Southern Weddings

Melissa + Eric were college sweethearts who met as teenagers at camp. After reuniting with Melissa in Nashville and proposing on campus under a gazebo, translating the Southern romance into Southern wedding style looks practically effortless. Ribbon details looked marvelous swaying in the wind and even better dressed up with calligraphy! Melissa’s sister wrote “Love in the Life – That is Paradise” on the ribbon wrapped around Melissa’s white rose bouquet. We love how easy it was to personalize, but how sweet it looks! From the flower girl’s banner to the vine-draped altar, Melissa’s + Eric’s ceremony sings sweet Southern love. We can’t thank Phindy Studios enough for sending this one our way!

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. We met way back when I was 15, and Eric was 16. I traveled with a group from my home on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, to volunteer at a camp in Indiana for adults with mental disabilities. Eric had been volunteering there for several years. When my family decided to move to Nashville a few months later, I was thrilled- 5 hours to Indy was a lot better than 13! We dated long distance for years, driving back and forth once a month until Eric was able to transfer to my university in Nashville. As we continued to spend time together, everything we’d come to love about the other person was confirmed tenfold.
Describe the proposal. Back during our freshman year apart, Eric and I took a walk around Belmont University’s campus. We sat in one of their beautiful gazebos, and he looked me in the eye and promised he’d find a way to make it to Nashville. Sure enough, four years later, he led me to sit in that same gazebo as he went down on one knee to ask me to be his wife!
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Sweet, romantic, and uniquely ours!
In what month did you get married? September
How many guests attended your wedding? 120 – Almost entirely family!
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: The calligraphy my sister did for the ribbon wrapping our bouquets. The lyrics, “Love in the Life – That is Paradise” have a lot of meaning for Eric and me.
Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We went traditional and used Lutheran marriage vows, but wrote our own words for our ring exchange. I loved Eric’s line that stated “I commit to center my life in Christ in order to love you.” He says his favorite words from me were, “I commit myself to you with wholehearted love and joy.”
Tell us about finding your wedding dress: I got quite lucky with my dress! I had my heart set on a designer that was very expensive. As I tried those dresses on, the sales girl slipped in a similar looking design from a different designer – and at a third of the price! I fell in love with it instantly, and with a few changes I made, like the sash, it was perfect.

Photographer: Phindy Studios // Videographer: LookingGlass Photography // Planner: Kathy Best of Front Porch Farms // Venue: Front Porch Farms // Florist: Enchanted Florist // Wedding Cake Baker: Bride’s sister, Jessica Hale // Caterer: Chef’s Market // Bride’s Dress: Allure Bridal // Bride’s Hair Accessories/Veil: Erica Koesler // Bride’s Shoes: Coach Riding Boots // Bridesmaids’ Dresses: mixed and matched // Accessories: J.Crew earrings

Written with love by Nicole