Google+ polka dot bow tie Archives - Southern Weddings

Southern Weddings

Tag: polka dot bow tie

It’s a good week here at Southern Weddings for my fellow pink and gold glitter-loving gals! After thoroughly gushing over yesterday’s wedding, I considered reigning in my enthusiasm a little for Katey and Matt’s post, but decided against it. If you know me, you know that when I get excited, I talk WAY too fast, so please read this quickly and drink in all the prettiness below!

As a wedding planner herself, Katey had so many creative ideas, but she knew she didn’t want to go overboard. Armed with Kate Spade as her inspiration and the beautiful Sanderling Resort as her backdrop, she created a perfectly preppy celebration! I think she found just the right balance of big and bright (hello ah-mazing paper flowers at the ceremony) and sweet and subtle (that LulaKate bow belt)! It’s also completely romantic that Katey and Matt held their wedding weekend in the same place where she realized he was the one for her–swoon!

I’m so glad Meaghan Elliot was there to capture this wedding!

Tell us all about the proposal! We were with my family in the Bahamas over the holidays. Although it seemed like the perfect time to propose, I had no idea it was coming, as we had briefly talked about getting engaged sometime in 2014 and then getting married in 2015. This vacation was in 2012! My sister and I gifted our parents with professional family photos on the beach as a Christmas present. While the photographer was snapping pictures, I turned around to check out the sunset, and when I turned back around, Matt was on one knee. It was the shock of a lifetime!

Oh, nelly! Wedding dress shopping was so much fun! For the first shopping trip, I brought my mom, sister, best friend, and a few aunts. We had a large group, but it was such a special time to share with some of the most important women in my life. I went back with just two ladies a few weeks later and found my dress! To make it more “me,” I found the perfect bow belt from LulaKate and a veil with three stripes on the bottom, which really helped complete my look and personalize it a bit.

Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? Yes! I felt as though nothing would take away from that iconic moment when I walked down the aisle with my dad and saw Matt at the end waiting for me–even if we had seen each other before. I loved being able to see him and it helped settle a few nerves. We were able to get some pictures together and with the bridal party, which allowed us to enjoy more time with our guests after the ceremony.

Our bridal party walked down the aisle to “In My Life” by The Beatles, We thought that was a great song to celebrate all of our friendships with our bridal party. We went very traditional for the other songs–I walked down the aisle to “Bridal March,” and “Wedding Chorus” played when we were announced man and wife.

What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Matt and I were taking pictures on the beach at sunset when we came up over the dune to join everyone else who was already dancing. We stood up on top of the dune for a few minutes and watched our friends and family celebrating our marriage at one of our favorite places. The sun dipped into the bay and we went to join in on the party…we’ll never forget that!

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: It sounds corny, but it was so amazing to have so many of our friends and family not only in the same state, but in the same 400-foot radius. Our loved ones are spread out all over the country and to have them all in the Outer Banks for a few days was so nice. As for the details, we didn’t even plan this, but guys ended up putting their escort card flowers on their shirt or suit pockets, so it was like all the men had boutonnieres. It really added a fun pop of color to the wedding in an unexpected place.

Describe your wedding flowers. Working with Renee Landry was fantastic, and with my ideas and her creative genius, we ended up with three looks for the tables. They were all rectangle or square and were inspired by a bright, colorful, Kate Spade look. We did small bud vases with massive peonies in them for the longer tables, and we sprinkled in garden roses as well. Everything was bright and bold and I loved it! We also spray painted artichokes gold to stick the table numbers in, and they turned out beautifully!

Since my family is from Pittsburgh and we are Italian, we followed a big Italian tradition in Pittsburgh of a cookie bar, where tons of family members bake cookies and serve them at the wedding. Since we had a destination wedding, we knew this wouldn’t exactly be possible. I ended up doing a cookie display with cookies that represented some of our favorite things–our hobbies, dogs, favorite sports teams, and of course, our monogram!

To see more of this gorgeous wedding, take a peek at Katey and Matt’s video by our Blue Ribbon Vendor, Blueberry Creative!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. I lived in DC for awhile working on Capitol Hill, and then headed up to Baltimore to pursue a career in advertising. Mutual Virginia Tech alumni friends brought us together a few times, but it wasn’t until Halloween that we finally met while aboard the Urban Pirate Ship that sails around in the inner harbor in Baltimore (kind of a hilarious place to meet!).
When did y’all get married? June 7, 2014
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 225
What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they have any special significance to you? I grew up going to the Outer Banks, and some of my fondest memories have happened there. After about a year of dating, Matt and I and some friends went to OBX in October for a long weekend. It was the first time many of my friends who didn’t live close by were able to meet Matt and hang out with him. Everything went so well (I figured it would, of course!), and it was on that vacation that I realized he was the one for me. How special to go back and marry him there! Guests stayed at The Sanderling, and we celebrated the welcome party, ceremony, reception, and brunch there. We wanted our wedding weekend to be a vacation for everyone.
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? We had our bridesmaids read our wishes and promises to each other instead of readings. Some were funny and others were more serious–one wished us a lifetime of love, laughter, and strength through life’s ups and downs. In another, I promised not to not force Matt to eat all of the crazy healthy meals I make, like cauliflower pizza!
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Being a wedding planner and working in weddings every day, it was hard to “stop.” I wanted to do so many things and had so many ideas/etc, but I didn’t want to go overboard or over budget. There’s just so much inspiration out there and it’s hard to narrow down ideas.
If you are comfortable responding, what range did your wedding budget fall into? More than $100,000
What was one way you saved money or cut costs at your wedding? I had our bridesmaids carry the boxes with the wishes instead of flowers. Since I chose a very expensive flower for the reception, I knew we needed to save somewhere. It was a fun unique twist for bridesmaids, and it saved me from having to buy 12 bridesmaid bouquets! A few of the girls carried huge paper flowers too.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? When you and your fiancé need to do some planning, go to an interesting place, like a park, a bench on the water, a restaurant (with Internet of course), etc. That way, even if you’re talking about less fun topics, it is not as bad if you’re eating a great meal or watching sailboats go by–we did lots of planning on Baltimore’s waterfront! Also, it’s never too soon to start purchasing things for the wedding! After you nail down your color palette and vision for the day, if you see a cocktail napkin design on Etsy you love, order it, even if the wedding is still five months away. Nothing is worse than praying for a shipment to get in on time!
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? We just can’t wait to see what the future holds for us. We’re in such a great time in our lives–so many of our friends are having babies, buying homes, and creating their lives together. We can’t wait to join in the fun with them!

Photographer: Meaghan Elliott Photography / Videographer: Blueberry Creative / Planner: lemon & lime event design / Day-of Coordinator: Orangerie Events / Venue and Catering: The Sanderling Resort / Florist: Renee Landry Style / Cake Baker: Patti Cakes / Rentals: AFR / Linens: La Tavola Fine Linen / Lighting: Blue Steel Lighting / Band: Burnt Sienna / Paper Products: Fig2 Design Company / Bride’s Gown: “1103” by Blush by Hayley Paige / Bridal Salon: Garnish Boutique / Bride’s Jewelry: Kate Spade / Bride’s Veil: Sara Gabriel / Hair and Makeup: Amie Decker Beauty / Bride’s Shoes: Jack Rogers / Bridesmaid Dresses: LulaKate / Menswear: Perry Ellis / Dog Cookies: Sweet Kiera / Monogram Cookies: Sweet Goosie Girl / Beach/Ski Cookies: Miss Lizzy Cakes / College Cookies: Ruthie’s Cookies / Watercolor Calligraphy: Perch Paper Company / Cheers Signs and Bridesmaids’ Flowers: Lovelyfest Goods / Ceremony Music: Club Violin / Cocktail Hour Music: Hear Steel Drums Play / Escort Card Paper Flowers: Land of Flowers / Monogrammed Bouquet Ribbon: Oatmeal Lace Design / Wedding Signs: Sweet NC Collective / Custom Clutches: Bobbie K Designs / Table Numbers: Better Off Wed / Instagram Clay Vases: Hadley Clay / Koozies: Rouge and Co

Blueberry Creative, Orangerie Events, and the Sanderling Resort are delightful members of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

marissa Written with love by Marissa
12 Comments
  1. avatar Jenn – Wedding Supplies reply

    Amazing details for each any every component of this wedding design – adorable!

  2. avatar Calling Local Mama’s…. | Meaghan Elliott Photography Blog reply

    […] brides (Katey & Matt) weddings (think Kate Spade meets nautical… Outer Banks wedding) is featured on their site today! […]

  3. avatar Hadley reply

    What a beautiful, inspiring wedding! I’m SO thrilled my little instagram bud vase was included! XO

  4. avatar Lisa reply

    What a fun wedding!! Love all the creative ways they used navy and white stripes, and that ceremony space is a show stopper!

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

    […] Katie and Evan did our blush and bashful-loving hearts proud at their beautiful Arkansas wedding! Katey and Matt‘s Kate Spade-inspired wedding took place at a sentimental beach […]

  6. avatar Wedding Video Wednesday XVIIII » Borrowed and Blue Occasions reply

    […] came across this video on one of Southern Weddings posts last week and fell in love with the paper flowers! No detail was over looked and they could […]

  7. avatar Preppy & Peonies { Wedding Inspiration } – Modern Weddings Hawaii reply

    […] Photo Credit: one//two//three//four//five//six//seven//eight//nine//ten//eleven//twelve//thirteen//fourteen//fifteen […]

  8. avatar 12 creative DIY centerpiece ideas for the crafty bride reply

    […] Meaghan Elliott Photography via Southern Weddings […]

  9. avatar Excited M-I-L to be reply

    I really must know where the Katey purchased the robes for the bridesmaids in the Kate Spade inspired wedding. Please, can anyone help me find those….??

    • avatar Lisa reply

      They are from Plum Pretty Sugar! Find them here: http://rstyle.me/ad/w7heabfdsf

  10. avatar 20 Lovely Soft Pink Wedding Bouquets – MODwedding reply

    […] Featured Photography: Meaghan Elliot via Southern Weddings […]

  11. avatar New Years Eve Party Decoration Ideas | The Koch Blog reply

    […] references: 1/ Wedding Bells 2/ The Glitter Guide 3/ The Glitter Guide 4/ Southern Weddings 5/ Lauren Conrad 6/ Best Friends for […]

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!

Reply to:
close

Wedding inspiration can come from anywhere and everywhere, but we believe the best source of inspiration is always your own life and love story. Such was certainly the case for today’s gorgeous couple! Megan is a stylist who is passionate about fashion, so when she fell in love with the look of a Chanel runway show in Paris, she knew she wanted to bring that same “Parisian chic” style to her and Barnett’s Alabama wedding. Add that unique design aesthetic to a pair of sentimental venues, throw in a few extra-sweet details (don’t miss the story behind their heart monogram!), and you have a wedding that I imagine had Megan and Barnett’s guests proclaiming “so them!” In my opinion, that’s the best compliment a bride and groom can ask for.

Many thanks to Stephen DeVries for sharing this special day with us!

Barnett and I met over 10 years ago! I was a junior in high school and he was a sophomore. I first noticed his beautiful hair and the fact that he didn’t dress like the other guys at our school. As girls do, I told my best friends about my new crush…and they set out to fix me up with him! Lucky for us, my friend’s boyfriend was driving Barnett home from school, and before I knew it, I was the one taking him–it was the perfect excuse to talk to him! Long story short, Barnett and I started dating, and the remainder of my time in high school was made perfect with Barnett in my life. We ended up going our separate ways for college, but reconnected four years ago on my birthday. Barnett texted me out of the blue wishing me happy birthday and inviting me to lunch. We got to know one another again and both admitted that we had never gotten over one another. The rest is history!

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. As a a stylist, I work with wedding gowns often and have seen my fair share of divine dresses. While I have loved so many of the gowns I’ve had the pleasure of working with, it wasn’t until I spotted Blair Waldorf of Gossip Girl’s pale blue, long-sleeve Elie Saab wedding gown that I knew I wanted that style of dress for our special day. My friend, Brooke Mason of Ivory and White, was able to order a dress straight off of the Monique Lhuillier runway with a similar feel and look. As soon as I tried it on, I knew it was the one! I changed the dress slightly to suit my silhouette with a shorter sleeve and a slightly lower neckline than the runway sample. All in all, I couldn’t have been more ecstatic to have found a wedding dress that reflected my style so perfectly.

Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? Barnett and I did have a first look, and I’m thrilled we made that decision. We both have wonderfully large families, and therefore wanted to enjoy the time taking pictures together prior to the ceremony. After our ceremony, we were both so happy to hop on the shuttle with our friends and enjoy our night together.

Confession: I shrieked out loud at the sight of their two adorable bichon frisés! My dog is a bichon too, so I have a soft spot for these fluffy pups! :)

Both venues hold a special place in our hearts. Barnett’s family has been attending the church where we were married for generations. We both practically grew up at our reception venue, the Country Club of Birmingham–from long days swimming in the pool every summer as kids, to their delicious meals at Sunday brunch, to special dances and events throughout high school and college. We truly love both of our venues and cherish all of our memories there.

Describe your wedding flowers. My flowers were inspired by a Chanel haute couture fashion show in Paris. I wanted the arrangements to be understated, yet elegant–“Parisian chic,” if you will. Sybil Sylvester was just the person to help me achieve the perfect wedding flowers! We used deep reds, creams, lavender, and a hint of gold.

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: Barnett’s mother is a beautiful artist. On every single birthday or holiday card she has given us over the years, she draws a sweet heart with an arrow through it on the envelope. I surprised Barnett by having her draw one of her hearts with our initials inside it. I then worked with my vendors to take the drawing and convert it into stickers for the popcorn boxes, napkins, and a light that shined on the outside of the country club that greeted our guests upon arrival.

I have two most memorable moments from our wedding day: first and foremost, standing at the altar with Barnett and seeing all of our friends and family surrounding us was surreal and life changing. The second moment would have to be dancing with all of our friends to our incredible band, especially when the band pulled me on stage and I danced alongside them!

Tell us all about the proposal! Our very first date at age 16 was at a local Thai restaurant. Nearly 10 years after our first date, after a long week of work for both of us, Barnett suggested we order takeout from that same Thai spot. After dinner, he informed me that they had messed up his order and had given him a free piece of chocolate cake. I didn’t blink twice and took the box with the cake in it. Upon opening it, I realized there was no cake inside, but rather, a beautiful emerald green ring box. The next few moments are a complete blur, as I couldn’t stop crying, smiling, and telling him how happy I was. After the proposal, Barnett had planned a wonderful evening visiting with our families, drinking champagne, and celebrating!
When did y’all get married? November 2, 2013
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 550
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. Barnett and I chose Neil Young’s “Harvest Moon” as our first dance song. It holds a special place in our hearts, as it became “our song” when we were 16. Every time we went to my family’s lake house, we would just sit on the dock, looking up at the stars and enjoying that song.
Describe your wedding cake or dessert. We had two wedding cakes–one was a traditional wedding cake that was kept very understated and elegant. It was topped with winter berries and dried pomegranates. Our other wedding cake was a traditional French wedding cake, a croquembouche.
Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! My something borrowed was my emerald and diamond drop earrings from Bromberg’s. My something blue was the inside lining of my Christian Louboutin heels. My something old was my great-grandmother’s birdcage hat that I wore when we left the reception. My something new was my dress!
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? On the day of your wedding, don’t let anything stress you out or ruin your day. I made a conscious decision to not let anything bother me and it made the entire experience so joyful and relaxing!
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? We’re six months into being married, and it just keeps getting better and better! Barnett and I currently live in Birmingham with our precious bichons, Rosie and Joey. We are excited to continue to grow as a couple, and travel lots over the next few years. It’s off to a great start, thanks to our incredible honeymoon in Bali!

Photographer: Stephen DeVries / Videographer: Kinora Films / Planner: The Major Event / Ceremony Venue: Independent Presbyterian Church / Reception Venue and Catering: The Country Club of Birmingham / Florist: Wildflower Designs / Wedding Cake: Barb’s Cakes / Rentals: Event Rentals Unlimited / Lighting: Design Productions / Band: Jessie’s Girls with East Coast Entertainment / Calligraphy: Jan Pruitt / Napkins: Scribbler / Heart Logo: Suzanne Chenoweth / Bride’s Gown: “Candice” by Monique Lhuillier / Bridal Salon: Ivory & White / Paper Products: Press Charming / Bride’s Earrings: Bromberg’s Fine Jewelry / Bridal Salon and Veil: Ivory & White / Hair Stylist: Mandie Joelle Powell of Joelle Salon / Makeup Artist: Christopher Magidson with Laura Mercier / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Men’s Tuxedos: Mr. Burch / Groom’s Bow Tie: Billy Reid / Groom’s Shoes: Saks Fifth Avenue

lisa Written with love by Lisa
3 Comments
  1. avatar Emily reply

    I’m not surprised your fashion choices were gorgeous, Megan, but it deserves to be said! Your gown is absolutely lovely, and I adore your bridesmaid dresses, too!

  2. avatar Dana reply

    2 bichons, such a lucky couple!

  3. avatar 21 Beautiful Fall Bridesmaid Dress Colors – crazyforus reply

    […] Stephen Devries stephendevriesweddings.com / Via southernweddings.com […]

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!

Reply to:
close

This morning I came into the office and a copy of The DIY Bride, An Affair to Remember (from the creator of the DIY Bride blog, y’all!) was on my desk! You bet I spent some time flipping through it.

It was great timing, then, to write this post! Sydney + Lucas went homemade all the way with their Front Porch Farms wedding. With family and friends surrounding and supporting them, they unleashed their creativity on the Southern details. The result is a warm gathering with the rustic details we adore. Big thanks to Cali Ashton Photography for sharing!

Can you believe that the bright flowers placed in mason jars around the wedding site were ordered from Sam’s Wholesale? They arrived fresh, pretty and ready for presentation! Though I’m always a fan of mason jars full of flowers, my favorite part of the wedding comes during the ceremony, when Sydney + Lucas made an impromptu dance floor. Read on for details!

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. Our familes’ relationship precedes ours. Our sweet grandparents have been best of friends for years and together they led the youth group and youth camps at our church when they were young parents. Fast forward many years later when I was youth pastor at our church. I needed some male volunteers for an event and I remembered Lucas and asked him if he would like to help. He accepted and we soon became good friends and bonded over our mutual love of the TV show “The Office.” Love shortly followed! Hooray!
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Joyful, breathtaking and spirit-filled!
In what month did you get married? The beautiful autumn month of October
How many guests attended your wedding? 150
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: Our personalities were weaved in and out of everything. I loved toasting with the Mason Jar Wine Glasses I made.
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? Sweet tea, BBQ and a handmade quilt Lucas’ grandmother made for our special day that lay on a porch swing – how much more Southern can you get?
Describe your wedding flowers: We wanted simple yet beautiful flower arrangements. We ordered through Sam’s Wholesale website and were pleasantly surprised at how fresh and gorgeous they were. We threw them in mason jars, antique vases and milk jugs. Southern perfection!
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? My husband and I are very creative people and so it was a challenge harnessing that creativity and making decisions. With the help of our loved ones, we were able to unleash our creativity and showcase who we are through all of the décor and details!
What range did your wedding budget fall into? Less than $10,000
What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? The Venue. Kathy Best at Front Porch Farms did an excellent job providing the most beautiful setting and professionalism when it came to accommodating our needs.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? During our ceremony, we had just finished the love letter portion where we put letters in a box to each other to be opened on our 25 wedding anniversary. Our acoustic musicians were playing background music during this time so instead of awkwardly waiting for them to finish, we ended up slow dancing. It was such a spontaneous moment that was so meaningful, so “us” and so special.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Unleash your creativity! Do not be afraid to be creative in how you spend your money – be thrifty and learn how to use local thrift stores for décor and details! Also, Pinterest is a wonderful place to gather your inspiration and ideas.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? We LOVE creating a home and making it our sanctuary. Lucas just made me a complete bed from reclaimed barn wood – talk about how to make a Southern woman swoon! We hope to continue to grow our handmade home décor business and enjoy each other before we decide to have little ones for a few years.

Photographer: Cali Ashton Photography // Planner: Kathy Best of Front Porch Farms // Venue: Front Porch Farms // Wedding Cake Baker: Publix Bakery // Caterer: Jim N Nicks BBQ // Linens: handmade burlap table runners // Hair stylist and Makeup Artist: Amanda Morgan (615.812.7452) // Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Target // Accessories: Not Too Shabby Designs

Love this wedding? You might like these, too!
Miranda + Blake’s Front Porch Farm Engagement Party here and here
Melissa + Eric’s peach, green and gray wedding here and here.

nicoleyang Written with love by Nicole
9 Comments
  1. avatar Desiree reply

    Well, first off, I wanted to comment on the super (ha) boutonnieres ~ I have so many grooms who could just care less about them. It’s nice to give a manly punch to traditional flowers. Then, I wanted to comment on how adorable the bridesmaids wheat bouquets were & how simply and lovely the table-scapes were.

    Then…my mouth dropped when I read “less than $10,000”. From now on, in my professional career as a wedding planner, I will be referring this wedding to all my brides who complain about low budgets. I always say, “anything can be done with enough creative imagination & inventiveness”. This bride proves this point…and then some. Major kudos to her & I wish the couple many years of happy marriage!!

    ugh. Im obsessed.

  2. avatar Linda at Cedarwood Weddings reply

    We love this wedding! The bridal party attire is so unique. Great job – congrats to everyone involved.

  3. avatar Southern Weddings Magazine | Featured « Cali Ashton Photography reply

    […] Magazine for featuring Sydney & Lucas’ wedding from this past October!  Check it out here.  We love when our brides are rewarded for their […]

  4. avatar Katie reply

    LOVE the dress! Anyone know the designer?

    • avatar Sydney Hutson reply

      Katie: I’m the bride featured. My dress is Allure Bridals design # 8634 in Champagne. :)

  5. avatar inspired : 2.12.12 | beka stays reply

    […] so many fun details in this tennessee wedding […]

  6. avatar Southern Weddings Magazine | Featured » nykandcaliweddingphotography.com reply

    […] Magazine for featuring Sydney & Lucas’ wedding from this past October!  Check it out here.  We love when our brides are rewarded for their […]

  7. avatar Ways To Use Mason Jars | little love notes reply

    […] Hanging mason jar with hanging flowers – Cali Ashton Photography via Southern Weddings 2: Mason jar with floating candle – BHG.com 3: Mason jar with flowers – Examiner.com 4: […]

  8. avatar Leigh Pearce Weddings Blog » Cake Topper Ideas | Asheville North Carolina Wedding Planner reply

    […] Ruffled | 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!

Reply to:
close
Top