Southern Weddings

Whenever I hear that one of our Real Weddings took place at a historic plantation, I’m instantly excited to see it! Maybe it stems from my love for Gone with the Wind or the amazing antebellum homes of Mobile that I grew up visiting. Either way, they’re so Southern, and completely romantic! Page and Blake chose to tie the knot at the beautiful Pebble Hill Plantation, and just as I suspected, Pebble Hill was the perfect backdrop for their big day! I know Emily (who had a tented reception herself!) would be equally smitten with their classic white Sperry Tent and twinkle light combo!

We’re so happy Harwell Photography was on hand to capture this lovely day!

Describe your wedding flowers. I wanted something simple, elegant, and in all soft colors. We had a great florist who brought my vision to life. My bouquet was full of white and ivory peonies, seeded eucalyptus, and dusty miller.

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. I was lucky to have had a stress-free experience, and I tried on around ten dresses total. I knew that I wanted something strapless and lace, and once I found one that I loved, I didn’t hesitate to say yes to the dress!

We had a first look, and I am so glad we did. We wanted to have a special moment together, just the two of us. It was also less stressful getting a lot of pictures done beforehand, so we didn’t keep all our family and friends waiting!

Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We decided on traditional vows. We asked our former teacher and good friend to perform the ceremony, while one of Blake’s groomsmen led a prayer. Having a Christ-centered marriage is very important to us, so we had Ephesians 5:25 and Isaiah 61:3b read: “They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.” This verse went perfectly with our ceremony under the giant oak tree!

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: One neat detail was the horse and carriage we had waiting at the end of the aisle to pick us up after the ceremony. Riding it gave us the chance to be alone together in the moments right after becoming husband and wife. We wanted to remind each other to enjoy every minute, knowing the night would go by fast! It was also our getaway “car,” which was so fun and unique. At the end of the night, we were able to ride around the property for a little bit, already reliving every minute of the day! It was magical.

Our food was very Southern, and it was a hit! We served watermelon salad with candied pecans, quail with tomato jam, fried green tomatoes, and pimento cheese sandwiches. We had several food tables that featured seafood, beef, poultry, and a cheese display with local honey and berries. Our caterers made each table look beautiful and put a lot of effort into making great-tasting food! Towards the end of the night, we surprised our guests with a snack of chicken and biscuits.

We are blessed with awesome family and friends. With our wedding being out of town for many of our guests, we were blown away by how many people traveled to the South to celebrate with us! Our band had us come to the stage to thank all of our guests for being there. I will never forget that moment, and I’m so glad I had the chance to slow down and take that in. It reminded us how much love and support we have from everyone.

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. I was a sophomore and he was a junior… yes, we are high school sweethearts! We were both trying out for the musical that year, and I am pretty sure I got butterflies the first time he talked to me. Later, he sent me a Facebook message asking for my number, and soon after that, we started dating.
Tell us all about the proposal! The proposal was very much a surprise! Blake took me back to the theater at our high school, which is where we met and our story began. I walked in and he was standing at the bottom of rose petal-lined steps, and the stage was decorated with pictures from our time together. We were so excited and filled with emotion! Both of our families were there to celebrate with us afterwards. I felt so special seeing all the thought, time, and love he put into making his proposal so memorable.
When did y’all get married? May 31, 2014
What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they have any special significance to you? Many of my family members are in Thomasville, and I’ve spent every Christmas there, so I knew it would be the perfect location to get married. We chose Pebble Hill Plantation. We held our ceremony under the oak tree, and it fit the vision I had pictured for our wedding day perfectly! We opted for a tent for the reception, which was just steps away from the ceremony site, and kept everyone cool.
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. Blake chose all of our songs, which I loved, because it was one less decision I had to make! He chose “Canon in D” for me to walk down the aisle to–we loved that it was traditional and beautiful. Our first dance was “Can’t Help Falling In Love With You” by Elvis Presley. Blake is a big Elvis fan, and it was perfect!
Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! My something borrowed/old was my great-great-grandmother’s pin, which I attached to my bouquet. All of the women in my family had it with them on their wedding day, so it was pretty special. My something blue was my garter and my something new was my earrings.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Many of your family and friends will want to help with planning and day-of things, so don’t hesitate to ask for help. It will make your wedding day a lot less stressful if you don’t have to worry about last minute decisions or details. Don’t forget to take time on your wedding day to slow down and take in all the details that were your vision for so long. Most importantly, remember that the day is ultimately about the two of you becoming one, so don’t sweat the small stuff!
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? We just got a place together in Nashville and are in the process of making it our own. We are just excited to do everyday life together! It is so wonderful to have someone to go through life’s ups and downs with and to have a constant companion and supporter.

Photographer: Jeremy Harwell / Videographer: Shutter Life Productions / Planner: Tricia Willis Custom Event Planning / Ceremony and Reception Venue: Pebble Hill Plantation / Florist: Singletary’s Florist / Cake Baker: Savannah Moon Bakery / Caterer: Jeannie Bracy and John Thomas / Rentals: Sperry Tent / Band: The RiverTown Band / Linens: La Tavola / Bride’s Gown: “Alana” by Maggie Sottero / Bridal Salon: Formally Yours / Hair Accessories: BHLDN / Hair and Makeup: Dreamstate Salon / Bride’s Shoes: “Chrissy” by J.Renee / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: “555” by Bari Jay in Misty Blue /Menswear: Joseph A. Banks

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

Written with love by Marissa