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Kelsey + Brandon met, fell in love and said their vows just a few minutes down the road from us! The NC State alums created a perfectly sweet Southern fete full of details and traditions that we adore. Though the couple’s bourbon bar (adorned with bow ties, no less!) and beautifully lined tent rank as highlights from this wedding, I have to say that Brandon’s wardrobe change before the reception is a favorite feature of mine! Who says gents can’t have a dapper white dinner jacket to dance the night away in? Big hugs to Kellie Kano for sharing this wedding with us! P.S. Remember Kelsey? We featured her bridal shower a few months back! She’s also one of our Southern Bride Bloggers :) P.P.S. Be sure to check back in on Saturday to see this wedding come to life in a video by Inkspot Crow!

Tell us about finding your wedding dress: I tried on dresses a few times (including an impromptu appointment at Saks in New York) before heading to Alexia’s. I knew I wanted a flowy and romantic dress, but was open to help from my consultant. As I was describing what I thought I wanted, my consultant said she had a dress in mind. I tried on a bunch of dresses that day, but the Reem Acra really stood out in my mind. I really loved the blush under layer, but when we looked at different sash options, I was sold. I love that my dress was traditional, but had some personal touches too.
Did you decide to do a “first look”? We did! It’s something that Kellie (our photographer) really believes in and she sold us on it at our very first meeting. It was wonderful to be able to take that time for just the two of us. The rest of the day was such a blur that I truly cherish those moments we had together. It made me even more excited to walk down the aisle to Brandon. Both moments were completely different and perfect in their own way.

Did you write your own vows? We decided to recite traditional vows. In our meetings with our minister, we discussed the different options and decided that the traditional route was the right thing for us. It was so special to know that we were saying the same vows that so many happily married couples have also said.
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? “Union” by Robert Fulghum and 1 Corinthians Chapter 13
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding. Walking down the aisle, walking back up the aisle, first dance? Our entrance music was Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring and Air from Suite #3. I walked down the aisle to Pachelbel’s Cannon, something that I’d always pictured myself doing. We exited the ceremony to Hornpipe, Water Music. We had a string quartet for the ceremony and they made everything sound so beautiful. It was so exciting to hear the music start up and get to experience the moment I’d been picturing for years. Our first dance was to Joshua Radin’s “You Got What I Need.” We both really liked that it wasn’t your typical first dance song and the words really resonated with us.

Describe the proposal. Since our story began on our now alma mater’s campus, Brandon decided that it would be the perfect place to ask me to be his wife. I unknowingly helped the proposal along when I sent my class ring to get fixed. Our friend Cody was in charge of ordering class rings at the time and he helped Brandon get everything in place. As planned, Cody called to let me know that he had arranged for my class ring to be placed in the belltower overnight, per NC State tradition. Cody and Brandon arranged for the 3 of us to meet at the belltower after the Homecoming Parade. I was completely oblivious to what was about to happen as I rushed ahead of Brandon to meet Cody to get my class ring. Cody proceeded to tell us a little about the history of the memorial inside the belltower as he unlocked the doors and took us inside. I picked up and opened the box expecting to see my class ring. Instead was a note that said, “turn around.” I turned around in confusion and there was Brandon down on one knee! I was so surprised that I asked a few times if it was all real before saying, “Yes, of course!” It was such a special and memorable proposal and I’m so happy that Brandon was able to surprise me. As an added bonus, we are the first couple to get engaged inside the belltower!

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? Everything. We were both born and raised in the South and that’s definitely helped shape who we are, and we tried to reflect that in our wedding. I think the biggest Southern tradition we included in our wedding was our faith, family, and friends. There’s nothing more Southern then getting together with the people you love to have a great time and to eat, especially when it’s fried chicken, grits, and biscuits. We also included Southern touches in our décor. Brandon and I made strawberry jam for our favors and used cotton bolls as our escort cards.

Our favorite detail of the wedding was the bourbon bar. We wanted our wedding to reflect both of our personalities and interests, and bourbon is one of Brandon’s. We spent so much time and care picking out all of the details and it turned out perfectly. We used vintage bourbon barrels for the base and a 100+ year old door as the bar topper. We also tied some of Brandon’s favorite bowties around my mom and aunt’s mint julep cups for a final touch.

For our cake we wanted something simple. We went with white buttercream icing accented with fresh flowers. The best part of the cake was definitely what was inside. We chose a white cake layered with French vanilla mousse and fresh strawberries. It was delicious.

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. Brandon and I first met when my sorority was partnered with his fraternity for NC State’s Homecoming in the Fall of 2007. I was living in our sorority house and Brandon was president of his fraternity at the time, so we were both very involved in that week. During the Homecoming activities, we got to know each other and decided to pursue our relationship. For our first date, we grabbed some coffee before taking a walk. Despite the cold weather and the terrible coffee, we had a wonderful time talking and just being together. We both knew we had found something special.
In what month did you get married? June (June 30, 2012)
How many guests attended your wedding? 170
Describe your wedding flowers: I adored our flowers. Since we were having a tented outdoor reception, I wanted it to feel like a garden party. The mix of soft peaches, pinks, and creams of the peonies, roses, and Queen Anne’s lace with the green of the lamb’s ear did exactly that. We also mixed mercury glass and glass cake stands in to give the centerpieces an almost antique feel.
What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? Our photographer. We not only treasure our pictures, but we’re so happy to know Kellie Kano. She is so talented and it was wonderful getting to work with her for our wedding. The way she captured our day and the emotion is exactly how I had pictured it in my mind and it doesn’t get any better than that.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? This isn’t our “most memorable moment”, but I just have to throw it out there. Y’all, it was HOT. We got married the last weekend in June which just happened to be the weekend that we broke some heat records in North Carolina. It was 105 at the peak of the day and still in the high 90s at 10:00 that night. Our guests were so amazing and I am so grateful that they dealt with the heat to be there for us. Our entire wedding was full of moments that we’ll never forget, but the most memorable moment of the day was the surprise fireworks. Having planned out every single detail of the wedding, I really wasn’t expecting any surprises. Our best man’s dad went to South Carolina to get the “good kind” and along with some of our friends, they shot them off toward the end of the reception. It was such an awesome surprise and made us feel so great to have friends that would go above and beyond for us on our wedding day.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Take it slow. I know it’s exciting in the beginning and all you want to do is plan, plan, plan, but just enjoy that time. There will be plenty of time to figure everything out. Meet with a bunch of vendors and then meet with some more. You’ll find people that you just click with, and that might not happen the first time.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? Brandon got a new job not too long after the wedding, so we’ve been enjoying settling into our new routine and enjoying life as a married couple. We’re also hoping to get a dog in the next few months.

Inkspot Crow Films is a fabulous member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

nicoleyang Written with love by Nicole
5 Comments
  1. avatar Emily reply

    I adore your glitter shoes and dress monogram patch, Kelsey! Such a lovely wedding!

  2. avatar Allyson L. reply

    Absolutely beautiful wedding! Love your dress! I bought my dress at Alexia’s too. Congratulations!

  3. avatar Taking It All In {Wedding Week} | Engaged & Inspired reply

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  4. avatar Lauren L reply

    Where did you purchase this sash it is breathtaking!

    • avatar Kelsey M. reply

      Lauren L:
      Sorry for the extremely late reply Lauren! I had it custom made by an etsy seller. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like she has a shop anymore. :(

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We always think of weddings as joyful here at Southern Weddings. That is, after all, part of why we love them so much. But for Ali + Austin, their happiness and excitement is evident in the details of the day. We love the fun pops of color that speckle their reception at Willow Oaks Plantation and the cute way that Austin talks about wooing his new bride! In the middle of all the fun you’re having looking through these photos from Robyn Van Dyke, you’ll also find yourself reaching for a handkerchief (or your “Pin It” button) when you come across the family moments she captured.

A few weeks after getting engaged, my mom, sister and I started looking for dresses (just for fun). After all, we had plenty of time! However, I found the dress surprisingly quickly at a boutique called Victorian Rose Bridal in downtown Raleigh. I knew I wanted something with lace on it and a sweetheart cut neckline, but other than that, I really had no idea what I wanted. It was the second store we had been to, but only the fourth or fifth dress I had tried on. When I came out of the dressing room with it on, my mom and sister told me that this was the one — it was written all over my face.

We decided not to do the “first look.” One of our favorite things about weddings is when the groom sees his bride for the first time – his look of absolute wonderment. We wanted to let the suspense build up to this special moment and wanted the first words we said to each other on this day to be our vows.

Did you write your own vows? In our ceremony, we said our traditional vows; however, before the ceremony, we had written letters to the other with our own list of vows. Austin’s favorite promise I made to him was “I promise to love you with unending grace the way God intended it.” My favorite promise Austin made to me was “I want to make you feel and believe that you are a daughter of Christ every day.”
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? We had two of our Young Life kids read scripture during our ceremony. We used 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 and Colossians 3:12-17.
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding. In our ceremony, we had a guitar, a banjo, a mandolin, and a singer. During the prelude, we played “Divine Romance” and “Before the Throne of God Above.” When the groomsmen and bridesmaids came in, we played “Come Thou Fount.” When I came down the aisle, we played “Jesus I Come” by Shelley Moore Band. During the ceremony, the guests sang “In Christ Alone” while the wedding party and family prayed over the bride and groom. For the recessional, we played “Oh Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go.” For our first dance, we played “Hung the Moon” by Drew and Ellie Holcomb.

I love seeing couples incorporate a prayer into their ceremony. There’s so much power and love behind these photos from Robyn Van Dyke and I just love that Ali + Austin chose to have their guests sing.

What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? (From the groom) For me, the most memorable part was seeing Ali walk out from behind the shutters to begin walking down the aisle. She looked absolutely beautiful. (From the bride) I loved confidently staring into Austin’s hazel eyes, knowing I was making the greatest decision of my life, completely forgetting about my fear of having everyone watching me!

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? First of all, we got married on a plantation called the Willow Oaks Plantation in Eden, North Carolina. It’s also a hunting lodge. It had the typical beautiful white house with acres of land and huge trees providing lots of shade. There was a silo and an old water tower with a wooden fence surrounding the property. Secondly, my bridesmaids and I all wore cowboy boots with our dresses! It really brought out something extra. Finally, we had lots and lots of burlap: burlap table runners, burlap wrapped mason jars, burlap wrapped novels, etc. Thirdly, we had pulled pork barbecue with sweet potatoes, green beans, coleslaw, and biscuits. Doesn’t get much more Southern than that!

This next set of photos is so beautiful! I know that if I were a guest at A + A’s wedding, I would have needed a hanky to wipe away tears.

What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? The venue for sure. It was exactly what we had been looking for and was absolutely beautiful. We got nothing but raving reviews on how beautiful the place was. I can’t tell you how many times we got asked, “How in the world did you find this? I’ve never even heard of Eden, North Carolina!”

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. (From the groom) We met on the first day of college at NC State University on our way to Young Life. I was really into Ali, but she wasn’t having any of it. After two years of developing a great friendship and watching each other grow in our relationships with Christ (and lots of persistence), Ali finally said yes to going on a date with me. Two years later, we were engaged!
Describe the proposal. In early December of 2011, Austin told me we were going on a double date, but changed plans at the last minute and told me we were going on a surprise trip to the Outer Banks. I was extremely surprised when I found out that we would be flying on a private plane! Once we got out there, he took me for a walk on the beach (and I could tell he was very, very nervous), and at the end of the walk, he took me to a spot on the beach where he had laid out some flowers, and then he asked me to marry him (of course I said yes!). When we arrived home, I was very surprised to see that Austin had invited all of our close friends and family over to celebrate our engagement.
In what month did you get married? July
How many guests attended your wedding? 290
Describe your wedding flowers: For our flowers, we wanted to go with lots of peaches, ivories, pale pinks and champagnes. Some of the flowers included were white hydrangeas, cream and pale pink roses, mini peach spray roses, peach stock, peach and green hypericum berries, and lots of baby’s breath.
Describe your wedding cake or dessert: We had a four-tier ivory cake with a peach and cream floral design on each layer. We had two types of cake: Mexican vanilla cake with hazelnut chocolate filling, and chocolate cake with mint chocolate chip filling (Austin’s favorite!).
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: There are two answers to this question. In terms of tangible details, we loved having vintage books as our centerpieces for the reception tables. I am a high school English teacher so it definitely matched my personality. More than anything else, our favorite detail was when our entire wedding party and family prayed over us during our ceremony while the audience sang “In Christ Alone.” It was something that really refocused the attention on what marriage is all about, beyond the physical details of it all.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? The guest list was probably the hardest part. Because we have both been involved in Young Life for the last five years, there were lots of high school and college kids that we wanted to be there. I also have a huge family, so that definitely boosted numbers up. There were certainly some really hard cuts we had to make, but ultimately we wanted those who have had a significant impact on our lives to be present on that day.
What range did your wedding budget fall into? Around $25,000.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Don’t lose sight of what really matters about this day. Sure, coming up with fun ideas and planning out all the details is a blast, but at some point, something will more than likely go wrong. The singer gets sick, the cake turns out wrong, your dress rips, it pours rain… the list goes on and on. But at the end of the day, you will be professing your love for one another in front of all the people who care about you the most, and nothing is more beautiful than that.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? We are learning how to love and serve each other more and more every day. We’re excited about having a couple of years to truly enjoy each other’s presence and grow as a couple and someday start a family of our own!

Robyn Van Dyke is a fabulous member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

nicoleyang Written with love by Nicole
7 Comments
  1. avatar Emily reply

    I’m in love with this post! I just got my cowboy boots for my wedding…. the pic above totally inspires me because my girls are wearing pink dresses too!

    xoxo
    Emily
    emilyannestyle.com

  2. avatar chris reply

    it really great by seeing all pics specially the letter reading pic by couple…its amazing experience and thanx for the share
    Budget Planners

  3. avatar Coretta’s Jewels reply

    The gown! The corporate prayer with everyone gathered! Love!

    Coretta
    Coretta’s Elegant Events

  4. avatar Tara reply

    Can anyone tell me what gown this is? I’m trying to choose mine right now and this looks very similar to both Enzoani and La Sposa dresses I’ve tried on. Thanks!

  5. avatar Joyful North Carolina Wedding (re-posted from Southern Weddings Magazine) | The Wedding & Event Galleria by Bella reply

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  6. avatar Inspiration: Barn Weddings | love.ivory reply

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Y’all fell in love with John and Samantha when we featured their wedding on Monday, and so we’re especially happy to be back with their wedding film by Andrew Vanover today! I loved seeing their ceremony and downhome Southern reception come to life, and I think you will, too. Enjoy!

P.S. More wedding films for your Saturday morning viewing pleasure.

emily Written with love by Emily
3 Comments
  1. avatar Sunday Sharing & Weekly Round up: Duvets & Tea! | Bespoke-bride reply

    […] check out this lakeside wedding film featured on Southern Weddings! We absolutely adore the style of the groom and the grooms […]

  2. avatar Nine Photography | Dallas Wedding Photographers reply

    just beautiful! WOW!

  3. avatar wedding dress reply

    Very creative video. It might be expensive but it’s worth for the memorable experience in your wedding. Congrats to John and Samantha!

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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