Southern Weddings

Happy Valentine’s Day week, belles! We’ve been saving some of our most fabulous pink weddings for this week, and we hope y’all love them as much as we do!

When it comes to meaningful venues, Catherine and Kyle hit the jackpot. They were married at the incredibly beautiful Swan House, which was built in 1926 by Catherine’s great great grandparents, and has since been the venue for many special family memories. The Swan House is an iconic landmark in Atlanta, and it was the perfect place for Catherine and Kyle to combine their New York City sensibilities and Catherine’s Southern roots at their stylish wedding.

Thanks so much for Pink Shoe Photography for sharing Catherine and Kyle’s wedding with us!

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. This was my favorite part–I wish I could do it all over again! I found my dress in New York at Mark Ingram. The designer was having a trunk show and I decided to try on my dress. It was perfect and so unique. I’ve never seen anything like it.

We decided to do a first look because we knew we were both going to be really nervous. We felt it would help us relax and enjoy the ceremony.

Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? No we did not. It would have been too nerve wracking!
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? My good friend read the E.E. Cummings poem “I carry your heart with me (I carry it in).”

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: The location. It was very special to me because my great great grandparents built the house in 1926. My father spent time there, and since he is no longer with us, I wanted to honor him and have his presence with us that day.

How amazing are these linens? The stripes are such a unique touch, but the neutral colors keep the overall look classic and elegant.

Our wedding cake was amazing! My friend had the same lady make it for her wedding three years ago, and the moment I tasted it, I knew that it had to be my cake. The lady is the head baker at Ingles grocery store in northern Georgia and she makes a mean buttercream!

What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Being with all of our friends and family for the whole weekend. Our guests traveled from all over the USA and we were so thankful for that. We loved celebrating with everyone and getting down on the dance floor.

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. We met on a cold, snowy January night at a bar in New York City, where we were both attending separate birthday parties. I approached him because I thought he was good looking, and we ended up hanging out all night! At the end of the night, I realized I left my credit card at the first bar I went to that evening, and since it was too late to go get it, Kyle asked me if I wanted to meet with him this week so we could get it together. Since then, we have been inseparable.
Tell us all about the proposal! I went to happy hour with my girlfriends after work and told Kyle I would be home at 9 p.m. He was nervously waiting in our apartment for me to come home, and I ended up staying out until 10:30. When I finally walked in the door, he had balloons, fake cocktail rings and Full House’s Jessie and the Rippers song “Forever” playing in the background. It was an amazing moment that I will never forget.
When did y’all get married? April 6, 2013
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 200
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. I walked down the aisle to a string quartet playing Elvis’ “Can’t Help Falling in Love” and we left to The Beatles’ “All You Need is Love.” Our first dance was to Nikki Bluhm’s cover of “Danny’s Song.” We had a very difficult time agreeing on what our first dance song should be, and the week before our wedding, we went to see Nikki Bluhm in concert. She and her husband sang “Danny’s Song” and we fell in love with it!
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? All of the food was traditional Southern food. Not living in the South has me constantly craving Southern food, so I thought it would be the perfect way to honor my heritage. Plus, I wanted the out-of-towners to experience the best food in the world!
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Two of Kyle’s sisters became pregnant and were due around the day of our wedding. They were unable to attend, and it was really heartbreaking not to have them there. The older sister ended up scheduling an emergency c-section and gave birth during our rehearsal dinner. So thankfully, they were at home in Brooklyn and not at the dinner!
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Elope! Just kidding! Surround yourself with good people, don’t get caught up in other people’s drama, and don’t stress too much. Everything will end up perfectly.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? We are still living in New York City and hope to eventually move back down South. We are excited to see where life takes us!

Photographer: Pink Shoe Photography / Planner: Debbie Felker, by Special Arrangement, LLC / Venue: The Swan House / Florist, Catering, and Rentals: Keith Robinson, Gloriosa / Cake Baker: Tammy Aldridge / Bride’s Gown: Junko Yoshioka-Rio / Paper Products: Peggy Peel and Paces Paper / Bride’s Veil: Saks / Hair Stylist: Debbe Myers / Makeup Artist: Page Luther / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: BCBG / Groom’s Attire: Red by Hugo Boss / Groomsmen Attire: Men’s Wearhouse / Band: Anita

Written with love by Lisa