Southern Weddings

One (very true) realization that I’ve come to over the years is this: You can’t have every wedding on every budget, but you can have a wedding on any budget. With less than $10,000 to spend and 200 beloved family members and friends attending, Haylee + Frank crafted a wedding that was perfect for them: sweet, simple, homemade, and Southern. Camp Shenandoah Springs in Virginia was a beautiful backdrop to the humble celebration, and Sarah Matozzi was there to capture the fun.

Haylee’s ladies all chose their own neutral dress to wear for the day, and brightened the overall look with colorful accessories. As for Haylee, she stumbled upon the online shop Grace Loves Lace a few months before the wedding. When she locked eyes on the “Emme” style, she instantly knew it was the something different and special she had been looking for.

Frank and I took communion during our ceremony. It was one of my favorite parts of the wedding — a special moment for me and my husband to honor the one who brought us together. I walked down the aisle to “A Place Only You Can Go” by Needtobreathe, and while we prayed together we had “Beautiful Things” by Gungor playing. Both songs were performed by talented friends of mine.

That’s their first kiss ever, folks – pretty sweet.

I wanted our cake to look simple but beautiful, and to taste delicious, and that’s what we got! We also served little pies in mason jars and caramel-dipped apples made by Frank’s Aunt Cheri.

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. Frank went to high school with my best friend and sister-in law Olivia. It wasn’t until about a year after graduation that she got to thinking we might get along great. We started talking online when I was 16 and he was 18 (when Myspace was cool!). Right away, we began to fall in love. Shortly after that, he came to my church to meet me, and we’ve been together ever since!
Describe the proposal. After four years together, the time had come! Frank, my sister Emily and I went hiking one Saturday. After a long hike, we reached the top, where Frank pointed out a huge rock, noting it would be a good spot for a picture. I, being the fan of heights that I am, said NO WAY am I climbing up there! After a bit of persuasion, he pulled me up onto the giant boulder. I was scared to death and clinging onto him, but we posed for a picture, taken by my sister. After that, I begin inching my way back down when he said, “wait, wait, don’t you want to think about how you’re going to get down?” I stood back up, turned around, and saw him getting down on one knee! My sister got great pictures, and I couldn’t have been happier with the way he asked.
In what month did you get married? May
Did you decide to do a “first look”? We did not do a first look. We both were so looking forward to that moment when we would see each other down the aisle.
Describe your wedding flowers: Wildflowers all the way! I wanted them to look freshly picked.
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? The venue was very Southern. It went perfectly with our Southern décor, which included vintage hankies as napkins, and mason jars and all different colors and sizes of vases filled with fresh and dried flowers. We had fresh raspberries on our cake, burlap table squares, and vintage table cloths.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Bridesmaids dresses. There were so many girls I wanted by my side that day, and we were all on a budget! I wanted them all to love what they were wearing, and for it to be practical. I’m so happy with what we decided on, as they all looked stunning!
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Kissing my husband for the first time.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Relax and enjoy this time with family and friends. It will all come together in the end! I’m so thankful I was able to have such a joyous wedding day without stressing, but it was because I chose not to.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? Starting a family and living happily ever after with my best friend.

Written with love by Emily