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When you combine a dreamy blush Monique Lhuillier gown, an abundance of pastel blooms, a garden that serendipitously shares the groom’s last name, and a couple who is clearly smitten with each other, you know a wedding is going to be incredible! With the help of Sage Nines Event Production, Ellen and Brad loved planning their spring nuptials in the Wills Perennial Garden at Cheekwood Botanical Gardens, a place they visited often during their dating years. Besides the lovely, spring-inspired details, the highlight of their wedding was without a doubt the love of their community that surrounded them–their most memorable moment is sweet as can be!

Hugs to Mary Rosenbaum for sending Ellen and Brad’s lovely day our way!

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. The weekend of dress shopping was so much fun. My sister flew in from LA and several of my bridesmaids were able to come as well. We scheduled the weekend around a Monique Lhuillier trunk show at The Bride Room. Mine was the third dress I tried on, and as soon as I had it on, we all knew it was the one. I called my dad over for the final opinion, and he loved it. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room!

My bridal bouquet was a hand-tied bouquet of fresh lavender and lilac, pale pink garden roses, blush astilbe, white lisianthus, light blue delphinium, dusty miller, and light pink ranunculus. The bouquet was very loose and wildflower-inspired. Our centerpieces were in gold mercury glass bottles and goblets and consisted of lavender, stock, light pink spray roses, light pink sweet peas, ivory garden roses, light pink astilbe, light blue delphinium, and light blue hydrangea. They were so elegant and lovely!

Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. We had a string quartet playing songs by The Beatles for the ceremony. I walked down the aisle to “Here Comes the Sun,” which was perfect, as we could not have asked for a better day. Brad and the groomsmen came down the aisle to “With a Little Help from My Friends,” a song we thought was fitting for them. Walking back up the aisle, the string quartet played “All You Need is Love.”

Cheekwood Botanical Garden is very near our house, and we would often wind up there when Brad would come to visit our family in Nashville. Cheekwood has such beautiful gardens, and I really wanted a garden wedding and reception. We chose the Wills Perennial Garden (of course, since I was becoming a Wills!) and then tented the back of the mansion for the reception.

What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? That is such a hard question, as our day turned out practically perfect. But the food was especially unbelievable–Kristen Winston went above and beyond! We still hear about how good the food was at our wedding!

Our cake was a simple, textured buttercream cake, accented with lavender. One layer was chocolate chip cake with chocolate buttercream and ganache, one layer was European butter with vanilla buttercream, fresh strawberries, and lemon curd, and one layer of cinnamon red velvet with three layers of vanilla buttercream. AMAZING! The groom’s cake was made by a family friend, Chelle Baldwin of SweetAbility Bakery, who incorporated several of Brad’s hobbies and interests into an unbelievable cake!

Since Brad is from Georgia, he and his mom danced to “Georgia on My Mind.” My father and I danced to “Unforgettable.” The first dance was to an Ingrid Michaelson song, “The Way I Am.” The song is about how some of our flaws end up bringing us closer together!

What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? The most memorable moment was when the band played “Home” as the last song. Brad and I stood at the front of the dance floor and basically sang the song to the crowd. Fortunately, they didn’t actually give us the mic! It felt like everyone there was on the dance floor, jumping up and down in unison, and having an amazing time. It was very surreal and symbolic, and we will never forget it.

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. Brad and I met very early in college, when we were in the same small group class. There was also a brief period when we were biology lab partners. We went through most of college seeing each other here and there, but did not really start talking again until senior year. At first I rejected Brad’s dates, but his persistence paid off, and here we are!
Tell us all about the proposal! Since we met at Sewanee, it was the perfect place to get engaged. We planned a weekend trip there to celebrate his birthday, including a hike out to KA Point, a beautiful overlook we’d been to many times before. When we arrived, he pulled roses and a book out from his backpack. He had asked several of our friends to write “proposals” to me and created a book of all of them. On the last page was a picture of Brad on one knee, and when I looked up, there he was on one knee in real life. Both sets of parents met us at the cabin afterwards for a celebratory lunch. The only thing he hadn’t planned for was the three inches of snow!
When did y’all get married? May 3, 2014
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 225
Did you decide to do a first look? Why or why not? No first look for us! At the wedding, I would be coming down a flight of stone steps into the garden, and I think we all wanted that moment to be extra special.
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? My Aunt Salley read Song of Solomon 2, which Brad picked out especially for us.
How did you plan for your marriage while planning your wedding? We met with our minister several times while planning the wedding to discuss our expectations of marriage and address potential problems. We found it extremely helpful and would encourage everyone to do it!
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Try and stay calm and remember that the most important thing is that you are getting married to the person you love!
What’s next for you as a couple? What memories are you looking forward to making together? After an amazing honeymoon in Switzerland, we moved to Birmingham, where we are doing a medical residency. I am a resident in internal medicine and Brad is in orthopedic surgery. We were in a long distance relationship prior to this residency, as we were at different medical schools, so we are most looking forward to living together and being able to see each other every day!

Photographer: Mary Rosenbaum / Videographer: Full Frame Digital Cinema / Planner: Sage Nines Event Productions / Venue: Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art / Florist: Enchanted Florist / Cake Baker: Dulce Desserts / Caterer: Kristen Winston Catering / Rentals: Liberty Party Rental and Music City Tents and Events / Lighting: Bright Event Productions / Band: The Downtown Band / Paper Products: Deirdre Zimon of Lennah Press / Bride’s Gown: “Candy” in Blush Tulle by Monique Lhuillier / Hair Stylist: Ashlea Mullins / Makeup Artist: Shannon Wright / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Donna Morgan / Menswear: “Classic Black Tuxedo” by Calvin Klein

lisa Written with love by Lisa
3 Comments
  1. avatar Dana reply

    her dress and flowers and stunning!!!

  2. avatar Occasions In Print reply

    Beautiful wedding! I love her dress!

  3. avatar Abbey Angelle reply

    What is the round gold monogrammed item in the first picture?

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We’re extra excited to share today’s gorgeous wedding, because Juliet and David have both been on Southern Weddings before, but as vendors! You can find Juliet’s lettering here and David’s photography here. Knowing how talented this couple is, we were not surprised at all that their North Carolina wedding was so lovely and ethereal. Their wedding planner, Laura of Ashton Events, is not only one of our delightful BRV members, she is also a friend of the bride and groom, and she played an instrumental role in David’s proposal!

Hugs to Alicia Swedenborg for sharing Juliet and David’s wedding with us!

Tell us all about the proposal! Long story short, I was heading down to Florida (where David lived) for a visit. A wedding planner friend, Laura Helm, asked me to assist her on a styled shoot that Friday in Lakeland. I arrived at the most beautiful ranch, ready to help set up. The shoot was beautiful–it included a handmade sailboat, a sweetheart table set for two, cafe lights strung from tree to tree, cute love notes spread throughout, and fresh flowers everywhere. Shortly after the videographers and photographers arrived, Laura sent me on a trip to the store for a few last minute things she forgot. After returning, the “Mr.” and “Mrs.” signs on the backs of the chairs had been switched out to say “Mr. David Lapham” and “Mrs. Juliet Lapham.” On the table was a note addressed to “Juliet Grace Jones.” It was a love note from David with words leading me to look up, where he popped out from behind a tree. After a few sweet words, David got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. Afterwards, we ate cheesecake, sipped on sparkling white grape juice and danced the night away!

I have been in love with Claire Pettibone’s dresses for years. I always knew I would wear one of her beautiful creations. There are not many stores in North Carolina that offer her dresses, but J. Majors in Charlotte does, so that was the first place I went. When I saw my dress, I knew it would be mine. I’ve never had a dress fully represent me as well as this dress did. The femininity, the lace, the ribbons–I could go on and on! It was perfect!

Describe your wedding flowers. Call me crazy, but our flowers were picked out literally two days before the wedding! We were on a tight budget and actually found our florist at the farmer’s market in Charlotte. She put together all of the bouquets and David’s boutonniere. Our wedding planner, Laura, arranged all of the centerpieces the day-of. I was so in love with my flowers! They did a great job!

My most memorable moment would have to be just before the ceremony began. We originally planned on an outdoor ceremony. Just about five minutes before the ceremony began, all you could hear were loud thunder rumbles and lightning strikes. Clearly, the outdoor ceremony I initially wanted was not happening. The groomsmen met me at the cottage where I was getting ready with umbrellas in hand. Everything was chaotic and everyone was scurrying to get inside. But looking back, it was SO much fun! All you could do was laugh at the situation. When it came down to it, despite the rain and everything getting washed out, it made the ceremony that much more memorable. It was far more intimate and perfect inside–I am actually glad it rained!

Our wedding took place on an equestrian farm in Mooresville, North Carolina. It represented the South in the best way possible. From the plantation-style home on the property to the horse stables, it was the South at its finest!

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: How can you just choose one?! One detail that sticks out to me would have to be the favors. David’s mom worked so hard to make maple syrup on their family farm, so it was a sweet touch to our wedding.

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. David and I met at Southeastern University through a mutual friend. We were just friends for about a year. I even recall giving David dating advice here and there. Little did I know, this boy was trying to steal my own heart. And he did just that! David surprised me and took me to Disney World on Valentine’s Day for our first official date. I mean… Disney World? On Valentine’s? Talk about an incredible start to a relationship. We dated for two years before getting engaged.
When did y’all get married? August 10, 2013
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 80
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. The songs we choose for our ceremony really set the tone for our wedding. I have always been in love with the movie Father of the Bride, so we chose our favorite songs from that movie for most of the music. For example, the bride’s processional was “Snow Scene” from Father of the Bride, which makes me cry every time I listen to it! Our communion song was “Come Thou Fount,” sung by David’s best man, Corey Voss. The recessional was to “A Soulful Hallelujah” by Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir. Our first dance was to “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra, and the father/daughter and mother/son dance was to “Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong.
Describe your wedding cake or dessert. We kept things simple with a classic white cake with lavender on top. We also had a family friend make individual mixed berry pies, which were delicious!
Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? As practical as it is, we decided against the “first look” idea. Ever since I was a little girl, I always looked forward to walking down the aisle towards my groom and that being the moment he saw me for the first time on our wedding day. THAT moment was my favorite moment of the day, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything!
Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We kept things simple and chose to say traditional vows.
Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! My something borrowed was a handkerchief David’s mom gave me to carry on my wedding day. It had belonged to her mom, who passed away shortly after David and I started dating. It was so sentimental to me. My something new was so many things, but definitely my dress. Something old was my earrings. Something blue…am I allowed to say my groom’s tie? :)
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? There were a few challenges: planning a wedding states away, having a small budget, and changing our venue two weeks before the big day (yep, you heard right)!
If you are comfortable responding, what range did your wedding budget fall into? Less than $10,000
What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? We were so honored to have Laura Helm of Ashton Events by our side on our wedding day. She flew up to North Carolina the weekend-of and helped bring everything together! I do not know what we would have done without her! We were also super thankful for our photographer, Alicia Swedenborg. We entered a contest when we first got engaged for a photography giveaway and Alicia chose us! We were so blessed by her being there and capturing our day.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Make sure you focus on what really matters – you and your love becoming one! Do not spend time stressing or worrying about the details of your wedding. It will all come together, and if it doesn’t – who cares?! You’re married and that’s all that matters! I know you’ve heard it before, but the reason why you heard it many times is because it’s the truth!
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? We are just so excited to have this time enjoying the newlywed life! We are hoping to travel and share as many adventures together as possible. We would love to start a family in the next couple of years as well.

Photographer: Alicia Swedenborg / Planner: Ashton Events / Venue: Johnson Carriage House and Meadows / Florist: Herr’s Fresh Flowers / Cake Baker: Sarah Coleman / Pie Baker: Diana Spradley / Caterer: Family Catering / Rentals: Wish Vintage Rentals / Paper Products and Signage: Juliet Grace / Bride’s Gown: “Queen Anne’s Lace” by Claire Pettibone / Hair and Makeup: Jennifer Abercrombie / Bride’s Shoes: Cici Hot / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Pim + Larkin / Groom’s Attire: J. Crew / Groomsmen Attire: Zara

Ashton Events is a delightful member of the Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

lisa Written with love by Lisa
12 Comments
  1. avatar Dana reply

    a wedding that hands out maple syrup is guaranteed to be awesome

  2. avatar Juliet Grace Design reply

    […] to Southern Weddings for featuring our wedding […]

  3. avatar Judy Jones reply

    I am blessed to be the mother of the bride and having David as my new son in law. I have watched their relationship blossom and each step was carefully orchestrated by their commitment to have the Lord first in all they do. Excited we were able to give our daughter the dream wedding she always wanted. That glorious day has been relived every time I see a photo. Thank you Alicia Swedenborg for your creative talents and capturing a perfect day!
    Judy Jones/Raleigh, NC

  4. avatar Morgan Jones reply

    Oh my goodness this venue is right down the street from the house I grew up in! I remember when they built this estate of a barn!! Neat to see how else they are using it! :)

  5. avatar Alicia Swedenborg reply

    yay! thank you sooo much for this feature! Juliet and Dave is an amazing couple – sooo caring, cute and had the loveliest wedding! and honor to photograph! xo

  6. avatar SOUTHERN WEDDINGS | CHARLOTTE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER » alicia swedenborg -wedding photographer new york | engagament photography reply

    […] i’m so excited to have Juliet & David’s wedding outside Charlotte in North Carolina featured on Southern Weddings… i truly love this wedding magazine and having my wedding photography published with them is an […]

  7. avatar Laura reply

    It is so refreshing to a see a wedding where the couple didn’t spend $50,000! So beautiful, too.

  8. avatar Ivy Ellen reply

    I love the idea to use a chalk board for the table plan. congratulations to you both

  9. avatar Emily reply

    Love Juliet’s hair piece! So delicate + pretty!

  10. avatar Southern Weddings Weekly Round-Up | Southern Weddings reply

    […] We love real weddings! Juliet and David’s beautiful North Carolina barn wedding was so lovely and sentimental. We love that their planner, BRV member Ashton Events, was even part of David’s proposal! See it here. […]

  11. avatar Winter White, Gold, & Green reply

    […] row: bride and groom, image by Alicia Swedenborg via Southern Weddings; ivory and antique gold centerpiece by Fern-Studio, image by Landon Jacob via Snippet & […]

  12. avatar JMajor's Bridal Blog » Blog Archive » Real J. Major’s Bride: Juliet reply

    […] There are so many beautiful details of this day, you’ll have to pop over to their feature in Southern Weddings to get all ins and outs of this gorgeous couple’s […]

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Let’s start this morning off with a soft and cozy inspiration shoot! What I love about barn weddings is the perfect juxtaposition of romantic details in rustic settings. Today’s barn inspiration from Amy Rae Photography provides so much for your eyes to feast upon with that killer Southern combo. Some of my favorite details include the duo of shabby chic chandeliers (one baby’s breath, one mason jar!), cozy lounge area and amazing altar. Kudos to Embellished Weddings for rounding up all the details! Read on for all the credits from this talented team below, and don’t miss the delicious-looking Southern eats from Abbey Road Catering!

Credits:

Lighting: Innovative Event Solutions // Catering: Abbey Rd. Catering // Paper: Paper and Thread and Love Byrd // Furniture: Mood Party Rentals // Trunk, pillows chargers: Pottery Barn // Flowers: The Flower Girls // Rentals: Mariannes Rentals // Cake Stand and Cake: Amy Cakes // Plates and Glasses: BC Clark // Milkglass Containers: Rebecca’s Silver Rose // Details and Decor: Thumbprint tree, large doily ball, banner, peaches, mason jars provided by Embellished Weddings, hanging doily balls from My Haley Girl // Barn: 4T Farms // Bride’s Dress, Veil, and Hairpiece: Bella Rose // Bridesmaids Dress and Jewelry: J. Crew // Hair: Jamy Green
Makeup: Jennifer McLaughlin // Groom’s Suit: Tuxedo Junction // Bow Tie: Forage // Clutch: ila handbags

nicoleyang Written with love by Nicole
14 Comments
  1. avatar Allie@HoneyBeeInvites reply

    I love this wedding! It is sooo gorgeous and the lighting is incredible!! Definitely need to steal a few ideas from this for my own big day! :)

  2. avatar Desiree reply

    this photo shoot is just darling! i really love the 2 unique chairs flanking the head of the dinner table and that beautiful cake! very nicely done, everyone!

  3. avatar Amy reply

    Thanks for sharing this shoot! It was truly a labor of love! Now I hope I can photograph a wedding just like it!

  4. avatar Mallory reply

    Love this shoot! There are so many totally steal worthy ideas – like that chuppah?! Dying. Congrats Amy!

  5. avatar Lydia reply

    Everything is beautiful, but that cake?! It’s gorgeous! Love the elegant use of texture!

  6. avatar Wrap It Up Pretty LBB + a Giveaway! | Style Me Pretty reply

    […] a bunch of ombre wedding inspiration via Green Wedding Shoes a super cool African honeymoon locale via Project Wedding a beautiful bit of barn wedding inspiration via Southern Weddings […]

  7. avatar Erin Davenport reply

    Just gorgeous, I love every bit of it!! Wonderful job, Amy! :)

  8. avatar My Southern Wedding :: Marissa « Southern Weddings Magazine reply

    […] images Martha Stewart Weddings, cake by Amy Cakes and photo by Amy Rae (see more from this shoot here!), Kristin Vining and The Nichols. What would your flowers look like? Like Nicole, I love giant, […]

  9. avatar My Southern Wedding :: Marissa | Gift Registry News reply

    […] images Martha Stewart Weddings, cake by Amy Cakes and photo by Amy Rae (see more from this shoot here!), Kristin Vining and The […]

  10. avatar Southern Weddings Photo Shoot « Embellished Weddings reply

    […] photo shoot was published on Southern Weddings blog in August. They did an amazing job showing off some of the great southern elements that we […]

  11. avatar Heather reply

    I am IN LOVE with the dress for the Aug 2011 barn shoot…can I find out who it is? Thanks!

    • avatar Emily reply

      Hi Heather! I just heard from Amanda, the planner, and the wedding gown is Maggie Sottero’s “Karena Royale.” Hope that helps!

  12. avatar Wedding Reception Lounge Area Inspiration reply

    […] & Orange Cushions with Crystal Candelabras), Shimmering Pink & White. Second Row (L-R) Country Chic – Barn Lounge, Moroccan Lounge, All white Outdoor Lounge. Third Row (L-R) Colourful Lounge with Chinese Lanterns, […]

  13. avatar Wedding Lounge Area Inspiration – London Wedding Planner – Ishari De Silva Weddings reply

    […] & Orange Cushions with Crystal Candelabras), Shimmering Pink & White. Second Row (L-R) Country Chic – Barn Lounge, Moroccan Lounge, All white Outdoor Lounge. Third Row (L-R) Colourful Lounge with Chinese Lanterns, […]

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!

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