things that we liked.

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. In the summer of 2011, I was encouraged to try online dating by a friend’s sister. I brushed it off, but later mentioned it to my roommate. After being “dared” and curiosity getting the best of me, I took the plunge and joined an online dating site for one month. Luckily, Aaron was encouraged by a few friends to give it a try as well and joined at the same time I did. Three months after communicating, we met up in Greenville for a brief coffee date, and then two months later, we had our first official date in Nashville. We dated long distance for almost a year before I moved to Greenville, and we got engaged a few months after I moved down.
When did y’all get married? October 27, 2013
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 120
Tell us about finding your wedding dress. I went home to Nashville to go dress shopping with my mom over Memorial Day weekend. I knew if I didn’t find a dress that weekend, I would most likely have to shop without my mom, so I was determined to find something. I found my dress at the second store we went to and I fell in love with it immediately. We already had an appointment set up at another store afterwards, so I went to take a look at some other options, just in case. The whole time I was there, I kept thinking about the other dress, so we rushed back to go get it!
Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? We did do a first look. Aaron was hesitant, but I wanted to be able to hug, kiss, and talk to him the first time I saw him that day. I’m so glad we did. The rest of the day flew by, so it was nice to share a few moments alone before all the craziness of the day started.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: The caterer created “His” and “Hers” signature drink to serve. Aaron likes ginger, so his was a blackberry ginger lemonade. I love fruity drinks, so mine was a sparkling strawberry, pineapple, and kiwi cocktail.
What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? I can honestly say I was thrilled with all my vendors. Every one of them was amazing to work with, and they truly wanted to make our wedding day wonderful. The day went off without a hitch because of their hard work, which made for a fun and stress-free day.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Taking communion together as a couple during our ceremony is something that stands out from our wedding day. A friend of mine played a song we love on her guitar while the pastor prayed over us, and we had communion privately. It was just a special moment between the two of us.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? Aaron and I are in the process of looking for and buying a house. I can’t wait to get settled into our first home together, start lots of traditions, and make lots of memories as a family.

Photographer: Chris Isham / Videographer: Hart to Heart / Planner: Verge Events / Venue: Yesterday Spaces / Florist and Lawn Games: Flora / Cake and Cupcakes: Tiffany’s Baking Co. / Catering and Mini Pies: Dining Innovations / Linens: Classic Event Rentals / Band: Bear Down Easy / Favor bags: Sixpence Press / Honey Favors: Hortons Farm / Cake Topper: Better off Wed / Lawn Signs: My Repurposed Life / Bridesmaid Robes: Silk and More / Chalk Art: Ryan Staus / Bride’s Gown: Augusta Jones / Bridal Salon and Veil: The Bride Room / Paper Banners: Megan Brooke Handmade / Flower Hairpiece: Pure Blooms / Jewelry: Dessy / Hair Stylist: Amanda from The Secret Spa / Makeup Artist: Wendy Ballance from Blush / Bride’s Shoes: Nina / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Georgette Collection from Aria / Men’s Attire: Men’s Wearhouse

Chris Isham is a delightful member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

lisa Written with love by Lisa
6 Comments
  1. avatar Rustic Farm Wedding at Yesterday Spaces reply

    […] lovely folks at Southern Weddings have featured our wedding today on their blog. Be sure to head on over to check out some additional […]

  2. avatar Emily reply

    Too many beautiful things to point out about this wedding – I adore the going away truck, the fall ceremony, and the s’mores bar!

  3. avatar Kyla F reply

    The neutral color scheme of Megan and Aaron’s wedding sits beautifully against the backdrop of the autumn landscape. I really like their food selections, especially the s’more station and mac & cheese -such fun details! The idea of taking communion together as a couple is so special, too. That is something I would love to incorporate into my own wedding someday.

  4. avatar erin {a lowcountry wedding} reply

    love this smores bar!

  5. avatar January in Review reply

    […] I shared pictures from our rustic farm wedding at Yesterday Spaces. And also shared that our wedding was featured on Southern Weddings. […]

  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 […]

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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