Southern Weddings

Oh y’all, it feels good to be back “home” here on Southern Weddings! Some of you may have heard that my handsome BDK and I welcomed our first bow-wearing little lady into our lives in January. While she surprised us early, I’m so thankful for the sweet SW ladies for covering for me while I spent some time with EKK (and for all your kind wishes and prayers!).

While I could refill your glass of sweet tea a bucket of times telling stories of her adorable sneezes and hilarious faces, we have a beautiful wedding to gush over! One of my favorite things about Alex and Eric’s big day is the simplicity of the colors. Classic white florals absolutely captured the romance of winter (one of Alex’s goals!), yet feel so warm and welcoming paired with layers of stacked candles. As for Ms. Alex in her grandmother’s vintage fur stole–stunning! Be sure to read about her something old/new too–it’s a good one!

Big thanks to one of our darling Blue Ribbon Vendor members, Loft Photographie for sharing this beauty with us!

My something borrowed was my grandmother’s fur stole. My mom gave me one diamond earring (the matching earring was lost) that my dad purchased for her when she was 30. She had a new one made to match the old, so the earrings served as my old and new.

Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? We decided to do a first look after talking to our photographers and friends and family. It calmed me down so that I was able to take in the rest of the day after seeing Eric, and the pictures turned out great.

What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? The most memorable moment was walking down the aisle to meet Eric. He couldn’t hold back the tears, and I had such joy and excitement to meet him at the end.
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? One of Eric’s childhood friends is a pastor and officiated the ceremony. It was very important to us that the heart of Christ be represented in the ceremony message, and he did a great job speaking to the covenant of marriage.

Having our wedding in Austin, Texas was a no-brainer. We have a lot of family that lives there, and it’s our favorite city in Texas. We fell in love with the chapel because it has an intimate feel, and the pavilion at Barton Creek Resort provided the rustic elegance that we wanted. It was also nice to have our guests stay at the resort, because we got to spend time with them the entire weekend.

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: The handcrafted wood details and the sweetheart table! From the seating chart, to the entrance signs, to the wood centerpieces and more, Sweet Sunday Events went above and beyond to produce beautiful pieces that added such a unique element to our wedding.

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? The food! Eric and I love to eat, and we both grew up on the finest Southern cuisine prepared by our mothers and grandmothers. We served fried chicken and waffles, shrimp and grits, collard greens, biscuits and gravy, and macaroni and cheese. It was a hit! My cake was red velvet with cream cheese frosting, which is my absolute favorite. Eric went to Texas A&M and is a diehard Aggie, so I surprised him with an A&M-themed groom’s cake. He still talks about it to this day!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. Eric is from a small town in West Texas, and naturally, everyone in that neck of the woods knows each other. One of my best friends grew up with Eric, and she introduced us after college in Dallas, Texas. I thought Eric was cute, but I was dating someone else at the time. About six months later, I was single, and Eric asked me out on our first date. I remember admiring his strength, kindness, and faith. We dated for about three years, and the rest is history.
Tell us all about the proposal! I grew up in Louisiana, and Eric decided he wanted to take a trip to see my large extended family. While we were there, he asked to see the church where I was baptized. I really didn’t think anything of it. We walked in to the dimly lit church, and Eric got down on one knee in front of the altar and asked me to marry him. It was such a joyful moment! He made sure all of our family was at the house when we got back, and we had a big catfish fry to celebrate, Louisiana-style!
When did y’all get married? December 7, 2013
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 150
Tell us about finding your wedding dress. My wedding dress was simple and classic. It was the third one I tried on. I fell in love with Jim Hjelm’s lace a long time ago, and knew my dress was the one as soon as I tried it on.
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. A friend of ours, who is also the worship leader at our church, sang two songs at our ceremony. He sang “In Christ Alone” and “How He Loves.”
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? The biggest challenge was staying within the budget. It was easy for me to keep adding here and there, but everything added up very quickly. It helped to start carrying my spreadsheet in my purse!
If you are comfortable responding, what range did your wedding budget fall into? $25,000-$50,000
What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? How can I pick? Sweet Sunday Events made my wedding dreams come true–Katy and Rachel listened to my discombobulated ideas and made sense out of it all. Loft Photographie made me feel comfortable and were a joy to work with. Jason at Elixir Entertainment captured our wedding perfectly. His video creations are like no other. He takes time to tell your story, and creates something everyone will enjoy watching.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? It is easy to get wrapped up in all the details and to-dos and lose sight of what the wedding is all about. Enjoy the planning (it’s so much fun!), but remember that most importantly, you are planning for this beautiful new season in your life.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? We are excited for the growth that comes through marriage. We cannot wait to see how God uses us and shapes us. We are looking forward to living together, sleeping in on the weekends, serving, having kids, traveling, and soaking up the moments together.

Photographer: Loft Photographie / Videographer: Elixir Entertainment / Planner: Anna Leeker at Barton Creek Resort / Ceremony Venue: Smith Family Chapel / Reception Venue: Pavillion at Barton Creek Resort / Florist and Special Details: Sweet Sunday Events /Cake Baker and Caterer: Barton Creek Resort / Rentals: Loot Vintage Rentals / Band: Royal Dukes Band / Bride’s Gown: Jim Hjlem / Paper Products: Stationary Bakery / Hair Stylist and Makeup Artist: Angie Williams / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Dessy / Men’s Attire: Men’s Wearhouse

Loft Photographie is a delightful member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

Written with love by Marissa