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Both Lisa and Emily know I’m a sucker for pink and gold weddings–I simply adore them. Kelsie and Evan’s wedding took my pink and gold love affair up a notch with their addition of bright, bold pops of coral! I’ve always professed not to be a flower person, but Kelsie’s bouquet of lush coral charm peonies, peony tulips, and David Austin roses has me wondering if the tide is changing. After dancing the night away under a ceiling of flowers, I imagine any guests with my hesitations became converts too! Silks a Bloom brought the outside in with their ornate installation, complete with Edison lights woven within the flowers to up the romantic atmosphere. A surprise late night snack of Chick Fil A nuggets just might be the only thing able to challenge those stunning blooms for the title of favorite detail from this fun celebration!

We’re sure glad Weddings by Christopher and Nancy shared this beautiful day with us!

P.S. Have you signed up for our Fruitful Summer series yet? There’s so much goodness in store whether you’re dating, engaged, newly married, or have a few years under your belt! See it all here.

I had an early morning appointment scheduled at Proposals Boutique in Little Rock, Arkansas with my mom and my older sister. It was such a special day because it was the first time I truly felt butterflies about our wedding day. We were the first customers at the store and were helped by an old family friend, Betsy. She made the day so special and memorable for us, and even shared a few happy tears! I went in with a completely open mind. Betsy had me try on all different types of dresses and materials. I had my heart set on the third dress that I tried on and thought it was the perfect one. Betsy was about to have me try it on one last time after about nine dresses, just to see if the spark and excitement were still there. At the last minute, my mom found a dress hanging on the rack and suggested I try it on, just to see what it looked like. As soon as I tried on the tenth dress, I pictured Evan’s reaction to seeing me in this dress. Betsy added the veil and the belt, and my eyes began to water. Betsy knew it was the dress for me because she commented on how I kept touching the dress, swaying in it, and moving so differently in this one compared to the others. After walking around the store a few more times, I knew I had found “the dress.” It was perfect, and even more special that it was picked out by my mom. We popped a bottle of champagne after Betsy asked me if I wanted to “say yes to the dress,” and it truly felt like my wedding planning had really kicked off!

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: The florals! Dancing all night under a cloud of flowers was probably one of the best parts of the day. I also loved my bouquet so much that I sent it off the day after the wedding to have it preserved in a shadowbox. I cannot wait to see how it will look in a few weeks!

We were so thrilled to do a first look! This was something we knew right off the bat that we wanted to do. I had seen one of my friends do one and saw how special it was for them. We both knew it would be a meaningful moment we could share together, and it would help calm our nerves before the ceremony. Our photographers, Christopher and Nancy, also suggested it, and we are so glad we went with our gut instincts. It was one of the most memorable moments from our wedding day.

Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We did write our own vows! It was something we had decided on months before the wedding, although we ended up writing them a few days before/the night before the wedding. My favorite line was “I promise to continually see the good in you every day, and I will no longer roll my eyes at you, but with you.”

What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they have any special significance to you? We had our date for May 29, 2016 already set, and knew that with it being a late spring/early summer wedding, we would want to get married outside. The Terry House was the perfect location! I had seen pictures of friends who had been married there and remembered that the set-up was so accommodating. We wanted our ceremony and reception to be close by, and having them at the same place was even better!

Our wedding colors included different shades of coral and gold. I remember meeting with my wedding planner, Anne Claire, and my florist, Dale, and telling them that I was hoping for bright, bold pops of color! They sure made this request a reality. They built us a ceiling of flowers for our tent that we danced under, which was threaded with Edison lighting to help create a romantic and whimsical atmosphere for the reception. The flowers included pink and coral charm peonies, salmon pink peony tulips, and peach David Austin roses, mixed in with roses and lisianthus. In addition, watermelon snapdragons, assorted poppies, and scabiosa were mixed in, along with maidenhair fern, variegated greenery, and hydrangeas. The flowers truly made my dream wedding come true!

We had a four-tiered wedding cake covered in textured cream cheese frosting. The bottom two layers were chocolate and vanilla, and the top two were lemon with raspberry filling. It was to die for! The groom’s cake was a little unconventional. Evan decided he wanted ice cream sandwiches instead! They were made of two chocolate chip cookies with vanilla or mint chocolate chip ice cream squished in the middle. A refreshing treat on a hot summer day!

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? We made sure our food reflected the best of our Southern roots. Evan and I met in Memphis, home of the best barbecue in the South! We made sure some form of barbecue was served (sliders), as well as fried mac and cheese bites. To everyone’s surprise, our biggest Southern detail of the wedding was the late night snack: Chick Fil-A nuggets!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. In 2008, Evan and I met during the summer of my sophomore year of college. He and I were the only two students selected to participate in a medical summer internship in Memphis. We had briefly met a few times during various club meetings and in passing on campus, but never had any meaningful interactions until then. Evan didn’t know this at the time, but I had a secret crush on him before we were chosen to work together that summer. I seriously believed it was fate, and now I know it truly was! About halfway through the internship, Evan asked me to go to the Memphis Zoo with him one day after work. We realized that we liked a lot of the same animals, and it was in the herpetarium when I realized Evan actually liked me! While looking at the turtles, he nervously asked me out on a date to go see a movie at the drive-in theater. I misunderstood that he was planning that for another time and not for later that evening. Oops! I insisted that we look up movie times and get dinner beforehand. That night, we sat in the hatchback of his car to watch the Disney-Pixar movie, Wall-E. Of course, something else had to go wrong on our first date, and it did–neither of us had any bug spray, so I got bitten by a ton of mosquitos! I remember we counted exactly 38 bites on my legs and arms, while Evan had maybe only five. We spent the rest of the night laughing about what happened, and soon after that was when I realized that Evan was the only one I wanted to watch all my movies with…but only indoors with air conditioning, or maybe with a can of bug spray nearby.
Tell us all about the proposal! From Evan: Kelsie was living with me in Norfolk for the month while she was doing an away rotation. To cap off a great month and celebrate our six-year anniversary, I planned a special getaway weekend in Williamsburg, Virginia. We checked into our hotel at Colonial Williamsburg, and went to explore the historical town in search for a good place for a picnic. We stopped by The Cheese Shop in downtown Williamsburg and picked up bread, cheese, and some wine. Unfortunately, it was late enough that all of the Colonial Williamsburg attractions had closed, so we adventured on to the nearby campus of The College of William & Mary. It was very reminiscent of our time at Rhodes, where we met. We picnicked in the quad and drank A LOT wine. I had researched a romantic part of the campus in the woods many weeks before, so after our picnic, we went into the woods and I somehow convinced her to follow me (I think the wine helped with this). After a small trek, we came across the Crim Dell bridge, hidden in the woods of the campus. She initially ran across the bridge, while I slowly walked to the crest, looking up something special for her to read on my phone. She came back and asked what I was doing. I had her read the story about the bridge’s significance, which said that if two lovers were to meet at the crest of the bridge and kiss, they would be together forever. After she read the story, we kissed and then I got down on one knee and asked her to marry me. Little did we know that on the other side of the bridge, about a hundred yards away, was a group of college girls who witnessed the whole thing. When she said “yes,” a roar of cheers were heard. I had just become the luckiest guy in the world!
When did y’all get married? May 29, 2016
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 175
How did you plan for your marriage while planning your wedding? Our officiant, Chaplain West, offered to enroll us in a premarital course online called Prepare Enrich. We took a test at the beginning about ourselves and it analyzed the results so that we could discuss it with our officiant. We had weekly premarital counseling sessions with him every Wednesday night for about six months before the wedding. Because we were planning our wedding long distance, we had to have our weekly sessions over the phone, which worked out perfectly well for all of our schedules. We finally met our officiant in person a few days before the wedding and it was as if we had known him our whole lives!
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Our biggest challenge was making sure we stayed within our budget. This was definitely made possible by having a wedding planner. Anne Claire was wonderful at giving us different pricing options when it came to vendors. She had things laid out for us so we could compare what we were willing to splurge on versus things we wanted to save money on. In the end, we were able to stay within our budget!
What was one way you saved money or cut costs at your wedding? Every month, Evan and I would set aside a certain amount of money from each our paychecks into our wedding savings account. This really helped us not only learn how to save money for the future, but also allowed us to contribute as much as we could towards the wedding. This way, we could ease the burden off of our families and have more wiggle room to add on fun details at the last minute.
What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? We were so happy to have our Filipino and my Indian culture represented in our wedding. This was exemplified throughout the whole evening, from the food, to the attire, and even the ceremony and dancing. Evan and I incorporated the traditional Filipino wedding traditions into our ceremony: coins, cord, veil, and candle. We also had Filipino primary and secondary sponsors as part of our wedding, who wore the traditional Filipino clothing (barong) during the ceremony. I had traditional Indian henna done on both of my hands to represent the other side of my heritage. We served Indian samosas as passed appetizers and had traditional Filipino pancit (noodles) and lumpia (egg rolls) as part of the dinner buffet. Finally, we performed a Filipino money dance, where guests took turn dancing with Evan and I, and pinning money onto us as they did so. It was so fun to see how our guests responded to all the different traditions!
What’s next for you as a couple? What memories are you looking forward to making together? We are about to get a puppy! We have been patiently waiting for this day to come and it will probably be the second happiest day of our lives! We are also looking forward to finally taking our honeymoon this August to Maui, Hawaii! We are planning for a mix of relaxing activities, as well as a lot of adventure, hiking, snorkeling, and maybe even surfing. But let’s be honest, we’re most excited about the food!

Photographer: Weddings by Christopher & Nancy | Videographer: Brad Fugere | Planner: Anne-Claire Allen | Venue: The Terry House | Florist: Silks A Bloom | Cake Baker: Sweet Love | Caterer: Simply The Best Catering | Rentals: Confetti’s Party Rentals | Lighting: Central Arkansas Entertainment | DJ: Mario Luna | Henna: Priyanka Badhwar | Paper Products: Wedding Paper Divas | Bride’s Gown: Style 14716 by Wtoo | Bride’s Accessories and Bridal Salon: Proposals Boutique | Hair Stylist: Kakki Jones | Makeup Artist: Lorena Somers Makeup | Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade | Menswear: Men’s Wearhouse

marissa Written with love by Marissa
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Confession: I have been secretly looking forward to writing this post for over a year! Maghon is a very dear friend of Southern Weddings (if you’ve tuned in to our launch party live stream over the last two years, you may recognize her!), and she and her beau, Chris, were married last May. After 20 years of love and friendship, they had plenty of memories to draw from for wedding inspiration, and as a result, their day was packed with meaningful details, plus plenty of Maghon’s cheery calligraphy–she’s the talent behind All She Wrote Notes, after all! As if that wasn’t enough to love about this colorful North Carolina celebration, Maghon and Chris also have a huge passion for their Southern roots, and adopted “Cheers, y’all!” as their official wedding day motto. Join me in raising a glass (or coffee cup!) to toast the Taylors, and enjoy this recap of their joyful day!

We’re so glad our Blue Ribbon Vendor Anna Paschal was on hand to capture every fun moment!

I knew in my head exactly what I wanted in a dress: I wanted to feel like myself. I am marrying a guy who has played basketball with me since first grade, so I wanted to walk down the aisle and have Chris see the girl he’s always known. I also LOVE fun jewelry and accessories, so I wanted a simple dress that didn’t compete and wasn’t too much. My friend (and wedding photographer) Anna suggested I try the J. Crew Warehouse in Virginia, and that same day, we hopped in the car and drove there! I found the EXACT dress I had in mind, and the best part is–y’all won’t even believe this–it was $73! I could have cried, I was so excited!

Describe your wedding flowers. Coral. Charm. Peonies. I wanted a big, beautiful, pink bouquet with peonies, and Kat with Dear Sweetheart Events absolutely nailed it. I knew I was going to give it away to Chris’ grandmother in honor of their 56 years of beautiful marriage later in the evening, so I wanted it to be extra special!

Did you decide to do a first look? Why or why not? We did and it was my absolute favorite part of our whole day! I knew that Chris and I would both be pulled in different directions all day and I really wanted a moment that was just for us. We knew from the very beginning that we would do a first look, and our venue even had a porch swing for it! I walked around the corner to see my sweet man, and I don’t ever want to forget the way he looked at me. It was the most simple and comfortable moment, and all of our favorite photos are from those few minutes together. It gave me such a sense of peace and calm to have had that time with him before the ceremony, and I will always be grateful that we did it!

What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? I can’t even pick just one. I truly loved everything, but my absolute favorite was our invitation envelopes. Molly at Ply took my crazy idea and made it happen and it was even more awesome than I could have even imagined. Chris and I exchanged notes every day when we were kids, and when I was moving a few years ago, I stumbled across the box where I had saved every single one he wrote me. He would draw this little heart at the bottom of each one with an arrow going through, and from the moment I found that note, I knew I wanted it to be incorporated into our wedding somehow. Molly took Chris’ original pencil drawing and turned it into an amazing envelope liner that also included a cute message to explain that Chris drew this for me when we were 10 years old. That note is my most prized possession, so it was absolutely the most meaningful detail to me.

Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We chose to stick with traditional vows, but with one little addition. Chris and I both admittedly have had a crush on each other since first grade and want to make sure we always do. We added the line “to have a crush on you always” to our vows, and that will forever be my favorite! That’s a promise I can’t even wait to keep.
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? My best friend from high school, Rachel, read 1 Corinthians 13. Rachel has been such an inspiration to me spiritually over the years and there isn’t anyone else I would have chosen to do that special reading.

Chris and I have known each other almost our entire lives, but we knew we still had a lot to learn. We met weekly with our amazing pastor, Josh Sands, and discussed a different marriage topic every week, from communication to budgeting, family, and everything in between. I was sad when those sessions were over because I loved them so much!

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? I think making our guests feel like family was the most important Southern tradition that we incorporated. Growing up, my family always held hands around the dinner table to pray, so I got on the mic and explained this tradition to our guests. Before dinner, all 150 of us held hands in a circle and prayed to bless the food and our marriage. My brother did this at his wedding too and I was proud to continue the tradition. We served Eastern and Western North Carolina BBQ with all the fixin’s, and a dessert table that made you feel like you were at a family picnic. Starting from our save the date, the theme of our wedding was “Cheers, Y’all!” and we incorporated that into our signage, coasters, koozies, napkins and anywhere else we could! That’s one of my favorite sayings and totally fits our personality as a couple.

My FAVORITE songs are the ones for our first dance. Part 1: Chris and I both fondly remember our very first middle school dance in sixth grade, when we danced (very awkwardly) to “All My Life” by K Ci and Jo Jo. Every time I’ve heard that song over the past 20 years, I always thought about Chris Taylor. When the music started, we decided to throw it back to middle school and have our arms WAY extended out like little kids do, to make everyone laugh. Part 2: The moment I knew I was going to marry Chris was when we were in the car on the way to watch a Carolina game and he played “Jump Around” by House of Pain. That is the “get hype” song for UNC and the song that they always play before a jump ball. We have gone to dozens of games ever since and I always grab his hand during that song and remember that first moment. So we knew that this would need to be part of our first dance too! We had planned with our DJ to cut out of “All My Life” and into “Jump Around,” but what Chris didn’t know was that I had an even bigger surprise planned (and the only secret I’ve ever kept). My friends at the General Alumni Association helped me invite the UNC mascot, Rameses, to the festivities, and he joined us during our first dance as a HUGE surprise to all of our guests, including the groom!

What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? I have two. A few weeks before our wedding, we got some amazing advice from our friends who said that we should steal away for just a few minutes, step back, and just watch the party happen. Chris and I snuck away in a corner for a little while during our reception and just beamed at all of our family and friends. Love was so, so present at every moment for the entire day, but that’s the picture in my mind when I think back about all of it. My other favorite is that I couldn’t get Chris’ ring on his finger! They warn you that this may happen, but most brides would remain calm and just let the show go on. Not me. I waited almost 30 years for this! Chris gave me a look and said “go for it,” so I practically man handled his finger to get his ring on! We both died laughing and so did the crowd. Chris then looked at everyone and gave them a thumbs up! It was perfect.

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. Chris and I met in the first grade!! I had a crush on him for as long as I can remember, and he officially asked me to be his girlfriend when we were 10 years old. He was my first slow dance, first kiss, and first guy I ever said “I love you” to. We were boyfriend/girlfriend in sixth and seventh grade, but we weren’t quite ready for forever back then, so we remained friends through high school and college. We reconnected at our five-year high school reunion, exchanged numbers, and started hanging out. It wasn’t until a few years later that we finally went on our first date to play golf in our hometown and we’ve been PAR-TEE-ing ever since!
Tell us all about the proposal! Lots of important life moments for me, and my best memories as a child, have taken place in a porch swing, and our proposal was no different. When I purchased my first home, my daddy built a swing for my porch that is a replica of the one that was on my playhouse when I was a little girl. Every Sunday, Chris and I love to hang out on the porch, me in the swing and him in an heirloom rocking chair that came from my grandparents. We listen to music, catch up on our week, and just chat about life and love. This particular Sunday, we were enjoying our regular porch party when he walked towards me like he was walking in the house, but instead, he got down on one knee and asked me if I would make him the happiest guy ever and be Maghon Walker Taylor! I was SO excited that the first thing I blurted out was “Thank you” instead of yes!! It was so special, so laid back, and so us! Every weekend when I am out there now, swinging in the swing still gives me butterflies. The biggest surprise was that Chris had actually called and booked my dream wedding venue just a few weeks before he proposed, so not only did I have a brand new fiancé, we already had a date and the venue I had always wanted!
When did y’all get married? May 22, 2015
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 150
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. Our bridesmaids walked down the aisle to an acoustic version of “Carolina on my Mind” by James Taylor because Chris and I are both Tar Heel fanatics. I walked down the aisle to “A Thousand Years” by The Piano Guys, and chose it because even though we didn’t play the words, I love what they say. For our walk back down the aisle, I have waited on this one forever and always pictured our kiss and walk every time it came on the radio. It was “Gone Gone Gone” by Phillip Phillips. I LOVE every word and feel that Chris and I take turns living out those words for each other every day.
Describe your wedding cake or dessert. If you ask Chris or myself what we are having for dessert, it’s almost always going to be banana pudding! We opted for a dessert bar instead of a traditional wedding cake and we asked each one of our moms and grandmothers to make our favorite desserts. They each have their own specialty and it was so much fun to see it all come together. We also had Carolina blue cotton candy from Sweet Puff Candy and Chapel Hill Toffee, which are some of my favorites from two sweet friends.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Chris and I paid for our wedding ourselves, so as much as that certainly was a challenge, we loved working together to have the day that was exactly what we wanted. The hardest part for me was choosing my bridesmaids. I have been blessed with SO many amazing girlfriends throughout my life and if I could have had every single woman there stand up at the front with me, I would have.
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? I am a calligrapher, so I addressed our invitations, worked with an amazing stationer to put a handwritten touch on our invites, and created our signage, place cards, and decor. There was so much calligraphy that at one point, Chris was like, “May, we get it that you write cursive for a living! That’s probably enough!” :)
What’s next for you as a couple? What memories are you looking forward to making together? We just welcomed a new golden doodle puppy, Mr. Teddy Confetti, to our household a few weeks ago and we are looking to move into a larger place. I’ve lived in our current home for four years and started running my business out of our home before Chris moved in. We are so blessed that All She Wrote Notes has continued to expand, but Chris is tired of finding confetti everywhere, so we need a little more space! I am excited to channel my inner Joanna Gaines and make a beautiful home for us wherever we’re supposed to be. God’s plans have been bigger (and far better) than our own throughout our whole journey to find each other, so we can’t even wait to see what He has in store. Right now, we are just enjoying the ride.

Photographer: Anna Paschal Photography | Videographer: Dansby Productions | Planner and Florist: Dear Sweetheart Events | Venue: The Gardens at Gray Gables | Caterer: Prissy Polly’s BBQ | DJ: Mike Marshall of Triad DJ and Events | Guest Appearance: Rameses the UNC Mascot and UNC Pom Pons | Paper Products: Ply Fine Paper | Bride’s Gown: “Miranda” by J. Crew | Bride’s Jewelry: Moon and Lola | Birdcage Veil: David’s Bridal | Hair and Makeup: Jourdan Gallman | Bride’s Shoes: Fan Feet | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Urban Outfitters, Old Navy, Red Dress Boutique | Groom’s Attire: Banana Republic, Saks 5th Avenue, Nike | Groomsmen Attire: Express | Calligraphy, Cake Topper, Signage, and Decor: All She Wrote Notes | Cotton Candy: Sweet Puff Candy | Toffee: Chapel Hill Toffee | Tassel Garlands: Studio Mucci | Ring Bearer Bow Ties: Little Brotique

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

    How fun and absolutely adorable is this bride?!? I love the energy and joy that is conveyed through their design choices as well as through Anna Paschal’s images. And those par-tee escort cards, genius! Dear Sweetheart Events really hit this one out of the park (oops, incidental sports pun)

  2. avatar Kristin reply

    Not even kidding. I laughed and cried my way through this whole interview. I love the details + joy + ALL the color!! Such a blessed Southern PAR-TEE indeed!!

  3. avatar Evangeline Smoot reply

    Did anyone notice the bridesmaids dresses? I like that these dresses were different for each body type. This complements the women in them and the color scheme for the dresses blended nicely with the bouquets and the groomsmen attire. Good choices for great ladies.

  4. avatar Vanessa Hodge reply

    This is really colorful and that too from everywhere. It’s always good to see something unique, interesting and different. Thanks for sharing!

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When it comes to the many things that make a wedding Southern, the most obvious one is the geographical location, of course! Kara and Philip had that in the bag when they chose to tie the knot at Colleton River Plantation on Hilton Head Island. Though a Pennsylvania native, Kara grew up traveling to her family’s vacation home on the island, so to her, it is a place “that signifies family, joy, memories, and endless beauty.” Kara and Philip worked with their planner, Embellished Events, to create an open-air party where no walls could block the beautiful views. I’m sure this day began a whole new chapter of joyful memories on Hilton Head for this sweet couple!

We’re sure happy Tim Will was there to capture this lovely day!

Describe your wedding flowers. My flowers were untamed and gorgeous! They had an English garden feel, and were full of peaches, sages, and pinks, grounded in soft whites and finished with ribbon I found during my travels to India. The ribbons were used in all the bouquets, garlands, and table arrangements. Branches on Hilton Head Island captured my vision so beautifully.

Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We did not; we chose to say the traditional vows instead. We felt these timeless words captured all we wanted to say.
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? We had beautiful readings from the Bible. I particularly loved the Gospel reading from Mark, that included the verse, “They are no longer two but one flesh, therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate.” Wow, those words have gravity!

On our wedding day, we surprised our guests with the sounds of local Gullah singers harmonizing with joy to “Oh Happy Day” as we departed the church. We also hand-dipped oyster shells in gold and embellished each with a pearl for our escort cards. Guests could take these home as a way to remember the place and the day.

What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they have any special significance to you? I grew up traveling to my family’s vacation home on Hilton Head Island, so it has always been a place that signifies family, joy, memories, and endless beauty to me.

We chose to avoid the cost of a tent, and with the suggestion of my planner, Jennifer Leiti, we chose to have an open-air party under café lighting. We were so happy we did because the environment was the reason I picked this location. There were no walls to block the beautiful, expansive views of the sunset over the river. Thankfully, despite some early morning rain, we were blessed with good weather that day.

My wedding cake was a simple, white, tiered cake with ruffled fondant and some pretty flowers in the colors of my bouquet placed up each tier. The best part was really what was inside–it was decadent! Each layer had a different filling. Minette Rushing from Savannah Custom Cakes is a baking genius!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. We met in college. We lived in the same dorm, and then in the same apartment building. Two years after college, only after a big separation, did we realize our friendship was actually love. This has been true ever since and will be for the rest of our lives!
Tell us all about the proposal! We first talked about getting married around a year or so ago while on a trip to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. It was the first time Phil had ever been there, and I was overjoyed to be talking about our future marriage in this very special place. However, it was not until a very cold visit to Cape May, New Jersey that Phil decided to sneak a ring into my purse to be found at any time. We were sitting in a crowded bar and I was fishing around in my bag for something or other when I felt a little box…I think I knew what it was right away, and quickly looked up at Phil’s smiling face. I told him I wanted to move to our room for some privacy, where, conveniently, there was a bottle of champagne awaiting our arrival. Phil got down on one knee as I had always envisioned and the rest is history.
When did y’all get married? May 30, 2015
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 125
Tell us about finding your wedding dress. I found my dress in a shop called Elizabeth Johns Ardmore, Pennsylvania, right outside of my home city of Philadelphia. The dress was designed by Lela Rose and I felt it reflected me and my style, and it would complement the beautiful surroundings and climate of my Southern wedding.
Did you decide to do a first look? Why or why not? We did not. Seeing my soon-to-be spouse for the first time at the end of the aisle is a beautiful tradition we wanted to experience.
Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! My shoes had blue soles, I wore a delicate strand of pearls that were given to me as a baby, I borrowed my sister’s wedding garter, and everything else was new.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Communicate with each other early and often, and don’t lose sight of what is important.
What’s next for you as a couple? What memories are you looking forward to making together? We would love to move to a new home, plant some deeper roots there, and start a family.

Photographer: Tim Willoughby | Videographer: Hart to Heart | Planner: Embellished Events | Ceremony Venue: St. Gregory the Great | Reception Venue and Catering: Colleton River Plantation | Florist: Branches | Cake Baker: Savannah Custom Cakes | Rentals: Event Haus | Band: Fantastic Voyage Band | Gospel Choir: Voices of El Shaddai Ensemble | Bride’s Gown: Lela Rose | Hair and Makeup: Christine Stephens | Bride’s Shoes: Betsey Johnson | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J. Crew

marissa Written with love by Marissa
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