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As someone who met my own soon-to-be husband while studying abroad in Austria, I feel a little bit like kindred spirits with Katie and Rob. They met on the airplane en route to their study abroad program and spent the first few magical months of their relationship traveling and exploring around Western Europe! Six years later, they chose their venue, the gorgeous Summerour Studio in Atlanta, because it reminded them a little bit of Florence, where they had shared their first kiss. I love the way they brought lots of Southern touches, in honor of their Georgia hometowns, to this European-style venue!

Thank you so much to Laura Leslie for sharing this beautiful wedding with us!

Rob and I grew up 12 miles from each other and went to Georgia Tech for two years together before we finally met on a flight to Europe for a study abroad trip during the summer of 2007. He gave me the middle seat so that I could sit next to a friend, and I gave him my dessert. We spent the rest of the summer traveling around Western Europe together and had our first kiss in Florence. We spent the next two years dating back in Atlanta. When Rob graduated, he moved to Texas while I finished my last year of school. When I graduated, I got a job in New York, and shortly after I moved, Rob moved back to Atlanta. We spent the next year traveling up and down the East Coast to see each other. In the summer of 2010, we both packed up our apartments and drove across the country to move into our new apartment on a palm tree-lined street in Los Angeles. That December, Rob popped the question and we moved back to Atlanta together the next summer. We got married almost six years after the day we met.

What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they have any special significance to you? Summerour Studio is not a typical Southern venue—in fact, it’s a little European, with a terracotta roof and a charming cobblestone courtyard that has grape vines crawling up the front of the studio. We loved that it reminded us of Florence, where we had our first kiss. It also has a beautiful, open, rustic interior with dark wood floors and factory windows.

We recited traditional vows, but we also asked each of our aunts to read two of our favorite poems: Pablo Neruda’s Sonnets LXIX and XVII. Like a vow, I think we will always remember lines from those poems. “So I love you because I know no other way than this: where I does not exist, nor you, so close that your hand on my chest is my hand, so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep.” On the morning of our wedding, Rob surprised me with a necklace that had this line engraved on it: “through love I will be, you will be, we’ll be.”

Describe your wedding flowers. We worked with Erica Loesing, who was part of the Amy Osaba team, on the design for our wedding. She put together the most beautiful arrangements on each table using a mixture of bronze, glass, and milky white vessels, white, peach, pink, and light yellow peonies, garden roses, ranunculus, and tulips, and beautiful greenery, like flowing vines and bunches of wonderful-smelling herbs, like mint.

Since Rob and I fell in love traveling around the world and then spent a good part of the next five years moving around, we used vintage postcards from all the cities we had visited as our seating cards. Then, at their tables, guests wrote us a note—a memory, wish, or piece of advice—on the postcard. We put all the postcards in an album as our guest book.

Tell us all about the proposal! From Rob: I decided that proposing during one of our runs at Griffith Park near our house, where there’s a trail you can see the whole city from, would be perfect. As part of the celebration, I also bought tickets to a show at the Walt Disney Concert Hall for that evening. The concert hall had always been a special place to us in the city. The week I was going to propose, I told Katie I had a surprise for her that weekend. Later in the week, I suggested we go for a long run in Griffith Park in the morning, since I knew she thought the surprise was coming later. The morning of the proposal, Katie said she couldn’t go running if she was going to wrap up work before the big surprise. I tried to convince her, but didn’t want her to get suspicious. Instead, when we got to the Concert Hall, we found a place to sit down–just the two of us–and I asked her right there. I couldn’t wait another minute.
When did y’all get married? May 18, 2013
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 130
Tell us about finding your wedding dress. I thought I wanted something very straight and simple. I tried on so many “almost” dresses, but we went to an appointment at Bride Beautiful to see if we could find anything we liked better. The only dress I tried on there ended up being the one! It was completely different than what I had been imagining, but I fell in love with the beautiful layering and detail. We worked with the amazing Gizzelle James to alter it perfectly!
Describe your wedding cake or dessert. Rob and I don’t love cake, but we do love ice cream! Instead of serving cake, the Honeysuckle Gelato truck parked outside and served little cups of gelato all night! We worked with the Honeysuckle team to pick our favorites from their extensive menu of Southern-inspired flavors. We chose bourbon pecan, sea salt caramel, and blueberry cheesecake with graham cracker.
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? We knew Summerour would be the perfect place for us to layer the Southern details and traditions that mean the most to us. The food, gelato, and cocktails were all Southern—one station served shrimp and grits, fried green tomatoes, biscuits, and a pimento cheese spread. We had bourbon pecan gelato and a peach sorbet. One of our cocktails was a “Southern Old Fashioned” with peach bitters. All of the details on the tables felt so soft and Southern, especially the bowls of fresh seasonal produce–peaches, crabapples, and kumquats.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Our most memorable moment of the wedding was something few guests probably even noticed. Instead of walking down the aisle to a traditional song, we chose “Stranger Things” by Local Natives. We first saw Local Natives, our favorite band, at a special show where they performed with the symphony at Disney Concert Hall, which is why that venue has always been so special to us. The opening of the song is beautiful, and to this day, whenever I hear it, I get chills as I remember exactly how I felt when I took those first steps toward Rob.

Photographer: Laura Leslie Photography / Planner: Erica Loesing / Venue: Summerour Studio / Florist: Erica Loesing of Amy Osaba / Dessert: Honeysuckle Gelato / Caterer: Bold American / DJ: JP McLeod / Bride’s Gown: Saison Blanche / Bridal Salon: Bride Beautiful / Paper Products: One Plus One Design and Julie Doan / Hair and Makeup Stylist: Raney O’Keefe / Bride’s Shoes: J. Crew / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Jenny Yoo / Men’s Attire: Jos. A. Bank suits / Groom’s Tie: J. Crew / Groom’s Shoes: Johnston and Murphy

Laura Leslie is a delightful member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

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

    Beautiful wedding! I’m wondering where the table numbers are from. And, if the bride may be willing to sell them :).

  2. avatar Dana reply

    a gelato truck sounds like a fantastic idea!

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

    […] Katie and Rob met en route to Europe, so their European-style wedding venue was a perfect fit. Lauren and Casey‘s first dance story melted our hearts–don’t miss it! Charlotte and Zachary were married at the groom’s family farm in the heart of Texas. […]

  4. avatar Summerour Studio Wedding | Central Florida Wedding Photographer | Southeast Wedding Photography » Atlanta Wedding Photographer Laura Leslie reply

    […] can read more about this beautiful day  on Southern Weddings […]

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Get ready for your heart to be melted, because we have a sweet-as-can-be Texas love story to share with y’all today! Kristy and Cory are college sweethearts, and three years after their first kiss at the State Capitol in Austin, Cory proposed in the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. They were married at his aunt and uncle’s ranch on a hot day in June, but I can only imagine how little the heat mattered when everyone was focused on their deeply meaningful ceremony. The pictures from Kristy’s walk down the aisle are some of the most touching I’ve ever seen!

Thanks so much to Sara & Rocky for sharing Kristy and Cory’s wedding with us!

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. All the dresses I tried on were beautiful. After trying on tons of dresses and loving all of them, I finally asked Cory’s opinion. He described to me the dress he imagined in boy terms, which was adorable and awesome. He ended up describing a lace fit and flare dress with small straps. I went dress shopping the next day with my mom and sister at a precious boutique in Austin, and the experience was so fun and peaceful. I found a dress like one he described and knew instantly that it was the one.

Describe your wedding flowers. My wedding flowers were dreamy and beautiful! Cory’s aunt arranged the flowers and designed the ceremony and reception. We sat down many times as I described flowers I loved and we looked at Pinterest over and over. She took all of the flowers I liked and designed the most beautiful bouquet. It was wild, colorful, and big!

The size of the wedding party was definitely Southern! We each had 13 bridesmaids and groomsmen and I had six girls in my house party. We are both blessed with precious, lifelong friends. The weather was also pretty typical for the South–we got married in late June outside, and it was hot! We made our programs into fans so that our guests could cool themselves off.

Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? We didn’t do a first look. We weren’t nervous or anxious for our big day–I always say that marrying Cory was the most natural thing I have ever done. We wanted the moment of seeing each other for the first time to be a part of our ceremony–a moment of our hearts bursting with pure joy!

Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We did write our own vows. It was really special getting to craft them together! We did the same opening and closing lines, with the middle part of our vows unique for a man and woman’s roles in marriage. Our favorite lines were “With deepest joy and humble gratitude, I accept you as my perfect provision from Christ. This love is not from ourselves–it is originated in Him who loved us and sacrificed for us first.”
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? We had three readings done by dear friends. They were Psalm 84, a scripture Cory’s dad shared with him before he started dating, which we held onto during our dating relationship, Proverbs 3:3 and Romans 15:5-6, all scripture that helped shape our engagement.

The most memorable moment for the two of us was right after the ceremony. We stood on the porch of the barn, just the two of us, and held each other tightly. They were our first still moments together as husband and wife.

Cory’s aunt and uncle have a ranch outside of Cleburne, Texas, where they recently built a wedding barn. We loved the idea of getting married at a place Cory grew up visiting, and that Cory’s aunt and uncle ran. Thistle Springs Ranch is overflowing with love and sweet memories, and getting to work with Cory’s aunt and uncle to plan the wedding was the best. The only challenge was planning a wedding in a town that neither of us are from. I had no idea about a hair stylist, a location for the bridal luncheon, etc. My family and I spent a day walking around Cleburne stopping in at salons, tasting cakes at bakeries, and discovering cute restaurants. What was originally a challenge ended up being so much fun, and we loved every vendor we ended up using!

Describe your wedding cake or dessert. We did a wedding cake and mini pies! The wedding cake was a simple three-tiered cake with the stroke marks of the icing visible. I am gluten and dairy free, so the top layer of our cake was made so that I could eat it! Cory’s aunt put the most perfect flowers on it. Instead of a traditional cake topper, I made a tiny banner that said our names for the top layer. We also had about six different flavors of miniature pies, all of which sat under a banner that said “love is sweet.”

Our advice is to not stress about the details. While the music, food, and decorations are fun, they are added blessings. At the end of the day, all that matters is the covenant you make. If something goes wrong (which it probably will) or doesn’t get planned, that’s okay! You will still walk away as husband and wife. I always said that my dream wedding was one where I was married to Cory at the end.

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. During our freshman year of college at Texas A&M, we started to see each other more and more within our group of friends. Our first impression of each other was that we looked so familiar–like we had seen each other or met somewhere else. We still haven’t figured that out. On the first day back at A&M for sophomore year, I saw Cory locking his bike outside of his classroom. My heart leapt, and I smiled and said, “Cory?” He looked up and smiled. So many of our thoughts and dreams over the summer were confirmed and exceeded in that moment. In October 2009, after a few dates and “coincidental” time together, Cory told me that he was serious about our relationship, and wanted to protect it in such a way that we would be ready to marry when we left college. We spent the last year and a half of our relationship long distance, and though neither of us preferred it, we are confident that this allowed us to see clearly the importance of our relationship, learn creative communication and affection, and cherish every moment together. Now, we delight in getting to walk each day side by side.
Tell us all about the proposal! In the nine months prior to our wedding, Cory had moved to Washington, D.C. for an internship and seminary courses, while I had decided to help a friend start a company in Houston. I had always said that when I got engaged, I wanted a party with all our friends and family there to celebrate with us. Cory knew this, but his plan came with a little bit different of a timeline. Right when Cory moved to DC, I had booked flights for a visit in the middle of October. Because of my expectations, I had no idea that he would think about proposing while I was visiting. Cory picked me up from the airport that weekend and took me straight to dinner and a concert. When we left the concert early, Cory suggested we go and look at some national monuments. Since we’re always going on adventures together, I didn’t think that this was out of the ordinary. We got to the Capitol building and walked hand in hand, humbled by the greatness and beauty of the building. We started reminiscing on the sweetness of our relationship over the years and talked about sharing our first kiss at the Texas state capitol in Austin. Cory then said, “What if we shared our first kiss as an engaged couple at the nation’s capitol?” I started going numb and couldn’t really speak–I was in shock! I finally believed him when I saw my grandmother’s ring. After the feeling came back to my body, I mustered a “YES!” and started crying tears of joy! Although Cory proposed in a different state and there was no party with friends and family, it was perfect. Instead of bringing friends and family into the first moments of our soon-to-be covenant marriage, we got to spend the evening just the two of us, establishing ourselves as an engaged couple and talking about the magnitude of being a picture of the gospel. I couldn’t have asked for anything more.
When did y’all get married? June 22, 2013
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 280
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. One of my sweet girlfriends played “Before the Throne” and a mash-up of our favorite hymns on the piano during the processional. During the ceremony, Cory and I took communion together while my sister and a friend sang/played “In Christ Alone.” Our first dance was to “Love Like That” by Ben Rector. We first heard the song at one of his concerts while we were dating and immediately loved it!
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: Our favorite detail was getting to celebrate with our friends and family! We made a point to love on and talk to everyone at the wedding, and we hope we succeeded! The conversations, hugs, and encouragement we got from our community is something that we will always cherish.
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? For our favors, my mom and I made homemade peach jam. Cory and I are Aggies, so of course, we did the Aggie War Hymn at the end of the reception! It’s one of our favorite Aggie wedding traditions.
What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? We loved our photographers, Sara and Rocky Photography. They were the first vendor we booked when we got engaged! We knew our photographs of the wedding would be precious to us forever, so we were very intentional when choosing photographers. Sara and Rocky are so friendly, creative, and crazy gifted!
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? Before we even met, we both desired to work in outdoor Christian ministry in the mountains. We worked towards that dream together for our whole relationship and the Lord blessed us greatly! Graciously, He provided a job for us helping to develop a camp in the mountains in New Mexico. We moved to New Mexico the month after our wedding and get to work side by side. We are still in awe that we get to live together and love on each other day in and day out. Because of our long distance, we delight in every second together and pinch ourselves that we get to live with our best friend!

Photographer: Sara & Rocky / Venue: Thistle Springs Ranch / Florist: Groom’s aunt, Ann Wright / Cake and Pies: La Trattoria / Catering: Pappas Catering / DJ: Ryan Lee / Bride’s Gown: San Patrick / Bridal Salon and Veil: Blush Bridal Boutique / Bride’s Jewelry: Nordstrom / Bride’s Shoes: Tom’s / Bridesmaid Dresses: J. Crew / Men’s Attire: Vera Wang

lisa Written with love by Lisa
8 Comments
  1. avatar Nicole reply

    Oh goodness, my eyes watered just looking at that photo of the groom seeing his bride for the first time!

    • avatar Kristin reply

      Me too, Nicole! His sweet reaction had me in tears. Oh my — such emotion.

  2. avatar Emily reply

    Their ceremony photos ARE so sweet! And I love Kristy’s thought that she wasn’t nervous or anxious because marrying Cory was the most natural thing she’s done!

  3. avatar Sara Garza reply

    Thanks SO much for featuring Kristy and Cory’s wedding, it looks wonderful. You guys are great.

  4. avatar Dana reply

    the pictures of her walking down the aisle are sooo perfect!!!

  5. avatar Bobbi Jo reply

    What a sweet story and wedding! They both sound like good people. I feel like we could be friends!

  6. avatar Natalie reply

    Beautiful wedding, beautiful couple, and beautiful story. Thanks for sharing!

  7. avatar Plan Your Wedding without cracking Nuts | Mine Forever reply

    […] Sarah and Rocky Photography via Southern Weddings […]

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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