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One of the best things about weddings is their ability to take people away from their everyday lives, inviting them into the most special moments of a couple’s story, and reminding them that what truly matters, more than anything else, is love and family. This was certainly the case at Anne Sydney and Jesse’s wedding, where they literally transported their guests up a mountain, overlooking their beloved hometown. The setting was breathtaking, and dotted with sweet details in honor of their Kentucky roots, it was a magical place for these childhood sweethearts to celebrate their marriage!

We’re so grateful that Melanie Mauer and Jaclyn Journey shared this gorgeous day with us in V7!

Tell us all the basics of your wedding! The wedding was on June 29, 2013 at 5:30 P.M. at the First Baptist Church in Pikeville, Kentucky. The location was chosen because it was the church that we attended as children and both of our families were active in membership. We share many memories of our younger years there, as we participated in church plays, musicals, vacation Bible school, and other church-related activities together.

Our welcome boxes for our guests included macarons, sour hard candies, and M&M’s, all in our wedding colors. We also included a fun folded map and directional guide, which also included information on local restaurants and other attractions. For logistical purposes, we had all the guests bused up to the mountain after the ceremony. We included custom-made “bus tickets” with the ceremony programs, proclaiming that it was “Time to Celebrate Y’all,” and that this was their “Ticket to Ride.”

What was your favorite detail of the wedding? I was surrounded by ladies who played large roles at different stages in my life. Whether they were from high school, college, or my family, they were there to support me on the most important day of my life as my bridesmaids and maids and matrons of honor.

We wanted the flowers to reflect the feeling of the event–classic, laid back, sweet, fun, and beautiful. We chose white and ivory garden roses and mixed in some pops of peaches and corals, plus some dusty miller and lamb’s ear to bring in the greyed jade tone of the bridesmaids’ dresses. We used ivory Jeanne Moreau garden roses, caramel antique garden roses, white ranunculus, peachy coral Romantic Antique garden roses, peach and coral ranunculus, peach Juliet David Austin garden roses, dusty miller, and white peonies.

Who was one of the most special guests at your wedding? From Jesse: My grandfather on my father’s side. The Saturday before, he had buried my grandmother and his wife of over 60 years. I knew he was still reeling from the loss, but his presence in the front row of the church was a reassuring presence on our big day.

Groom’s favorite detail of the wedding: While not planned to intentionally coincide, our wedding date was also my parents’ 39th anniversary. In addition, our rehearsal dinner and wedding ceremony were at the same country club and church where my parents tied the knot all those years ago. It was a special feeling to know that nearly 40 years ago to the day, my father and mother were standing in the same place, committing themselves to each other.

The mountaintop venue inspired quite a lot of the design. We knew from the beginning that we wanted a sailcloth tent because we love the soft, illuminated feel that they bring. We had it set up at the edge of the mountain so that guests would have an incredible view. We wanted everything to feel soft, sweet, and classic. One of my favorite details was the custom wooden bars my brother-in-law built especially for our wedding. We also included a few pieces of polished coal on top of the bars, as well as affixing coal on push pins to secure the calligraphed seating charts to their display boards, as a nod to our Eastern Kentucky roots.

Did you have a cocktail hour? If so, what was it like? We did! The all-female bluegrass band, Coaltown Dixie, provided the music for the al fresco, café-lit event, which was immediately next to the sailcloth tent, facing the town of Pikeville below.

Were there any family traditions you included in the reception? My maternal grandmother made wedding mints for all her five children’s wedding receptions, as well as many other church weddings. It was fitting that a dear family friend used her recipe and made them for our wedding reception.

Dinner was served once all guests had arrived at the reception site. The meal was fully prepared at the remote location by the caterer and was simply some of the best food that we have ever eaten. Next on the agenda was dancing under the tent to music by the Jump Street Band. They were fantastic, playing a mixture of old and new, fast and slow tunes, keeping the dance floor overflowing from the time they began playing until the night was done. Late in the evening, late night snacks of warm beignets and mini coffee milkshakes were passed to guests.

After exiting the winding road to the beautiful mountaintop venue, we did not want the night to end yet, so we ended the evening by driving though our small hometown, being chauffeured by my father-in-law, reflecting on the tremendous day that we had just enjoyed.

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. From Jesse: It was so long ago that I’m not sure either of us truly remembers. Our families went to the same church when we were kids. We think our first meeting was in a children’s Sunday school class. In any event, Anne Sydney’s family moved into town when she was in 6th grade and we went to school together thereafter.
Describe the proposal: From Jesse: It was the Thursday night before Memorial Day in 2012. We were planning to be apart that weekend so Anne Sydney could attend her friend’s bachelorette party. Little did she know, she wasn’t making the trip. In anticipation of our days apart, we had dinner at our favorite restaurant in downtown Lexington. My initial plan was to pop the question on our walk home from dinner down the historic and quaint South Mill Street. This idea was frustrated by the un-concealable size of the little blue box. Instead, we walked in the door to my home, and as Anne Sydney started up the stairs, I fell to a knee. The next morning, we traveled to the Greenbrier Resort to meet our parents and begin to plan for the great time ahead.
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Magical, surreal, and breathtaking.
How many guests attended your wedding? About 470
What was the biggest challenge you faced while planning your wedding? Logistics–the site offering beautiful mountaintop views was not equipped with water, power, sewer, or any other modern convenience. The degree of planning to pull it off was immense. All of the needs of the over 450 guests had to be anticipated and provided for the 4+ hours that they were to be on the mountain celebrating with us. Luckily, my father is an engineer and was able to speak the language to the vendors and suppliers to pull off the event without a hitch.
Tell us about finding your wedding dress. I, my mother, my future mother-in-law, and my mother’s best friend traveled to NYC for appointments. After numerous fittings and rejections at Kleinfeld, I reluctantly took the advice of the consultant assisting me and tried a strapless Peter Langner gown. At first sight of me wearing this dress, everyone in the traveling party said in unison that this was it!! We kept our other scheduled appointments and learned that Mark Ingram Atelier carried Peter Langner gowns. Late that night, my mother went online and discovered that Mark Ingram was currently hosting Langner’s trunk show. She called at the first opportunity the next day, scoring an appointment for that same day. We later discovered that it normally takes six months for an appointment at this salon. I knew at that point that this was the dress that was meant for me!!
What advice would you give to someone currently planning his or her wedding? During the planning process, be sure to spend time with each other and make an attempt to not discuss wedding plans! It’s difficult, but planning a large celebration can become very overwhelming and stressful, and it is easy to lose sight of the true purpose of the celebration!

Photographer: Melanie Mauer / Videographer: Blueberry Creative / Planner: Weekend Wedding Warrior / Designer, Florist, and Decor: Jaclyn Journey / Ceremony Venue: First Baptist Church / Caterer: Apiary Fine Catering & Events / Cake Baker: Martine’s Pastries / Bride’s Gown: “Puccini” by Peter Langner / Bridal Salon: Mark Ingram Atelier /Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Bride’s Earrings: Marco Bicego and “Paisley” by Justine M. Couture /Bride’s Veil: Peter Langner / Bridesmaid Dresses: “Kylie,” “Sinclair,” and “Louisa” in Dusty Shale by J. Crew / Bridesmaids’ Earrings: Kendra Scott / Flower Girl Dress: Isabel Garreton / Guest Books and Pens: Blue Sky Papers / Ribbons: M & J Trimming and The Ribbon Jar / Vintage Postage: Verde Studio / Favors: The Little Candy Cake Company / Ceremony Music: Highland Chamber Players / Cocktail Hour Band: Coaltown Dixie / Reception Music: The Jump Street Band from East Coast Entertainment / Pyrotechnics: Louisville Wedding Fireworks / Hair Stylist: Justin Greer and Ryan Reeves of Lux Hair Bar / Makeup Artist: Ana Crane of Applied Cosmetic Services / Men’s Suits: Jos. A. Bank / Men’s Shirts: Brooks Brothers / Men’s Ties: Collared Greens / Paper Goods: Hound Dog Press / Calligrapher: Rachel Fisher Calligraphy / Rentals and Lighting: Camargo Rentals / Linens: La Tavola and Wildflower Linens / Transportation: Bluegrass Tours

lisa Written with love by Lisa
4 Comments
  1. avatar Yours Truly Wedding Albums reply

    Love the color palette! Great moments! Love the fireworks after the party!

  2. avatar melanie mauer reply

    this family is among the gems on the planet…it’s difficult to articulate *just* how amazing they are. and they’re humble about it. this day was nothing short of m-a-g-i-c – i’m so grateful to southern weddings for sharing it so other brides can be inspired! warmly, -melanie-

  3. avatar katie reply

    *teary eyed* how cute are they! what a memorable day :)

  4. avatar Fresh and unique spring wedding bouquet ideas for springtime brides – Wedding Party reply

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I always love when wedding venues hold a special place in couples’ hearts before they get married, and Camille and Austin reminded me that a wedding day can make a sentimental place even more special! Together with their planner, Shelly Fortune, Camille and Austin transformed Camille’s family’s farm into a venue for their beautiful wedding day, bursting with joy (and gorgeous blooms!). Now when they visit the farm, these two are reminded of their magical day over and over again! Heavens, what a wonderful memory to have!

Big hugs to Melanie Mauer for sharing such a sweet day with us!

Austin and I chose to get married at my parents’ farm, Three Fields Farm. I have three older sisters, and the sister right above me actually got married there in 2009, so I loved the challenge of showing the farm in a different light, as many of our guests overlapped. It is so special for Austin and me when we visit the farm now–we get to relive our magical day over and over!

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. Two of my sisters, my mom, and I went to Cincinnati’s Bridal and Formal to shop for my wedding dress. Both sisters that went with me had bought their wedding gowns there, so I was very comfortable in the store. The same bridal consultant that helped me find my dress had also helped two of my older sisters, in 2003 and 2009! My dress was the first one I ever tried on. I felt so special when I put it on and walked out of the fitting room–it had a lot of drama and presence to it, both of which I loved. Since this was going to be the one and only time I got to wear a wedding dress, I wanted to look very bridal. My dress and veil definitely accomplished that!

Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? Honestly, I never considered not doing one–it made the most sense all around. Logistically, we couldn’t hide from each other, because we got married on my parents’ farm, where there are no homes or buildings (other than the barn) for us to hide in. Also, everything is so close together at the farm, which means all of our guests would have been sitting and watching us take pictures, causing us to lose that sense of intimacy. Another reason we chose to do a first look was because we wanted to be able to jump right into the party after the ceremony and let loose! Lastly, I wanted all of us to look as fresh as possible for our pictures, so getting all of the formal pictures checked off the list within four hours of finishing hair and makeup was so nice!

When I was walking down the aisle (it was very long and on the grass!), I kept stepping on the front my dress. I started to panic, as I imagined that everyone could see it, since all eyes were on me. My dad kept trying to get me to slow down. Just before we got to the chairs (the actual aisle), he said to me, “Camille, slow down. You only get to walk down this aisle once in your life. Take your time and enjoy it!” Even typing it, it still brings tears to my eyes because it was so special and is so true!

Our wedding flowers were one of the most important details for me, as I love flowers! I wanted to bring all of my colors together in my flowers so that everything would look cohesive. We used ivory and varying shades of pink (from light to a bright raspberry), mixed with pops of coral and burgundy. I wanted the flowers to flow naturally with various textures, and to be noticeable–I definitely didn’t want them to blend in. I hung fabric at the entrance of the barn and had my florist create a green garland to line the fabric, which was the perfect finishing touch!

What was one way you saved money or cut costs at your wedding? I paid a lot of attention to my rentals. Since we were married on my parents’ land, everything had to be brought in, from the chairs/tables/dishes to the restroom trailer and kitchen setup, which meant my rentals were going to be pricey. Anything that was decorative that I could buy myself rather than renting, I did, and it ended up being less expensive in the end! I purchased all of the lanterns, large glass hurricanes, and gold chargers, to name a few.

Raspberry (the color) and raspberries (the fruit) were present throughout our wedding–there were raspberries in the pre-ceremony, non-alcoholic signature drinks, in the pink champagne, the invitation ink color, the flowers, etc., so I chose a champagne cake with buttercream icing and raspberry filling. It was delicious!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. Austin and I met in high school and were friends throughout. Sparks didn’t fly until years later (six years to be exact!) when I very randomly received a Facebook message from him, asking me to go to a wedding with him. My jaw literally dropped because it was COMPLETELY out of the blue–although we both attended UK, we didn’t stay in touch after high school. Occasionally, we’d run into each other on campus and exchange a quick, “Hi, how are you?” but that was it. Luckily, I didn’t have any plans and agreed to be his date. I recommended that we get dinner first to catch up, and we were the first ones seated for dinner at the restaurant, and the last to leave. The next day, my best friend came over to my apartment, and I specifically remember saying to her, “This is it–he’s the one!” Up to that point, I had always thought the saying, “You’ll know when you know” was so cliché, but I knew in that moment that it was true.
Tell us all about the proposal! Austin proposed while we were on a special Christmas trip to NYC. We were staying at the Waldorf (which should’ve been a giveaway that it was going to be an extra special trip, but I didn’t catch that one…), and he surprised me with room service for breakfast. When I lifted the silver dome on the plate, there was the ring and “Will you marry me?” written in chocolate on the plate. He got down on one knee and asked, and I said yes!
When did y’all get married? September 20, 2014
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 170
Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? No, we chose traditional vows–we felt it was an honor to say those vows to each other that so many have said before us. They perfectly said what we promise and feel for each other.
Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! My maternal grandmother passed away just a few years ago. She was someone I was very close to and missed very much throughout my engagement and wedding. I carried an old handkerchief of hers (she always had handkerchiefs in her purse!) that had blue hydrangeas on it. It held the place of my borrowed, blue, and old–my dress and accessories were all new. It felt as though a piece of her was there that day to help wipe my tears as Austin and I said our “I dos.”
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? I planted a small bottle of Woodford Reserve (since we were getting married in Woodford County, where Woodford Reserve is located/distilled) on my parents’ farm about a month before the wedding on a BEAUTIFUL day, in hopes that our wedding day would have that same kind of weather. We were so lucky and did, indeed, have that exact weather on our wedding day–no humidity and a high of 78. It was gorgeous! We also served a bourbon drink, an Old Fashioned, for our “His” signature drink, toasting to Kentucky tradition.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Knowing what advice/opinions to listen to and when to just nod, smile, and pay no attention! :)
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? Austin and I are just enjoying being married and working on our home. We’re also trying to travel as much as possible!

Photographer: Melanie Mauer / Planner: Shelly Fortune / Venue: Three Fields Farm / Florist: Hide and Seek Design / Wedding Cake: Martine’s Pastries / Caterer: Apiary Fine Catering / Rentals: Purdon’s Rental; Bryant’s Rent-All and Fifty Chairs / Band: The Downtown Band / Paper Products: Dancing Pen and Press /
Bride’s Gown: Lazaro / Hair and Makeup: PinkLouLou Design Studio / Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade / Bridesmaid Dresses: Twirl Boutique /

marissa Written with love by Marissa
4 Comments
  1. avatar melanie mauer reply

    it’s so fun to share this dream of a wedding with the southern wedding blog readers! i’m particularly in love with this family…these sisters are stylish x 1000 but their style is eclipsed by their hospitality and love.

    camille’s presence makes any day great! warmly, -melanie-

  2. avatar Stacy {Woodsy Weddings} reply

    The invitations are adorable, love the color palette and the hand drawn map. They look personalized and thoughtful.

  3. avatar Alyson Luckett reply

    Can you tell me where she got her veil? I have been searching high and low for a horse hair trim veil! Thanks!

  4. avatar Tatyana Lee reply

    These are so gorgeous!

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