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Y’all will notice right away that this wedding is a little different. It has a lovely bride and a dapper groom and a gorgeous Southern setting, yes ma’am, but it also has a day-of timeline that went completely haywire due to unexpected weather, and a noticeable lack of “details” compared to our other features. However, what it may lack in pretty paper or fancy favors, it more than makes up for in heart. Ryan Price’s images tell the story of Laura and Micah’s emotional day well, so please, y’all, enjoy this look at a wedding that went “wrong,” but in the end was oh so right. As we all believe, truly love always, always wins… even in the face of torrential downpour.

I had checked the Farmer’s Almanac dating back to the last ten years to determine that November 3, 2012 was the perfect date for our wedding. It had the least likely chance of rain, and an average temperature of 65 degrees. It was the day before Daylight Savings Time and if we had the ceremony at 5:00pm we could be on the dance floor by 6:00pm, just as the sun was setting. I had done my research.

But things don’t always go according to plan, no matter how well you think you might have planned them. Our wedding was to start at 5:00. The storm began rolling in around 4:30. Torrential downpour began at 4:45. Hail, sometime around 5:00. People were outside scurrying, grabbing napkins and glass vases with candles. I was in the little farmhouse where the bridal party was getting ready, trying to keep it together. Micah, his mother, my mother and father, my pastor, and I gathered together to make a decision. Micah and I decided through tears (mostly mine) and disappointment that we were definitely getting married that day, and we wanted all of our people to be there with us. So we crammed everyone into the tiny farmhouse, wherever they could fit. The bridal party lined up on the staircase, and Micah and I stood at the bottom with our family and friends just a foot away. It was so intimate, and I honestly believe it was better than either of us could have ever imagined.

I walked down the “aisle” to The Vitamin String Quartet’s instrumental version of “Dare You to Move” by Switchfoot. The crescendo in the middle of the song still makes me tear up when I listen to it. After we exchanged our vows, we celebrated by singing a worship song to our God called “How He Loves” by the David Crowder Band. The song is about the incredible love God has for us, and it reminded us that His perfect love is even better than the love we have for each other.

Before my father gave me away and prayed over me and Micah, my brother read from Colossians 3:12-17: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peach of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

You hear people talk about how family-oriented Southern culture is, and how close-knit communities in small towns can be. I am so fortunate that my family and my community are a classic example of those values. My little town of Lufkin, Texas has more Southern hospitality and just down right generosity than you can shake a stick at. One of my favorite experiences about planning my wedding was how willing and excited people were to help. My mother actually rounded up a little committee of five women, close friends from church and work, who met with us several times before the wedding to help plan. And heaven knows Mom and I needed help! I am so thankful for those women and all of the encouragement and advice they imparted. Not to mention the appointment making, detail managing, and decorating they did! I honestly don’t believe it would have turned out the way it did without the help from our community.

What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Oh goodness, this is a hard question. Months before my wedding, I remember asking my mom about her own wedding. She said, “Honey, I was honestly so busy and stressed during that time that I don’t remember much of anything.” That made me so sad, because she and my father have been married for 33 years and I know that that was a special time for her. I didn’t want that to be my one regret: that I forgot to stop and enjoy every second. So that’s what I did. I took everything in, and I know this sounds cheesy, but every second was my favorite memory. Some of the memories that stick out the most in my mind were my mother putting on my veil; crying and holding my best friend’s hand as we watched the storm roll in before the wedding; Micah and I deciding together to move the ceremony into the tiny farmhouse, squish everyone in who could fit, and to go ahead with the celebration; seeing Micah teary eyed as he read his vows; dancing to “My Girl” with my daddy, and the look on Micah’s face when my bridesmaids and I performed our little dance number.

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: Micah and I both love to sing (although he is a much better singer than I), and we both especially love to dance. We like to say that we fell in love two-stepping on the dance floor. Our wedding reception definitely reflected our love for dancing, and much to my mother’s chagrin, it was even complete with surprise performances from both the bride’s party and the groom’s party. I surprised him by throwing on a leather jacket and performing a routine that my bridesmaids, house party, and I had come up with the night before to “You’re the One That I Want” from the movie “Grease.” Micah and his groomsmen followed, to my surprise, with One Direction’s “You Don’t Know You’re Beautiful.” It was so much fun, and absolutely hilarious.

This is something I had to learn and continually remind myself of throughout the months of planning, and especially on our big day when nothing went according to plan: Please, please remember that it is not about the event, but about the precious lifelong commitment you are making to the one you love. When you keep it in perspective, you can handle any situation. What you view as the mishaps will truly become the best memories.

How did the two of you meet? Micah and I both attended Texas A&M University (whoop!), but our journey together began even before we set foot on campus as freshmen.  Micah and I both decided to attend Fish Camp, which is A&M’s three-day freshman orientation at a nearby campground. It just so happened that out of 4,000 incoming freshman, Micah and I ended up in the same discussion group! Back then I was a little shy when it came to meeting new people, but not when playing games. Somehow, we wound up playing a card game together the first night. Needless to say, my competitive nature caught his attention. But our fate wasn’t sealed until the second night at the country dance mixer. Micah is a pretty good dancer — sometimes I wonder if he came out of the womb already knowing how to two-step. I remember that night he danced with all six of the other girls in our group first. After that, he just stood next to me for the next two songs. The third song happened to be my favorite at the time, and after commenting to Micah that it was my favorite song, he nodded and continued to stand exactly where he was, staring at the dance floor. The poor boy was afraid to ask! After a few seconds I turned to him, held my hand out and said matter-of-factly, “Micah, considering this is my favorite song, would you please dance with me?” I honestly had never been so bold in my life, but I think I just knew what I wanted.  The rest, as they say, is history.
Describe the proposal. I love surprises, and fortunately for me, Micah loves to surprise me. I had absolutely no idea he was going to propose when he did. Now, I’ll be honest, I had dropped quite a few hints over the course of the two years we were dating. When I say “hints,” what I really mean is I flat-out asked him a few times, “When are you planning on asking me to marry you?” Micah always took it in stride and reminded me to be patient. Then finally, the fall of our senior year at A&M, we were both getting our Aggie rings, which is a momentous occasion for students of Texas A&M. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, family pets, everyone practically comes in for this event and everyone celebrates with a party. Micah and I had planned to have a little shindig at my college house with our families and friends. We had a karaoke system set up for entertainment. Micah’s dad called everyone over to where the karaoke was set up and asked for Micah and me to come up on the stage. As Micah dragged me by the hand up to the stage, I whispered to him, “Micah, I’m not going to sing. You’re going to have to sing by yourself because I’m not singing. Not doing it.” He took the microphone from his dad and got down on one knee as the song “She’s Like Texas” began to play. I remember seeing his hand shaking as he held the microphone. Looking back it was obvious what he was doing and so I feel silly for having said, “Micah, what are you doing? I’m not going to sing. Get up!” He laughed and then in the sweetest way he asked me to marry him. I don’t think I even looked at the ring because I was so excited he had finally asked me to be his wife. I fell to my knees and hugged him.
How many guests attended your wedding? That is a good question! I know that 350 RSVP’d but with the unexpected weather and hail storm that ensued that evening, and the temporary misplacement of the guest book, we never got a final count!
Did you decide to do a first look? After much debate, Micah and I decided it would be a good idea to do a first look. I think that was one of the best decisions on our part. It helped us calm our nerves and gave us time to talk to each other before the hustle and bustle began. That time was so special. We talked about how we were feeling and prayed together for our marriage. It also allowed us to have as much time with our guests as possible.
The wedding favors? Homemade blueberry jam. My cousins, aunts, friends and I gathered together one Saturday and canned 350 jars of blueberry jam. Micah and I had picked 11 gallons of blueberries at the Wood Blueberry Farm in Diboll, Texas.
Tell us about your wedding cake. It was absolutely delicious. Our baker even replicated a cake topper I found in a magazine of two little birds. I thought it was fitting considering our last name is Birdsong.
What range did your wedding budget fall into? We were shooting for around $15,000 but quickly realized that, with as many guests as we wanted to invite, we needed to increase the budget. I think the final number ended up being between $20,000 and $21,000.

emily Written with love by Emily
9 Comments
  1. avatar Ryan reply

    One of the neatest weddings to be a part of!! Such an amazing day and testament to their love. Thanks for sharing it!!

  2. avatar Kat reply

    I love that even in the rain, their joy shines through!! I needed to see this post – to remember that even if it’s POURING and none of the details work out, it’s the love that counts.

  3. avatar Taylor J reply

    If this doesn’t embody the Sweet Tea Society…. I don’t know what does!

  4. avatar The NotWedding reply

    How sweet! Love the intimacy of this special day.

  5. avatar Ashleigh reply

    Oh my heavens! I was just talking about the weather for our wedding day yesterday and saying how I’m praying every day leading up to it that it’s nothing but gorgeous! Great job saving the day – stunning wedding and pictures!

  6. avatar Arlissa Vaughn / Special Event Painter reply

    These photos really capture the emotion…very sweet!

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  8. avatar H. Campbell reply

    Love is in the air, I love the motif so pink… a pretty bride and a handsome groom…Hope I’ll be the next…where are you now my cupid??

  9. avatar Happy Birthday, Lisa! – Southern Weddings Magazine reply

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I almost wish I could reverse this post and show you the photos from Loft Photographie from end to beginning. You’ll just have to be patient and scroll through Paige + Brian’s sweet ceremony and pretty pink details before you about fall over and swoon over the last amazing photograph in their wedding. I promise, the suspense will be worth it. Just imagine you’re scrolling through their images to the soundtrack of P + B’s ceremony, which Paige spent much (worthwhile) time perfecting, building emotions and crescendos until her debut at the top of the aisle.

Describe your wedding flowers: My flowers we perfect! They were pink roses and white hydrangea and peonies. It was the perfect balance of white and pink. My bridesmaids wore pink and had all-white bouquets to keep the contrast. I loved it!

Did you decide to do a “first look”? Yes and no! I wanted to spend some time with Brian before the ceremony and have a chance to pray together and just say “I love you” before everything happened, but I still didn’t want him to see me in my dress before I walked down the aisle. It was really important to me that have that moment and get to see him reaction of seeing me walking with my dad. Brian was blind folded and we got to have a moment before the ceremony started.

Tell us about finding your wedding dress: I went shopping with my mom a week after the proposal. I found my dress at Brickhouse Bridal in The Woodlands, TX. Once I saw all of the dresses, I had no idea what I wanted. Pronovias was having a trunk show that weekend and it was perfect for me. I ended up trying on five of their dresses, and the one I choose was the second dress I tried on. I tried on different styles but I kept thinking about the second dress that made me really feel like a bride! It was the one and I accessorized in the store with a short veil and vintage lace sash.

Before walking down the aisle, we came up with a playlist of some of our favorite love songs, which built up until I walked down the aisle. The last song before the ceremony started was Boyce Avenue’s “On My Way.” Brian walked out with the Pastor as the last line of the song played, “I’ll be there the moment that you walk down in white.” I walked down the aisle to Ingrid Michaels’ “I Can’t Help Falling in Love with You,” the Elvis cover. I chose this song mainly just because I love it, I feel like it fit perfectly into our wedding theme and our story as a couple. We took communion during our ceremony and while we did this and Brian prayed over our new marriage, the Kari Jobe song, “My Beloved” played. It was perfect to me for this part of our wedding because I felt like it mirrored the love God has for us and the love that a husband should have for his wife. We walked back down the aisle to an instrumental version on the Plain White T’s “1, 2, 3, 4.”

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: At the ceremony, I would say it was the music and how it set the tone for the emotions that I was feeling leading up to being Brian’s wife, and just getting to be up there in front of everyone, showing the world my love for him. At the reception, it was the decorations. It was the ideal vintage-chic wedding that was exactly what I dreamed of! It was more than I could have imagined. My mom made most of it and she did an amazing job!


From the food to the decorations, I feel like without even trying we pulled together a simple and sweet Southern wedding. We served lavender lemonade, golden Yukon mashed potatoes and decadent cake balls. Our wedding reception was in a beautiful red barn strung with white twinkling lights. One of my main decorations was milk glass vases. I knew from the beginning that I wanted my wedding to have them as them. They worked perfectly with the burlap details, hydrangeas and pink touches. Outside, we had a monogrammed bean bag toss homemade by my mom and brother, a photo booth with an old door to hold the pictures and a quilt to be signed by our guests.

What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Invites, definitely! One mistake that we made was sending out invitations without knowing the exact number we were inviting. We over-invited and it got very stressful very fast! Dealing with catering, chairs, and the ranch capacity was most overwhelming as we tried to get our numbers right!

My wedding cake was a gift from a family friend who makes wonderful cakes! It was the perfect moist white cake with vanilla buttercream icing. I wanted it to be simple, tied with burlap on each tier and topped with chalkboard signs that said “Mr. and Mrs.” We paired the cake with pink iced cake balls, which are one of my favorite sweet things! The groom’s cake was a cookie cake, Brian’s favorite. It sat on top of a vintage suitcase and was surrounded by a cookie bar. We had paper bags with our initials on them for our gets to take home as a favor or eat in the moment. It was such a big hit. Not a single cookie or slice of cookie cake was left over and everyone talked about how good it was.

Y’all, isn’t this photo the best? It’s sweet, indeed, but it’s also just dripping with pure joy. It put a smile on my face immediately, so I know Paige + Brian must love looking back on that moment.

How did the two of you meet?  Tell us your story.  I met Brian at Cru, which is a College Ministry that he used to play the drums at. I met him and instantly had a strong connection. He added me on Facebook not long after, but we never talked. I was friends with his friends and for a year, would secretly hope that every time I would hang out with them that I would get the chance to see Brian. But it never happened. Over a year after we met the first time (which Brian doesn’t remember) we both ended up at our friend Ruben’s Labor Day cookout. When he walked in, my heart skipped a beat. I couldn’t believe he was actually there, and I found out that he lived at the same apartment complex as I did. After the cookout, we both stayed around to watch a movie with some of our friends. We watched Michael Jackson’s Movie (which wouldn’t have been my first choice in movies but I stayed because Brian did). The entire time I noticed that Brian and I kept looking at each other across the living room, and I couldn’t stop smiling. We left at the same time and Brian reintroduced himself to me. For the next couple of weeks, we would run into each other around the Outpost, the bus, and at Ruben’s. Finally he got my number and we starting hanging out and we went on our first official date on October 16, 2010. We have been in love and inseparable ever since.
Describe the proposal. On Friday November 18, Brian asked me out on a date. We had been going on a lot of dates lately, and I knew he had the ring, so every date I got ready and wanted to look my best in case that night was THE night. But this particular Friday I wasn’t feeling well and didn’t even want to go out. Brian took me to the new food trailers in San Marcos and we ate outside under the tree lights. After we ate, Brian asked me what I wanted to do. I just wanted to Red Box a movie and hang out on the couch, but on the way home Brian asked if we could stop at this spot in town where the Christmas Festival always is. We starting walking around and he told me that he was looking for the band from church that was going to play there. I was starting to get annoyed. It was getting cold, I didn’t have a jacket and Brian was texting someone and taking a long time. I didn’t know he was texting his friends who were helping him out. We started to go over this bridge and Brian stopped me. He had told me before that if he ever told me to close my eyes, it meant he was about to propose. So when Brian told me to close my eyes, I knew it was it! I started shaking and crying. I looked up and Brian was on his knee, with his friends coming from the other side of the bridge holding signs that said “Will You Marry” and Brian was holding a sign that said “Me?” Of course I said yes! He prayed over our relationship and the next day we had a surprise engagement party with our closest friends and family!!
In what month did you get married? July
How many guests attended your wedding? 200
What range did your wedding budget fall into? $25,000-$50,000
What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? Photography! I loved our pictures and what they captured will help to keep our memories alive forever! I would tell anyone that no matter what, make sure you love your photography team!
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? The entire getting-ready process, with the jitters and anticipation building up and having my dad put on my garter and my mom put on my jewelry. I have always dreamed of getting ready for my day and to have both my parents be a part of it was perfect and so sweet. We are a very close family and I wanted them to be a part of every step!
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Be comfortable with the budget you have set, and make sure that you know who is contributing before you start planning.  I also kept worrying that we were doing too much, but I am so happy we did everything that we did. Less is not always more when it comes to decorating your wedding or adding in your personal touches. Those are what really make you wedding stand out!
What’s next for you as a couple?  What are you looking forward to in the future?  We just moved to Georgia and Brian got a great job doing media at a church. I am looking forward to pursuing teaching and seeing where God is going to take our family!

nicoleyang Written with love by Nicole
11 Comments
  1. avatar Zoe Alexander reply

    Stunning photography! Weddings are so special! They are so happy! Many thanks Nicole!
    Zoe xxx

  2. avatar Bridget reply

    It seems like it was such a meaningful wedding. Best wishes to the adorable couple!

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  4. avatar Kat reply

    Oh I love that button monogram!!! Her soft color palette and vintage details are so sweet!

  5. avatar Belinda Damerow reply

    Amazing couple…Spectacular wedding!!! Love to both of you.

  6. avatar NC Wedding Planner – Orangerie Events reply

    I love every little thing! The color palette worked great and tied things together nicely! The fun personality of the couple was definitley shown through all the great details. Thank you for sharing!

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  8. avatar Maggie Goodell reply

    Gorgeous wedding, the flowers were my favorite.

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Emily said I was going to love this wedding, and boy was she right! Lauren + Justin’s Texas celebration makes my preppy, fashion-y, Southern heart skip a few beats! First, the color palette is ballet pink and navy. Score! There’s a big ol’ monogram. Double score! And last, but most certainly not least, there is Lauren’s incredible style! Yes, it’s all encompassing. From the fab-u-lous blush pink fascinator she rocked, to the navy + white striped ribbon tied in a perfect bow around her bouquet to her adorable getaway dress. Absolute home run! Oh yeah, and there are mini pecan pies!

I simply cannot forget to send big SW hugs to Brett Heidbrecht who captured their big day, and to Grit+Gold for creating such a beautiful event.

Oh Lauren, I must admit I am a bit jealous of that fascinator!

Oh man. I felt like I tried on and looked at so many wedding dresses. Everyone kept telling me that I’d have some magical feeling when I tried on “the one” and I just wasn’t getting it. Finally, I was just about to buy a “just okay” dress mostly because I was sick of trying them on. My mom pleaded with me to come to Dallas and try some on for her before I made any decisions, so I did. Mother’s intuition was right because I found THE dress at the first store we went to in Dallas! I love the elegance and the Southern feel to it! I also love the blush pink sash. I wish I could wear it again! I also purchased a short white Nicole Miller departure dress. Justin’s parents held us a second reception in Kansas City in August where I got to where the Nicole Miller dress again!

One of our favorite details was the venue. The Hall of State is a stunning museum of Texas history located on the State Fairgrounds in Dallas. I have never missed a fair ever since I was born and so I have been into the Hall of State many times. When my mom and dad would take me there to see the exhibits, they would always tell me that they could see me getting married there, even when I was a little girl! I wasn’t even sure if they did weddings, but as soon as I got engaged it was one of the first venues that I wanted to check out. It was just perfect! Justin loved it because it is directly located behind the original Cotton Bowl where he had attended many Kansas State football games as a kid. The Hall of State was and is such a special place to us and our family. Another special detail was our getaway car! That truck belonged to my great grandfather and is actually the truck that my dad was taken home from the hospital in! A couple of years ago, my dad tracked it down and restored it. I was glad he let us use it for the big day.

Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? We decided not to do a first look and I am so glad we didn’t! If you ask Justin what his favorite part of the wedding day was, it was when the curtain opened and we saw each other as I walked down the aisle to a violin version of, “Come Thou Fount.” His face was unforgettable, he was close to crying and I just couldn’t stop giggling I was so excited and nervous!
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? 2 Corinthians 5:14-21. The message was very special, it talked about how we no longer live for ourselves but for Jesus Christ because he died for our sins and that sacrificial love is what compels our marriage and every aspect of our lives. Jesus is what holds us and everything together.

Y’all know I about leapt right out of my chair when I saw their “guest book”! Oh my heavens, this is pure perfection in my book! And can Lauren be any cuter in that image above? Her smile is contagious!

Now let’s pause and acknowledge this amazing cake! Navy blue stripes + a ballet pink bow? Yes, please!

Southern touches could be seen throughout, from the pecan pies to the silver sets we used as centerpieces and in one very cool Southern vintage Chevy! Also, our signature drink was an Arnold Palmer. The whole wedding had a Southern preppy feel. I love stripes and they were everywhere! My dress also had a Southern belle feel to it, and instead of a traditional veil, I wore a blush pink fascinator. It was quite a statement!

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. We met when I was a junior at the University of Arkansas. Justin had just graduated from Kansas State University and moved to Arkansas to be on staff with a campus ministry I was involved with as a student. Our first meeting seemed pretty typical, except for the fact that we both walked away with secret crushes on each other! We would see each other and talk at ministry events and we always just seemed to click. I respected and looked up to Justin so much that I thought he was way out of my league. I would even suggest to my older girl friends that they should get to know him because I just never thought he’d be interested in me! I guess I was very wrong because in the fall of my senior year, Justin called me and asked if he could come by my sorority house where I lived to ask me a question. I was praying he would ask me on a date! When he showed on my front door step he just said, “I’m just gonna cut to the chase. I want to take you on a date.” All I could say was, “Okay.” He then asked if I would go on a date with him that Friday and I of course answered YES! It turns out, he had wanted to ask me out for the past six months but had to wait because I had gone out of the country to India that summer! After two dates, we both had to go home for winter break, me to Dallas and he to Kansas City. I didn’t really know when I’d see him next or where we were at but I knew I really liked him. My dad told me when I got home I had to go to a friend of the family’s Christmas cocktail party. My little sister and I were getting ready together and she was taking way too long. I kept badgering her and finally she just said, “Instead of bugging me about being late, how about you go get me a glass of water from the kitchen?” When I went to the kitchen, all dressed up for the party, Justin was standing there waiting for me! I was shocked! He told me there was no Christmas party and that he had planned it all out so that he could take me out that night and surprise me! That night, he asked me to be his girlfriend and then a week later he asked me to come to Kansas City to meet his family. I guess you could say things moved pretty fast, because we got engaged only three months after our first date!
Describe the proposal. It was the Friday before we were about to leave on a Spring Break trip with four of our best friends. We were planning on driving all the way to New York City. Justin asked me if he and I could go out to dinner together that night, but I just thought it was a normal date. We went out to dinner and in the middle of it, his phone rang… and he answered it! Honestly, I was kind of annoyed, he usually never answers his phone during dinner! When he hung up, he said that it was his friend Bo and that he had accidentally left his condo unlocked and had already left for Spring Break. He asked if we could go lock it for him, to which I said, “Sure.” Justin then paid the check and went to the bathroom for like ten minutes! Then I was really confused. I thought he was sick, but actually he was in the bathroom practicing what he was going to say! When we got to the condo, Justin played it cool and told me we should check out the balcony. When he opened the door, there was a beautiful view of the entire city and when I looked down at my feet, there were pink flowers and candles everywhere! All I could say was, “What?” Justin tried to guide me along the path and I just started shaking. At the end of the path there were pictures of us and a bench and more flowers — it was breath-taking. We sat down on the bench and Justin talked to me for a while (because I was speechless). He then told me he loved me for the first time and got down on one knee and proposed. Then we shared our first kiss! When we back to his house, there was big surprise party of all of our friends and family! Best day ever.
In what month did you get married? July
How many guests attended your wedding? 215
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding. My favorite song we used was when we exited the ceremony to “Love On Top” by Beyonce! I LOVE Beyonce and was so excited to incorporate a little sass into the ceremony! I also loved when all of my Pi Beta Phi sisters got in a circle and sang the “Pi Phi Miss” song to me!
Describe your wedding flowers: All pale pink! I don’t know much about flowers so I just had to trust my florist and she did GREAT! They were very beautiful!
Describe your wedding cake or dessert: The cake was great and looked so cute, but the real crowd pleaser was the pecan pies as the groom’s cake! The funny thing is, I am actually allergic to pecans but pecan pie is Justin’s favorite. That was one dessert we weren’t feeding each other on the wedding day.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Probably time. We only had a four month engagement, which sometimes means compromising. But it is completely doable! I had everything I wanted and, for the most part, it was a stress-free process! Mostly because my mom and my coordinator were so awesome.
What range did your wedding budget fall into? $25,000-50,000
What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? A planner. I couldn’t have done it without Lottie!
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? I loved our exit! My mom made these really cool ribbon wands for everyone to wave and it just looked awesome! Running through them to the truck holding Justin’s hand was so fun, I was on cloud nine! Starting that old truck was also pretty memorable. I think we almost ran over our photographer. (Sorry Brett!)
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Just take it one thing at a time and don’t be afraid to ask for help!
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? We are currently working for a student ministry at the University of Arkansas for the next year and then we will be moving to the East Coast where Justin will be working for a financial sales firm. We are both excited and maybe even a little scared about this huge next step, but are so happy to be doing it together!

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

    I am not even going to try to pick a favorite detail to comment about–I love everything!!

  2. avatar AshleyHH reply

    Are the bridesmaids dresses anthro or just the accessories? I love those dresses!

  3. avatar Corinna Hoffman reply

    Wowww, the venue is beautiful, and I’m loving the bride’s wedding dress! Her bridesmaids dresses are awesome too! :)

  4. avatar Reggie Campbell reply

    Brett, you killed this one dude… and that venue is really, really sick! Good stuff man!

  5. avatar Caitlin {Bayside bride} reply

    The venue is stunning! The cake looks so delicious too!

  6. avatar Marcelle reply

    Where did you get the monogram for your guestbook??

  7. avatar Dress Envy – reply

    […] This gorgeous shot is by Brett Heidebrecht Photography, and you can find lots more from the wedding on Southern Weddings! […]

  8. avatar Brittany Kelland reply

    I LOVE the navy blue stripes mixed with the light pink. It’s such a pretty combination!

  9. avatar B. Garcia reply

    Could you please let me know where you ordered this unique guest book? Or where i can find something similar?

  10. avatar Lottie Fowler reply

    Thanks for the love! We had a blast with this couple! Sweetest ever!!

  11. avatar Hawaii Wedding Planner reply

    Absolutely gorgeous wedding!! The monogram guestbook is a fabulous idea! A definite must share with my Hawaii brides.

  12. avatar Gail from OliverINK Etsy reply

    Love the navy with the pink. A nice way to mix masculine with feminine.

  13. avatar 2013 Wedding Trends: Prints reply

    […] photography via Homespun Parties (right); Row 2 – via Revel; Row 3 – Brett Heidbrecht via Southern Weddings (left); Stacey Kane Photography via The Knot (top right); (bottom […]

  14. avatar Wedding Veil Inspiration | From Madi to M.R.S. reply

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  15. avatar jenny reply

    LOVE this wedding post! every detail was absolutely perfect! I only wish I had done the MONOGRAM :) what a GREAT idea to use it as a guest book! I will have to start telling my customers about your wedding and how you incorporated the monogram into the wedding :)

  16. avatar Decorazioni per sedie reply

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  17. avatar Wedding and Event News…. the blog » Real Wedding Wednesday { Texas Hall of State } reply

    […] I am in complete awe at the grandeur of this venue! But they do say that everything’s bigger in Texas This gorgeous navy blue and pink inspired event was held at the Texas Hall of State and featured all sorts of southern inspiration {check out their mini pecan pies}! […]

  18. avatar My Sister is Getting Married | Rachel's Lookbook reply

    […] via Southern Weddings and Wedding […]

  19. avatar Sign in! Creative Guest Book Alternatives | Love Notes from Lover.ly reply

    […] Photo by: Brett Heidebrecht Photography on Southern Weddings via Lover.ly […]

  20. avatar Alyssa reply

    The Texas hall wedding with the carved guestbook was awesome. How do I go about doing that?

  21. avatar Allison reply

    Where is this stunning fascinator from?

  22. avatar Wedding Inspirations: Beachy + Nautical – From This Day Forward Weddings reply

    […] Image 3 […]

  23. avatar Inspiration | Inspiration Board: Something Striped, Something Navy reply

    […] Striped Bow Heels / 2. Bouquet / 3. Groom in Suspenders / 4. Stationery + Flags / 5. Tablescape / 6. Centerpiece Mason Jar / 7. Chair Sashes / 8. Cupcakes / 9. Blueberry Naked […]

  24. avatar Untraditional Guest Book Ideas – My Hotel Wedding reply

    […] Photo by Brett Heidbrecht via Southern Weddings […]

  25. avatar Navy and Coral Nautical Preppy Wedding Look | Dress for the Wedding reply

    […] at Weddington Way / Flower Earrings from Blu Bijoux / Repp Tie Mini BB#1 from Brooks Brothers / Preppy Florals via Southern Weddings Photographed by Brett Heidbrecht Designed by Grit+Gold / Newport Sandals from Lilly Pulitzer / […]

  26. avatar Show Your Wedding Seats A Little Love – You Mean The World To Me : You Mean The World To Me reply

    […] Image left: Brett Heidebrecht via Southern Weddings […]

  27. avatar Color Series #7 : Navy + Blush + White | Cherryblossoms and Faeriewings reply

    […] photo source (from top left) : Wedding bouquet, Gold blue sapphire earrings, Bridesmaids in navy blue, Navy ribbon on wedding dress, Wedding cake, Nautical tablescape […]

  28. avatar Color Series #7 : Navy + Blush + White | crazyforus reply

    […] photo source (from top left) : Wedding bouquet, Gold blue sapphire earrings, Bridesmaids in navy blue,Navy ribbon on wedding dress, Wedding cake, Nautical tablescape […]

  29. avatar Darkest Blues & Shades Of Pink | Wedding Inspiration – Wedding Inspiration & Ideas | UK Wedding Blog: Want That Wedding – Wedding Inspiration & Ideas | UK Wedding Blog: Want That Wedding reply

    […] credits | navy, pink and gold wedding stationery: photography by jessica burke photography | navy, pink and gold table setting, photography by brett heidebrecht | navy, pink and gold floral bouquet, photography by brett […]

  30. avatar Hydrangea and Navy Wedding Inspiration reply

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  31. avatar Inspiration: Bows | Rusetit – Best Day Ever reply

    […] Standing table | Cake Groom | Invitations Heels | Chair deco […]

  32. avatar Sarah Beth reply

    I love the color scheme! I’m planning my own wedding using the same colors. I’ve been looking for navy striped table runner that don’t look nautical…. In love with these! Can you give me any tips?

  33. avatar Bruiloft Inspiratie | Bruidsjurk inspiratie reply

    […] Fotograaf: Brett Heidebrecht via Southern Weddings […]

  34. avatar Nautical Wedding Inspiration reply

    […] Whether you are getting married on the beach or a seaside venue, here are some ideas on how to create a beautiful, nautical-themed atmosphere for your wedding ceremony and reception! […]

  35. avatar Joyce Sampson reply

    I fell in love with the couples initials where the guests sign as a guest book. My grandson’s wedding is in July. Where can I purchase? Love this idea. Please advise. Thank you so much.

  36. avatar EWI 2017 Trendy New Grey Wedding Invitations with Matched Color Ideas – Elegantweddinginvites.com Blog reply

    […] via Colin Cowie Weddings /via Southern Weddings  […]

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