Southern Weddings

I am especially delighted to share today’s wedding, because Riley and Bryant just so happen to represent the two states closest to my heart! Planning a Texas wedding while living in Bryant’s home state of North Carolina presented its challenges, but with the help of Riley’s mother and the event planning team at Grit & Gold, the intimate ceremony and charming reception came together so beautifully. If there’s one thing we love more than anything else here at Southern Weddings, it’s a wedding centered on the marriage rather than the details. Riley and Bryant never lost sight of the true meaning of their wedding day, and their joy is so evident in all of their beautiful pictures!

A big thank you to Kassie Moore for sharing Riley and Bryant’s big day with us!

Tell us all about the proposal! We were in Miami for the Bama national championship game to watch my brother play. He surprised me the night after Bama won at dinner while sitting in a cabana in the rain. He presented me with a box that he made himself out of olive wood from Bethlehem with the most beautiful ring inside!

Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? We did not do a first look. We had waited for a lot of things in our relationship and decided to wait to see each other as well. It was so special for me to walk into the chapel and see him for the first time.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Walking into the church, no question. I was so overwhelmed by how much I love Bryant. I was so happy to see him and to be marrying him!

My heart skipped a beat seeing their expressions in this picture. He looks so proud, and she looks so happy!

Our flowers were gorgeous!! We used pops of coral with blush undertones. Our florist, we plus you, included succulents, which was my favorite touch!

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: The deer sheds that were included in the decor. Bryant is a hunter, so we incorporated the theme “the hunt is over” as a tribute to him.

We had several different layer cakes. My favorite was salted caramel, but we also had traditional white, chocolate, and white cake with chocolate icing. They were the most delicious cakes I’ve ever tasted in my life. They were iced very simply with vintage cake toppers.

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. We met at UNC. We were both athletes and got to know each other through Bible study. I liked him for a couple of months before he asked me on a first date to go to Cookout for a milkshake. From there we went fishing and the rest was history.
When did y’all get married? July 6, 2013
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 80 to the ceremony and 180 to the reception. We kept the ceremony small because it was so sacred to us.
Tell us about finding your wedding dress. I went to Bliss in Fort Worth. I knew I wanted something simple so that I could dance it in. I went with a strapless column style dress with a blush bow detail. I wore a birdcage veil that finished the outfit perfectly!
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? We used Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 as the central piece for our ceremony.
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. During the unity candle lighting, we chose “In Your Presence” by Elevation Worship. After we were married, we walked back down the aisle to “O Happy Day.”
Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! I borrowed my mom’s beautiful gold earrings that had a tiny blue gem in the middle. They were given to her by her friends.
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? Bryant is from Charlotte and I’m from Texas, so it was a great melding of the best of each state! At the rehearsal dinner, his family included Cheerwine with dinner, which was such a fun touch for my family and friends who had never heard of it.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? They biggest challenge was planning the wedding in Texas while living in North Carolina. My mom thought of everything to make the day so special, but it meant that I had to give her free reign on design since I couldn’t see everything. She made it more special that I ever dreamed it would be!!
What range did your wedding budget fall into? $25,000-$50,000
What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? The florist did an incredible arrangement on the altar for the ceremony. It was in a turquoise McCoy pot that my mom had collected. It was absolutely stunning.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Don’t sweat the small stuff. At the end of the day, the two of you will be married. Remember to make it about the marriage, not the wedding.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? We waited to live together until we got married, so I am looking forward to waking up to my sweet husband in the morning!

Photographer: Kassie Moore | Planner: Grit + Gold | Ceremony Venue: Whites Chapel | Reception Venue: Joe T. Garcias | Florist: Amanda Ferguson | Cake Baker: The Cake Guys | DJ: Jeff Hornok | Special Details: BHLDN | Bride’s Gown: Bliss Bridal, Pronovias Ucayal Style | Paper Products: AMG Design Co | Bride’s Veil: Sara Gabriel, Collette Style | Hair Stylist: Christine Larsen Legacy Salon and Spa | Makeup Artist: Bobbi Brown Makeup Artist | Bride’s Shoes: J.Crew | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Anthropologie | Groom’s Attire: Jos. A. Bank Suit, J.Crew Tie | Groomsmen Attire: Jos. A Bank Suit, Tie from The Tie Bar

Written with love by Lisa