Southern Weddings

Y’all, I cannot stop staring at these pictures of Abbigail and Dylan’s incredible wedding venues! The only thing more lovely than the idyllic Tennessee farm where they said “I do” was their reception in the backyard of Abbigail’s parents’ home, which was modeled after one of their favorite houses in Charleston. That was just one of so many touching, family-oriented details at Abbigail and Dylan’s wedding–they also said a “joining of families” prayer at their ceremony (read about it below–such a great idea!), had the same poem read as Dylan’s parents had at their wedding, and drove off as newlyweds in Abbigail’s dad’s vintage truck. As if that wasn’t enough to love, did I mention their reception meal was ice cream? So fun!

Thank you kindly to Andrew Allen Morton for sharing this beautiful wedding with us!

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. The first time I went shopping, I was just trying to decide what shape/look I was going for. The second time, I tried on a few dresses and, after going back and forth between two similar dresses, decided on “Dakota” by Enzoani. I didn’t cry or anything–I just loved the dress and felt great in it!

For my something old, my aunt gave me a beautiful pearl necklace when I graduated college that was given to her by my grandmother when she graduated college. I wore it as a bracelet. My something new was my earrings! I got them on Etsy and they were white drop druzy stones. I loved the contrast between the lace in my dress and the rough stone. I borrowed a piece of my mom’s lace to wrap around my bouquet, and Dylan gave me a promise ring for my birthday that is blue turquoise. A lady at my church also surprised me with a silver penny. They were only made in 1943 when there was a shortage of copper during WWII. I didn’t wear shoes, but I had it!

Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? We didn’t do a first look because we both liked the element of surprise. There is something so beautiful about the emotion of that moment walking down the aisle, and we knew from the beginning we wanted to go the traditional route. We didn’t see each other at all the day of, and it was definitely worth it!

What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they have any special significance to you? The ceremony venue immediately stood out to us. We looked at a few different places, and none of them seemed quite right, but Grace Meadows Farm had a little bit of everything–rolling hills, a beautiful white fence, and a pond. It was an easy choice! They actually have a beautiful red barn where a lot of people have their weddings and receptions, but we couldn’t pass up the beauty of the property.

What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? My brother picked “On Love” by Kahlil Gibran to read. Only after he picked it, Dylan’s parents said they had the same poem read at their wedding–such a wonderful coincidence!
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? One of the details about the ceremony that we thought had a Southern feel was having a “joining of families.” Instead of me being given away, we had all four of our parents come to the altar and pray together, celebrating the new family being created.

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: I can’t pick just one! Some of our favorites were the arbor we stood under, the car we left in, and the guest book. Dylan and my dad built the arbor with wood that we gathered with Dylan’s parents from their farm, and it was decorated by my mom and some ladies that have known me since I was little, so it was a collaborative effort and something we are all very proud of. The car we left in was my dad’s 1972 royal blue Ford Bronco. It was so much fun riding it to our hotel after the reception! The guest book was a handmade journal from one of our friends. She has a small business called Ink+Honey, where she makes beautiful journals and jewelry, so it’s one of a kind! Definitely a keepsake.

The reception venue was my house. My parents built our house about 13 years ago, so I did a lot of my growing up there. The original house plans were for a house in Charleston, South Carolina (which is still standing today) that my parents always loved, so it’s a very Southern-style home. Since I was little, I wanted to have either my ceremony or the reception there. It’s a beautiful place full of fond memories for me.

What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? Andrew Morton was our photographer, and we couldn’t have been happier with him. He is incredibly talented and he was so easy and fun to work with from the beginning! Looking back through our pictures allows us to relive the day, which is awesome because it all goes by so fast! He captured the sweetest moments and all the emotion you hope to see in your wedding photos. We can’t say enough about him!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. We met our freshman year of college through a campus ministry group. We have always been good friends–our friend group in college was really close. I had a boyfriend at the time, but Dylan and I both knew there was something special between us. We always knew if we ever got the chance to be together, it would last. After our sophomore year, Dylan transferred to a different college, but we always kept in touch. Eventually, the timing was right, and we jumped right into dating and never looked back! We were planning our wedding practically since our first date.
Tell us all about the proposal! Dylan surprised me with a nice sushi dinner, chocolate ice cream (my favorite!), and a sunset hike up Roan Mountain. When we got to the top, there was a quilt with wine and candles set up–I actually thought someone else was having a romantic evening and we were about to ruin it, so I said, “Someone’s on a date–we have to leave!” I quickly realized it was for me when I turned back around to see Dylan on one knee. My parents were actually hidden behind a rock taking pictures of the whole thing. After I said yes, they jumped out and lots of crying/screaming followed. :) Our friends and family were waiting at my parents’ house for a surprise engagement party.
When did y’all get married? May 31, 2014
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 300
Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We wrote our vows together. I think our favorite phrase was “I promise to remember that your feelings are more important than my preferences, and peace is always better than victory.”
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. The bridal party walked out to “Out of the Woods” by Nickel Creek, which is just a beautiful song that we have both always loved. I walked in to “Heartbeats” by Jose Gonzalez, because we liked the untraditional sound and the ambiance of the guitar. We walked out to “The Valley” by The Oh Hellos, which is fun and upbeat! Our first dance was to “Ulysses” by Josh Garrels–it’s soft and beautiful and has always meant so much to us as a couple.
Describe your wedding flowers. We used silk flowers to decorate the entire ceremony so that we could save money and make all the arrangements before the big day. It was great because we didn’t have to worry about them wilting or being damaged. We used every ivory-colored flower we could find, and threw in a few tans and browns too. We decided to use real flowers at the reception and for the bouquets–we had ivory roses, baby’s breath, carnations, and a lot of greenery.
Describe your wedding cake or dessert. We had Ben and Jerry’s catering with four types of ice cream and five different flavors of cake. Since it was a late ceremony/reception, we thought ice cream would be good for a late dessert. The bride and groom’s cakes didn’t turn out quite like we were hoping, but they tasted great!
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Definitely planning for 300+ people!
If you are comfortable responding, what range did your wedding budget fall into? $10,000-$25,000
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? I sounds cheesy, but it was definitely when we saw each other for the first time at the end of the aisle. How could it be any other moment? It’s the one we’d always dreamed of!
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Don’t sweat the small stuff! It’s easy to get overwhelmed with details and everything going perfectly, but just know that it’s impossible for every single detail to be perfect. Find peace in remembering what the day is truly about, and go for it!
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? We are moving to the Nashville area and working towards grad school. We are most looking forward to all the adventures we have ahead of us and to see what God has in store for our lives.

Photographer: Andrew Allen Morton / Videographer: Sam Pierce / Planner: Luci Jernigan / Ceremony Venue: Grace Meadows Farms / Reception Venue: Private residence / Florist: Food City, Hobby Lobby / Wedding Cake: Cakebuds / Cake and Ice Cream: Ben and Jerry’s / Rentals: Rentals Rentals of Tennessee, East TN Rentals / Lighting: Holiday Lightscapes by Chuck Bennett / Guest Book: Ink + Honey / Bride’s Gown: “Dakota” by Enzoani / Paper Products: Smarty Had A Party / Bride’s Earrings: MamacitaStudios / Hair Stylist: Savannah Young from Parlour & Juke / Makeup Artist: MAC / Bride’s Shoes: Barmine (barefoot sandals) / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: David’s Bridal, Altar’d State, JCPenney, ModCloth / Men’s Attire: H&M

Written with love by Lisa