Google+ jcrew Archives - Southern Weddings

Southern Weddings

Tag: jcrew

My favorite thing about Theresa and James’ wedding is that they look like they’re having so much FUN in every single picture! When I read their interview, it quickly became evident how these two were able to relax and enjoy their day so much–they prioritized the details that meant the most to them, and then left everything in the very capable hands of our Blue Ribbon Vendor, Sapphire Events, to pull it all off. I love Theresa’s advice for brides, because it certainly seems like they took it to heart themselves, and created so many special moments because of it: “Don’t immediately dismiss every seemingly silly/goofy/embarrassing idea you come up with. A lot of the time, the goofy idea that you propose as a joke is the one that best expresses you and your partner…a few silly details can become almost inside jokes between you and your significant other, remind you why this other weird person is your match, help you relax during a sometimes formal event, and become the things you will remember most years down the line.”

Many thanks to Marissa Lambert for sharing this fun day with us!

Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! I had quite a few “old” items, including a sixpence in my shoe, passed down through the family, an “add-a-pearl” bracelet that my grandmother had amassed growing up, and my engagement ring, which had been passed down from my great-great-grandmother. My earrings were both old and borrowed–I borrowed my mother’s diamond stud earrings, one of which was made from the original diamond from her engagement ring. I also borrowed my veil from a friend. My dress and shoes were new, and my toenails were blue.

I never had the “feeling” or the “moment” when dress shopping–but I also didn’t really expect to. I found my dress in the third store on the first day I went looking. Both my mom and future mother-in-law had flown in to shop with me, and they both had “the moment” when I put the dress on. It took me a few more shops and a few more visits to finally commit, but–in the end–I felt beautiful on my wedding day, which is what matters.

Describe your wedding flowers. James and I wanted to focus on greenery and herbs as much as (or more than) flowers. We were hoping for a lush, natural feel, possibly incorporating the sense of smell with the herbs, and we tried to emphasize that to the florist more than getting into particulars about types of flowers and plants. All flowers are pretty, and I trusted her to use what was in season. The actual bouquets ended up being some of the most aromatic, enticing things I have ever smelled! As for colors, I asked for whites, creams, and hints of blush for the ceremony florals, to keep the palette crisp, and then for bright berry tones to be mixed in for the reception florals. The various tones of greens we used throughout acted as a neutral.

We did a first look, largely based on the recommendation of our amazing friend/wedding planner, and partly because we didn’t want to waste precious celebration time after the ceremony. Instead of the typical first look, where the bride sneaks up behind the groom and taps him on the shoulder, we made sure James and I first saw each other from a few yards apart. That way, we each got to take in the full picture and were able to savor the expressions and anticipation as I made the walk to meet him. I think it drove our photographer a little crazy, since she couldn’t capture both of us at once at the exact “reveal” moment, but this way, we were able to feel as though we were first seeing one another from either end of the aisle, while still getting all of the formal photos done before the ceremony.

Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We used traditional vows, but we were lucky enough to have had a mutual friend, who knew us both individually before, as well as after we became a couple, act as our officiant. He was able to work in lots of personal details that made the ceremony feel tailored to us a couple.

As a nod to our Midwestern, Great Plains roots, we requested that the musicians play “Hoedown” from “Rodeo” by Aaron Copeland (the “beef–it’s what’s for dinner” song) as we walked back up the aisle. I’m not sure how many people caught it, but it was a detail that made us smile. Our first dance was to “Wonderful Tonight” by Eric Clapton. James really pushed to pick something else, since “Wonderful Tonight” is such a popular choice, but he made the mistake of making it our song by singing it in my ear as we danced at the very first wedding I took him to.

What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they have any special significance to you? We chose to do our first look and photos at the Latter Branch Library in New Orleans, which is was where we went on our first date. We did the ceremony and reception at a brand new venue in New Orleans, which came highly recommended by our planner. One of the things she knew we would love was that the venue has a library/lounge area. While we loved this detail in and of itself, we found out months later during one of the planning walk-throughs that all of the books used in the library had come from the Latter Branch Library!

James and I are not big cake people, so this was not a big focal point for us. We just wanted something that looked nice and tasted good for our guests. I had told him ahead of time that I was going to smash the cake in his face, but James didn’t believe me until it happened. We got into a full-out cake war–I’m pretty sure we have some photos with cake shoved up my nose! Laughing, goofing around, and going crazy with the cake is another of my favorite memories from the day.

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. In true New Orleans fashion, James and I met a few times through mutual friends before finally being stuck together waiting out a hurricane. A group of us decided to get together to weather the storm (and to eat everything in our refrigerators!), and during those couple of days, we decided we kinda, sorta liked one another.
Tell us all about the proposal! James picked me up from work on a mundane Tuesday night and took me around town on a progressive date under the guise of scouting out potential party locations for my birthday at the end of the month. I suspected nothing, even when he mentioned that one of the restaurants would be a great rehearsal dinner venue! When we finally got home that night, our house was completely filled with flowers. He dropped to his knee in our living room, just the two of us, surrounded by blooms.
When did y’all get married? September 19, 2015
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? Around 175
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: James had organized a group of friends to compete in a charity barbecue competition called Hogs for the Cause. The year after we started dating and I joined the team, the team won the cocktail category of the competition with a drink called a Bourbon Missile Crisis. We decided to serve the Bourbon Missile Crisis to guests prior to our ceremony and during cocktail hour, and we set out the team’s trophy to hold paper straws. Because guests had drinks for the ceremony, our programs were printed on cocktail napkins. We also had personalized wayfarer sunglasses available to wear during the outdoor ceremony, and to take home as favors. For the reception, we had flower crown headbands for the guests. A group of close, generous, crafty friends all gathered at our house a month or so before the wedding to help me hand-make nearly 100 flower crowns. We saw a few of those flower crown favors resurface again for Mardi Gras!
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? Our wedding took place in New Orleans, Louisiana, where James and I met and are making our life together. We included a courtyard ceremony, a jazz band, and a brass band.
What was one way you saved money or cut costs at your wedding? Along the way, someone advised us to make a list of our most valued aspects of the wedding, and to prioritize only those items. Nobody is going to remember every tiny detail, so splurge on one or two important things, and then make it work with the less important items.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Don’t immediately dismiss every seemingly silly/goofy/embarrassing idea you come up with. A lot of the time, the goofy idea that you propose as a joke is the one that best expresses you and your partner. While you don’t want the entire wedding to feel unorganized, a few silly details can become almost inside jokes between you and your significant other, remind you why this other weird person is your match, help you relax during a sometimes formal event, and become the things you will remember most years down the line.
What’s next for you as a couple? What memories are you looking forward to making together? We’re looking forward to our blowout 50th anniversary vow renewal–and everything before and after!

Photographer: Marissa Lambert Photography | Planner and Rentals: Sapphire Events | Venue and Rentals: Il Mercato | Florist: Meade Wenzel | Cake Baker: Haydel’s Bakery | Caterer: Joel’s Catering | Lighting: Southern Hospitality Event Rentals | Bands: Harry Hardin, Joe Simon’s Jazz, and Paulin Brothers | DJ: DJ Mike Swift | Paper Products: Presse Dufour | Bride’s Gown: “Style 5911” by Stella York | Hair and Makeup: Kiss and Makeup Beauty Services | Bride’s Shoes: Valentino | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Jenny Yoo, J. Crew, Donna Morgan, Amsale, and BHLDN | Groom’s Tuxedo: Luca Falcone | Busses: American Luxury | Save the Dates, Napkins, and Programs: Rudman’s

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

    Oooh I love how dreamy this is! And her dress is phenomenal!

  2. avatar Adrienna reply

    What a gorgeous wedding! Sapphire Events always put on such gorgeous affairs, with so much detail.

  3. avatar Meredith reply

    What a breathtaking day! Well captured, too!

  4. avatar Sarah Drake reply

    Is there any way for me to get in touch with this bride? I am IN LOVE with that light blue bridesmaid dress with the one shoulder flowers. I can’t find it in the links provided. Please help! :)

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 think it is safe to say that Maegan and Jared are one of the absolute coolest couples we’ve ever had the privilege of featuring. Maegan is a puppeteer/ventriloquist/model/actor, and Jared is a comedian/musician, so it’s no surprise that their unique careers are what first led them to cross paths–Jared reached out to Maegan online, she attended one of his shows, and the rest is joyful, adventurous history. While they now live in Tennessee when they’re not on tour, they chose their home state of Texas for their wedding, allowing them to celebrate with many of their favorite things (coffee food trucks, a Tex Mex spread for dinner, and perfect Texas spring weather, to name a few), as well as their favorite people–Maegan’s nine younger siblings all participated in the ceremony. I loved reading about the heart behind Maegan and Jared’s inspiration and their memories from their gorgeous day, and I hope you do too!

Thank you so much to the talented Heather Hawkins for sharing this celebration with us in V8!

Tell us about your wedding flowers. How did you choose them? What did you love about them? Flowers are so symbolic to me and the growth of our relationship, so we wanted a very natural, loose, garden feel with lots of texture in purples, whites, and blues with lots of greenery. After working with Andi and Abby for a couple months, I had no qualms just totally letting them take the wheel–they knew what I wanted, and ordered and foraged whatever their hearts desired. And it was PERFECT.

There were so many special moments, but one of the stand outs for both of us was our around-the-corner prayer before the ceremony. We wanted to save our first look for the aisle, but also wanted a moment together beforehand. There was a perfect little cottage corner covered in gorgeous greenery, and we came out and stood on either side. As soon as we saw the other’s hands peek out around the corner, we pretty much lost it. We talked for a minute or two, then prayed with each other. Then, all the butterflies spawned into a million more, but it was the best, most excited feeling.

Tell us a bit about the wedding ceremony. What part was most special to you? Did you include any special readings? The ceremony was so sweet and so profound. From the moment I came around the corner and saw Jared’s teary face for the first time, then hugging my dad after he gave me away, there was just such a joyous peace and thankfulness that stayed throughout the whole day. The sound of the music being played under the trees rustling in the soft breeze–it felt like our own little corner of the world stood still and joined in the moment. Exchanging personal vows was so meaningful, and I pray I’ll always remember the look in Jared’s eyes as vividly as I do now.
Who participated in your ceremony? Family members, friends? If so, what did they do? It was super important to me to have my siblings be a part of the wedding, so, in addition to the three older siblings who were in the wedding party, we had the remaining six walk down the aisle in pairs to sit on the grass on my side in front of the bridesmaids. My dad prayed over us when he handed me over to Jared, and that was a sweet moment. We also had an awesome friend, Ed Newton, officiate and he did such a great, heartfelt job.

We were so excited to have live music throughout our wedding. A friend who is a violinist with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra played as guests arrived. For our processional, our full band played “Future/Past” by John Mark McMillan, “All That I Am” by Phil Wickham during our foot washing, and “Do You Believe in Magic” by The Lovin’ Spoonful for the recessional.

We knew we didn’t want a long engagement, but we also knew we wanted an outdoor wedding with pretty weather, so that landed us in May. We set our date and talked about lots of location options, but loved the idea of Austin. My family is from the Fort Worth area and his is from right outside of Houston, so it was a great in-between and still gave us a super fun destination feel. We love the vibe and the food trucks, and knew it’d be a good time. Picking a venue was definitely our biggest struggle! We knew the feel we were looking for and just weren’t finding it. I reached out to a wedding planner out of desperation–someone I knew had similar style and knowledge of the area–and it turned out to be the best accidentally genius thing I did. Melanie helped us get creative with a space we had loved from the beginning, but thought was too small, then helped us find a separate outdoor ceremony space. She was so awesome, we convinced her to stick around for the rest of the planning process and we were SO thankful to have her. The ceremony was outdoors at Angel Springs Event Center, a little gem I had to book last minute that ended up being so beautiful. The reception was down the road at The Union on Eighth. We loved this venue from the moment we saw a photo! It’s a transmission shop-turned-wedding venue–the owners have done an incredible job with the space and it was the perfect place to dance the night away. It had the industrial, but still warm and romantic, feel we loved, and Jared loved having man card bragging rights telling his buddies we were having our reception at an old car shop. It was a total win-win. Oh! We got married in Georgetown, Texas, which is in Williamson County, Texas. Jared’s home (and now mine, too, of course) is in Franklin, Tennessee, which is in, wait for it, Williamson County, Tennessee! That’s probably dumb and not worth printing, but I thought it was #destiny and, also, it held special meaning for us as a couple.

Tell us about your wedding cake or sweets. Oh, baby, the SWEETS. Our cakes were unbelievable, and as if they weren’t enough, we also had donuts and pies–some made by my grandmothers, some from a favorite date spot in Dallas. We kinda went overboard, but don’t regret a bit of it.
Were there any family traditions you included in the reception? Not traditions, exactly, but I did ask both my grandmothers to make our favorite pies, and the Hoosier cabinet we displayed them on belonged to my great-grandmother. They lived in a tent with a dirt floor on the oil field where my great-grandpa worked, and that little cabinet was her whole kitchen. It was in my grandma’s kitchen and has been in our family for as long as I can remember. I’ve always thought it was the coolest thing and was so excited when my parents said we could pack it up and tote it to Georgetown for our big day. It was one of my favorite details.

Tell us about your grand exit. We went with sparklers and drove off in his uncle’s Corvette–we sped off, stopped off around the corner, and just looked at each other. We both yelled “WE JUST HAD THE BEST WEDDING EVER” and had an awesome little geek-out moment over being married and on top of the world.

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. Long story short, he came across my name and reached out to me online to make a “business connection.” Coincidentally, a coworker had just seen him perform, making him legit and not a creepy magician stalker, so I responded. After a couple of months of talking and courageous persistence on his part, I went to a show he was doing in town. He was funny, cute, really talented, and super nice. We hit it off and he changed his flight, rented a car, and drove out to meet my family in our blue house in the country, among the chickens and ducks. It has been the best of rides ever since.
Describe the proposal: After a day that included an awesome breakfast (because our relationship has been built on a foundation of good food and coffee) and a hike down to a waterfall, he took me to an abandoned bridge overlooking the mountains of Alaska and (after saying some really sweet and genuine stuff that melted my heart) he got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. It was simple and breathtaking, and I can’t imagine a more perfect moment. (Plus, he had mounted his GoPro, so we got to cry all over again watching it later.)
How did you prepare for marriage while planning your wedding? Planning for marriage is SO important! A wedding can be your “happily,” but marriage is the “ever after!” (I just made that up and feel kind of proud.) We did some book studies together, listened to teaching podcasts, and also went through premarital counseling. I cannot say enough about the importance of premarital counseling–it is SO worth the time and effort and truly makes such a difference.
Three adjectives that describe the day are: JOY. That’s all I’ve got.
How many guests attended your wedding? About 200
What was the biggest challenge you faced while planning your wedding? I don’t think anybody can say they went through planning a wedding completely unscathed! We had our chosen food truck fall through just a few months before, we didn’t nail down a ceremony venue until six weeks out, and of course, my face had an allergic reaction to makeup that was still healing on our wedding day. I only say all of that to say: you know what? It all came together and totally didn’t matter–looking back, I barely even remember those things!
Tell us about finding your wedding dress. What was your favorite thing about it? I just knew I was going to find my dress at a certain shop in Tennessee and made an appointment for the next time I’d be in town. Meanwhile, we went to visit Jared’s family in the Houston area after getting engaged, and his mom, sister, and I decided to go look just for fun. (Famous last words.) We pulled a few I liked and I totally had the “moment” when I put on “the one.” I FaceTimed my parents, and through happy, girly tears said, “Heck yes!” to that dress. I instantly fell in love with the elegant, no-fuss fit and the neckline. Jared likes my shoulders, but I knew I didn’t want a strapless dress…this was a perfect win-win.
Describe your bridesmaids’ dresses. How did you choose them? I knew I wanted a cohesive, but not contrived feel. I gave them words like “effortless,” “romantic,” and “French,” and we laughed because wedding brain sounds ridiculous sometimes. I love everything Alexandra Grecco puts out, and her tulle skirts were a big inspiration. Some girls went with those and some went with other styles, but we all worked together with a color palette, Pinterest board, and group text. At the end of it all, we brought and laid out all the dresses, skirts, and tops we’d gathered and decided on our lineup–some girls swapped and picked out their look the night before. It was a blast.
How did you spend the morning or afternoon before your ceremony? Jared’s sweet family rented the cutest little house for the girls to get ready in, and we had such a blast getting ready together and dancing to music. My brother brought us coffee and donuts for breakfast and my mom came with my siblings to hang out with me and make lunch. Jared and I also exchanged notes and gifts (Shinola watches). I read his over-achieving six-page note and had all the girls crying (and me so ready to marry that boy).
Who was one of the most special guests at your wedding? As Jared got older, he always hoped his Meemaw would be able to see him get married, so it was extra special to have her there. She’s 88 and one of his biggest fans. She’s always told Jared that some girl would come along and not be able to resist those dimples. She was right.
Did you try anything new or nontraditional? Instead of the traditional cocktail hour, we did a coffee and donuts hour with Krispy Kreme donuts and an amazing coffee truck. The coffee truck served the usual menu, plus a specialty rosemary honey latte–it was a huge hit!
What was Southern about your wedding? We’re both from Texas and Jared has lived in Nashville for the last six years, so we love the South, but weren’t looking to have Lone Star decor or cowboy boots. What we love about the South is its friendly, welcoming heart–the South welcomes people with open, giving arms and invites them in for a good time and good food. That was the Southern charm we wanted to give back to our guests. Oh! And our father/daughter dance was to “You Are My Sunshine” which my dad has always sung to me and my sisters. That’s totally Southern.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? I’ve moved to Nashville and am loving the city and community there. Our schedules have kept us on the road a ton, so in between all the craziness, we’re just loving doing everyday life together and finding our groove. We’re still figuring out what scheduling will look like for us and trying to do as much together as possible, so we’re brainstorming ideas for a combined show and are excited about the future! That future will eventually include the adventure of children, but we’re content enjoying the adventures along the way there. ;)
What advice would you give to someone currently planning his or her wedding? Make a priority list and beware of the Pinterest plague. Those were a couple things that helped us a lot. Right off the bat, we made lists of our top three priorities for the day. We wanted 1). to be married by the end of the day, 2). to get awesome photos/video of it all, and 3). for everyone to have a great time. That list kept us sane. In regards to Pinterest, it’s an awesome tool that I definitely utilized, but it’s so easy to get so sucked into the land of everyone else’s pretty that we lose sight of our own! The best thing I did was take a break from wedding blogs for a couple months, focus on Jared, and start a board that had no wedding photos–only inspiration from textures, colors, editorial shoots, and art (all images that resonated with me personally). It helped me hone in on creating something authentic and more “us.” And, of course, the only reason we have to buy the white dress in the first place is because of the boy who swept us off our feet and put a ring on our finger. If nobody shows up but you two and the preacher, you still get your happy ending/beginning. Everything else is just extra fun. :)

Photographer: Heather Hawkins | Videographer: Henry Weddings | Planner: Mayhar Designs | Ceremony Venue: Angel Springs | Reception Venue: The Union on Eighth | Florals: bows + arrows | Caterer: Whole Foods | Coffee Truck: Lucky Lab | Cake Baker: Cake and Spoon | Pies: Bride’s grandmothers and Emporium Pies | Bride’s Gown: “Isla” by Enzoani | Bridal Salon: Brickhouse Bridal | Bridesmaid Dresses: Tulle Skirts in Dusty Blue by Alexandra Grecco | Hair and Makeup: Amy Clarke | Band: David & The Dimes | Menswear: Ted Baker, Allen Edmonds and JCrew | Paper Goods: Whitney Farnsworth | Linens: 12th Table

lisa Written with love by Lisa
6 Comments
  1. avatar Sarah Chancey reply

    OBSESSED doesn’t even begin, loveeee the florals and just so inspired by the love for each other and Jesus these two have. Stunning!

  2. avatar Allie Little reply

    The around the corner picture and that last black and white picture of the reception — SO powerful. Beautiful ceremony, story, and couple.

  3. avatar Caroline reply

    Such a gorgeous wedding!! I love the florals and the bridesmaid outfits!

  4. avatar Adrienna reply

    Everything about this wedding is so amazing! From the first touch, to the feet washing ceremony! You can really see how much love they have for each other.

  5. avatar Heather Hawkins reply

    Thank you Lisa for this beautiful blog post! I’m so humbled to have had the opportunity to be a part of this wedding, and so grateful for it to be shared with Southern Weddings readership. Maegan and Jared are one of my absolute favorite couples and Mayhar Designs did such an incredible job planning and designing the intimate event!

  6. avatar Bouquet Favs Right Now – Taylor'd Events reply

    […] 1, 2, 3, 4, […]

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

After reading hundreds of real wedding interviews as an editor here at Southern Weddings, I thought I had a pretty good idea of what my own wedding day would feel like. But, from the moment I woke up on May 2, 2015, all of my expectations were blown out of the water in the sweetest, best way. The entire day felt like a dream–not because every detail turned out perfectly or every second of our timeline was followed to a tee (neither was the case!), but because after a journey that spanned five years, three states, and two countries, I got to marry my best friend in the world, surrounded by the people I love more than anything. I was so honored and humbled to share my and Dave’s wedding day with y’all in V8, and I sincerely hope that you enjoy reading a little bit more about the heart behind our inspiration and the details we included below!

I am forever grateful to Ryan Ray for capturing our day so beautifully on film. These images take me right back, and I can think of no greater gift than that!

I was SO nervous about dress shopping—I love bridal fashion, and knew I wanted a dress that I had never seen before (easier said than done for this wedding magazine editor!). I only had one weekend to shop with my mom and sisters, so we scheduled four appointments in Houston, the first being at Joan Pillow, where they were having a trunk show for my favorite designer, Monique Lhuillier. My dress ended up being the second one I tried on, and while I loved it right away, I still wanted to see what else was out there. I went to two other appointments and tried on lots of beautiful options, but ended up comparing every other dress to the Monique Lhuillier. By the time we went back to Joan Pillow the next day, I could hardly wait to get into my dress (technically, a top and skirt combo!), and when I had it on, it just made me happy. I loved the combination of lace and tulle, and the alternating raw and horsehair-edged tiers on the skirt were so unique and special. I now can’t picture our wedding without it, and it was one of my very favorite details of the day!

One of the best decisions I made for the wedding was asking Kelly Perry of Philosophy Flowers to create the bouquets, boutonnieres, and ceremony flowers. She was a dream to work with, and the arrangements she created were perfect. Pink peonies were the first flowers Dave ever gave me when we started dating, so they’re extra special to both of us, and I dreamed of including both peonies and dogwoods in my wedding flowers. When the dogwoods began to bloom a month early, I was heartbroken that they wouldn’t make it to May. Kelly told me not to worry, and I still have no idea how she did it, but sure enough, she made it happen in a bigger way than I had ever imagined! She included so many gorgeous spring flowers, including peonies and dogwoods, in all of the bouquets, and every time I smell my favorite peonies now, it brings me back to that day.

Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! My something new was my dress, and my something old was a beautiful embroidered handkerchief that had belonged to Dave’s grandmother. My something blue was my favorite! On her way to the wedding from Austin, my sister picked a few blue bonnets, and snuck them up to North Carolina in a water bottle. I tucked them into the back of my bouquet, and they made me so happy! It was really sweet to have a little piece of my home state with me all day, especially since we weren’t getting married in Texas.

What did the groom and groomsmen wear? Our number one priority for the gents was great fit. Dave chose a navy blue suit from J. Crew, and his groomsmen wore similar navy J. Crew pants that were a bit less expensive. Our dads wore navy suits from J. Crew Factory, so we technically had three slightly different J. Crew navies on the guys, but you could hardly tell, and it was great to ask everyone to pay a price they were comfortable with. As his gift to them, Dave bought all of the guys white shirts from Brooks Brothers and had the cuffs monogrammed in navy thread. They all looked so handsome, and we got multiple comments from the guys about how much they loved their outfits!
Did you include any Southern traditions in your wedding? Dave buried a bottle of bourbon at our first look location a month before the wedding, and then dug it up the morning of the wedding with his groomsmen—we credit this, plus lots of prayer, for our beautiful weather!

Did you do a first look? We did—we are admittedly both criers, and thought seeing each other before the ceremony would help us hold it together during my walk down the aisle! Even though we did a first look, we chose not to do any family or bridal party portraits during that time. It was an intimate time for just for the two of us to pray, rejoice, and thank God for the blessing of that day.

We had a traditional Catholic Mass ceremony, and it was perfect for us in every way. We spent a lot of time during our engagement praying about and preparing our ceremony so that it would truly reflect how important our faith is to us and how deeply we value the sacrament of marriage. Having our priest, Father Edward Wolanski, marry us was a huge blessing—he knows us and our story well, and did the most incredible job expressing the beauty of sacramental marriage throughout the ceremony. We were so honored that the reverence of our ceremony was the number one thing our guests commented on—God is the most important part of our lives and our marriage, and we are so happy our guests were able to recognize that on our wedding day.

We like to joke that Dave is a country boy from New York and I’m a city girl from Texas. Balancing urban and rustic is something we find ourselves doing in our day-to-day lives, and choosing just one aesthetic for our wedding didn’t seem like it would reflect us accurately enough. I love that we gave our guests a taste of downtown Raleigh through our ceremony—the church is right in the heart of the city, a block away from the state capitol. The tailored, elegant styling at our reception carried that feel throughout the day, but the reception setting provided plenty of Southern pastoral loveliness, from the gardens around Fearrington, to the barn venue, to the black and white Belted Galloway cows grazing in a field just a few yards from the party!

Did you have a cocktail hour? If so, what was it like? Our guests gathered in the courtyard outside of the barn before the reception, and enjoyed our two passed hors d’oeurves (a mini BLT and a potato fritter with truffle crème fraiche), our two signature cocktails (a cucumber gin and tonic and a spiked sweet tea and lemonade), and a display of local cheeses (the one thing my Wisconsin-born and bred dad insisted on!). We also served wine and a selection of four beers, including three that were brewed in North Carolina. In the meantime, Dave and I had some champagne with our bridal party and families in the Fearrington Garden House, took family and bridal party pictures, took portraits of the two of us, and then relaxed alone together. We loved how much time we got alone together on our wedding day to soak in the moments—both during our car ride from the ceremony to the reception, and at the end of cocktail hour!

I had always wanted to be married in the spring—I think it’s the most romantic season, and all my favorite flowers are in bloom! We chose May 2 because it was the Saturday before a Catholic feast day that is meaningful to us. Choosing which state to get married in was one of our hardest decisions, since I’m from Virginia and my family lives in Texas, and Dave is from New York. We settled on our new state of North Carolina because we wanted to be married by our priest and at our parish, Sacred Heart Cathedral in Raleigh. It’s so beautiful and intimate, and I’d be lying if I said we didn’t picture our future wedding the first time we set foot inside together while we were dating. We chose Fearrington for our reception because I wanted an indoor venue that was surrounded by beautiful outdoor space for portraits. There are lots of fantastic indoor venues in the Triangle, but Fearrington was the only place that checked off both of my must-haves. The vibe there is also a lovely combination of European and Southern, which nodded to both the place where we met and the place we now call home!

Describe some of the decorations or décor elements you used: We splurged on beautiful white draping and twinkle lights on the ceiling to make the room feel a little bit magical. Our long guest tables were covered in white linens with gray and white ticking stripe runners, handmade by my mom. Running down the tables were alternating gray and white taper candles in mismatched silver candlesticks we had collected, and silver julep cup-sized floral arrangements in pale blushes and whites with greenery that trailed onto the tables. At each place setting was a gray napkin and a crisp white menu that featured our new married monogram. Dave and I sat at a sweetheart table covered in a sparkly white linen, in white chiavari chairs decorated with garlands. Our black and white checkered dance floor was one detail my mom insisted on, and we’re so glad she did—it made the room! Our cake was displayed on a round table covered with a white, sparkly linen, and placed on a silver cake stand. We also had a dessert display that featured four of our favorite treats, arranged on all different white cake stands. Finally, we had a table for our family photo display, where we included wedding pictures of our parents, grandparents, and Dave’s siblings. That table also held our “guest book” cards—postcards from Texas (my home state), New York (Dave’s home state), and North Carolina (where our wedding was held), where our guests could write their prayers, wishes, and advice for our marriage.

Our reception was so much fun! I really wanted to dance a LOT, and am so glad that that’s exactly what I did. Dave and I started the reception with our first dance as soon as we entered. We enjoyed a delicious dinner, listened to sweet toasts from my sisters and Dave’s best man, and cut into our delicious cake. Then, my dad and I did our father-daughter dance to “Little Miss Magic” by Jimmy Buffett—he raised my siblings and me on Jimmy Buffett music, and I couldn’t imagine having our dance to anything else. He sang the whole thing in my ear, and kept me posted when my mom and sisters started bawling! Next up, Dave and his mom danced to “Say a Little Prayer for You,” which transitioned into a polka to open the dance floor! Wedding polkas are a Kirk family tradition, and since both of our families share Polish heritage, it got everyone out there! I stayed on the dance floor for most of the night, breaking only to show my Grandma her and my Grandpa’s wedding picture in our family photo display, and to sneak a few bites of our wedding cake!

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. The first time Dave and I saw each other was in January 2010 while studying abroad from Franciscan University in the Sound of Music-esque little town of Gaming, Austria. Dave had already spent the fall semester there, and was an RA for the spring, so my very first memory of Dave was that he was the handsome RA. I was a little bit excited when I was assigned to his small group to learn about things like which Austrian cleaning material was which! We officially met about a month or so later, in the cafeteria. He sat down next to me at dinner with some mutual friends, and after asking me where I was from, we found out that one of my high school friends (side note: I went to high school in Qatar) was one of his best friends. A few weeks later, we connected immediately while in Italy with a bunch of friends, and were inseparable for the rest of the semester. We made some amazing memories in Europe as friends over the next few months, but after the semester ended, I transferred schools and we didn’t keep in touch. We never stopped thinking about each other though, and three years (and a lot of growing up) later, we reconnected at the perfect time in both of our lives. We knew within a week of talking again that this was it, and Dave proposed ten months later!
Tell us about the proposal! Dave flew to North Carolina to celebrate with me at my very first Southern Weddings launch party. A few hours into the party, while I was mingling and chatting with guests, Dave told me he had a letter from my mom that she wanted me to read in private. I reluctantly agreed to go with him “in just ten more minutes,” while unbeknownst to me at the time, the rest of the SW gals were trying to cut off all my conversations! Finally, I agreed to follow Dave out of the ballroom and down the hall of The Carolina Inn to the Sun Room, where he claimed his coat was being kept. There, he gave me a letter and I sat down on the couch to read it. The first line was the answer to a promise I had made my mom when I was 7, telling her I’d never agree to a proposal without calling her and asking if it was okay first! Dave had me stand, told me the sweetest things, and then got on one knee and asked me to marry him. After a few minutes of relishing in the joy of the moment, I asked Dave what to do now—should we call our parents? Go back to the party? Should I hide the ring? He told me to “leave it on and see who notices,” which I thought was strange, but I went with it. As soon as we stepped back into the ballroom, Lara grabbed the mic to announce our engagement, and confetti filled the air. Dave pulled me onto the dance floor for a dance to our song, played by the live bluegrass band, and then we spent the rest of the night Facetiming family and friends from the hallway. It was a magical day!
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Joyful, sacred, and sweet
How many guests attended your wedding? 130
Were there any family traditions you included in the ceremony? We walked back up the aisle to the Wedding March, which my parents had also used at their wedding. I wasn’t even considering it at first, but knew we had to use it when our music director played it during our meeting and I burst into tears picturing that moment! Hearing it on the organ as we exited the church, mixing with the bells chiming outside, was completely surreal.
What was the most memorable or touching moment of your wedding day? Lisa: While our first look, walking down the aisle, and saying our vows were all incredible, memorable moments, the one that stands out the most for both of us is one we hadn’t planned or anticipated. After the last song of the night, our DJ sent all of our guests outside to get ready for our sparkler exit. I was standing at the edge of the dance floor alone, trying to take in everything just one more time, when our DJ began to play “La Vie en Rose” over the speakers. Before I knew what was happening, my new husband pulled me onto the dance floor and held me close while we had one more dance. We held each other and cried grateful tears and said “We’re so lucky” over and over again. We’ve played that song just a few times since that day and danced in our apartment, and every time, when I close my eyes, I’m right back there in that perfect moment. Dave: Our last dance. Everyone was lining up for the sparkler exit outside, and the DJ unexpectedly played one last song, “La Vie en Rose.” Lisa and I just held each other and soaked in every last second of what was the most incredible day of our lives.
Tell us a bit about your first dance. Our first dance song was a given to us: “Wagon Wheel” by Old Crow Medicine Show. We bonded over our love for the song early in our dating days, and it has seemed to follow us everywhere! We’ve danced to it at a honky-tonk in Austin, an Irish pub in Syracuse, behind the trees at an outdoor bluegrass show in North Carolina, and now, at our wedding. That said, we barely practiced for our first dance, and never got around to scheduling the dance lessons we had wanted to take. Our first dance was far from the most impressive ever, but it was really sweet to us and we just had fun with it :)
Did you toss the garter or bouquet? Neither of us is a fan of garter tosses, so we skipped that tradition, but I did toss my bouquet! I think that moment has such a sweet “rite of passage” feel, and I definitely didn’t want to miss out on it. The DJ played “Haven’t Met You Yet” by Michael Buble, and my little sister caught the bouquet—can’t say my dad was super thrilled about that ;)
How did you prepare for marriage while planning your wedding? We are both passionate about the Catholic teachings on marriage and the theology of the body, so preparing for marriage was very spiritually focused for both of us. Along with an engagement retreat and meetings with our priest, we also read a number of books, including Love and Responsibility, The Theology of the Body for Beginners, Heaven’s Song, and Men, Women, and the Mystery of Love.
What was the biggest challenge you faced while planning your wedding? Our reception venue handled the coordination, catering, cake, lighting, and reception flowers, and while such an all-inclusive place is a wonderful option for many brides, I would have preferred to choose more of my own vendors.
What advice would you give to someone currently planning his or her wedding? Give yourself a deadline for all of your wedding tasks to be done, and once that day comes, hand everything off to someone else or let it go. I was so stressed out in the month leading up to the wedding, so the week before, I decided I would do two more little tasks, but that was it. I even told my coordinator that if anything came up, she should talk to my mom to have it taken care of instead of me. Worked like a charm! As soon as I did that, I felt like the burden was lifted off of my shoulders, and I got to truly enjoy the week leading up to our wedding.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? We are settled into our apartment outside of Raleigh, and are loving every single second of being newlyweds. Living together and sharing every aspect of life is such a joy! We are looking forward to lots of travel, both to explore new places and to visit our families on opposite sides of the country, and we are excited to someday have a big family!

Photographer: Ryan Ray | Videographer: Inkspot Crow Films | Ceremony Venue: Sacred Heart Cathedral | Reception Venue, Reception Florals, Coordination, Catering, Cake Baker, and Lighting: Fearrington Village | Personal and Ceremony Florals: Philosophy Flowers | Bride’s Gown: Monique Lhuillier | Bridal Salon and Veil: Joan Pillow Houston | Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bride’s Earrings: BHLDN | Bride’s Bracelet: Kendra Scott | Bridesmaid Dresses: “Annabelle” in Mist Gray by Jenny Yoo for BHLDN | Mother of the Bride’s Dress: Watters | Mother of the Groom’s Dress: Adrianna Papell | Hair and Makeup: Lula Hair and Makeup | Groom’s Suit, Groomsmen’s Pants, and Flower Girl Dress: J. Crew | Men’s Shirts: Brooks Brothers | Invitation Suite Design and Menus: Paper Daisies Stationery | Invitation Suite Calligraphy, Escort Cards, and Bar Menu: MM Ink Studio | Watercolor Map, Programs, and Other Reception Signage: Morgan Moore | Dance Floor and Sweetheart Table Chairs: Party Reflections Raleigh | Sweetheart, Cake, and Guest Book Table Linens: La Tavola Linens | Transportation: Walter Harris | DJ: Mark McNally of Joe Bunn DJ Company

Inkspot Crow Films, Lula Hair and Makeup, and Joe Bunn DJ Company are delightful members of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

lisa Written with love by Lisa
5 Comments
  1. avatar Our Wedding Morning – Something Pretty reply

    […] That story is coming on Tuesday…but if you want a sneak peek, check out our feature on the Southern Weddings blog this morning, and our video post which will be live at 10:30 EST! […]

  2. avatar Emily reply

    Magical and beautiful – all of it :)

  3. avatar Rhiannon reply

    The most beautiful wedding I ever did see :)

    • avatar Lisa reply

      Xoxoxo! The smell of the perfume you so sweetly gifted me takes me right back to it :)

  4. avatar Four years of marriage – Em for Marvelous – reply

    […] This year, I wanted to share some advice from the priest who officiated Lisa and Dave’s wedding. […]

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