Google+ donuts Archives - Southern Weddings

Southern Weddings

Tag: donuts

After a long distance romance, Amanda and Adam took to planning a beach wedding that told the story of their love! They mixed Southern touches in honor of their roots with chic vintage decor to create a lovely bohemian vibe. The contrast of the dapper gents in black bow ties and the organic handpicked wildflowers play off each other perfectly! I must say, I love Amanda’s advice for folks planning a wedding: “You can’t avoid the craziness, so just embrace it!” Such sage advice that can be applied to all aspects of life!

Special SW thanks to Kaytee Lauren for sharing this gorgeous day with us!

Could these fellas get any more dapper? So very GQ!

Since our wedding encompassed a vintage and bohemian vibe, I knew immediately that I wanted organic, handpicked wildflowers to complement the antique and rustic decor. We had every type of colorful wildflower you could imagine, with pops of pink peonies and bright billy balls. My favorite floral detail was the magnolia leaf garland we hung from our driftwood arbor and our sweetheart table. It was absolutely stunning.

What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they have any special significance to you? The Outer Banks is one our favorite places in the world. We have both spent a lot of time there over the years, but more importantly, it was the first place we visited and spent time together as a couple, almost five years ago to the day that we got married.
Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We decided to recite traditional vows, though we exchanged letters to each other prior to the ceremony that expressed our love to each other in our own words.

No first look for us. As much as we wanted to shy away from a lot of the formalities of a traditional wedding, there were still a few traditions that we wanted to retain. There’s something truly romantic about waiting to share that first look moment right before the ceremony–we will cherish that for the rest of our lives.

Adam’s late grandfather was a Baptist minister, and he had married countless couples over many years. He had a prayer he said for every ceremony that we incorporated into ours. It was beautiful.

Both of our rings hold special meaning. Mine were custom-made by a small, family-owned jeweler in NYC. They symbolize the start of our marriage in one of the greatest cities in the world. Adam decided to use his late grandfather’s wedding band. He and Adam’s grandmother were married for over 60 years. Adam had the inside of the band engraved with his grandfather’s initials, followed by his own, with the intention of passing it on through our family.

Describe your wedding cake or dessert. We did a simple buttercream cake for cutting, but also wanted to offer a variety of our favorites desserts for our guests to enjoy: key lime pie, glazed doughnut holes, and cupcakes.

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. From Adam: Amanda and I met in 2008 through work and mutual friends. Just as we began to feel our relationship could be something more, Amanda moved to Nashville, Tennessee to finish school. Almost six months after she moved, I flew to Nashville with a buddy for a weekend. Amanda and I reconnected and I ended up canceling my flight home so that I could stay an extra day. From then on, we traveled to see each other whenever we could, and lived for the moments that we got to spend together, even if they were only a weekend at a time. We knew that if we could make that situation work, we could get through anything together.
Tell us all about the proposal! My family was vacationing in Virginia Beach, where I was raised. The night before we headed home, we went out to dinner and then decided to take a walk to enjoy our last night of vacation. When we got to the street I grew up on, Adam took my hand and we walked out onto the beach. The sun was going down and it was gorgeous. We stood there together just looking out at the ocean when Adam turned to me and dropped down on one knee. The next few moments were a bit of a blur, but it was incredible to be able to say YES!” in a place that means so much to me.
When did y’all get married? June 7, 2014
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 85
Tell us about finding your wedding dress. I think finding my wedding dress was the easiest part of the whole wedding planning process. From day one, I knew the exact vibe I was going for and I immediately fell in love with a Sarah Seven gown I had seen online. I booked an appointment at Lovely Bride in NYC, and after trying on the “Practically Perfect,” I was sold. It was the perfect beachy boho dress.
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? We wanted to stay true to our Southern roots without going over the top, and we knew that food was the easiest way to get that right. We served Carolina BBQ, coleslaw and potato salad–as traditional as it gets. Burlap and vintage doilies covered the tables and we used mason jars for glassware. In lieu of a traditional guest book, we had our guests sign vintage postcards from our favorite Southern cities.
If you are comfortable responding, what range did your wedding budget fall into? $25,000-$50,000
What was one way you saved money or cut costs at your wedding? We saved money by choosing our venue, Pelican’s Landing. It’s the perfect classic beach house located on the oceanfront in Corolla. It’s a one-stop shop that includes everything from ceremony benches to place settings. The property owner also owns a local catering company, which we used to cater our wedding, and our guests couldn’t stop raving about the food.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Relax, don’t sweat the small stuff, and enjoy every second. You can’t avoid the craziness, so just embrace it! You’re getting married and that is the most important thing. Also, don’t skimp on a day-of coordinator–they are life savers!
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? We are enjoying life in New York City and looking forward to what the future holds. We’re getting the chance to begin our journey as husband and wife in a place neither of us had ever imagined, so we are living for the moment and making the most of each day.

Photographer: Kaytee Lauren Photography / Planner: A Premiere Event / Venue: Pelican’s Landing / Florist: Bells & Whistles / Cake Baker: Hibou Pastries / Caterer: Coastal Provisions / Rentals: Metro Rental / DJ: Outer Banks Music Masters / Bride’s Gown: “Practically Perfect” by Sarah Seven / Bride’s Accessories: Ivy & Aster / Makeup Artist: Rebecca Wood / Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade / Groom’s Attire: Zara / Groomsmen Attire: J. Crew / Ties: The Tie Bar

marissa Written with love by Marissa
11 Comments
  1. avatar Alisha reply

    Kaytee is my photographer too! She did such an amazing job on this wedding and I can’t wait until mine in September! :)

  2. avatar kristin partin reply

    yeah kaytee get it girl!! these are incredible.

  3. avatar Loverly reply

    Absolutely stunning! Looks like a dream-come-true wedding!

  4. avatar chapel2chapel reply

    Wow! Loved this. The groom’s suit–fit, texture, the whole nine–was absolutely amazing!

  5. avatar Emily reply

    Reminds me a bit of the portraits at my wedding – also black tie on the beach! Of course I love :)

  6. avatar katelyn james reply

    Awww! So fun!!! Small world! This is Michael’s cousin and his beautiful bride!! :) Yay!!! Love this Marissa!!!! xoxo

  7. avatar Wedding Venue TX reply

    I love the concept about this black tie beach wedding, looks like a music video with a happy ending, lovely couple and the beach just make the day perfect

  8. avatar Lisa's Southern Wedding: The Gents' Attire – Southern Weddings Magazine reply

    […] Top: Ryan Ray, bottom: Kaytee Lauren via Southern Weddings […]

  9. avatar Hello August – Our Yellow Door reply

    […] Stripes + Gold (a great capsule wardrobe outfit) How To Build A Blogging Community THIS Gorgeous Black Tie Beach Wedding A Prayer About Community How To Find Time For […]

  10. avatar 20+ Chic Rustic Wedding Head Table Ideas – WeddingHaze reply

    […] Photo from southernweddings.com/2014/07/31/black-tie-beach-wedding-by-kaytee-lauren/%5B/caption%5D […]

  11. avatar 27 Gorgeous Greenery Garland Wedding Ideas For 2017 – Elegantweddinginvites.com Blog reply

    […] Credits: via SMP/via Bash Please/via Southern Weddings/One Love […]

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!

Reply to:
close

I’m married to my own college sweetheart, so I always love reading about couples who share a similar courtship. Of course, since we all know how deeply college allegiances run in the South, I can’t help but adore Lauren and Casey’s nod to not only their alma mater, but also to their relationship, at their wedding! The Jefferson is a beautiful hotel, and I especially love that these two had both their very first dance and their first dance as husband and wife in the same ballroom there. Lauren said, “we felt it would be very special and fitting to our relationship to get married on campus, where our relationship not only began, but has also grown.” So sweet!

Thanks to Whitebox Photo for sharing such a sentimental day with us!

Aren’t these little gals the cutest?!

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. Finding the dress was one of my favorite parts of wedding planning! One long weekend, my parents, sister, and I went dress shopping in Miami. At first, we all had very different opinions on what the dress should look like, but in the end, when I tried on my dress, we all knew it was the one. It had a lace bodice with a full tulle skirt and lace detailing at the bottom. For the church, Chic Parisien made me a custom lace bolero, which I removed for the reception. My favorite part of my look was the cathedral-length veil with lace detailing around the edge.

Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? We did not do a “first look.” We wanted to stay traditional on this and have the first time we saw each other to be when I walked down the aisle, so we planned for a longer gap between our ceremony and cocktail hour. This gave us plenty of time to get all the photos we wanted! In the meantime, the guests enjoyed champagne on a scenic shuttle ride down Monument Avenue on their way to the reception site, and had a few minutes to freshen up before the cocktail hour.

Did you write your own vows? No, we opted for traditional vows. We both agreed we did not want the added stress of reading personal vows in public on our wedding day, and we wanted to stay relaxed.
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? We had a traditional Christian ceremony with two readings. My aunt read Colossians 3:12-17, and Casey’s aunt read 1 Corinthians 13:4-13.
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. While the parents’ and bridal party’s entrances were traditional wedding songs, I really wanted my entrance song to be different. I spent forever trying to find the right one. The church has a beautiful organ, which we wanted to use, but I also wanted to incorporate a cello. I finally found “Song for Sienna” by Brian Crain, which could be played as a duet by the organist and cellist. It was perfect! It has a 30-second introduction by the organ, and when the deep cello started to play, the doors opened, and I walked down the aisle. Our first dance was Lady Antebellum’s “When You Got A Good Thing.” We have always loved that song and we were so happy that our band, The Boomers, learned it for us.

The University of Richmond is very special to Casey and me. Not only did we meet on campus, but we were also both athletes there and feel a strong sense of school pride. Since we still live five minutes away from campus, we support the Spiders at many home games, go for jogs around campus, and are able to take part in many alumni events. We felt it would be very special and fitting to our relationship to get married on campus where our relationship not only began, but has also grown. Our reception site, The Jefferson Hotel, is an iconic Richmond hotel that has very special meaning to us. Since our first dance at Ring Dance, we have frequently visited the Jefferson for happy hour, dinner, and brunch. It’s the only place we wanted to have our reception!

Describe your wedding cake. I wanted the wedding cake to be a central decor item at our reception. The cake plate was placed on a sparkly gold linen behind our sweetheart table with large flower arrangements on either side. Behind it, French doors opened to overlook the Jefferson’s grand staircase. It was magical! The cake had a simple design with alternating layers of ruffles and sparkly gold detailing. It was so beautiful that I didn’t really want to cut it, but good thing we did, because it was delicious!

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? From the iconic Jefferson Hotel to my lace-detailed dress to the song selections played by our band, our wedding had many Southern touches, but to us, the South is all about hospitality. We wanted our guests to feel welcomed and taken care of. When they arrived, our DIY, Virginia-themed welcome bags, complete with Virginia peanuts, Route 11 chips, Hardywood Singel, and more were waiting for them. The night before our wedding, we hosted a dessert and cocktail reception at the Boathouse, which overlooks the James River, so everyone could get to know each other. After the ceremony, guests enjoyed champagne on the shuttle back to the hotel. And our main goal, of course, was to make sure our guests left very well fed. Our cocktail hour featured seasonal, local ingredients, and of course, a couple of Southern classics, including shrimp and grits in mason jars. Our guests enjoyed a plated dinner and our dessert bar featured pecan pies, among many other desserts, which guests could enjoy at the reception or take to-go.

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. We met junior year of college at the University of Richmond. Casey and his teammates were having a party, which my teammates and I went to. Casey and I bonded over being the only two Southerners and the only ones who wanted to listen to country music. A couple of weeks later, we attended “Ring Dance” together, which is a school tradition where junior women are escorted down the grand staircase at the Jefferson Hotel by their fathers and receive their class rings, followed by a dinner and dancing reception. I invited Casey and we shared our first dance together at the Jefferson Hotel. It was so special to later share our first dance as a married couple in the same place.
Tell us all about the proposal! Casey, who can never keep a secret, somehow managed to plan an elaborate engagement with the help of our close family and friends. They completely transformed my backyard with candles, twinkle lights, pictures, champagne, cake, wedding magazines, and our love story. We were so blessed to have both our parents and close friends surrounding us for this special moment, and the next day, we all went out for brunch to celebrate!
When did y’all get married? April 12, 2014
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 125
Describe your wedding flowers. Vibrant! Given that our main wedding colors were black and gold, I really wanted the flowers to pop and make a statement. I prefer garden-style arrangements that incorporate a lot of greenery along with the flowers. They turned out beautifully and really helped transform the ballroom and church. Our florist, Rick, was fantastic!
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: Both of our favorite details were food-related. Casey says his favorite was the dessert table with Sugar Shack donuts and pecan pies! Mine was the fusion of Cuban and Southern touches at the cocktail hour. The Cuban sandwiches and shrimp and grits in mason jars were delicious and very “us!”
Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! I borrowed my hairpiece–my sister (matron of honor) had worn it on her wedding day, and it was so beautiful and made such a statement that I was so thankful when she offered to let me wear it. My maid of honor gave me a blue garter with a pearl pendant to wear on my wedding day. My something old was my great-grandmother’s hand-stitched handkerchief that was pinned to the inside lining of my dress. A lot could fit into the something new category, but my favorite was the pair of David Yurman pearl earrings my parents gave to me the night before my wedding. They were simple, but breathtaking, and went perfectly with my dress.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Our biggest challenge was planning our wedding far away from our families and trying to make sure that everyone’s wants and needs were fulfilled. Sometimes, this meant taking longer to make decisions.
What was one way you saved money or cut costs at your wedding? A big money saver was having our ceremony floral arrangements reused at the reception venue. Our pew clusters were hung on the sconces around the ballroom and the two large arrangements at the church were placed on either side of our wedding cake at the main entrance.
What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? Our wedding would not have been the same without our wedding planner, Lindsay! She is the one who introduced us to all of our fabulous vendors and really took the time to get to know us and our vision for our wedding. Because our families live out of state, she helped us pick out all the small details, attended meetings, and sat down with us on some of the most stressful planning days. She became more than just a wedding planner–we definitely consider her a great friend.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? That would have to be when the preacher accidentally showed up 45 minutes late for our ceremony. Once I knew it wasn’t Casey who had gone missing, I enjoyed the extra time with a bridal portrait session. It is something we will joke about forever, and it all worked out when the preacher made a great recovery in his sermon.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? First, hire a wedding planner. On your big day, you want to be stress-free, relaxed, and confident that someone is behind the scenes making sure every detail is as it should be. Second, relax on your big day and soak up as much of it as you can. It’s over before you know it!
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? Casey and I recently adopted a dog named Harley from the Richmond SPCA, so the three of us are adjusting to our new lives together! I am finishing medical school and Casey is continuing franchise development for sweetFrog Frozen Yogurt. We are excited for all of our family adventures ahead!

Photographer: Whitebox Photo / Videographer: Ginger Topham / Planner: LK Events and Design / Ceremony Venue: Cannon Memorial Chapel / Reception Venue: The Jefferson Hotel / Florist: Rick Lunsford of Blooms at The Jefferson Hotel / Wedding Cake: Sweet Fix / Caterer: Ashton Hassan at The Jefferson Hotel / Rentals: Classic Party Rentals / Linens: La Tavola Linen / Lighting: Blue Steel Lighting Design / Band: The Boomers / Bride’s Gown: “LZ3251” by Lazaro / Bride’s Bolero and Veil: Custom by Chic Parisien / Paper Products: Paper on the Avenue and Elise DiPace / Jewelry: David Yurman / Hair Stylist: Welsy Mourino of Elle Style Studio / Makeup Artist: LaCretia (LC) Baskfield of Ave 42 Style Studio / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: “Aidan” in Black Luxe Chiffon by Jenny Yoo / Men’s Attire: Men’s Wearhouse / Transportation: James River Transportation and Richmond Trolley Company / Calligraphy: Mary Sue Sanderlin / Save the Dates: Dear June / Eclectic and Vintage Rentals: Paisley and Jade / Custom Stamps for Invitations: Verde Studio

Whitebox Photo is a delightful member of the Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

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

    What a beautiful bride!! Love their sentimental venue choice–I’ve been wanting to visit the Jefferson Hotel, but now I want to attend a wedding there even more!

  2. avatar Ashton Toler Hassan reply

    Would you please be so kind as to correct, under the vendors section, Caterer to read: Ashton Hassan at The Jefferson Hotel? It would be most appreciated.

  3. avatar Kelsey reply

    This wedding is just perfection! I am in awe of the bride’s gorgeous dress and hair! Do you know where she got her hair clip? I am looking for one just like it for my wedding!

  4. avatar Kelli + Daniel Taylor Photography, LLC reply

    What a beautiful wedding. The reception tables took my breath away.

  5. avatar Lindsay Kennedy reply

    This wedding was just STUNNING! Thank you for the feature!

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!

Reply to:
close

Two weeks ago I had the pleasure of speaking at Branches & Light, a photography workshop for ladies organized by Nancy Ray and Caroline Joy. I very much enjoyed chatting with the attendees about getting published and what we look for in submissions at Southern Weddings. (Vendors, if you’re wondering, here are our submission guidelines!) One of the things I spoke about is how we very rarely feature “inspiration shoots” on the blog, because the submissions we receive just don’t match up with what y’all enjoy: gorgeous photography, approachable, doable styling and ideas, and fresh, meaningful Southern details. However, I’m so happy that Caroline and Nancy let me share the images they created from the workshop shoot here, because they do fit the above criteria — and are perfect for Valentine’s Day, to boot!

First, I must introduce you to the adorable couple who posed for the day. Nope, they’re not professional models, but they couldn’t have been any cuter!

That gorgeous calligraphy heart was penned by Juliet Jones. We’re not the biggest fans of elaborate photo props at SW, but using sweet, simple ones like these can be a GREAT way to “warm up” and get comfortable in front of the camera!

Don’t you love how the table was nestled right under that big magnolia tree? The grounds of The Sutherland were so beautiful!

Erin McLean, the stylist of the day and the talent behind the tablescape, also dreamed up a darling dessert bar. We were so happy it featured an Ashley Cake!

Many thanks to Nancy and Caroline for having me, and for sending over these lovely images! Make sure to check out all of the talented vendors below. And ladies, if you’re interested in learning more about Branches & Light, click here!

Photographer: Caroline Joy and Nancy Ray // Designer and Stylist: Erin McLean with Erin McLean Events // Flowers: Tre Bella // Gown: Tre Bella // Cake: Ashley Cakes // Cake Stand: Sarah’s Stands // Hair and Makeup: Samantha Crowder // Jewelry: Emily Hansel Designs // Calligraphy: Juliet Jones // Venue: The Sutherland

Erin McLean Events is a fabulous member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

emily Written with love by Emily
14 Comments
  1. avatar Branches & Light 2012 | Behind the scenes video – Caroline Joy Photography reply

    […] I am also so proud to direct you over to the Southern Weddings blog to see our full styled shoot from the workshop. I’m grateful beyond words to Emily Ayer, who was our guest speaker at […]

  2. avatar Natalie reply

    Love this! Nancy Ray and Caroline Joy are fabulous! Wonderful shoot, ladies!

  3. avatar Lindsay Ann reply

    I was so thrilled to be a part of this shoot and see Caroline and Nancy in action! The vendors did such an amazing job setting it all up. So much beauty, and so little time to photograph it! Thank you again, Emily, for sharing your insight and expertise!

  4. avatar Ilana reply

    Oh my, those photos next to the gate are EXQUISITE! the climbing vines look like a natural progression of her bouquet and I can’t get enough!

  5. avatar Styled Shoot at the Sutherland in Wake Forest » Michelle Lyerly reply

    […] women, Nancy Ray and Caroline Joy. If you follow Southern Weddings magazine blog you might of seen this post on Valentines. If you didn’t, you should hop over there and check out the photos that Nancy […]

  6. avatar Happy Friday! – Caroline Joy Photography reply

    […] 2. Southern Weddings | Southern Valentine Inspired Shoot […]

  7. avatar inspired : 2.18.12 | beka stays reply

    […] my southern valentine photo shoot […]

  8. avatar Southern Weddings Styled Shoot Part II – Caroline Joy Photography reply

    […] images from our styled shoot, and definitely put it on your to-do list to check out our feature on Southern Weddings. […]

  9. avatar Chalkboards in Weddings | Live What You Love reply

    […] via Southern Weddings […]

  10. avatar Style Inspiration: Modern Vintage Lace | Roses & Lace reply

    […] Obee Designs, Style Me Pretty, Style Me Pretty, Cake Central, Southern Weddings, Style Me Pretty, Southern Weddings, Style Me […]

  11. avatar Things I Heart: Say It With Signs | The Fete Blog reply

    […] top left: Do you and your partner have a sweet, personal phrase you often say? Make a sign for it! Southern Wedding Magazine | Short and simple, to the point! __ loves __is perfect. Southern Wedding Magazine | How long is […]

  12. avatar Sapphire Events Blog » Wedding Inspiration Board: Pink Pumpkins | Sapphire Events New Orleans Wedding Planner reply

    […] via Style Me Pretty, invitation suite by Sugar Paper, menu card by Caroline Joy and Nancy Ray via Southern Weddings, cake via pinterest, Dom Perignon via DM Media, pink pumpkins via Such Pretty Things, tablescape by […]

  13. avatar 20 Adorable Heart-Shaped Wedding Ideas that are Not Corny – MODwedding reply

    […] Featured Photography: Caroline Joy and Nancy Ray via Southern Weddings […]

  14. avatar 20 Adorable Heart-Shaped Wedding Ideas that are Not Corny – BCT Engine reply

    […] Featured Images: Caroline Joy and Nancy Ray by way of Southern Weddings […]

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!

Reply to:
close
Top