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It’s getting colder by the day in North Carolina, but admiring Courtney and Cameron’s wedding warms me right up! Even more than the heirloom details and dreamy florals by Blue Ribbon Vendor Holly Chapple Flowers, Courtney and Cameron’s big day was a true testament to a community coming together in support of the newlyweds. After a huge derecho ripped through the area the day before the wedding, everyone from the wonderful vendors to the wedding party (the groomsmen carried Cameron’s grandmother up the stairs after the power went out!) went above and beyond to help give Courtney and Cameron the wedding they dreamed of!

Big thanks to Michelle Lindsay Photography for sharing this sweet day with us!

The night before we got married, the region was hit with a massive derecho that took down trees and cut the power supply to most of the area. It took heroic efforts to pull our wedding together. It was amazing to see so many people pull together to make the day happen. Our angel wedding planner and her husband were at my parents’ property long into the night helping to clean up damaged wedding decor. Skyline Tents was on site early in the morning to help prepare for the day. My hairstylist met me at a hotel so we could use generator power to curl my hair. The temple where we were married was also out of power, so the wedding party carried Cameron’s grandmother up five or six flights of stairs! Because the building had little light, we were married by flashlight. It ended up being very sweet–almost like being married by candlelight!

Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! I tied something borrowed, something blue, and something old to my bouquet. My new item was a beautiful necklace my dad bought me for my wedding day. The borrowed item was from my sister. She had inherited my Grandma Waters’ locket, which had pictures of my grandparents when they were young in it. My mother-in-law gave me an embroidered blue handkerchief from their side of the family. I also carried a handkerchief from my maternal grandmother to represent something old.

Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? We did do a first look. I’m glad we took pictures ahead of time because the wedding day flew by so fast! My photographer and her assistant were troopers. They endured intense heat the day before our wedding in order to capture some beautiful shots. Cameron was a trooper too. At one point during the photo shoot, I began to feel like I was going to pass out. It was such a weird feeling. My Virginia Military School graduate swept me off my feet (quite literally this time) and carried me back to the shade.

We had the reception at my parents’ home in Virginia. It was very special to have our wedding reception there. It added a level of intimacy and old-fashioned charm that I don’t think could have been replicated anywhere else.

Describe your wedding flowers. My dad worked in a floral shop during his college years, so he definitely had strong opinions about what these flowers would look like. The incredible Holly Chapple went above and beyond. The peach colors were stunning. As I was going through photos after the event, I even saw a real peach tree branch nestled into the décor.

Cameron really only had a few main requests when it came to wedding planning, one of which was that his brother, Calvin, be the DJ. I’m glad Cameron got his way because the music was incredible. I remember fawning over it for days afterwards. All of the music was fun to dance to, but was totally timeless. We picked an obscure song for our first dance, since it was just about the only song we could agree on! It was to a Ray Charles song called “I Love You, I Love You” that was one of Charles’ first recordings at the age of 18. We love it.

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. Cameron and I met when we were fourteen, but we didn’t date in high school at all. We spent years playing practical jokes on each other and writing letters to each other long distance, but we didn’t start dating until my last semester of college. It wasn’t very long after that before we were engaged.
Tell us all about the proposal! Cameron and I had known that we were going to get married for quite a while, so when Cameron presented me with a ring, the decision had been made long before. Cameron took me out to get burgers. Afterwards, he decided to take me to DC for a walk. We were walking around the area close to the Capitol; it was the same area we had visited about a year earlier when he planned a surprise trip to visit me over Easter break. As we were walking away from the Capitol, Cameron turned to me and said, “Are you ready?” I thought I knew what he was asking, but I didn’t want to jump the gun. Then he got down on both knees and asked me if I would marry him. Simple proposal. Simple answer. Yes!
When did y’all get married? June 30, 2012
Tell us about finding your wedding dress. For religious reasons, I needed a dress that had sleeves. I found a beautiful Demetrios gown and worked with a talented seamstress who had a background in costume design to rebuild the bodice. It was like having a custom made dress! I love the sheer ruffles in the back.
Describe your wedding cake or dessert. Our high school friend (and graduate of the Culinary Institute of America), Raewyn Cowherd, made us a beautiful and delicious cake. We love hazelnut, so she incorporated it into one of the tiers. I mostly ate desserts, while Cameron was the life of the party.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: Cameron and I both like ginger, so we served a ginger limeade.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Temples are very special places. As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we believe that families can be together forever, and that the temple is where this happens. Marriage is part of our Heavenly Father’s plan for us. After our ceremony, Cameron’s grandma came up to me and said, “Welcome to the family.” Cameron’s grandmother is somewhat of a pioneer in their family, and she exuded such love and sweetness in that moment.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Don’t get me wrong, weddings are fun. You get to celebrate a joyous event with people close to you. But don’t forget the difference between the party and the marriage. A wedding is just one day. Focus on what kind of people you and your spouse want to become.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? Cameron and I are adjusting to life in the City of Brotherly Love. We moved to Philadelphia this summer so that Cameron can pursue a career in medicine. A few months ago, my mom asked me, “What is the best thing about marriage that you didn’t expect?” Two things came to mind: the amount of worrying I throw at Cameron, and how well he handles it. He is a wonderful confidant. Secondly, I am pleasantly surprised at how much we laugh together. While we were dating, Cameron spent a lot of weekends with my family. I remember my mom telling me how my dad had heard us in the basement, just laughing and laughing. I love that about Cameron. He makes me laugh so much!!

Photographer: Michelle Lindsay Photography / Planner: Janice Carnevale of Bellwether Events / Ceremony Venue: Washington D.C. Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints / Reception Venue: Private residence / Flowers: Holly Chapple Flowers / Cake Baker: Raewyn Cowherd / Catering: Design Cuisine / Rentals: DC Rentals / Tent and Lighting: Skyline Tents / Table Runners: La Tavola / DJ: Calvin Squires / Bride’s Gown: “3141” by Demetrios / Veil: A Bride Beautiful / Bride’s Jewelry and Shoes: Macy’s / Paper Products: The Dandelion Patch / Hair Stylist: Kirsten Eike of Jewel Hair Design / Bridesmaid Dresses: Alfred Sung in “Firecracker” / Men’s Attire: Men’s Wearhouse / Dress Alterations: Jen Jackson of Altered Elegace

lisa Written with love by Lisa
7 Comments
  1. avatar Janice Carnevale reply

    Thank you so much for featuring my clients’ wedding! It was such a beautiful day!

  2. avatar Lamont G. Fleming reply

    New Zealand Tablet 17 May 1906 Page 30 MARTIN — EARL On April 25 an interesting ceremony took place in St. Mary’s Church, Makikihi, when Miss Rosanna Earl daughter of Mr. W. Earl, ‘Benacre,’ Otaio was married to Mr. David Martin, son of Mr. Andrew Martin, Otaio. The ceremony was performed by the Very Rev. Dean Regnault. The church, which was tastefully decorated for the occasion, was crowded with friends and relatives of the contracting parties. The bride looked very handsome in a costume of white silk, trimmed with chiffon and delicate, lace. Miss Nora Earl (sister) was bridesmaid, and was neatly attired in cream voile trimmed with lace. The bridegroom was attended by Mr. W. Earl (brother of the bride). The bridegroom’s present to the bride was a gold brooch, and to the bridesmaid a gold bangle, the bride’s present to the bridegroom, being a gold chain. The wedding party left the church to the strains of Mendelssohn’s Wedding March. The wedding breakfast, to which a large number of guests sat down, was laid at the residence of the bride’s father. Very Rev. Dean Regnault presided, and in a felicitous speech proposed the health of the newly married couple. Other toasts were also duly honored. During the afternoon several vocal and instrumental items were given, and a very enjoyable time was spent. In the evening Mr. and Mrs. Martin left for the North Island, where the honeymoon was to be spent. The wedding presents were numerous and costly, and included many cheques and a quantity of silverware.

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Happy early Valentine’s Day, my dear friends!! We’re always full of love in the office, but today we’re especially excited since this wedding is a red, pink and purple beauty.

When I first saw Valerie + Kevin’s wedding, a few thoughts popped into my mind. First, Valerie is a beautiful bride (and I immediately started singing Amy Winehouse when I heard her name). Second, how gorgeous are those mixed hues of pink dresses? Third, string lights win. Every time. You’d be surprised to know that those lovely ladies flanking Valerie aren’t her bridesmaids. With such a huge group of close friends, the bride chose to keep the wedding party to just family, but invited her girlfriends to wear their choice of dress in any shade of pink. Genius!

Valerie + Kevin’s wedding was so full of great images that we couldn’t fit them all in this post! Be sure to check out their Real Wedding Gallery for all of them.

Valerie + Kevin’s wedding was chock full of handmade charm. Family and friends created all of the decor and centerpieces. The cake tablecloth and custom pillows were made by Valerie’s mom and the sand dollar favors were collected by the flower girls and ring bearer from a nearby beach! And see that driftwood cake stand? It’s actually a mirror that was made for the bride and groom as a wedding present and now hangs in their home. So sweet, right?

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. In April of 2009, we met through a mutual friend in Atlanta, where we were both living at the time.
Describe the proposal. On Sunday evening, November 28, while I was visiting Kevin and his family in Saint Simons Island and Sea Island in Georgia, we had plans to go to dinner at The Lodge with his brother and sister-in-law. On our way to dinner, Kevin turned to go to Sea Island and I quickly asked, “Where were we going?” Kevin said that since we hadn’t had a lot of alone time over the weekend or a chance to take our ritual walk on the beach in front of his mother’s home, he thought we’d go now before dinner and enjoy the sunset. I then realized he was playing our favorite tunes on the radio, he was wearing the tie I had given him on his birthday a few days before, and the fact that we never went for our ritual walk on the beach all dressed up! I did not want to get my hopes up in case this was not the moment, though. We parked the car and walked to the beach and within a few minutes of our walk, he kneeled on one knee and proposed. It was wonderful and a beautiful evening. We then called my family back in Louisiana with the exciting news and went to dinner where all of his family gathered to celebrate the special occasion with us.
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Fun, celebration and beautiful scenery.
In what month did you get married? June
How many guests attended your wedding? 140
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: the lights over the dance floor at the outdoor reception underneath the live oaks and Spanish moss
Describe your wedding flowers: Casablanca lilies, stargazing lilies, hydrangeas, roses, peonies and snapdragons where all used in arrangements. My bouquet contained Casablanca lilies, white hydrangeas and white roses. The overall color scheme was very natural with lots of white and pops of hot pink. We put the flowers in antique tin creamers purchased at Scott’s Antique Market in Atlanta, antique Mason jars from my mother’s collection and oversized silver mint julep cups. All the flowers were arranged by friends and family.
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? Our gift bags included local Georgia Peanuts and homemade oatmeal raisin cookies by my mom, mason jars served as glassware for cocktails, sweet tea and fresh squeezed pink lemonade. As per the wedding tradition, I wore a silver sixpence in my shoe for good luck. Our save the dates had a piece of loose burlap monogrammed with the date on it, which carried over to the wedding day where we used burlap in the boutonnieres and center pieces of the tables. A quilt made by my grandmother and great grandmother served as a table linen at the sign-in table and antique lace from my mom’s wedding gown was used to make the ring bearer pillow. Food was served on an antique wagon that was restored by the Kevin. Additionally, the entire wedding weekend took place at Southern locations. Thursday evening, we went on a shrimp boat cruise with family and out-of-town guests that arrived early. Friday evening, the rehearsal dinner was on the lawn of Kevin’s parent’s home on Sea Island and featured crawfish etouffee and jambalaya, native food from Louisiana where the my parents live, and local seafood from the coast of Georgia. The wedding reception site was on the same property, 10 acres covered in live oaks, Spanish moss, palmetto’s and Tabby Ruins.
What range did your wedding budget fall into? $50,000-$75,000
What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? Our photographer, Melissa Schollaert.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Arriving to the wedding reception site with my husband in an antique 1915 Model-T Ford that my uncle owned and was driving. Then, getting out of the car and walking to the dance floor with Kevin holding my hand the entire way. As we began our first dance, the sun was setting over the river and marsh. A little while later when the sun was almost completely set, the lead singer of the band called an impromptu toast and drew the guests’ attention to the sunset and said “this looks like something in a movie scene” The timing was impeccable and just as I had envisioned.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? Having a family, learning the ways of life in the low country and sharing that with friends, and traveling together.

Photography: Melissa Schollaert Photography // Ceremony Venue: Wesley United Methodist Church // Venue: Private River Property in St. Simons Island, Georgia // Dress: Melissa Sweet via Bleu Belle Bridal // Shoes: Badgley Mischka // Bridesmaids Dresses: J.Crew // Planner: Lindsay Pitt forTOAST of the COAST by Toast Events Atlanta // Catering: Sea Palms Resort // Stationery: Evince Design // Bride’s Engagement Ring: Harlin Diamonds // Groom’s Wedding Band: Claddagh Ring // Cake: Sea Palms Resort // Rentals: Beachview Tent Rentals // Band: Ocean Street // Transportation: Historic 1015 Model T Ford

Love this wedding? Well then we recommend:
This glam St. Simons Island wedding (in three parts – here, here, and here)
This chic beach wedding, also photographed by Melissa Schollaert (here + here)
This wedding, which also had a fabulous mix of bright bridesmaid dresses!

Melissa Schollaert Photography and Toast Events are fabulous members of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

nicoleyang Written with love by Nicole
12 Comments
  1. avatar Elizabeth reply

    Every detail is just gorgeous! And I love the driftwood cake stand/mirror – brilliant and beautiful:)

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  3. avatar Tim Duncan reply

    The pinks here all go together so well! It’s definitely a good pick for Valentine’s Day! ;)

  4. avatar Lindsay reply

    It was so great to relive this wedding again, I had such a blast helping my great friend with her plans, but was also able to be a guest and enjoy this perfectly southern celebration I will forever cherish!

  5. avatar Ellen reply

    The wedding was amazing with the help of so many of the Valerie and Kevin’s friends. The wedding coordinator, Lindsay Pitt of Toast of The Coast, and Melissa Schollert Photography were outstanding and FUN!

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