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Lisa and I always talk about how we knew we’d be friends even before she started working at Southern Weddings, and that we’d love to hang out and just gush over gorgeous weddings and epic love stories! Well, I feel that same way about Blakely, and I know Lisa would absolutely accompany me with sweet tea in hand to a front porch chat with her!

Not only is Blakely my kind of gal, but her and Curtis’ wedding was also full of sweetly crafted details and meaningful decisions that made their day a perfect reflection of their joy! Based on the gorgeous photo from Natalie Franke of the twinkle lights and the completely packed checkerboard dance floor, I can’t help but imagine how fun their wedding must have been. Be sure to read their adorable interview below for even more cuteness, like this line from their vows: “I promise to have a crush on you always, and to flirt with you even when we are old and wrinkly.” Gah, I love it!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. Curtis and I both grew up on the Severn River in Annapolis, Maryland, but we did not meet until he was a junior and I was a freshman at the College of Charleston. I thought he was devastatingly handsome and completely out of my league. For fall break, I was driving back to Charleston from Annapolis with a friend, and Curtis was flying, so he met up with us so that we could drive some of his stuff back, but I had no idea. As soon as I pulled up, I swore to my mom that I couldn’t get out of the car–Curtis Little was there and I was wearing my “Saturday jeans” (my frumpy jeans). My mom forced me out of the car anyway. Curtis offered to help me carry some of my luggage, and on top of my laundry basket that he picked up was one of my paintings. He held it up and exclaimed, “This is amazing! Did you paint this?” “Yes,” I replied, “but you’re actually holding it upside down.” Mortified at the whole situation, I got into the car and decided to avoid Curtis for the rest of my life. Curtis says it was the first time he really saw me for me, a painter in my Saturday jeans. He decided that the next time he saw me, he would ask me on a date. And for two months, whenever I saw Curtis on campus, I walked the other direction, hid in an alcove, or delved into conversation with the nearest stranger. Finally, on a cold and grey day in December, I was walking out of the library when Curtis came flying down the street on his bike. The way Curtis tells it is, “Among all the black and grey winter coats, there was my girl in a red flower coat and turquoise high tops.” Curtis slammed on the brakes, hopped off his bike, and ran toward me. There, he asked me out on a lunch date. I’ve adored him ever since, and that painting that first made Curtis notice me is hanging in our dining room, upside down!

So darn cute!

I kept telling dress shops that I wanted something that looked like a white oyster shell or whipped cream, with no sparkles. I ended up finding a dress that I thought was the one, but after putting it on at my first alteration appointment, I realized that I did not like it anymore. I thought I would just have to fake it and pretend, but my mom looked at me and said, “I know you don’t like that dress, and you are only getting married once, so let’s find YOUR dress.” She was only in Charleston for one more day, so we searched and searched. We ended up at Bridals by Jodi in North Charleston. There, they had one section where you could you mix and match tops with bridal skirts. I fell in love with this skirt right away–it was a huge mix of tulle with no rhyme or reason. Our amazing seamstress, Nayada, took the skirt, helped me design a really simple top, and built it all into one dream wedding gown.

What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? We chose two readings for our ceremony. The first was 1 John 4:16-19 and the second was Matthew 19:4-6. We wanted our whole wedding to show how our relationship with God is first and foremost. Without God’s love for us or our relationships with God, we would never be able to love one another. We felt those two verses truly captured how we wanted to put Christ at the center of our life and wedding, but still showed joy and fun!

What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they have any special significance to you? I have always dreamed of having my wedding in our 100-year-old colonial-style home. We moved there while I was in elementary school, and it has weathered birthday parties, graduations, proms, and much more. On that back porch was where Curtis decided he loved me, and in our family room was where I decided that I loved him. It was perfect. I got ready in my parents’ room, where I could see guests arriving though the back window. We had the ceremony out back, overlooking the Severn River. Guests then moved to the front yard for lawn games, hor d’oeuvres, and cocktails. We rang the dinner bell that came with the house when it was first built, and guests then headed to the tent for dinner. Finally, we paraded to the backyard for dancing and dessert. The backyard had been totally transformed from ceremony site to dance floor, complete with twinkly lights. It was magical!

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? We had a John Daly as our signature cocktail, which is a combo of Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka and lemonade. We called it “A Little Southern Charm,” because I figured we should play up our last name, Little. Our other drinks were served out of a rowboat. We also had a brass band play through dinner, and they led a parade from the dinner to the dancing in our backyard. The backyard was transformed with a checkered dance floor, twinkly lights, and lanterns hanging off the porch. These elements combined to give us the fun, laid-back atmosphere that defines what we adore about the South.

Describe your wedding cake or dessert. For our wedding cake, we did lots of little cakes on different shades of turquoise cake stands. They were all round, but were many different sizes and texture of frosting. My brother said it was the best cake he’d ever had, and admitted to having four pieces the next day. Curtis’ favorite thing in the world is ice cream, so we rented an ice cream cart filled with cookie sandwiches, Choco Tacos, Reese’s Ice Cream Bars, and more. The guests loved this little surprise. It was perfect for a summer night.

Be sure to watch Drawn to the Image‘s film of Blakely and Curtis’ big day–it’s so very sweet, you won’t want to miss it!

Tell us all about the proposal! After Curtis graduated from CofC, he moved to DC. We started long distance and wrote to one another in a book. I expected to get engaged the next summer, and I wanted him to write about getting the ring, asking my dad, and on and on. Curtis had more ambitious plans to surprise me. I was studying abroad for my spring semester at an art school in Florence, Italy, so for my spring break, Curtis and I decided we would meet in Greece and visit Athens and Santorini. My family told us that it was unsafe for me to travel from Italy to Greece alone, so they were going to come along. When Curtis arrived in Greece, he made it very clear that we were going on a walk in the morning so that could could have some time alone, since we hadn’t seen one another in three months. That morning, we got breakfast and walked to the top of a cliff overlooking the most beautiful turquoise water I’d ever seen. I was raving about the water and the view, my art classes, and Europe itself, when I brought up the book we were supposed to be writing in. Curtis looked at me and said, “Blakely, I can’t write in the book about all those things because I’ve actually already done all those things.” I was extremely confused and thought he was joking until he pulled out the ring. He got down on one knee, told me I was the woman the Lord had made for him, and asked me to marry him. All I could do was scream with excitement!
When did y’all get married? June 7, 2014
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 200
Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We wrote our own vows together about a week before the wedding so that we could practice and not sob through the whole thing. Curtis and I made our vows match in the beginning and ending phrases. In the middle, we made them personal to one another. One of my favorite lines that we both used was, “I promise to follow the Truth, and speak truth to you; to pray for you, and help you remain firm in your faith.” My favorite line that Curtis vowed to me was, “I promise to care for you and love you through color, through turquoise; I will laugh with you until it hurts and will always smile when I hear your sweet name.” Curtis’ favorite line that I said was, “I promise to live with you by the sea in a home overflowing with laughter and enthusiasm for life. I promise to have a crush on you always, and to flirt with you even when we are old and wrinkly.” I’m crying just rereading these!
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. I am super lucky to have a singer/songwriter as my best friend. Becky Kinder (her song “Taken” is actually written about Curtis and I!) sang “How Deep the Father’s Love For Us” during the ceremony, and it brought everyone to tears. I could truly feel the Lord’s presence. Curtis and I danced our first dance to “You and Me” by Penny and the Quarters. We chose it because it throws you back in time and is such a sweet, feel-good song. My dad and I danced to “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra because when I was young, I told everyone that it would be the song my future husband and I would dance to. Since my dad knew I loved it so much, he would always dance with me if it came on. Quickly, it became our song. My brother and I are really close, and he is an amazing dancer, so we had our own dance to “You Make Me Feel So Young” by Frank Sinatra, which was one of my favorite parts of the night. Finally, in honor of Curtis’ late grandpa, we finished the night with “New York, New York.” Curtis’ family are huge Yankees fans because of his grandpa, and after the Yankees win, they play “New York, New York” as the fans leave the stadium. I loved being able to look at Curtis as we were belting the song and say “WE WON! We get to keep each other forever! We really won!”
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: The turquoise door! My mom is the most fun person you’ll ever meet, and one of her “things” is that she is always painting the color of our front door to match the season or event that we are holding at our home. It’s been red, yellow, coral, hot pink, and now turquoise! She and I picked the color to match the invitations, and I thought it looked perfect!
If you are comfortable responding, what range did your wedding budget fall into? $25,000-$50,000
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? Curtis and I moved into a sweet little apartment in downtown Charleston. We are so excited to just be together! Learning to cook dinner and eating ice cream if it fails, loving those around us well and welcoming them into our crazy home, and just praying and holding hands. Curtis has been working as a commercial real estate broker here for about a year, which basically means he knows all the cool new spots in the area. I will be continuing my career as an artist in both my paintings at Blakely Made and in floral design at Charleston Stems.

Photographer: Natalie Franke / Videographer: Patrick McNamara / Venue: Private residence / Florist: Charleston Stems / Wedding Cake: Debbie Kupfer / Caterer: Ken’s Creative Kitchen / Rentals: Rental Works / Bridal Salon: Bridals by Jodi / Paper Products: Sara Metzger Designs / Bride’s Belt: BHLDN / Makeup Artist: Bare Minerals / Bride’s Shoes: Banana Republic / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J. Crew / Men’s Attire: Macy’s / Alterations and Gown Top: Nadya D Custom Design & Alterations / Ice Cream: Scoops2u

Natalie Franke is a delightful member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

marissa Written with love by Marissa
20 Comments
  1. avatar Natalie reply

    Oh my goodness! It is such an honor to see my photographs on Southern Weddings today! Blakely and Curtis are two of the sweetest people you could ever imagine meeting… and I am so happy that you are sharing their love story!

  2. avatar Nicole reply

    Oh goodness, their vows almost made me cry at my desk!

  3. avatar Lisa reply

    Seriously, they could not be more adorable!! Love their story and how lovely and intentional their wedding was!

  4. avatar Stephanie reply

    Does anyone know where she got her mother of the bride’s dress? I love it!

    • avatar Blakely reply

      She got it at neiman marcus! It was a full length dress, which was beautiful too!

    • avatar Maghon reply

      Blakely, I have had your wedding pinned for months! I love every detail. Can you share where you got your canvas pennants? I love the white/natural ones and I want to find them for our wedding on May 22. I keep searching but haven’t had any luck! Thanks so much!

    • avatar Blakely reply

      Hi Maghon! Sorry I missed your comment. I actually made all the pendants. Sometimes you can find old DYI stuff on http://ruffledblog.com/recycle-your-wedding/

      Hope this helps!! Congrats on your wedding!

  5. avatar Alana Klein reply

    Beautiful story! It just made me so excited for me wedding, even though it’s 11 months away! Do you know where they purchased the flag with their initials? I am looking for something just like it!!

  6. avatar Sara reply

    I have to echo what Natalie said – it is an honor to have my invitations featured on Southern Weddings! It was one of the happiest moments of my life to be a part of their big day and celebrate my dearest friends.

    Alana, I designed the flag, but the mother of the groom had it made by Watermark, a company in Annapolis.

  7. avatar Laura reply

    I got the dress at Neiman Marcus. It was full length originally.

  8. avatar seaside maryland wedding. reply

    […] sky, and joy in the air, and I got to marry my dear Curtis! We were lucky enough to get featured on Southern Weddings Blog this week! There you will find all the details to our love story, and our wedding day + amazing […]

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  12. avatar Kristi reply

    I am curious about the invitations in this post. (blue with the compass at the top and water color map included) I love them and would be delighted to find them for a mountain wedding

  13. avatar Mallory reply

    where did she get her beautiful dress?

    • avatar Lisa reply

      Hi Mallory! Blakely’s skirt was from Bridals by Jodi in Charleston, and the top was custom designed by Nadya D Custom Design and Alterations in Mount Pleasant, SC :)

  14. avatar Mother daughter wedding photo ideas to capture on the big day – Wedding Party reply

    […] Natalie Franke via Southern Weddings […]

  15. avatar Susanna reply

    I love your style! And right now I’m really interested in your bridesmaids’ dresses. Where’d you get them?

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Austin + Steven’s wedding is unexpected in the most beautiful ways. Elegant and luxurious details like the bride’s stunning bouquet and glittery accessories are paired with vintage elements like upholstered chairs and rustic furniture. Take a look at their cake and you’ll see all the ideas come together. It was, after all, designed by Austin to represent the design of the wedding. We’re sending big hugs to Christina Carroll for sharing this wedding with us!

Tell us about finding your wedding dress: There were actually two dresses that I really liked. They were both very different, which made the decision even harder. After all the stress in picking the dress, I am soo glad I went with the Lazaro. It is really a one of a kind dress and I think it portrayed my personality better than the other would have.
Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? No, Steven and I are both pretty traditional and I think it is way more exciting when the first look occurs when the bride is walking down the aisle to her groom.

Loving the gold glitter wrap on this boutonniere!

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: The altar. My dad and I made it together and we had so much fun doing it. My dad is an architect and can pretty much build anything you ask him to. Sweet Sunday added flowers, and it looked just like a dream.

Describe your wedding cake or dessert: I actually designed the cake from a few different pictures that I found on the Internet. I wanted a romantic cake that incorporated our wedding. The top layer was actually supposed to be a light grey instead of black. Steven’s cake was exactly what he wanted. My sister-in-law made it and decorated it. She makes the best red velvet!
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? All of our food was breakfast-themed. We both really enjoy breakfast, so why not have your favorite foods at your wedding?
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Next to marrying the man I love, the toasts were the most memorable. We are both so blessed to have amazing friends and family.

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. Steven and I actually went to the same high school, though we never met. He was a year ahead of me. My senior year (and his freshman year of college), we actually met for the first time. My then-best friend introduced us and we hit it off.
Describe the proposal. We were in Portland, Oregon when he popped the question. Steven was at a chiropractic seminar most of the time, but when he had time off, we would go explore the city. One night, after having an amazing dinner right on the water, we found a grassy spot to watch the boats go by. It was so romantic. Right there, he asked me to marry him. It seemed so surreal, I was shaking for two hours after that!
In what month did you get married? March
How many guests attended your wedding? About 215
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding. Our first dance song was Christina Perri’s “A Thousand Years” and our last dance song was Lady Antebellum’s “Heart of the World.”
Describe your wedding flowers: Whimsical, garden, romantic
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Everything is just so expensive these days when it comes to weddings! I had to improvise with a lot of ideas, but that’s the fun part!
What range did your wedding budget fall into? $25,000-$50,000
What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? Flowers. Steven and I made a list, before we decided on anything, of the top five things that are most important to us. Obviously flowers weren’t on his top five, but they were number one on mine. Sweet Sunday did an amazing job and the flowers came out better than I could ever have dreamed.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Get a “day of” event planner. It makes a world of difference! It helps you to relax and be able to enjoy your day without worrying about anything.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? We want to travel. Steven and I have a list of the places we want to see all over the world. After we travel for a few years, we want to start our family!

nicoleyang Written with love by Nicole
15 Comments
  1. avatar Valerie (Pieceful Wedding) reply

    Wow, this is a gorgeous wedding! Love the bright color scheme…the beautiful floral arrangements…the amazing cake…the super pretty bridesmaid dresses…every detail in this wedding is so perfect!

  2. avatar christian reply

    Do y’all know where the groom’s suit is from?

  3. avatar Michelle reply

    Where is the cornhole game from and the bridesmaid’s gold, one-shoulder dress please? Beautiful wedding!

    • avatar Austin reply

      Michelle: Hey Michelle! My father and I made the corn hole game (found plans online) and the gold dress is from Nordstrom, the designer is Adrianna Papell.

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    Where can i get a personalized/monogrammed cornhole board like the one shown in the picture above?

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Merriment Events and Don Mears Photography make my heart happy. Alex + Paul’s May wedding was a springy garden-like celebration that boasted bright florals, which looked even more amazing against Alex’s bridesmaids’ teal green dresses. I love how each gal wore a style that most flattered her, while still color-matching. Of course, I’d be remiss if I neglected to highlight the beribboned wreaths on the doors and the adorable send off. Guests congratulated the newlyweds by ringing dozens of bells as Alex + Paul made their way to their bright blue vintage car. The bells belong to Paul’s family and it’s tradition for them to be rung at family weddings! Now that’s a great way to start a party, no?

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. We became friends during our senior year of college. During the years after graduation, we would bump into each other in random places (twice in Europe and once in Las Vegas!) and the friendship developed into a relationship.
Describe the proposal. I grew up on the beach in Montauk, and over the course of our relationship it became a special place for me and Paul. Paul wasn’t able to plan a trip up to Montauk for us because of my schedule, so he brought Montauk to me to set the scene for the proposal. We came home from dinner to find my backyard transformed into a beachscape—covered in sand with a projection of a Montauk sunset onto a movie screen.
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Unique, personal and intimate.
In what month did you get married? May
How many guests attended your wedding? 250
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: We wrote individual notes to each couple attending the wedding and left them on the table prior to the guests’ arrival. We knew we wouldn’t have much time with everyone so this was a unique way to tell them how important they are in our lives. Dinner was served family style, which was a personal touch that we wanted to incorporate into our day. Gay Berry of A Pimento Catering created an intimate dining experience for 250 people, cooking and managing her staff out of a 20 x 20 tent.
Tell us about finding your wedding dress: I was determined to find my dress in one day, so my mom, my sisters and I set out on a whirlwind bridal tour of New York City. I put a deposit down on a dress and was ready to cancel my last appointment but my mom and sisters convinced me to go anyway, just in case. I walked into Gabriella’s salon in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York and saw that a bridal designer was there for his trunk show. There was one dress of the several I tried on that I kept going back to, but something was missing. We asked to take the straps down, and with that minor tweak it turned into the dress I knew I wanted to wear on my wedding day.

Photographer: Don Mears Photography // Planner: Courtney Spencer // Ceremony venue: St. Bridgets Catholic Church // Reception venue: Maymont // Florist: Flower Girls // Wedding Cake Baker: Sweetest Thing Bakery // Caterer: A Pimento // Rentals: Tent from Skyline // Linens: La Tavola, napkin rentals from Classic Party Rentals of Virginia, other rentals from Beehive Events and Festive Fare // Bride’s Dress: Matthew Christopher // Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade // Paper: Reception calligraphy by Ginny Rogan // Makeup: Stephanie Parker

*Merriment Events is a Southern Weddings sponsor.

nicoleyang Written with love by Nicole
5 Comments
  1. avatar Lisa reply

    What gorgeous flowers and a beautiful church!

  2. avatar HollandPhotoArts reply

    What a sweet & fun wedding to start 2012 off with! How can you not *love* an affair with cowbells?!? Beautiful work, Don, Lindsay & Courtney! xoxo…a&b

  3. avatar Handmade Wedding Albums reply

    What a lovely wedding. Going to that last wedding dress salon was well worth it. Stunning dress.

  4. avatar Colorful Old Edwards Inn Wedding by Gina Zeidler, Part II « Southern Weddings Magazine reply

    […] Love the colors from this wedding? Check these out: Alex + Paul’s outdoor garden-like wedding here and here Tara + Steve’s pink and orange wedding here and here xo Nicole January 19, 2012 | […]

  5. avatar kate reply

    Hi! Would you be able to tell me the desiger for the bridesmaid dresses and color? I’m looking to do the exact same color, but I’m having trouble finding it. Love the emerald green dresses! Thanks so much!

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