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Tag: New Year’s Eve wedding

Is it weird to have a wedding bucket list? While I obviously have no control over where and when my friends and family members get married, I have all my fingers crossed that someday, I’ll get to be a guest at a New Year’s Eve wedding. The sparkle and excitement of NYE is fun enough as it is, but add a joyful bride and groom and a rockin’ reception to the mix? Seriously…it doesn’t get better. While we’ve featured plenty of glam, black-tie NYE weddings over the years, I love that Kathryn and Chad took a different approach, incorporating gorgeous colors, Florida-inspired blooms, and incredible painted details into their day (all with the help of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Ashton Events). Their details were the perfect way to blend their festive wedding date with their sentimental at-home venue, and we’re so glad The Ganeys were on hand to capture all the loveliness!

P.S. I have written hundreds of real wedding posts over the years, but I think this is the first time I’ve seen an interview filled out by the groom! Thanks for sharing, Chad!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. Despite our many mutual friends and the fact that we grew up in neighboring towns in rural Central Florida, Kathryn and I first met in Washington, DC. I had been working in DC as a lawyer for about a year when Kathryn moved up to begin a new job at the Department of Justice. A mutual friend invited us to–of all things–an election party, which is where Kathryn and I met for the first time. Our mutual friend told me about Kathryn ahead of time, so I was naturally very excited to meet her, and struck up a conversation with her as soon as I got to the party. Kathryn was not so informed. “I had no idea he was a set-up,” she would always say. “I just thought he was really friendly.” Although our mutual friend thought we would get along, she had no clue we grew up 30 minutes away from each other, nor did she know we would hit it off so well. We spent the next few hours talking and laughing as we reminisced about all the quirks of our tiny hometowns. The whole night was great, except for one tragic mistake: I didn’t get her number! I told myself that the next time I saw her, I wouldn’t make the same mistake again. My next chance came in January, when we saw each other at a meeting for lawyers. Although she didn’t recognize me at first (ouch), she remembered as soon as I told her where I was from. Our first date was a couple of days later, near the end of January, and in December of that year, we got engaged after 11 months of dating.

I didn’t have a ton of preferences for the wedding, but I knew I wanted the first time I saw Kathryn to be as she was walking down the aisle. And it was worth the wait! Nothing will ever beat that moment when time stopped as the church doors swung open and Kathryn walked in. There was an audible gasp in the audience as every person in the room entertained the same thought: this is the most beautiful bride.

What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Between our afternoon ceremony and evening reception, Kathryn and I were able to go back to the house we were renting and watch the sun set over the lake. It was the perfect break and a truly special time for Kathryn and me to slow down and appreciate the beauty of that day. It also allowed us to recharge so we could dance the night away and ring in the New Year!

Our initial reception venue cancelled about a month before our wedding. With so little time to find another venue, we decided to host the reception in Kathryn’s parents’ backyard. Although it was not our first choice, our team of wedding designers made it absolutely perfect. It was better than we ever could have imagined, and because it was at Kathryn’s parents’ house, we got to be more creative with the lighting, decorations, and furniture than we would have been able to be at another venue. Now, every time we visit Kathryn’s parents, we look at the backyard and remember how great our wedding day was.

What was one way you saved money or cut costs at your wedding? We saved a lot of money by cutting the sit-down dinner and doing BBQ and taco stations instead. Also, for decor, we decorated Kathryn’s parents’ backyard with original oil paintings done by Kathryn’s aunt. We had dozens of our favorite oil paintings hanging from trees throughout the yard.

Our Southern heritage informs everything we do. From our classic bourbon and tea signature cocktail to the BBQ and grit cakes we served at the reception, to a special area of the wedding venue dedicated to smoking cigars, we tried to give all of our wedding guests a taste of the South.

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: There were so many things that we loved, but my favorite was the champagne toast at midnight. We served a delicious sparking rosé via a classic champagne tower waterfall. The toast was great because everyone was crowded onto the dance floor as we wrapped our arms around each other and sang “Auld Lang Syne.”

Tell us all about the proposal! We were traveling down to Florida for Christmas. We were set to fly into Tampa, but I changed our tickets and surprised Kat with a layover for a few days in Asheville. As we were driving into Asheville, I took her to a beautiful outdoor chapel known as “Pretty Place” at the top of a mountain. I had a photographer at the back of the chapel waiting for us, so we were able to capture the entire moment. The best part was that Kathryn had no clue it was coming.
When did y’all get married? December 31, 2016
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 200
Did you write your own vows? Kathryn and I are both Catholic, so we used the traditional marriage vows from the Catholic Church. Our ceremony was sacred and reverent, and the music was absolutely beautiful. The organist and soloist played “O Magnum Mysterium” by Lauridsen, a piece that has special significance to me. But my favorite part of the ceremony was how light and jovial it was. The hallmark came when the celebrant, a sweet old retired priest, called me Clyde instead of Chad. Everyone was dying laughing, including me.
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? My favorite reading was from John 17, where Jesus prays that the disciples will be one as He and the Father are one. This verse served as the inspiration for the engraving inside Kathryn’s wedding band: One Forever.
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. Kathryn’s father is a musician and music teacher. I also have a background in classical music, so picking the wedding music was a great opportunity for us to come together over our shared love of classical music and select pieces that we both like. We ended up going with beautiful selections by Bach, Beethoven, and Schubert.
How did you plan for your marriage while planning your wedding? Kathryn and I took marriage preparation classes at the local parish in DC, where we were both living as we planned our wedding.
What’s next for you as a couple? What memories are you looking forward to making together? Although we really want to get back to Florida in the next few years, Kathryn and I are excited about our new life together in DC. I predict lots of long walks, late-night ice cream runs, and bike rides in our future.

Photographer: The Ganeys | Planner and Florist: Ashton Events | Ceremony Venue: St. Joseph Catholic Church | Wedding Cake: J’aime Cakes | Dessert Baker: Katara Confectionery | Caterer: 4 Rivers Smokehouse | DJ: Corey Barron via Grant Hemond and Associates | Bride’s Gown: “Destiny” by Romona Keveza | Hair and Makeup: Kaitlin Lang | Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: BHLDN | Groom’s Tuxedo: Custom by Tom James Company | Groomsmen Attire: Men’s Wearhouse | Linens: Kate Ryan Linens | Chairs, Dance Floor, and Rentals: A Chair Affair | Tent and Lighting: Premier Party | Hair and Makeup: A Cherished Bride

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

lisa Written with love by Lisa
4 Comments
  1. avatar Laura reply

    Ah! Such fun. We loved this day, and we loved working with K+C! Chad’s dinner jacket & Kat’s dress change were of our favorite moments of the night. What a way to ring in 2017!

  2. avatar Catherine reply

    I love a good DC lawyer love story, and this is a beautiful one! The groom did a wonderful job on his interview, and what a beautiful day it was!

  3. avatar Emily reply

    Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful event! We absolutely adore Kat and Chad and feel so grateful that we could ring in the new year with them!!

  4. avatar Ivon reply

    Such a beautiful wedding! Love all the details and how well they were captured!

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You’ve seen Lynze and John’s gorgeous wedding in the pages of V6 and on the blog last week, and we are now so excited to share their wedding trailer by Lumehouse Productions! It captures their glamorous NYE wedding in such a cinematic way–you can feel the excited pre-wedding anticipation right along with them! From seeing the sweet getting ready moments to hearing the touching exchange of vows, this is a perfect example of why we love wedding videography so much. Enjoy!

You can find Lynze and John’s wedding on the blog here, and lots more wedding films here!

lisa Written with love by Lisa
0 Comments

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I am tickled pink to share today’s gorgeous wedding, which you may recognize from the pretty pages of V6. New Year’s Eve is one of my favorite days of the year, and when you add in the gorgeous setting that is New Orleans, the most beautiful couple, a breathtaking cathedral ceremony, and lots of sparkly details, I’m in wedding heaven! Lynze and John did an amazing job crafting a meaningful, family-oriented ceremony, followed by one of the most festive second lines and receptions I’ve ever seen. And don’t even get me started on their confetti-covered kiss as the clock struck midnight–it’s magical!

We’re so glad Trent Bailey was on hand to capture every exquisite moment and detail, and then share it with us!

What was the design inspiration for your wedding? Why was this design special to you as a couple? Our wedding date! So many of our guests told us how excited they were to get all dressed up and have somewhere to go on New Year’s Eve—a holiday that can be a letdown—so we wanted to play off of the New Year’s Eve festive spirit. Our goal was to have the whole evening feel celebratory and glamorous: a new marriage for a new year.

I asked each bridesmaid to choose a long dress in gold that had New Year’s Eve zing! It turned out fabulously, and there were many comments about how exciting it was to see each bridesmaid come down the aisle wearing a different style. I loved that.

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. I lucked out! I tried on 15+ dresses, but I was just not finding the dramatic, classic gown that would be perfect for a New Year’s Eve celebration. Fortunately, a very lovely bridal assistant nailed it and declared that I was Ines DiSanto bride. Although she did not sell the Ines line, she made an appointment for me at another salon in NYC. I knew it was the right fit when I tried on eight dresses from the line, and ended up buying the eighth! The tears from my mom were enough, but when another mother-of-the-bride in the salon, who I did not know, came over and told me “I’ve seen all eight, this is YOUR dress, don’t leave without it,” I knew it was my showstopper!

What did the men wear? The groom, groomsmen, ushers, fathers, and grandfathers all wore bespoke tuxes from Knot Standard, John’s company. The men looked so dashing and the suits fit perfectly! I remember getting teary-eyed seeing my grandfather wearing a perfectly-suited tuxedo and thinking, I will always remember him looking so dashing.

The location proved to be the trickiest aspect of the wedding. I grew up in Ohio and John moved there in third grade. Our parents were both married in Ohio. Two of my brothers were conveniently married in my parents’ backyard. But when it came time to decide on the location for our wedding, the idea of Ohio felt awry. No part of our formal five-year courtship was spent living in Ohio together. We both went away for school, Michigan and Texas respectively. We had lived and were currently living in New York City. But the bulk of our relationship was spent together in Dubai. Knowing that our guests would hail from all over the world, we wanted a location that was easy to access, a date that would accommodate those traveling from far away, and a city that could hold its own in culture and entertainment. New Orleans has always been a part of the Ballays’ French Cajun heritage and rose to the top of the list.

Who participated in your ceremony? My twin brothers opened the door for my dad and I. I had no idea that they were planning on doing that, and when they opened the doors and I saw them standing there, I nearly lost it.
What songs did you use for your ceremony? I walked down the aisle to Ave Maria played by a live saxophonist, which was really amazing, as the song has special meaning to John’s grandmother, Audrey. When the organ stopped and the saxophone started, it brought a calm to the church, and set the tone for the important covenant we were about to make.

We kept it simple in the church, choosing to let the white Christmas poinsettias be the focal point at the altar and to have candles with petals in hurricane vases dotting the aisle. I loved the intimate, yet dramatic, feel of the church. We dedicated all of the flowers to the church in honor of our loved ones that have gone on before us. When we walked in and saw the church brimming with beautiful white Christmas poinsettias, it was as if their spirits were all around us.

The excitement we felt during the Second Line parade was truly amazing. John and I knew it was going to be a wedding highlight, as many of our guests had never experienced a Second Line, but to have more than 200 (in festive New Orleans tradition, we had some local joiners in the back!) of our loved ones singing, dancing, and waving hankies down Canal Street was overwhelming! We heard from multiple guests that the Second Line was the most fun thing they had EVER done. The city and spirit of New Orleans really shined in that moment.

What was your cocktail hour like? Dreamy. When we ended the second line at the Board of Trade courtyard, it was like being in a movie. Hundreds of candles hung from the trees and around the Spanish fountain, oysters were being shucked, and glasses of champagne were being toasted, all to the sound of a NOLA jazz band.

Describe your wedding flowers. Oh, the flowers! Credit where it’s due, my mom has an award-winning garden in Ohio and has a wonderful decorative eye, but we had no idea just how amazingly the flowers would turn out. When I walked into the Board of Trade, I was stunned by how beautiful the tablescapes were. I specifically wanted people to be able to see each other across the tables, and there was just the right amount of height from the flowers and the candelabras that the tables felt elegant, but cozy. I loved that you could still have a conversation across the table.

During dinner, a couple who has been friends of the family for a long time, and also married for 30 years, told us how special they thought our vows were. They had also spoken unique vows on their wedding day, and every year on their anniversary, they say them to one another once again. I thought that was the most beautiful idea and have looked forward to speaking those token words of truth, honesty, and loyalty to John on our anniversaries ever since!

Describe your wedding cake or dessert. I fell in love with the lovely ladies of the Royal Cakery and their sweets right from the start. The second you walk into the bakery, you know these women have it down to a sweet, moist, and fluffy science. The cake was divine. After much back and forth on design, I decided on an intricately detailed, all-white, traditional wedding cake. It added a sophisticated air to a very festive room and was so beautifully and carefully crafted. We had salted caramel layers for me, chocolate cake for him, and almond amaretto for the moms!

Bride’s favorite detail of the wedding: When the clock hit midnight and the confetti poured down. The whole crowed gathered to count down together from the dance floor in their top hats and party masks, and when the confetti fell, everyone kissed and sang Auld Lang Syne (we had it printed on the tables) together. It doesn’t get more festive than that!

We rode away in a pedicab with a bottle of champagne to celebrate. Since it was New Year’s Eve in New Orleans, we were short on vehicle options and were actually really excited about driving off in the pedicab. The driver was great, and we did two laps around the neighborhood, which was bustling and bursting with people celebrating New Years and having a great time. It was amazing!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. As the youngest of five, and the only girl, my house was always filled with older boys, but I never imagined that one of my brothers’ pals would become my husband! John played high school soccer with my twin brothers and our families were friends. He took me to homecoming my freshman year – we were in the same group as my brothers, mortifying! – but it wasn’t until two years later when John went off to college in Texas that we began to track one another from afar. As chance would have it, John moved to NYC after graduating, where I was spending the summer interning between years at the University of Michigan. We reconnected as friends in the city, but after spending three months exploring New York together, we realized we were much more than friends, though not yet ready to commit, being in different states and at different points in our lives. When I decided to study abroad the next year in the Middle East, John was my first visitor. And when, once again, I came back to NYC to spend the summer interning, and we spent every spare second together, we decided that not being together was out of the question. That is, until I received a great opportunity to move to Dubai to work after graduating. We had officially been dating for six months at that point, and I remember feeling like I had to take this job, but had no idea where that left us. John loved NYC and had a fantastic job in finance. Could we do long distance dating from that far?
We went to his favorite Mexican spot, where I broke the news. It took John all of two seconds to decide he would move too. I attribute our entire relationship to this two-second decision timing and his sincere confidence in our relationship so early in the game. We moved shortly after, and sure enough, Dubai became the city that we built our relationship on. After four years of living abroad, traveling the world together, and creating a family of friends overseas, he planned an elaborate proposal with 30 of our friends on the beach.
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Glamorous, festive, romantic
How many friends, family, and loved ones attended your wedding? 200
What was the design inspiration for your reception? On our wedding programs, we had the saying “New Year. New Life. Together.” That was really the theme. It wasn’t only about New Year’s Eve, but that our marriage was a celebration of our new life together. Even though we had been dating for years in advance, we knew our marital commitment meant a new start for us together. We also included a lot of little details. For example, each of the table numbers included a New Year’s marital-themed resolution. Our menus had a countdown from ten to one to signify a new start of a new year. Each guests received a NYE top hat or a Mardi Gras hat.
What advice would you give to someone currently planning his or her wedding? Trust your vendors! Explain your ideas and desires and then give them enough space to use their creativity. We’d never planned a wedding, but our vendors had been part of hundreds of them. Of course, they knew what was right in the end, and we trusted them to make the best decisions on our behalf. On the wedding day, every vendor we hired blew us away! They knew how to throw a party without us micromanaging the process.
Who was your favorite vendor and why? I will always be indebted to Ms. Emily Sullivan! She managed to seamlessly coordinate 200 people over the course of three festivity-filled days. But more than that, she understood from the very beginning that our wedding was a weekend about family. She reached out to our parents often, helping to put them at ease and calm any fears, as well as to understand what a blissful wedding weekend meant to them. She kept us all working together and happy! Not an easy feat. On the wedding weekend, I was truly blessed to have her work her magic. Everything came together so beautifully.

Photographer: Trent Bailey / Videographer: Daniel Jones at Lumehouse Weddings / Planner: Emily Sullivan at Get Polished Events / Ceremony Venue: The Church of the Immaculate Conception / Reception Venue: New Orleans Board of Trade / Florist: Bella Blooms / Catering: Pigeon Caterers / Cake Baker: The Royal Cakery / Bride’s Dress: Ines DiSanto / Bridal Salon: Bridal Reflections / Bride’s Shoes: “Straptease” by Hey Lady Shoes / Bride’s Jewelry: Haute Bride / Bride’s Veil: Sara Gabriel / Hair Stylist: Kelly from Get Polished Events / Makeup Artist: Daphne from Get Polished Events / Men’s Attire: Knot Standard / Paper Products: Village Invites Midtown / Carriage: Mid-City Carriages / Rolls Royce: Unique Transportation / Pedicab: Need a Ride Pedicab / Limo Buses: American Luxury

lisa Written with love by Lisa
17 Comments
  1. avatar Emily reply

    Everything about this wedding is stunning! The love the couple shares together is the most sparkly detail of all.

  2. avatar Emily reply

    So many things to love about this wedding — the gents’ snappy duds, the gals’ glamorous dresses, Trent’s beautiful photography — but my very favorite might be Lynze’s lovely interview answers!

  3. avatar Nancy Ray reply

    Beautiful work, Trent! LOVE her getaway dress!

  4. avatar Somer reply

    Gorgeous wedding! Where is her getaway dress from?

  5. avatar Gold and Garnet Decadence | Whiter Than White Weddings | UK Wedding Style Blog reply

    […] Credits: Top left to bottom right 1. Jose Villa | 2. Jenny Packham | 3. via OneFabDay | 4. via Poise Boston | 5. Shannas Creations | 6. BrideBop | 7. Photo: Trent Bailey […]

  6. avatar Southern Weddings Weekly Round-Up – Southern Weddings Magazine reply

    […] We love real weddings! Lynze and John’s New Orleans New Year’s Eve wedding was featured in V6, and it was the perfect way to wrap up our year on the blog! Don’t miss their gorgeous video tomorrow, and see their wedding here. […]

  7. avatar Black Tie New Orleans Wedding Film by Lumehouse Productions – Southern Weddings Magazine reply

    […] can find Lynze and John’s wedding on the blog here, and lots more wedding films […]

  8. avatar Dacey Doehrman reply

    I was wondering where the bridesmaids found their dresses? This is the exact color scheme and look I want for my wedding but I am having trouble finding the dresses for my girls. Thanks! Beautiful pictures and wedding!

    • avatar Kim Nguyen reply

      Would you be able to provide where the bridesmaid dresses were from?

  9. avatar richelle reply

    ABSOLUTELY obsessed with all the bridesmaids dresses!

    I would be ETERNALLY grateful to know where they allllll came from!

    Phenomenal wedding and photography.

  10. avatar Emilia Jane reply

    Holy amazing flowers batman! GORGEOUS work Trent :-D

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  13. avatar Katie reply

    I woudl love to know where the getaway dress is from! I am doing a New Years Black Tie wedding and its so perfect! thanks!!

  14. avatar Rustic Metallic Wedding with Silver and Gold Leaf Accents | Hey Wedding Lady reply

    […] Silver Sparkling Bridesmaids’ Dresses – Photography by Trent Bailey Photography via Southern Weddings | Gold Leaf Embellished Bridal Hairstyle – Photography by Erich McVey, Styling by Ginny […]

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    […] Sequin Bridesmaid Dresses (Image Courtesy of: Trent Bailey Photography via Southern Weddings) // Gold "Love" Wedding Cake Topper // Large Kraft Flowers (Image […]

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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