Southern Weddings

Six more days, y’all! We have a garage full of V6 in all her pretty, printed glory, and we are packing them up as quickly as we can to start shipping out tomorrow! You can order a copy here, or if you’re in the South, stop by your favorite bookstore or news stand in less than a week!

One thing we celebrate quite a bit in V6 is how dramatic, but completely natural, the contrasts in the South can be. I won’t give too much away, but I will say that Heidi and Garth are a perfect example. From their gorgeous wedding, you’d never guess that these two spent the day of Garth’s proposal working hard out on their dairy farm! Southern belles and gents can feel just as comfortable in jeans and boots out in the country as they do glammed up in Lazaro and seersucker on their wedding days. It’s one of our favorite things about the South, as well as one of our favorite things about Heidi and Garth’s big day!

Thanks so much to Cristy Cross for sharing Heidi and Garth’s beautiful West Texas wedding with us!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. We were introduced at a family barbecue at my sister’s house in Friona, Texas in April 2012. Garth arrived at the event sweaty from mountain biking, wearing denim bib overalls, and with an uncontrollable case of the hiccups. Though I was not immediately charmed by this presentation, chemistry developed between us later that evening while playing the classic Gingg family dinner party game, Catch-a-phrase. The spark created that evening quickly developed into a love that inspired me to move to West Texas to be close to Garth. Though slightly out of character for me, I even learned to harvest green feed and grow steer calves at Del Rio Dairy.

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. My mother and I planned a trip to Kleinfeld in New York City. Although we did not get to make an appearance on “Say Yes to the Dress,” it was an unforgettable experience. I have never seen so many beautiful dresses; it was overwhelming at first. Luckily Kleinfeld has got it together, and with just a few questions in regards to style and fit, I had five dress options before me. It only took three to find the one!

We did not do a first look. It was important to me to follow tradition. I wanted my dad to walk me down the aisle, for him to be the first man to hold me as a baby and the last to give me away as a woman. I felt as though the symbolism would be somewhat lost if I had seen and held Garth before my dad officially gave me away. The moments I spent with my mom and dad just before loading up to head down to the ceremony were full of laughter and tears. I will not forget those last few rushed, crazy and hectic moments, just the three of us. The decision not to do a “first look” provided a little more time with my parents.

While we may be a little bit more Southwestern than Southern, we still have tradition and definitely charm. We wanted to create an experience where every guest felt like family. It was a celebratory time for everyone to enjoy great drinks, great food, the great outdoors, and great love: the foundations of Southern tradition. For a little Southwestern charm, I have to mention country singer Will Banister and his band–they were absolutely phenomenal, with a traditional country sound. Oh yes, and we cannot forget Garth’s seersucker suit!

What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? Equally my wedding planner and photographer. Parie painted a canvas of perfection, and Cristy captured its beauty for all of us to remember. In the end, it brought us great happiness to experience our hopes and dreams brought to life and to know those memories will forever be within reach.

Aren’t their flowers and tablescapes stunning? Parie of Parie Designs’ goal was to marry the coppery tones in the venue with Heidi’s glitzy, fun personality. To achieve this, she used cream garden roses, peonies, hydrangea, Lysimachia, succulents, cafe au lait dahlias, mini millet, and thornless blackberries against copper sequin linens and both gold and wood elements. So pretty!

Tell us all about the proposal! It was a sunny afternoon in good ole Muleshoe, Texas. After a day of green chopping on the farm for me and pregnancy-checking cows for Garth, he came home with what he often refers to as a surprise present. Lucky me…there was a bike helmet, biking gloves, and there may have even been some spandex bike shorts involved. After some arm twisting by Garth, I tried on the helmet and gloves (not the shorts!) and rode my mountain bike up and down the street. After the joyride, Garth had another surprise, which went like this. Garth: (hand into jean pocket, awkwardly) “So I was thinking… we should get married.” (Ring appears) Heidi: (Ooooh, ahhh, so excited!!) “…Well aren’t you going to ask me?!?!” Garth: “Will you marry me?” Heidi: “YES!”
When did y’all get married? July 11, 2013
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 64
Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We did not write our own vows for the wedding. However, we made sure to take time during our honeymoon to share our vows and promises to each other. I loved that it was a private moment just for Garth and I. Added bonus being that I avoided crying uncontrollably in front of our guests. :)
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? We did not have any special readings. We had a very traditional religious ceremony performed by our pastor, Kurt Borden of Friona Methodist Church. In lieu of a reading, we took communion together for the first time as husband and wife, along with all of our guests. It was a beautiful time to share our union, love, and commitment to each other and God with the community that supports us.
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. Processional: Etta James, “At Last.” Pretty classic. Recessional: Ziggy Marley, “Love is my Religion.” I loved the funky sounds of the reggae, and I think it set a playful mood. Also, I love the lyrics. To me, it means to have faith in love, and love is all that matters. First Dance: Garett Hedlund/Leighton Meester, “Give In To Me,” my all-time favorite song (from the Country Strong soundtrack). It is about letting go of our fears and pride, allowing ourselves to truly experience love. Father/Daughter: Rascal Flatts, “My Wish.” My dad chose this song. It was a perfect choice, as it put into words the many hopes and dreams my dad has always had for me. Mother/Son: George Strait, “Amarillo by Morning.” This was a spur-of-the-moment choice that worked out just perfectly. So Texan! Also, our wedding venue, Palo Duro Canyon is just south of Amarillo. It was the perfect tempo for Garth and his mom to share their first dance!
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: Having Garth’s parents and brother there to share our special night. It was a blessing to be able to express our love and commitment for each other with them by our side. Seeing the beauty of the love they have for one another was my favorite detail.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? It was very difficult for me to make final decisions on small details. The possibilities are endless, and Pinterest begins to work against you eventually. My mom and sister were my saving grace. The wedding would not have been above and beyond perfect without their hard work.
If you are comfortable responding, what range did your wedding budget fall into? $25,000-$50,000
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Walking down the aisle on my dad’s arm to be joined with Garth. I remember feeling the strength and confidence from my dad and seeing the love and excitement in Garth’s eyes. The overwhelming joy and love I felt for Garth in those moments was indescribable. I will never forget how it felt to know that my dad was proud of Garth and I. I felt blessed to have him there to lead me down this new path and honored to have him represent the merging of my past, present and future.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? If you do not have my mom or sister, if at all possible, hire a wedding planner! I am not much of a DIY kinda girl, so I needed reinforcements. In addition to my wonderful mom and sister, Parie, my wedding planner, kept me sane. If a planner is not in the cards, I would suggest a meticulously updated weekly and monthly calendar/planner. Setting up alerts and reminders on Google calendar is a great tool. Have a notebook and pen on hand at all times — you never know when the next great idea will pop/pin up! And always stay true to your own ideas and personal style. It is important to be a little selfish, while always remembering the very simple reason you are planning this wedding. Be sure that your love is reflected in all of the details: love for yourself, your to-be husband, family and friends.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? Garth and I are moving into our first home… on the farm. We will be living in Friona, Texas on our family dairy. I will be going back to my roots by living on the dairy and Garth will get to experience all of the adventures and opportunities that farm life has to offer, as well as contribute his knowledge and skills as a veterinarian. We will also be visiting Garth’s family and hometown in Colchester, Vermont. I am so excited to see where Garth grew up and experience firsthand what was such an important part of molding him into the amazing man he is today. We look forward to days of hard work and challenges and the joy that love provides no matter what the day may bring… hopefully soon, it brings a baby. ;)

Written with love by Lisa