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The phrase “beach wedding” can stir up some cheesy connotations, but I daresay that people whose minds automatically go to Hawaiian shirts and stargazer lilies have never been to a coastal wedding in the South! From Rosemary Beach to the Outer Banks to St. Simon’s Island (where today’s gorgeous celebration was held), Southern brides certainly know how to turn a beach locale into a completely elegant place to tie the knot. Lindsey and Daniel chose St. Simon’s Island for their wedding because her small hometown wasn’t easy to travel to from New York or DC, where Daniel’s family lives. That was only the first of many ways they infused their day with Southern hospitality, and I imagine their Northern guests left both totally enchanted with the South and grateful to have witnessed such a meaningful union.

Thanks so much to The Willetts for sharing this beautiful day with us!

Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! By accident, after a day of shopping with my Mom in NYC, I found a pair of blue shoes that I loved. They ended up being my wedding shoes. Danny gave me a pair of pearl and diamond earrings, and I borrowed my maternal grandmother’s pearl bracelet.

I always loved my mom’s long-sleeve lace wedding dress, which she actually borrowed from her best friend. Once I was engaged, I asked my mom if she thought it was possible for me to also borrow it for my wedding. Unfortunately, the dress had not been preserved well and I couldn’t get it zipped, so I began looking for my own version of a long-sleeve lace dress. I finally found it in New York City and I love it more than anything! Nothing would make me happier than to see my sisters wear it someday too.

My favorite part about any wedding is seeing the groom’s face when the bride walks down the aisle. It is such a beautiful and emotional moment to watch. I definitely wanted to experience that moment at my own wedding, so being the traditionalist that I am, we did not do a first look.

What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Our ceremony. From the beginning, I knew I did not want a big wedding, and our ceremony turned out perfectly. It was in a small white chapel overlooking the water, and we were surrounded by 130 of our closest family members and friends. Of course, arriving at the reception was a lot of fun too, because I finally got to see all of my ideas brought to life. Everything was just perfect!

I’m from a small town in southwest Georgia, and it is not the easiest place to travel to from New York City or DC (where Danny’s family lives). I’m too traditional and practical to have a true destination wedding, so we finally decided on St. Simons Island, Georgia. It was still close to home, and it was at the beach, and a place I grew to love during my college days. Getting to St. Simon’s was easy for everyone too, so it made perfect sense for us.

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? The best Southern combination, in my opinion, is boiled peanuts and beer, preferably at the beach. I made sure that a big bucket of fresh boiled peanuts was at the bar so everyone (including the Northerners in attendance) could indulge in my Southern favorite with me!

My best friend in New York City, Emily Ellison Sharp of Emily Ellison Studio, is a florist. She has the best taste and unbelievable talent. I knew from the beginning that I wanted her to do my flowers and I completely trusted her with all of my ideas. The flowers are something people are talking about today. Everything was absolutely gorgeous!

What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Just wait until you are married! It is SO much fun!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. Danny and I were set up on a blind date by a mutual friend in New York City. Our first date was dinner at a cute West Village restaurant on Banks Street. Unfortunately, a new restaurant opened in its place, but we still go back on March 29 (the anniversary of our first date) every year!
Tell us all about the proposal! Danny knows how much I love the beach (summer or winter–it doesn’t matter!). For Christmas, he gave me an overnight trip to our favorite place in The Hamptons. Before dinner, he insisted that we go to “our” beach to see it in the snow–a phenomenon I’m not familiar with, being from the South. Not expecting what happened next, I looked down and Danny was on one knee in 12 inches of snow, with more snow falling on the windy beach. It was like being in a real life snow globe! I said yes, and we ran back to the car so that he could officially put the ring on my finger. That night, we enjoyed a beautiful dinner at an old inn in East Hampton by the wood-burning fire. It was magical!
When did y’all get married? April 11, 2015
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 130
Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? No, we did not write our own vows. However, Danny and I agreed that the ceremony was the most important part of our wedding, so we had our preacher from New York City marry us so that it was someone we both knew well and who knew us as a couple. During our ceremony, our preacher said, “Love must act as light must shine and fire must burn.” I find the quote so beautiful and relevant in our very practical day-to-day life and relationship.
What’s next for you as a couple? What memories are you looking forward to making together? We are in the process of buying an apartment in New York City (gulp!). I can’t wait to start our life together in our new home and enjoy living in one of the greatest cities in the world! Of course, decorating our home will be fun too! We are truly so grateful!

Photographer: The Willetts / Videographer: Todd Urick Films / Ceremony Venue: Lovely Lane Chapel at Epworth by the Sea / Reception Venue: Village Creek Landing / Florist: Emily Ellison Studio / Caterer and Cake Baker: Halyards Restaurant / Rentals: Beachview / Band: Sandy B and the Allstars / Painted Details: Ashley Curry / Paper Product Printing: Dabney Lee / Bride’s Fascinator: LeFlowers / Bride’s Shoes: French Sole New York / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J. Crew / Groom’s Attire: Custom by Holland and Sherry Bespoke

lisa Written with love by Lisa
3 Comments
  1. avatar Elizabeth L. reply

    Beautiful pictures, and I love the advice from their preacher!

  2. avatar Sabrina reply

    I’m in love with the bride’s dress! Could you tell me what label it is ?

  3. avatar Friday Fresh Squeeze #208 – Floridian Social reply

    […] perfectly neutral coastal soiree with lots of bistro […]

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One of my favorite memories of my own wedding day is when BDK took my hand and squeezed it three times right after we were pronounced husband and wife. It reminded me to stop for a second and take in that special moment, so I love that Lisa and Joe made sure to pause during such a whirlwind day, take each other by the hand, and look around together to soak it all in. I know how hard it can be to stay present, but what a sweet way to focus on what matters most…and what a beautiful scene Lisa and Joe had to see! The Farm in Georgia was exactly what they had envisioned for their shabby chic barn wedding that was sophisticated and felt like them.

Big SW hugs to Blue Ribbon Vendor Bamber Photography for sharing this lovely day!

After much debate, we decided to do a first look. I have to say, I’m so happy we did! I went back and forth because I wanted that moment when we saw each other as I walked down the aisle to be really special. To my surprise, the more we talked to our photographer about a first look, it seemed like it would be more intimate that way. It was also very important to us to be able to enjoy the reception with our family and guests, and taking the majority of our pictures beforehand allowed us to enjoy that time with them after the ceremony!

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. When it came to finding my wedding dress, I knew that I didn’t want a strapless dress–that was the one thing I was sure of! I envisioned an elegant, simple dress with delicate sleeves and a tulle skirt. I went dress shopping with my mom and sister, and we went to three different dress shops, but I couldn’t find what I was looking for! I then went back to the first dress shop and decided to try on some strapless dresses, just to see what I thought. I remember walking out in one and my sister saying, “That’s it!” It felt so perfect and made me feel like a princess. Who doesn’t want to feel like a princess on their wedding day, right?! So, lesson learned: know what you want, but don’t be too opposed to trying on other dresses. They might just surprise you!

We asked my Uncle Kelly, who we are both so close to, if he would marry us. He was so excited and honored, that he quickly got ordained! It meant so much to us to have someone so special and dear to our hearts standing there beside us as we said our vows to one another.

I wanted classic, elegant flowers in neutrals, whites, and soft pinks. Hydrangeas and peonies are two of my favorite flowers, so I definitely wanted to incorporate those! I knew I wanted my bouquet to be all peonies in a blush pink color. We then decided that the reception flowers would be white hydrangeas with pale pink snapdragons and soft-colored David Austin roses. My bridesmaid bouquets were a combination of snapdragons, David Austin roses, and beautiful wildflowers. I could not have been happier with the way the flowers turned out–they were absolutely stunning!

What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they have any special significance to you? Our ceremony and reception were both at the same venue, The Farm in Rome, Georgia. We knew we wanted an outdoor venue that was sophisticated and felt like us. I had always envisioned a shabby chic barn wedding, and The Farm was only about an hour and a half away from us in Atlanta. It was the first venue we saw, and it just felt right. We both fell in love with it, and seeing as we had both lived in Georgia for a number of years, this is where we met, and we both love being outdoors, we agreed it was the perfect venue for us.

What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? In Joe’s words to the grooms, learn to say “Yes dear!” I would highly recommend having a day-of coordinator. The number of last-minute details can be overwhelming, and it was extremely helpful to have someone there to help pull everything together the day-of. Other advice that was given to me prior to our wedding was to take my husband’s hand a few times throughout the night, stop, and look around together. Take it all in. You put so much work into that one day. It goes by so fast, so soak it all in the best you can!

We served very traditional Southern food to go with the Southern theme of the wedding weekend! We had various food stations at the reception where we served chicken and waffles, shrimp and grits, and fried green tomatoes. We wanted to infuse Southern flair into our wedding, since we’ve spent the majority of our lives in the South and met one another in Georgia!

Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. For our first dance, we danced to Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud.” When trying to find the perfect first dance song, we heard this song together in the car one day, and it brought tears to our eyes. It was such a beautiful song that expressed exactly how we wanted to grow old together. We immediately decided that it was the one!

Joe and I aren’t huge cake fans, so we knew we wanted a sweets table with an assortment of desserts for everyone to choose from instead! Some of the desserts we included were cupcakes from a local Atlanta cupcake shop that we love in some of our favorite flavors (white chocolate, salted caramel, and cookies and cream), macaroons, white chocolate-covered pretzels, heart-shaped mints that my Aunt Trish made, and cake pops! We also wanted a small cake that we could cut, and I love the look of the naked cakes, so we also had a six-inch naked cake with a few beautiful peonies on top. Everything was displayed on a beautiful, antique, white-washed buffet table!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. Joe and I met on eHarmony! Joe reached out to me by private message, and by that point, I had almost given up on the dating scene. I almost cancelled our date because I was so nervous, but my sister talked me into going, and thank goodness she did! We met at the cutest restaurant for drinks and instantly had such a strong connection. Before we knew it, seven hours had passed and we were on our way to a second drink spot to continue the night! We both look back on that day and agree that after that first date, we both knew this was something special. We could hardly wait to see each other again!
Tell us all about the proposal! For our second date, Joe took me to Piedmont Park in Atlanta and prepared the most romantic picnic! He picked me up, we went to the park, found the perfect huge oak tree to sit under, and he laid out a blanket. He had a whole picnic basket prepared with cheese, crackers, sushi, wine–the works. I remember being so impressed! The week of our proposal, he mentioned that we hadn’t been back to the park since our second date, and suggested that we go on an impromptu casual date night picnic. I thought it was a great idea! When we arrived, we found our same oak tree, laid our blanket down, and before I could sit down, he bent down on one knee and asked me to marry him! It was the most romantic, beautiful proposal! He then told me he had planned dinner reservations at our first date spot, JCT Kitchen in Atlanta. As we drove there, I was so excited to share my news, and I tried to call my sister, my mom, and my dad, but no one answered. We arrived at the restaurant, and to my surprise, they were all there to surprise me!
When did y’all get married? May 23, 2015
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 100
Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! As a traditionalist, I definitely wanted to make sure that I had something borrowed, blue, old, and new! For my something borrowed and old, my mother has the most stunning European jewelry from her Great Aunt Frieda, and I knew I wanted to wear something of hers. I found these beautiful diamond earrings that looked amazing with my wedding dress. It was important to me to incorporate something from my mother in my wedding day attire, and I’m so happy I was able to wear those! For my something blue, my mom and dad had a handkerchief made for me that was white with my name embroidered on it in blue writing. It was so perfect for my something blue! For my something new, I spoiled myself and bought Manolo Blahnik flats that I wore. They were drop dead gorgeous!
How did you plan for your marriage while planning your wedding? Marriage is about compromise and working together as a team. We kept this in mind as we were planning our wedding. It was important to us that this was day was about both of us. We relied on the friendship we have built and the depth of our commitment to one another, which carried us through the ups and downs of wedding planning.
If you are comfortable responding, what range did your wedding budget fall into? $25,000-$50,000
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? We both agree our first look was our most memorable moment! I still remember walking toward Joe as his back was turned to me, feeling the butterflies, and telling him to turn around and not to cry, or I would start crying too! He later told me that as soon as he heard my voice, he started to tear up.
What’s next for you as a couple? What memories are you looking forward to making together? We look forward to creating new memories as a married couple, purchasing our first home together, and starting a family!

Photographer: Bamber Photography / Videographer: Nick Westfall / Venue: The Farm / Florist: Janet Nutt / Cake Baker: Piece of Cake / Dessert Baker: Honeymoon Bakery / Caterer: Zest Catering / Rentals: Heirloom Vintage Rentals / Band: Francisco Vidal Band / Paper Products: Lemon Meringue / Bride’s Gown: “0126174” by Alyne Bridal / Hair Stylist: Drew Delaney / Makeup Artist: Brittini Pearson / Bride’s Shoes: Manolo Blahnik / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: “Megan” in Soft Peach by J.Crew / Menswear: Brooks Brothers

Bamber Photography is a delightful member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

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

    I`m out of words! I can say only that this unique wedding concept inspires me! Congrats!

    • avatar Lisa Manusakis reply

      Thank you so much Clarisa Sian for such a sweet comment! Thank you Southern Weddings for featuring us on your blog, we are very honored! Xo, Lisa and Joe

  2. avatar Katy reply

    Could you share where you go the fabulous food signs? They are beautiful!

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There are lots of things I love about the real wedding interview we send to every bride we feature, but hands down, one of my favorite parts is reading each couple’s proposal story. I’m convinced that there is nothing quite like seeing the love of your life on one knee, and getting a peek into that moment for so many couples is an honor and a joy! The story of how Walker asked Haley to marry him is one not to be missed (let’s just say, the monogrammed tissue box on my desk came in handy), and if that’s not enough to make you fall in love with this adorable couple, I’m positive that their Georgia wedding, packed with lovingly handmade details, will!

Thanks so much to our Blue Ribbon Vendor Live View Studios for sharing this sweet celebration with us!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. Walker and I met at Georgia Southern University. I was involved in a campus ministry called Chi Alpha, and had been leading the worship team. Walker had attended a few times, and since he plays guitar, he decided he wanted to join the worship team as well. I didn’t notice him right away, but once I did, it was hard to look away. Some time later, we met at the park for our first (unofficial) date. We threw the frisbee back and forth for two hours and just talked about family and our lives. On May 18, 2012, we decided being friends wasn’t enough, so he asked me to be his girlfriend. Exactly two years later, Walker decided that having me as his girlfriend was no longer enough, so he asked me to be his wife! Another year later, we were sitting on the balcony of our cabin in Pigeon Forge, sipping on coffee, and enjoying the second day of our honeymoon. We’ve been married for a whopping month and a half now, and it’s as blissful as ever!

I had my heart set on a flowy dress, so once I was in the store, that’s exactly what I grabbed. I tried it on and it looked awful! I decided to go in a different direction with a more elegant, timeless look. When I came out in a trumpet-style, lace gown, every girl I brought with me was in tears. I turned around to the mirror and the tears hit me too. It was obvious that this dress was mine!

We did not do a first look, but let me tell you, that wasn’t decided easily! We went back and forth on the subject for months. Finally, we decided to keep with tradition and see each other for the first time when I walked down the aisle. It was a magical moment to see each other in a crowded space, but not notice anyone else but each other.

What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they have any special significance to you? The ceremony and reception space were in the same location. This was an obvious choice for us, since it was in the neighborhood where my parents live!

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? The location was very Southern! We also served peach tea and Coca Cola in glass bottles out of a boat.
What was one way you saved money or cut costs at your wedding? We made things ourselves! Also, any time we went grocery shopping, we would pick up a few cases of Coke bottles and tea. It helped to spread that cost out!

I walked down the aisle to “How Great Thou Art.” The arrangement was by The Piano Guys, and it had everyone in tears. Our first dance song was “Forever Like That” by Ben Rector. It was a song that we’ve both loved for a long time, and it’s the perfect song to waltz to!

Tell us all about the proposal! Our two-year dating anniversary fell on a Sunday. After spending the day together, he dropped me off at my place so I could get ready, and he planned to pick me up at 8 so we could head to Savannah for dinner. By the time 8:15 rolled around and Walker hadn’t showed up, I began to get a little worried. This man was never late for dates! I looked out the window for his car, but then, something else caught my eye. There was a shiny silver gift bag by my car with a piece of paper taped to it. I went outside, picked it up and began to read: “Two years is a pretty big deal, so I wanted to do a little something extra to set this date apart. I’ve arranged for you to take a trip to the places that are significant to our relationship. Sound fun? So here is how it works: I will give you a destination at the bottom of each letter. You are to drive to each spot and park as close to it as possible. Then you are to take out the numbered letter that corresponds to the stops you’ve made. So for the first spot, get out letter number one, and so on. Think back to the feelings and thoughts you had when our relationship was just beginning. I will meet you at the last spot and we will continue on to our date. First stop, the education building parking lot. Text me before you start!” He also included a CD that I was supposed to listen to while I drove, filled with songs that flooded me with memories. The journey continued to his first college apartment, where we shared our first meal together, the Mexican restaurant where he had met my family for the first time, and the park where we had had our first kiss. Finally, for the last stop, I pulled into the coffee shop where we had spent hours and hours over the last two years. Waiting for me there was the first man I’d ever loved: my dad. He escorted me through the empty coffee shop and out the back door, and with a kiss on the cheek and an “I love you,” he turned me over to the most handsome man I’d ever seen. There was Walker, standing on the patio all alone, under hundreds of Christmas lights, waiting for me! He said all the right things and got down on one knee and popped the question I had been so eager to hear! After a few moments alone and some ugly crying, he walked me around the corner for my final surprise. All of our family and friends were there to congratulate us!
When did y’all get married? May 16, 2015
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 70
How did you plan for your marriage while planning your wedding? We each read a book that taught us how to love when things get difficult, and we would discuss our readings together. At one point, we were so over wedding planning and were just ready for the marriage!
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Money. Thankfully, my mom and I are very creative and resourceful when we’re together. We had to do a lot of out-of-the-box thinking to make things work on our budget.
If you are comfortable responding, what range did your wedding budget fall into? Less than $10,000
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Breathe. On the day of your wedding, stop and look around and take it in. Before you know it, you’re on your way to your honeymoon, so do your best to savor every moment, even the things that go wrong.

Photographer: Live View Studios / Videographer: Charis Films / Planner: Michele Hankey / Venue: The River House / Florist: Brooklet Flower Shop / Wedding Cake: Julie Evans / Rentals: Rental Party Shop / DJ: Bryan Evans / Bride’s Gown, Veil, and Bridesmaid Dresses: David’s Bridal / Hair Stylist: Keturah Brocatto / Menswear: MADE by Cam Newton

Live View Studios is a delightful member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

lisa Written with love by Lisa
7 Comments
  1. avatar Kelly reply

    Oh Lisa, I cried too!!Such a beautiful proposal story!!

  2. avatar Brent and Anna – Live View Studios reply

    Thank you for sharing Haley & Walker’s sweet story and their wedding day! xo

  3. avatar Cassidy reply

    That proposal story. Sa-woon! I also appreciated Haley’s honest about what the biggest challenge with their wedding was. It’s easy to get caught up in the expectations for a wedding — and the finances that they entail. But it sounds like Haley and Walker didn’t sweat it and enjoyed their day.

  4. avatar Dana reply

    oh my gosh this is the SWEETEST proposal! even got some tears out of me!

  5. avatar LINA reply

    What a gorgeous wedding & less than $10,000! They definitely should get the prize…they knew exactly how to spend their money! This was better than some that spent over $20,000.

  6. avatar Julie reply

    Way to go Walker and cousin Haley! The wedding looked magical- great planning. Prayers for that magic to continue forever.

  7. avatar 24 Ideas to Use Wood Pallet for Your Country Wedding – Oh Best Day Ever reply

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