Southern Weddings

We love seeing gorgeous Real Weddings (obvi!), but there is something so magical about actually attending one! I was honored to be a bridesmaid in a dear friend’s wedding over the weekend (and y’all, it was amazing–complete with corn hole on the beach!). While it was completely wonderful to attend, I can’t help but have a greater appreciation for Laura and Grayson’s beautiful day after being reminded firsthand of all that goes into a wedding! After knowing each other for over ten years, Laura and Grayson’s courtship began more recently and fell into place to create Laura’s favorite part of their sweet ceremony. I must say, I swooned over this line as well: “God has been slowly weaving His two masterpieces together, and today, you become one.”

Big hugs to Kelly at Mint Photography for sharing their big day with us!

Describe your wedding flowers. They had a romantic feel with pastel colors and deep green and purple succulents. We also decided to bring in driftwood and moss to add a rustic touch. My bouquet was vintage-inspired with creamy dahlias, pale pink spray roses, creamy and purple astilbe, light purple veronica, cream scabiosa, and pale peach garden roses. My favorite part was the metal “C”–I ordered it from Land of Nod and Posh Floral did an amazing job filling it with florals.

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. I knew that I wanted something timeless and unique. I started looking up a ton of designers and kept going back to Hayley Paige. Her designs are to die for and it was love at first sight! I didn’t even try my dress on until it came in for my first fitting!

With breathtaking views of Lake Travis and an estate that will make you drool, Villa del Lago was the venue of our dreams! We weren’t inviting a ton of people to our wedding and I knew that I wanted one long table for dinner so that it could feel “family style.” I knew as soon as we pulled up that I could picture the entire day happening at this location, and it took absolutely no convincing Grayson–he knew it too!

Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? Grayson’s fraternity brother and college roommate officiated our ceremony. Although we didn’t write our own vows, we had a huge part in choosing each portion of our ceremony. My favorite line from our ceremony was, “Grayson and Laura, you have known each other for well over a decade, but in the past three years, God has been orchestrating and preparing you for this moment. Even though perhaps no one would have guessed you two would end up together all those years ago, God has been slowly weaving his two masterpieces together, and today, you become one.”
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? One of my favorite parts of our ceremony was the Celtic hand fasting. We had of our very best friends read “These Hands.”

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: The lounge area from Loot Vintage Rentals was my favorite part of the wedding. Their warehouse is amazing and I was like a little kid in a candy store in it! I knew the colors our floral would be when we visited, so I was able to pick things that I knew would coordinate. I loved how everyone was lounging around the dance floor and relaxing on some of the cutest furniture!

Having an outdoor venue presented its challenges. I had a countdown to when I could see the 10-day forecast, and I was checking it morning, noon, and night. Getting a tent was the best decision we made. We decided to have it regardless of weather, and making that decision early helped, because I was able to choose some amazing lighting to dress it up.

Describe your wedding cake or dessert. I am a sucker for the naked cake trend and we decided to do something smaller and then have an ice cream sandwich food truck come later in the evening. The truck pulled up during our first dance and I remember how excited I was seeing it for the first time. It was so cute!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. Grayson and I went to high school together. We reconnected years later when Grayson was working for the Dallas Stars and my dad was buying tickets from him. We ran into each other at a hockey game, and of course, I then became a huge hockey fan!
Tell us all about the proposal! Grayson planned the entire thing around my birthday. He took me on a horse-drawn carriage ride in Highland Park to see the Christmas lights. The carriage pulled up to a gazebo, where we got out to take some pictures. I knew right then that something was about to happen. I literally said “I am so excited right now, it feels like the first day of school!” We walked up to the gazebo and he got down on one knee and gave me the most gorgeous ring!
When did y’all get married? April 12, 2014
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 100
Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? We decided not to do a first look. We cut so many traditional things out of our wedding, like the cake cutting and bouquet toss, so we decided this was the one tradition we would keep, and I am so glad we did! There was something so calming about walking down the aisle with both of my parents and seeing Grayson standing there.
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. The bridal party walked down the aisle to Norah Jones’ “Come Away With Me” and I walked down to Elvis’ “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” During the ceremony, Grayson’s cousin and her fiancé sang “Amazing Grace” in honor of those who couldn’t be with us on that day. When we were leaving the band played The Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun.”
If you are comfortable responding, what range did your wedding budget fall into? $25,000-$50,000
What was one way you saved money or cut costs at your wedding? It is easy when you first start planning to go crazy with every vendor you meet with. As we got closer to the wedding, I had discussions with each vendor to see where we could make necessary cuts. We tried to cut things that people wouldn’t notice and that we wouldn’t miss. For example, passed appetizers during cocktail hour wasn’t a necessity for us.
What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? We were blessed with so many amazing vendors but I’ll begin with Angie at Posh Floral. She made each bouquet and centerpiece for our wedding because she wanted us to love everything! Then there’s Kelly at Mint Photography. I will forever cherish the photos she took that day.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Be organized! I had spreadsheets coming out of my ears! I kept everything in a binder with sheet protectors for each different vendor and contract. When we went to meetings, I was ready with photos that I loved and specific questions to ask. Looking back, one thing I wish I would have done differently is set up an email address to be used just for communication with vendors.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? I am looking forward to spending some quality time with my new hubby! Planning a wedding can be like a second job, so now it’s time to soak up all of this free time! We want to travel as much as we can before we start planning for a family.

Photographer: Mint Photography / Day-of Coordination: Megan Metzger of Pearl Events / Venue: Villa Del Lago / Florist: Posh Floral Designs / Cake Baker: Sugar Mamas Bakeshop / Caterer: The Peached Tortilla / Tent and Rentals: Premiere Party Central / Lighting: Intelligent Lighting Design / Band: Goga Music / Bride’s Gown: “Anya” by Hayley Paige / Invitations: Minted / Hair Stylist: Kim Wolbrink / Makeup Artist: Christine Harrington of Nisa Nicole / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: 6697 and 6680 by After Six, 2879, 2863, and 2845 by Dessy, all in Frost / Men’s Attire: Men’s Wearhouse / Ties: Burberry / Vintage Furniture: Loot Vintage Rentals / Ice Cream Truck: Cool Haus / Cotton Candy: Cloud9 / Map: The Seaside Press / Welcome Kit Candy Wrappers and Water Labels: Tableau Party / Airstream Photo Booth: Austin Imagery

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

Written with love by Marissa