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AnnaKathryn (even her double name is Southern!) + Ryan’s big day was filled with intentional details and sweet surprises, but the thing that stood out most to their fabulous planner from RiverOaks was the number of loving family hands that went into this wedding: “there was a uniqueness to the willingness of all involved in the planning and execution of this wedding in that so many wanted to serve – in a real humble and sincere manner.” Wow, now that is some Sweet Tea Society goodness! Keep a lookout for thoughts from AnnaKathryn, her Momma, and the gals of RiverOaks throughout this post — they all wanted to chime in!

Now, as a big fan of horse and buggies (BDK and I rode off in a carriage from our own wedding!) I loved that the bride and her father’s carriage entrance was a complete surprise to everyone, setting the tone for an evening where details unfolded slowly and with purpose.

Big thank yous to Hunter McRae for capturing all the loveliness of AnnaKathryn + Ryan’s celebration!

From the RiverOaks ladies: We used orchids, sweet peas, parrot tulips, hellebores, garden roses, peonies, lilac, ranunculus, and various gathered foliage such as ferns, pods, and hostas to make the floral elements unique to this day. The bride’s bouquet was adored with a simple pearl cross fashioned from the corsage pins on the stemmed handle. The bride and her mom told us they wanted a gathered look, as though objects were taken from a home to prepare for a wedding. The bride’s mother asked that the elements be simplistic, strong, and elegant, like her daughter. So, the twenty-plus guest tables were topped with a collection of ceramic urns with herbs, lanterns on rye grass, bouquets on tree stumps, glass cloche terrariums, bundled candles, and handled pitchers with florals. The cocktail area had grapevine and moss balls topped with orchids hanging from the trees.

From AnnaKathryn’s mama: AnnaKathryn hadn’t spent time dreaming and thinking about her wedding, so when the time came she had no clue about wedding gowns and styles. Shopping was a precious time with her maid of honor, a sweet friend of 20 years, and her mom. Knowing that her wedding would be outside, she wanted a gown that moved with her. We were overjoyed when she was confident she found her dress! Her maid of honor tried on a few bridesmaid dresses, too, and AnnaKathryn surprised us again when she decided on her bridesmaids’ dresses and the colors all during our first visit to a bridal shop. Typically, AnnaKathryn labors over decisions, but with the wedding, she seemed to have the mindset that things would be beautiful, which carried her through planning with joy and ease, never having the weight of the need for things to be perfect.

What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? My father is a pastor in Mount Pleasant, and it was so special to have him marry us.  He spoke his homily from Isaiah 61:3, “They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.” This is a verse he and my mother have prayed for their children and generations to come since their own marriage.
From the RiverOaks ladies: The brother of the bride opened the wedding with the reading of Psalm 103 by standing in the aisle amid all the guests. The bride and groom asked everyone sharing the joyful occasion with them to please pray the words of Romans 15:5-6 for them, as they desire their marriage to be founded upon the Gospel of Christ and anchored in the Word of God.

From the RiverOaks ladies The ceremony, although outdoors, was truly set in a sanctuary. The contemporary worship leader at the bride’s church thoughtfully prepared music of praise to set the tone, which was important to this couple and their families as they entered into a Biblical marriage. Hymns such as “Come thou Fount of Every Blessing” and “How Firm a Foundation” were played throughout the ceremony and during communion (using the groom’s parents’ communion cups). The horse-drawn carriage bridal entry arrived to the powerful tune of “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.” Lastly, it was fitting for the wedding guests to sing “And Can It Be” together, as everyone who knows the bride’s father knows it’s his favorite hymn.

From the RiverOaks ladies: The three flower girls continued their role as sign bearers throughout the wedding. In order to transition the guests in a delightful way, the girls took turns frolicking through the reception with beribboned pennants such as “cut the cake,” “first dance,” “sweet treats,” and “goodnight.” Additionally, as wedding planners we like to build in something special for the groom that is all about him. The traditional military Sword Arch (the groom graduated from The Citadel) was brought to RiverOaks as the couple departed through sparklers. The bride also handed off her bouquet to the groom to carry while she “walked the line” with a football in honor of her linebacker!

What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Entering by horse-drawn carriage with my dad to Highland Cathedral on the bagpipes and seeing Ryan at the altar. Also, before cutting the cake, Ryan thanked our guests for coming, and then really blessed me publicly with a short toast.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Planning a wedding, especially in Charleston, can be overwhelming.  Find a good wedding planner and communicate your desires, expectations, and limitations.  Planning the details can be super fun, but don’t let the small things steal the joy of the process.  At the end of the day, you will still be married to your love!

Oh my, these desserts sound delicious! From the RiverOaks ladies: Dessert was one of the best toasted coconut cakes we have ever tasted! It was made with gluten-free love for the bride. A church member made 25 additional coconut cakes from the bride’s favorite recipe that were the talk of town. As if that weren’t enough, Chef Bob prepared berry cobblers for each family style table as well, topped by table service al la mode! The mother of the bride also made mini ice cream sandwiches with homemade gluten-free gingersnaps filled with various coconut milk ice cream flavors to pass as a late night snack on the dance floor.

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration?  What was Southern about your wedding? Shag dancing under the lighted live oaks.  We also surprised Ryan with a Citadel-style sword arch as we headed for our get-away boat.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? It was a challenge to balance the wedding planning with finishing my last semester of nursing school.  I passed my boards the week before the wedding.  My mom and the RiverOaks team were incredible and picked up my slack in the planning process!

From the RiverOaks ladies: The outdoorsy Mr. and Mrs. who love boating the low country departed by boat with Thai lanterns overhead provided by the grandfather of the bride who resides in Thailand and couldn’t make the wedding. After some reflective time alone on the river and the dispersal of the guests, the couple returned quietly to their venue and departed by limousine to historic downtown Charleston for a “mini-moon” before their trip to Europe a few months later.

How did the two of you meet?  Tell us your story. Mutual friends introduced us, but we really hit it off when Ryan asked me and two friends on a triple-date with his brother and a football teammate from the Citadel.  The date consisted of a 3-on-3 basketball tournament which the girls won! We had so much fun getting to know each other during dinner at Poe’s Tavern afterward.  A few weeks later, Ryan took me to a show at the Sottile Theater, which sealed the deal.
Describe the proposal. Right at the beginning of our relationship, Ryan told two of his best friends that I would be his wife.  It took about 7 months, but he proposed to me at the scenic grounds of Alhambra Hall in the Old Village of Mt. Pleasant on September 17, the day before my birthday.  Unbeknownst to me, he planned a birthday party for me that same night.  When our friends and family yelled “surprise,” we surprised them right back with a ring on my finger!
In what month did you get married? May 2012
How many guests attended your wedding? 220, with a large wedding party!
Did you decide to do a “first look”? Ryan did not know that I would be entering by horse-drawn carriage with my father.  Because we had this special entrance planned, we did not do a “first look.”  It was a special moment when we made eye contact that we will not soon forget.
Describe your wedding cake or dessert: We served peach and blueberry cobbler for dessert, but our far and away favorite was the coconut wedding cake.  I only wish that some had made it into our limo that night!
What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? We are so happy we chose to go with Hunter McRae; she captured the beauty of the day and was so sweet and helpful during the whole process.  It was a last-minute decision by my mom, though, to have Leslie Buhler do videography.  We are so happy she did.  The compilations she put together for us really take us back to that day.
What’s next for you as a couple?  What are you looking forward to in the future? I am back in school at MUSC to be a nurse practitioner and Ryan is working as an engineer.  We love to explore the natural beauty of Charleston and spend time with other newlyweds.

marissa Written with love by Marissa
5 Comments
  1. avatar Melissa Tuck reply

    Love the ring shot (succulents yes!) and the cake shot. And that first photo is an awesome journalistic shot – love all the action going on and it’s composed spot on! Such a lovely wedding and beautifully captured!

  2. avatar Lauren reply

    This wedding is so thoughtful and gorgeous. I love it!

  3. avatar Stephen reply

    BEAUTIFUL!

  4. avatar Gorgeous Charleston Wedding | Wedding Resource reply

    […] If you love beautiful weddings, you will adore this Charleston, SC gem full of heartfelt details. The bride and her father entered the ceremony in a horse-drawn carriage and then her father, a pastor, also performed the marriage ceremony. A special gluten-free toasted coconut cake was on the menu, as were meaningful hymns, a Citadel sword arch, and a gorgeous pair of wreaths on a cross at the outdoor altar. Enjoy all the Southern wedding goodness over at Southern Weddings. […]

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We love every bride we have the pleasure of featuring on Southern Weddings, but today’s bride is particularly special — because we know her personally! And y’all do, too! Or at least our long time readers do. Some of you may recognize Caroline’s pretty face from V3’s hot air balloon shoot. We loved Miss Caroline so much we asked her back for a V4 shoot, and this time, her boyfriend Lionel came along, too. While we were hoping Lionel would propose at the shoot (no luck), we did hear that he had popped the question a few weeks later, and we’ve been waiting to see their wedding photos ever since!

The photos are in, and now we get to share them with you! From Caroline’s relaxed waves and adorable braid-halo to the absolutely stunning light in Melissa Schollaert’s beautiful photographs, I love the organic and fresh feeling of Caroline + Lionel’s jewel-tone nuptials. Aside from each and every pretty detail you can see on this page, I can’t pass up mentioning how fun and unique C + L’s music was! Caroline said they chose music from their favorite movies, including Legends of the Fall, Father of the Bride, The Cider House Rules, and Braveheart. Such a fun way to incorporate their personalities into the fabric of their big day!

WOAH, nelly! Can we please stop and stare at Caroline’s grandmother’s to-die-for ring she rocked on her big day?

Okay, moving on!

Tell us about finding your wedding dress: I knew I wanted to find something classic and fitted with some lace and also something that would look good in the fall outdoors. I went with my sister just to look at a store that was closing in the area (Priscilla’s of Boston) and I ended up purchasing a brand new dress on sale. I knew it was the one because I looked and felt like a bride! (I’m actually selling it here.)

Describe your wedding flowers: My aunt did the flowers and we went with a lot of white (roses, ranunculus, hydrangeas, lilies), touches of purples (calla lilies), and some greenery (baby’s breath). They were all so beautiful! I think my aunt has a new career!

Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding.  The music was very unique throughout the wedding. We played a lot of music from our favorite movies (Legends of the Fall, Father of the Bride, The Cider House Rules, and Braveheart). Growing up and listening to the Legends of the Fall soundtrack, I knew one day I would walk down the aisle to it. My sister did it too. We also had a musician perform our favorite praise and worship song, “10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)” by Matt Redman during the ceremony.

Did you decide to do a “first look”? Yes, I love taking pictures and I wanted to make sure we could get as many in as possible! Lionel was thrilled too! Those were some of my favorite pictures of the entire wedding and such a special moment to watch on the wedding video. We also got to spend more time at the cocktail hour with our friends and family.

Did you write your own vows?  We didn’t state the traditional wedding vows, but we put together ones that fit us better personally. “I Caroline take you Lionel to be my best friend, my faithful partner, and my one true love.” They were more intimate because they were really geared toward us as a couple.

What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? My little sister read Colossians 3:12-17 and my grandmother read Deuteronomy 6:5-9. It was so sweet to hear both of them speak during the ceremony, and for them to read some of my favorite verses on marriage and love. My grandparents have been married 62 years and counting. They are so special to me!

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: For me, it was the ceremony. It couldn’t have been more perfect — the setting on the lake, the cross, the weather, the breeze, the music and of course, marrying Lionel! Tyler, my brother-in law who introduced us, was the officiant. He did an awesome job lightening the mood with his humor. I remember his first line: “Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today to witness my debut as a wedding officiant!” We also loved how the tent turned out. The lighting was so beautiful along with the farm tables and mahogany chairs! We brought the ballroom outside!

Describe your wedding cake or dessert: It was the best cake I ever tasted and it was very pretty too! I wanted something simple but tasty and it was perfection! We had three layers with different flavors: White chocolate with Nutella filling, chocolate pistachio with milk chocolate mocha buttercream and Italian cream with Nutella filling. We couldn’t even wait until our one year anniversary to eat our saved toped layer! It lasted about a week.

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration?  What was Southern about your wedding? The food! Cheese grits and short ribs for dinner, fried mac ‘n’ cheese balls and crab cakes for appetizers. The décor was also Southern. We had hay bales, vintage window panels for seating assignments and the outdoor venue. Also, we played country music at the reception. We also had a Southern-themed rehearsal dinner the night before with hay seating, a low country boil, sunflowers, and sweet tea in mason jars.

How did the two of you meet?  Tell us your story. We meet through my brother in-law, Tyler, who was trying to play matchmaker. Tyler and Lionel had a mutual friend in the Army and would often hang out together. Both of my sisters had already met Lionel and approved so I was less hesitant. Lionel, however, thought the safest way to communicate with me was on my birthday through Facebook, a week before his deployment to Afghanistan. In Lionel’s words, “Upon Caroline accepting my friend request and looking at her pictures, I immediately regretted waiting so long to communicate with her, Tyler had obviously done a poor job describing her.” Lionel arrived in Afghanistan and was excited to have email connections so he could communicate with me. Long story short, Lionel decided to write me an email hoping for a response, and we ended up writing each other every day throughout his three-month deployment! The first weekend he got back, we met for the first time and the rest was history!
Describe the proposal.
I’m an avid golfer so the first weekend we met, I insisted that we play golf. We made a bet that if I won, then he owed me a date in Charleston where I didn’t have to make any decisions. Well I won the golf match and almost a year later I got my surprise weekend date in Charleston where Lionel proposed on the beach. It’s kind of cool to think the bet we made on our first date ended with me wining a proposal!
In what month did you get married? October
How many guests attended your wedding? 100
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? I did all the planning throughout the entire engagement. There are so many details and tasks to accomplish right before the wedding that can become stressful. We did hire a coordinator/planner for the day of so that was helpful for me!
What range did your wedding budget fall into?  $25,000-$50,000
What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? The lighting, tables and chairs, videographer, and photographer!
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Make a list of what’s most important for both the bride and groom. For me, it was the pictures, ambiance and food. For Lionel, it was the atmosphere, wine and the food. Also, take pictures from magazines and Pinterest to every vendor appointment so everyone is on the same page. When the caterer asks you how you want your napkins folded, you already have thought of it and have a picture!
What’s next for you as a couple?  What are you looking forward to in the future?  We are looking forward to Lionel graduating in May with his MBA. We will be moving to Houston, TX where Lionel will start work. I continue to travel a lot with my modeling career. We are seeing a house full of kids happening in a few years once we get settled.

Melissa Schollaert is a delightful member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

marissa Written with love by Marissa
24 Comments
  1. avatar Shannon reply

    This wedding is so so lovely! I especially love the late night milk & cookies!

  2. avatar Drew reply

    Caroline was a pleasure to work with and the final product was amazing! Melissa is such a talented photographer.

  3. avatar Kelly Taylor reply

    The colors are absolutely lovely & the gold details are stunning as well. What a beautiful wedding and even better inspiration!!

  4. avatar Jessica B reply

    Beautiful wedding! Love the Southern decor details (magnolia leaves, lanterns, etc), especially the tablescapes. Elegant without being fussy.

  5. avatar Ashley S reply

    Love this! Where was the ceremony held?

  6. avatar Dee Shore reply

    Cookie shots? Yes please!

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  8. avatar Kathy C reply

    Love the bridesmaid dresses. What is the style number of the dress with the cap sleeves? Were they added after purchase?

    • avatar Nicole reply

      Hi Kathy! That bridesmaid dress looks closest to the CHIFFON G736C style from Amsale. Hope that helps!

  9. avatar Jane reply

    what color does amsale call this??

    • avatar Kathy C reply

      Jane: They call it eggplant–the chiffon is slightly lighter than the lining because of the way the die takes, but it’s really pretty in person and seems to photograph better than darker purples.

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  18. avatar Jessica reply

    Beautiful wedding! What did you use for the venue?

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Ready for basically the cutest love story ever, y’all? Listen up: Michelle + Paul knew they wanted to marry each other when they were seventeen. Back then, Paul even dropped to one knee and asked Michelle to promise to marry him one day. (She said yes!) “Most people don’t think love is possible for young teenagers, but we knew we loved each other only a few months after we started dating,” said Michelle. Six years to the day after their first date, the two tied the knot at J & D Farms in Alabama. Read on for the rest of their courtship (including many more details of epic love story proportion!).

Their picnic reception was a way for them to do one of their favorite things for the first time as a married couple with their closest friends and family. We love that guests were able to mingle among the quilts and tables and then take home their picnic baskets! Big hugs to Simply Bloom Photography for sharing M + P’s lovely day with us!

Did you decide to do a “first look”? Yes, we saw each other before the wedding. We wanted a moment between just the two of us instead of in front of the crowd of guests. It was hard to decide, but it was the best decision we made. It was sweet and relaxing and a special moment between just us, which is often unheard of on your wedding day!
Did you write your own vows? Yes, we wrote our own vows and read them to each other during the ceremony. Our wedding officiant had gone through marriage counseling with us, so we did include some the Biblical husband and wife responsibilities in our vows, but added our own special promises to each other. My favorite line in Paul’s vows to me was “I promise to always be thinking of you and will constantly give you all that I am and nothing that I am not.” Paul’s favorite line in my vows to him was, “I vow to love you more each day than I did the day before, and I look forward to seeing you carry 50 red roses.”

What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Weather and food. It rained continuously the entire two weeks leading up to the wedding, and we had planned a completely outdoor wedding. The days before, we created a Plan A (it’s sunny), Plan B (it might rain) and Plan C (it’s raining). Praise the Lord, it stopped raining that morning and the sun was bright enough to dry the ground. We were blessed with one of the most beautiful sunsets the venue owner said he had seen all summer. It started raining as soon as the reception was over and everyone had left. As for food, I had a clear plan in mind of what I wanted the picnic reception to include. After meeting with several caterers, none of them could offer that exactly. We ended up doing everything ourselves. It was a team effort of my sister’s mother-in-law (who catered years ago), my mom, my sister and brother-in-law, my aunt and cousin, a church friend and her daughter, and one of my former college roommates. The menu was gourmet grilled cheese, chicken bites, pasta salad, Caesar salad, fresh fruit, fudge brownies, my homemade lemonade (I squeezed 120 lemons!) sweet tea and water with lime.

We wanted everything to be shabby chic, so the flowers were very whimsical. They were all shades of lavender and Robin’s egg blue. Instead of using large blooms, we used all sprigs and herbs. I wanted it to appear as if we picked the flowers from our backyard the morning of the wedding, which we actually did end up doing. My Aunt Jenna grew most of the flowers in her own yard the year leading up to the wedding and picked them the day before and day of the wedding to bring to the venue and assemble. We used sprigs of lavender, purple lantana, rosemary, lockspur, delphiniums, and baby’s breath, to name a few. Jenna arranged them in blue transparent mason jars with raffia bows tied around the lip then placed one on each picnic table and all around the reception area.

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? Mason jars for the flowers, quilts that were my great-grandmother’s that have been passed down through the generations, a barn as a focal point of the reception, Paul’s bowtie and seersucker jacket, a banjo and stand-up bass guitar and folk singing, our weddin’ sign, a vintage Model T station wagon for transporting guests from parking to the ceremony, drinks in mason jars with grey and white striped paper straws, a 1950’s two-tiered vintage table I found at the Country Living Fair, and the lead singer of the band (my friend Sharla) made us a personal quilt with our names and wedding date to sit on at the reception.

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. Paul and I grew up together. We started playing together after school when I was in second grade. His mother was a kindergarten teacher and my grandmother was a librarian. At age 13, we became best friends in marching band. We were “just friends,” but we both secretly had a crush on the other. The summer before my junior year of high school – I was drum major and Paul was the drum line captain – I had to call all of the section leaders to remind them of band camp and I called Paul last because I was nervous to talk on the phone with him. When I finally called him, we talked on the phone for five hours straight, chatting about how we wanted to travel the world one day and how we didn’t know we had so much in common. We didn’t want to get off the phone although I had to go (majorette practice was about to start and I had to unlock their practice building). Sitting there watching batons fly, I saw a silhouette in my peripheral. It was Paul. I asked him why he was there and he said, “I came to rescue you.” At that second, I left the building keys with the majorette captain, hopped in Paul’s car and went on what turned out to be our first date – a walk around Heritage Park and eating at Arby’s. Two days later on July 13, 2006, Paul officially asked me to be his girlfriend. Most people don’t think love is possible for young teenagers, but we knew we loved each other only a few months after we started dating. Paul even knew he wanted to marry me when we were 17. One night in my room he even got down on one knee and asked me to promise to marry him one day (I said “yes”). Then on July 13, 2007, Paul came to my house with a single red rose. He said, “This is one rose for one year of being in love with you. One day I won’t be able to carry them all.” That began the tradition of receiving a rose for every year we have been together on July 13.
Describe the proposal. On July 12, 2011, I went to sleep that night at my parents’ house as usual, and Paul was at school in Tuscaloosa. I was woken up at midnight by the sound of my door creaking open and could see a dark figure standing in my doorway. I was frightened because there was something that looked as if it was jolting out the sides of the figure’s body. I rose up and started whispering, “Hello? Hello?” I’m sure I didn’t sound very intimidating if someone was really trying to break into our house… Then the figure started walking toward me. Heart racing, I finally adjusted my eyes to focus. It was Paul. He was carrying five red roses. I couldn’t find my glasses and I was still somewhat groggy from sleep, so I didn’t really understand what was going on. I just kept asking him why he wasn’t at school like he should be. He assured me everything was fine, and he knelt next to my bed. He started reminding me of everything we had been through together, most of it at my house and in my room – the first time he came over to my house and we just talked and tossed popcorn into each others’ mouths, our first kiss, my recovery after gallbladder surgery when he sat next to me all day until I woke up. Then he said, “Right over there when we were 17, I asked you to marry me one day. I knew then what I know now, but this time I brought a ring.” He looked at the clock and brought to my attention that it was just after midnight, making this the first thing to happen on July 13. “Michelle, will you marry me?” I said, “Yes!”
In what month did you get married? July 13, 2012. It was our sixth anniversary.
How many guests attended your wedding? 100
Tell us about finding your wedding dress: I actually found it online! It’s by Lyn Ashworth. I saw a picture and it fit all my criteria: tea length for our outdoor wedding, poofy to fulfill my need to be Cinderella, and in a romantically elegant material. I ordered it online (didn’t even try it on!) and it fit with minimal alterations.
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding. The wedding party walked in to Ben Rector’s “White Dress,” with a small break for everyone to stand up and the house doors to open at the verse, “She’s coming in on Friday and then the close spark…” That’s when I walked down the aisle. For the recessional, we walked back down the aisle to Dave Matthews Band’s “You and Me,” which we also danced to for our first dance.
Describe your wedding cake or dessert: We had miniature cupcakes from Dreamcakes Bakery in Birmingham. The flavors were strawberry, lemon and coconut.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: The picnic reception. Paul and I have always loved going on picnics together, so we wanted our first picnic as a married couple to be with all of our family and friends. We all sat on quilts on the ground and on picnic tables and ate dinner from individual family picnic baskets (which guests got to take home as their favors).
If you are comfortable responding, what range did your wedding budget fall into? We ended up spending between $10,000 and $25,000.
What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? The venue and photography.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Paul and I loved our first moments of seeing each other before the wedding. It was comforting and romantic and we realized that we were minutes away from starting an exciting new life together. Nothing else mattered.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Buy a wedding planning book the day after you get engaged (I recommend The Knot Book of Wedding Lists). Don’t let the tiny details stress you out because at the end of the day, you will still be married to the love of your life, which is much more important. Utilize the talents of friends and family members, and don’t worry about what other people want or think – it’s your wedding!
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? We are looking forward to Paul graduating with his master’s degree and settling into a new job, wherever that may be!

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

    Love love love that someone executed the picnic reception, so well! I had this idea for a photo shoot I worked on last year – only 3 blankets/baskets. It’s wonderiful to see this come to life with lots of blankies and picnic tables – how fun!! So glad the weather held out and this coupld is SO darling! Congrats!

  2. avatar Kate Collison reply

    Congratulations, Michelle! You should send one of your beautiful photos to Lyn Ashworth so she can add you to “Real Brides” on her website! I saw your lovely wedding posted here and checked out the dress designer for one of my friends who’s still looking for her dream dress. Thanks so much for sharing your big day!

  3. avatar Lisa reply

    Not only is this one of the most charming weddings I’ve ever seen, I’m also a little choked up at their sweet story! What a beautiful couple!

  4. avatar YVETTE PRICE reply

    Just darling! Love the story behind this adorable couple!
    xoxoxo

  5. avatar Vania -SimplyBloom Photography, LLC reply

    thank you so much gals! we are honored to have our work on your site :D

  6. avatar Allie reply

    this wedding is gorgeous…very homey & them. i love that about weddings these days. it’s not about dressing up and having a party (well, sort of the party bit), but mostly just about having an event that represents the special day and who you are.

  7. avatar Emily reply

    ADORE this couple’s story! The part about the roses just does me in…

  8. avatar Lauren reply

    The photography is gorgeous, of course! I love the picnic theme and how cozy this wedding feels. What a sweet story!

  9. avatar Sarah reply

    Such a beautiful wedding and great story. July 13th, 2006 is mine and my boyfriend’s anniversary of our first date too!

  10. avatar NC Wedding Planner- Orangerie Events reply

    I love the idea of a picnic reception! Such a fun spin on the traditional wedding reception. Very unique! Thanks for sharing!

  11. avatar Emily’s Woodland Wildflower Bouquet Inspiration Board | Afloral.com Wedding Blog reply

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  14. avatar Let’s Have a Picnic! | blovelyevents reply

    […] {Same idea for individual picnic seating but a little more rustic chic. I just love the little pillows and blankest with the benches. This lovely picnic wedding is from I Love SW Mag} […]

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