Southern Weddings

Even before Christy had a boyfriend, she remembers telling her mama that she would someday be married at Reynolds Plantation…and a little ways down the road, she and Jake made that dream come true! Inspired by the beautiful landscape of Christy’s family’s summer home, Christy and Jake chose to say the vows they wrote to one another right in front of the lake before adjourning to Sandy Creek Barn for the celebration. Not even temperatures in the triple digits could keep the newlyweds and their dearest family and friends from enjoying a gorgeous tented dinner and the wild dance party that followed!

Thank you so much to the talented Melissa Schollaert for sending this dreamy day our way!

I knew from the very first moment of the process that I wasn’t going to try on more than 20 dresses–I knew I would find one that day. My mother, my oldest sister, and my two very best friends went shopping with me in New Jersey. After the first bridal shop, where I almost bought the third dress I tried on, we went to Elizabeth Johns in Morristown, New Jersey. I tried on a few dresses that I had my heart set on prior to visiting the store through online research, but ultimately decided upon a beautiful blush, all-lace Romona Keveza gown. I had it in my head that I would never have a strapless dress, nor did I ever want a blush dress, but this one felt right and made me feel beautiful!

How did you plan for your marriage while planning your wedding? We worked together on all aspects of the wedding. There was not one detail I didn’t run by Jake–he knew it all and definitely had more of an opinion than most grooms. I knew that working together and getting through any differences during the wedding planning process would help us grow as a couple.

Did you decide to do a first look? Why or why not? Yes, we did! I wanted to see Jake beforehand and have a special moment together before the excitement of the day really started happening. We met down by the water of our venue and had a few nervous giggles together. We also took a moment during the sunset and stepped away from the reception to just be with one another and reflect on the day.

Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We wrote our own vows! Our ceremony was very much about us and our love for one another. Our vows were reflective of us a couple–there were a lot of laughs, tears, and reflections.

My parents built a summer home on Reynolds Plantation while I was in college. Ever since my first visit, I told my mom (even before I had a boyfriend) that it was where I wanted to get married. It was beautiful, peaceful, and my dream come true! The Ritz Carlton Lodge on Reynolds Plantation had various beautiful venues we could chose from, but we ultimately chose Sandy Creek Barn. The Barn is located across the lake from the hotel and has the most beautiful landscape with acres of fields and trees. We could party into the morning without disturbing anyone for miles! We had our ceremony down by the water, our cocktail hour inside the barn, and our reception took place in a beautifully decorated sailcloth tent adjacent to the barn.

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? Our wedding was hot as all get out! Everyone knew they were in the South with those temperatures! We also incorporated a lot of Southern touches with antlers and music. My husband was reluctant at first, but we had some great country music playing at our wedding!

One of my absolute favorite details of my wedding was the flowers. I was blown away by my florist, Kent Duffy of Designs by Kent. I am not tied to any particular flower, but only knew I wanted something that felt light, rustic, and classic. Our farmhouse tables were a mix of round, square, and long, and we decorated them with antlers, succulents, touches of gold, and metallic. I was not tied to any color, but it all just blended in beautifully with the landscape of the barn. He went above and beyond my expectations.

Describe your wedding cake or dessert. We had cake and an array of desserts. The more the merrier was our attitude! I am a chocolate girl and Jake loves fruity desserts, so we decided to have both! Our actual wedding cake was a naked cake, which was designed by the pastry chef at the Ritz Carlton. It was exactly what I had envisioned.

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. We met at a Halloween party in 2010! He was a farmer and I was dressed as what was supposed to be a hippie. We both had B- costumes and laughed it off. What started as innocent conversation that night led to a first date over wine and mussels at the Mermaid Inn in NYC. We knew from that first date we were meant to be! We go back every year to order the same thing and sit in the same seats.
Tell us all about the proposal! Jake’s sister, Amy, is an incredibly talented singer/songwriter and was performing at Rockwood Music Hall in the Lower East Side. It was a Saturday night and we had plans to go to the show, and then afterwards, we would head to “a nice dinner” (as Jake put it when I asked what to wear) with his family. Jake was extremely nervous in the car ride to the show and was latching on to his sunglass case for dear life (turns out, the ring was hiding in there the whole time!). After we arrived to a full crowd, Amy did a few songs, and toward the end, she did a cover of Ray Lamontagne’s “Hold You in My Arms.” In the middle of the performance, she invited Jake up to the stage, where he made the cutest speech (that I am not sure I would have remembered given my emotional state if it wasn’t recorded), and then proceeded to propose. While all of this was happening, our family and friends–unbeknownst to me–were watching it all through a projector from the other room. After being surprised by them all, we headed to a a party Jake had put together with all of my closest friends and family!
When did y’all get married? July 18, 2015
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? Roughly 200
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. We covered all the bases with music–pop, country, hip hop, and typical wedding songs! I walked down the aisle to a “500 Miles” cover by Sleeping at Last, and for our first dance, Jake’s sister did a beautiful cover of “Dream a Little Dream of Me.” We strayed from typical wedding songs during our procession and ceremony, and wanted it to be fun and light to reflect our personalities.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: I can’t name a favorite detail, but one thing that turned into being the most memorable was how HOT it was. It was about 100 degrees at 5:30 P.M.–the start of our wedding. I was a nervous wreck! We extended our cocktail hour to cool people off inside the barn and I had extra fans and generators brought in for the tent. The fans ended up being “misting fans” and the dance floor at night turned into a slew of people who were soaking wet from the mist, but dancing their hearts out! It was absolutely hilarious and one of my favorite memories.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? When we took a moment to ourselves down by the water while the sun was setting and the reception was in full swing. Our closest friends and family had just been a part of the best day of our lives, and we were officially husband and wife. It was such a special moment that we will never forget.
What’s next for you as a couple? What memories are you looking forward to making together? We have a 10-month-old puppy who is our best buddy! He makes us a family of three and we are hoping to become a family of four in the next few years! We are looking forward to traveling, spending more time with our family and closest friends, and supporting each other as we progress in our careers.

Photographer: Melissa Schollaert | Videographer: Anchor Heart Films | Planner: Ashley Scott of The Ritz Carlton | Venue: Sandy Creek Barn at Reynolds Plantation | Florist: Designs by Kent | Caterer, Cake and Dessert Baker: The Ritz Carlton Lodge, Lake Oconee | Band: Band of Gold | Paper Products: Sideshow Press | Wooden Signs: Country Bliss Designs | Bride’s Gown: Romona Keveza | Hair Stylist: Kathryn Yearwood, Zapien’s Salon | Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J. Crew | Groom’s Attire: Tom Ford

Written with love by Lisa