Southern Weddings

Lynae + Brenton, can we be friends? We are just gaga over their bright and bold taste, and we’re giving a huge hand to Amber Housley for bringing their vision together. For L +B, with family coming in from far and wide, their wedding was an opportunity to show everyone how unique their love is and to showcase their favorite things. They said “I do” at the church where they first met (and where Brenton was initially blown off by Lynae!) and followed the vows with a reception at the Hilton, chosen because it had the largest ballroom available for their 450+ guests!

We want to squeeze Kristyn Hogan every time we see this wedding in V5 and we know that Lynae + Brenton feel the same way. When it came to finding a photographer, no other would do after they met at Lynae’s sister’s wedding (who was also featured on Southern Weddings!). Be sure to check out Jennifer + Armand’s wedding here and here after you drop from excitement over these photos.

How adorable are these save the dates? Lynae + Brenton used giant balloons as a theme and decided to carry it over to their wedding for continuity (and the best photos ever).

Describe your bridesmaids’ dresses. I had 14 bridesmaids with various complexions and body shapes so I wanted a dress option that made everyone feel their personal best. I searched for dresses that met a few requirements. I wanted a one-shoulder option to flatter my bridesmaids with a fuller bust. In my opinion, a one-shoulder was an impeccable way to provide coverage but still keep it youthful. In addition, I had my heart set on an A-line skirt to flatter my bridesmaids who are more pear-shaped. I also wanted something that was belted to highlight my petite bridesmaids so they felt feminine and fun. The Alfred Sung dress met all of my wishes and came in a stellar color. It was a homerun for everyone.
What did the groomsmen wear? The groomsmen wore a subtle pen-striped blue suit with a striped nautical-inspired tire. It was important that the suit be modern but also classic. We opted to go with a two-button suit option with a slimmer cut but traditional lapel. The ties were designed to complement the bridesmaids’ dresses while still making the groomsmen feel masculine and dashing.

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. I curate a personal fashion blog on Tumblr and first discovered the dress on my Tumblr timeline. As soon as I saw it, I knew it was “the one” because it had my favorite thing: a smidgen of sparkle! After being inspired, I clicked around the web to discover the designer and boutique that carried it, and booked an appointment to try it on the same day. Because I’m shorter in stature (5’3”), it was important for me to find a dress that had sequin details that didn’t overpower and distract from me. I chose the dress because it complimented my frame nicely and allowed my face to be the focal point. I felt like I wore my wedding dress — my dress didn’t wear me.

We chose flowers with rich colors and plenty of texture. I wanted lots of options that were multi-dimensional and appealing from every angle. My bouquet was stunning! It was a perfect reflection of my penchant for all things colorful and fun. And it was wrapped in sequins that just set it over the top.

Our wedding ceremony was our chance to really share our love story with those closest to us. A lot of our guests may have known us individually or briefly as a couple but our vows, homily, and musical selections gave us the opportunity to be more in depth about what makes our love so special. It was extraordinary to explain in our vows what brought us to this pivotal moment after seven years and how we promise to keep our marriage together for a lifetime. I think it gave people insight into how much we care about each other and want to see each other happy and fulfilled in our marriage.

Who participated in your ceremony? We had a total of 28 bridesmaids and groomsmen who stood by us during our big day. It was striking to see an entire entourage of people stand by us on the biggest moment of our lives to date and affirm “these two people together are a wonderful idea.” It meant a lot to have all their prayers, laughs, and tears surround us. We also performed a sand ceremony that gave us an opportunity to greet our grandparents, parents, and siblings. It was truly a special moment.
Did you write your own vows? We wrote our own vows that reflected us individually and as a couple. Our biggest standouts were remembering times past dating. We’ve experienced several life transitions, first jobs, totaled cars, and lost pets together. To be able to revisit those milestones and laugh at those memories was really extraordinary.

Below: Best photo ever.

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. (From the groom) We met our junior year of high school. I was in Nashville and Lynae came into town with her high school drama club to perform at the local church. Following the performance, I approached her and tried to introduce myself. She proceeded to blow me off completely. Now I was really frustrated, and I swore off Lynae Turner and any other one I might meet in the future. Cut to freshman year in college and we were reunited again, much to our protest and distain. Lynae was roommates with my neighbor from Nashville, so we kept crossing paths. Eventually I started to warm up to the idea of having Lynae around, and as the weeks went by she became one of the crew. One day while we were watching the VMA’s, Lynae sat next to me. For some reason every time I looked over, she’d scooted her chair closer to me. I’m not one to turn down an unexpected gift, so I put my arm around her and just kind of sat there. The next thing I know, she’s asking if I want to go to Taco Bell. I hate Taco Bell, but again, it was an unexpected gift. So I drove her there and we started talking the next day. By my birthday we were officially dating.
Describe the proposal: (From the groom) Lynae and I had talked about our engagement for months before I popped the question, but I was still determined to surprise her. The morning I wanted to do it, I picked up her ring and called Lynae’s mom and sister to set the plan (my parents were out of town). Our church was having a revival that night, so all three of us told Lynae we would see her there in the evening.​ The best way to get Lynae distracted is to bring up clothes. While we were at the revival, Jennifer told Lynae to stop by her apartment afterward because she had some clothes that didn’t fit her anymore. Lynae was so excited she didn’t even notice her mom and I left early, already on the way to her sister’s place. We got there and parked our cars around the corner so she wouldn’t see we were there, went in the apartment and cued up Jennifer’s computer to play our favorite song (Eric Benet’s “The Last Time”). By the time Lynae got there, her mom and I were each in one of the bedroom closets. When she walked up the stairs, Jennifer hit play on the song and told Lynae the clothes were in the closet. Lynae still wasn’t thinking about anything but the clothes. When she opened the door, I was on one knee with the ring, and her mom popped out of the other closet just in time to fan off Lynae, who fell to the floor! After another minute of screaming and crying, I brought up the fact that she STILL hadn’t said yes, and she finally agreed to be eternally stuck with me. Six months later, Lynae asked Jennifer when she was going to get those clothes she was promised.
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Vibrant, sentimental, and sparkly
What was the weather like on your big day? It actually rained the entire morning leading to the ceremony, but we were very fortunate that the rain broke immediately after the ceremony allowing us to enjoy the rest of the evening and take pictures outdoors.
How many guests attended your wedding? 700 attended the ceremony. About 478 attended the reception.

Amber Housley and Brocade Designs are delightful members of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

Written with love by Nicole