Southern Weddings

Hannah and Kyle’s wedding includes many of my favorite details: shades of soft pink, sparkly gold accents, adorable little ones (boys in gingham and girls in tulle at that!), groomsmen rocking colorful cowboy boots, outdoor pews…the list could go on and on. But, like our dear Lisa, I love reading the couple’s interviews and delving into their love stories. While the above details are gorgeous, I couldn’t help but be taken by the sweet joy that these two have for each other. Since they met through a country dance group, a country song was almost required as their first dance. With the last line being “You could give me a million reasons why you love me. I’d just give you two million reasons right back,” you know there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

Big hugs to Tucker Images for sharing this sweet soiree with us!

Lush Couture Floral did a fantastic job on our flowers! Deitra used lots of different shades of pink, blush, and cream. She even added a bit of a coral color to blend in with our bridesmaid dresses. I couldn’t have been more pleased with the end result! The bridesmaid bouquets were to die for and the shotgun shell boutonnieres were a huge hit.

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. Like any girl, I had looked online at styles and designers I liked before I went to try any on. I went to a small boutique near the town I grew up in and tried on about eight dresses, but none of them felt like the one. I kept going back to a dress I had seen online, and I knew that I couldn’t make a decision without trying that one on. The boutique I was at didn’t have it for me to try on, but they were sweet enough to call other stores in the area to find a sample for me to try. Only one store had it, so my mom, sister, and I drove 45 miles to that store. I knew it was the one the moment the sales associate showed it to me.

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: Our favorite detail of the wedding would have to be the ring bearer and flower girl attire. There was something about the rustic feel of the gingham, suspenders, and bow ties paired with the elegant feel of the tulle and sequin dresses. Gosh, those kids were adorable!

These boys – I can’t even deal!

What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? The most memorable moment about our wedding day was definitely the moment that I walked down the aisle and saw Kyle for the first time. I had our ushers hold up old doors at the end of the aisle and I hid behind them until the Bridal March came on. The ushers pulled the doors apart and my dad and I started walking down the aisle. I will forever remember the look on Kyle’s face when the doors opened up. He was crying and smiling at the same time. At one point, he even put his head down to wipe away his tears. It was the most powerful thing to witness.

Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We actually decided to write our own vows about a week before the wedding because we wanted to incorporate more of what we felt the Lord was telling us about marriage. Kyle promised to do his best to love me the way Jesus loves His bride, the church. I promised to love Kyle the way Jesus sacrificially loves me.
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? Kyle and I chose to wash one another’s feet during our ceremony as a way to serve one another just like Jesus served the disciples. My grandfather, who also officiated, read John 13:1-17, which tells the story of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet.

Kyle and I decided from the very beginning that we wanted to serve pie over cake. We actually got married on “Pi Day” (3.14)–it wasn’t even intentional! We ended up serving both pie and cake at our wedding. We ordered our pies from a family-owned country restaurant called Joe’s. We served chocolate, pecan, key lime, and cherry cream cheese. Yum! We then ordered a small cake to cut from Sugar Bee Sweets. We chose blackberry cream cheese as the filling and then did a ruffle and stucco look for the icing. It was fabulous!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. Kyle and I actually met through a country dance group… totally random, I know! I had been a part of the group for about a year before I moved to the Philippines with my family for four months. During those four months, Kyle began country dancing and he started hanging out with all of my friends in the dance group. I moved back to the U.S. in October 2011 and I met Kyle five days later. We have been inseparable ever since!
Tell us all about the proposal! About a year after Kyle and I started dating, I really felt like God was calling me back to the Philippines to start a home for unwed, pregnant women in crisis situations. It was so hard to leave Kyle, but God totally had a plan for us all along. We had plenty of Skype dates and late night phone calls–that 13-hour time difference was killer! I moved in January 2013, and four months later, the Lord paved the way for Kyle to do his senior internship in the Philippines. He worked during the week, so we spent our weekends exploring a foreign country. The second weekend after Kyle arrived, we decided to take a trip to the beach with my entire family. We had a blast snorkeling, exploring, and just relaxing. On our last night at the beach, we went to go explore the other side of the island and take pictures. Kyle and I were walking down the beach with my family, talking about life, when all of a sudden, he grabbed my hand and turned me toward him. It was at that moment that I knew exactly what was happening. Kyle gave a little speech–which neither of us can remember–and he got down on one knee. All I remember doing was saying, “Yes!” over and over while jumping up and down.
When did y’all get married? March 14, 2014
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 130
Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? Kyle and I decided not to do a first look. We are fairly traditional and were happy with our decision. Kyle was adamant that we were not going to see each other, nor did he want to know any details about what I was wearing. I wasn’t even allowed to show him dresses that I didn’t like! There was something so special about seeing my groom for the first time waiting for me at the end of the aisle.
What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they have any special significance to you? Since we met country dancing, getting married in/near a barn was a no brainer. When we pulled up to Classic Oaks Ranch for the first time, we knew it was where we would get married. The entire venue has a rustic, elegant feel, and that was exactly what we were going for.
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. We used the song “My Dear” by Bethel Music for the wedding party’s processional. It is definitely not a traditional song for a wedding, but it was so us. We walked back up the aisle to “This Will Be (an Everlasting Love)” by Natalie Cole. Something about that song makes me want to get up and dance! Our first dance was to “Yours and Mine” by Kyle Park. We just had to dance to a country song–it was a must. My favorite part is the end: “You could give me a million reasons why you love me. I’d just give you two million reasons right back. There’s no stopping two hearts like ours. There’s no reason to even try. There’s nothing better than this world of yours and mine.”
Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! This is one part of wedding planning that I definitely got stumped on. My something old was my great grandmother’s pink lace hankie that we wrapped around my bouquet. I borrowed my grandmother’s locket and placed it around my bouquet as well. Inside the locket, I placed a picture of me and my grandmother, who passed away six years ago. I had a small navy bow on my garter that I used as my something blue. Kyle’s wedding gift to me was a beautiful pearl bracelet that I used as my something new. Phew! I got all four!
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? Oh goodness, where to begin?! I am a sucker for all things Southern. Heck, I even walked down the aisle in my boots. Some of the Southern details we included were the gingham shirts, suspenders, and bow ties. We served BBQ and iced tea. Oh, and the pies! That’s about as Southern as you can get.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? My family still lives in the Philippines, so it was really hard to plan a wedding and not have my mom physically here to help me. I sent her tons of emails and pictures to get her input, but it just wasn’t the same as having her here.
If you are comfortable responding, what range did your wedding budget fall into? $10,000-$25,000
What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? Definitely Britney and Ben from Tucker Images. They are absolutely phenomenal. Not only are their photography skills amazing, but their personalities really catch your attention. I had tons of people tell me after the wedding how much they enjoyed our photographers. Britney and Ben are so easy to get a long with and very professional. I can’t say enough positive things about this awesome couple!
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Enjoy the planning stages, but don’t get so consumed with it that you forget the whole reason you are having a wedding in the first place. Spend time with your fiancé and go on dates that don’t include wedding talk. You still need to invest in your relationship!
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? I don’t really know what is next for us as a couple. Wherever God leads us is where we will go. For right now, we will enjoy being newlyweds and spending time with friends and family, and someday, we will start a family of our own.

Photographer: Tucker Images / Venue: Classic Oaks Ranch / Florist: Lush Couture Floral / Pie Baker: Joe’s Family Restaurant and Sugar Bee Sweets / Caterer: Texas Best Smokehouse & BBQ / DJ: DJ BMAC (Brandon McKeever) / Bride’s Gown: “Carissa” by Maggie Sottero / Bridal Salon: Emma’s Bridal / Hair Stylist: Lacie at Olive the Beauty Lounge / Makeup Artist: Sara at Olive the Beauty Lounge / Bride’s Shoes: Bonnie by Old Gringo / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: BingBridal / Men’s Attire: Express / Flower Girl Dresses: Promgirldress / Ring Bearers’ Shirts: J.Crew / Ring Bearers’ Bow Ties and Suspenders: Cotton Kandy Shop

Written with love by Marissa