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Lisa and I always talk about how we knew we’d be friends even before she started working at Southern Weddings, and that we’d love to hang out and just gush over gorgeous weddings and epic love stories! Well, I feel that same way about Blakely, and I know Lisa would absolutely accompany me with sweet tea in hand to a front porch chat with her!

Not only is Blakely my kind of gal, but her and Curtis’ wedding was also full of sweetly crafted details and meaningful decisions that made their day a perfect reflection of their joy! Based on the gorgeous photo from Natalie Franke of the twinkle lights and the completely packed checkerboard dance floor, I can’t help but imagine how fun their wedding must have been. Be sure to read their adorable interview below for even more cuteness, like this line from their vows: “I promise to have a crush on you always, and to flirt with you even when we are old and wrinkly.” Gah, I love it!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. Curtis and I both grew up on the Severn River in Annapolis, Maryland, but we did not meet until he was a junior and I was a freshman at the College of Charleston. I thought he was devastatingly handsome and completely out of my league. For fall break, I was driving back to Charleston from Annapolis with a friend, and Curtis was flying, so he met up with us so that we could drive some of his stuff back, but I had no idea. As soon as I pulled up, I swore to my mom that I couldn’t get out of the car–Curtis Little was there and I was wearing my “Saturday jeans” (my frumpy jeans). My mom forced me out of the car anyway. Curtis offered to help me carry some of my luggage, and on top of my laundry basket that he picked up was one of my paintings. He held it up and exclaimed, “This is amazing! Did you paint this?” “Yes,” I replied, “but you’re actually holding it upside down.” Mortified at the whole situation, I got into the car and decided to avoid Curtis for the rest of my life. Curtis says it was the first time he really saw me for me, a painter in my Saturday jeans. He decided that the next time he saw me, he would ask me on a date. And for two months, whenever I saw Curtis on campus, I walked the other direction, hid in an alcove, or delved into conversation with the nearest stranger. Finally, on a cold and grey day in December, I was walking out of the library when Curtis came flying down the street on his bike. The way Curtis tells it is, “Among all the black and grey winter coats, there was my girl in a red flower coat and turquoise high tops.” Curtis slammed on the brakes, hopped off his bike, and ran toward me. There, he asked me out on a lunch date. I’ve adored him ever since, and that painting that first made Curtis notice me is hanging in our dining room, upside down!

So darn cute!

I kept telling dress shops that I wanted something that looked like a white oyster shell or whipped cream, with no sparkles. I ended up finding a dress that I thought was the one, but after putting it on at my first alteration appointment, I realized that I did not like it anymore. I thought I would just have to fake it and pretend, but my mom looked at me and said, “I know you don’t like that dress, and you are only getting married once, so let’s find YOUR dress.” She was only in Charleston for one more day, so we searched and searched. We ended up at Bridals by Jodi in North Charleston. There, they had one section where you could you mix and match tops with bridal skirts. I fell in love with this skirt right away–it was a huge mix of tulle with no rhyme or reason. Our amazing seamstress, Nayada, took the skirt, helped me design a really simple top, and built it all into one dream wedding gown.

What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? We chose two readings for our ceremony. The first was 1 John 4:16-19 and the second was Matthew 19:4-6. We wanted our whole wedding to show how our relationship with God is first and foremost. Without God’s love for us or our relationships with God, we would never be able to love one another. We felt those two verses truly captured how we wanted to put Christ at the center of our life and wedding, but still showed joy and fun!

What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they have any special significance to you? I have always dreamed of having my wedding in our 100-year-old colonial-style home. We moved there while I was in elementary school, and it has weathered birthday parties, graduations, proms, and much more. On that back porch was where Curtis decided he loved me, and in our family room was where I decided that I loved him. It was perfect. I got ready in my parents’ room, where I could see guests arriving though the back window. We had the ceremony out back, overlooking the Severn River. Guests then moved to the front yard for lawn games, hor d’oeuvres, and cocktails. We rang the dinner bell that came with the house when it was first built, and guests then headed to the tent for dinner. Finally, we paraded to the backyard for dancing and dessert. The backyard had been totally transformed from ceremony site to dance floor, complete with twinkly lights. It was magical!

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? We had a John Daly as our signature cocktail, which is a combo of Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka and lemonade. We called it “A Little Southern Charm,” because I figured we should play up our last name, Little. Our other drinks were served out of a rowboat. We also had a brass band play through dinner, and they led a parade from the dinner to the dancing in our backyard. The backyard was transformed with a checkered dance floor, twinkly lights, and lanterns hanging off the porch. These elements combined to give us the fun, laid-back atmosphere that defines what we adore about the South.

Describe your wedding cake or dessert. For our wedding cake, we did lots of little cakes on different shades of turquoise cake stands. They were all round, but were many different sizes and texture of frosting. My brother said it was the best cake he’d ever had, and admitted to having four pieces the next day. Curtis’ favorite thing in the world is ice cream, so we rented an ice cream cart filled with cookie sandwiches, Choco Tacos, Reese’s Ice Cream Bars, and more. The guests loved this little surprise. It was perfect for a summer night.

Be sure to watch Drawn to the Image‘s film of Blakely and Curtis’ big day–it’s so very sweet, you won’t want to miss it!

Tell us all about the proposal! After Curtis graduated from CofC, he moved to DC. We started long distance and wrote to one another in a book. I expected to get engaged the next summer, and I wanted him to write about getting the ring, asking my dad, and on and on. Curtis had more ambitious plans to surprise me. I was studying abroad for my spring semester at an art school in Florence, Italy, so for my spring break, Curtis and I decided we would meet in Greece and visit Athens and Santorini. My family told us that it was unsafe for me to travel from Italy to Greece alone, so they were going to come along. When Curtis arrived in Greece, he made it very clear that we were going on a walk in the morning so that could could have some time alone, since we hadn’t seen one another in three months. That morning, we got breakfast and walked to the top of a cliff overlooking the most beautiful turquoise water I’d ever seen. I was raving about the water and the view, my art classes, and Europe itself, when I brought up the book we were supposed to be writing in. Curtis looked at me and said, “Blakely, I can’t write in the book about all those things because I’ve actually already done all those things.” I was extremely confused and thought he was joking until he pulled out the ring. He got down on one knee, told me I was the woman the Lord had made for him, and asked me to marry him. All I could do was scream with excitement!
When did y’all get married? June 7, 2014
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 200
Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We wrote our own vows together about a week before the wedding so that we could practice and not sob through the whole thing. Curtis and I made our vows match in the beginning and ending phrases. In the middle, we made them personal to one another. One of my favorite lines that we both used was, “I promise to follow the Truth, and speak truth to you; to pray for you, and help you remain firm in your faith.” My favorite line that Curtis vowed to me was, “I promise to care for you and love you through color, through turquoise; I will laugh with you until it hurts and will always smile when I hear your sweet name.” Curtis’ favorite line that I said was, “I promise to live with you by the sea in a home overflowing with laughter and enthusiasm for life. I promise to have a crush on you always, and to flirt with you even when we are old and wrinkly.” I’m crying just rereading these!
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. I am super lucky to have a singer/songwriter as my best friend. Becky Kinder (her song “Taken” is actually written about Curtis and I!) sang “How Deep the Father’s Love For Us” during the ceremony, and it brought everyone to tears. I could truly feel the Lord’s presence. Curtis and I danced our first dance to “You and Me” by Penny and the Quarters. We chose it because it throws you back in time and is such a sweet, feel-good song. My dad and I danced to “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra because when I was young, I told everyone that it would be the song my future husband and I would dance to. Since my dad knew I loved it so much, he would always dance with me if it came on. Quickly, it became our song. My brother and I are really close, and he is an amazing dancer, so we had our own dance to “You Make Me Feel So Young” by Frank Sinatra, which was one of my favorite parts of the night. Finally, in honor of Curtis’ late grandpa, we finished the night with “New York, New York.” Curtis’ family are huge Yankees fans because of his grandpa, and after the Yankees win, they play “New York, New York” as the fans leave the stadium. I loved being able to look at Curtis as we were belting the song and say “WE WON! We get to keep each other forever! We really won!”
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: The turquoise door! My mom is the most fun person you’ll ever meet, and one of her “things” is that she is always painting the color of our front door to match the season or event that we are holding at our home. It’s been red, yellow, coral, hot pink, and now turquoise! She and I picked the color to match the invitations, and I thought it looked perfect!
If you are comfortable responding, what range did your wedding budget fall into? $25,000-$50,000
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? Curtis and I moved into a sweet little apartment in downtown Charleston. We are so excited to just be together! Learning to cook dinner and eating ice cream if it fails, loving those around us well and welcoming them into our crazy home, and just praying and holding hands. Curtis has been working as a commercial real estate broker here for about a year, which basically means he knows all the cool new spots in the area. I will be continuing my career as an artist in both my paintings at Blakely Made and in floral design at Charleston Stems.

Photographer: Natalie Franke / Videographer: Patrick McNamara / Venue: Private residence / Florist: Charleston Stems / Wedding Cake: Debbie Kupfer / Caterer: Ken’s Creative Kitchen / Rentals: Rental Works / Bridal Salon: Bridals by Jodi / Paper Products: Sara Metzger Designs / Bride’s Belt: BHLDN / Makeup Artist: Bare Minerals / Bride’s Shoes: Banana Republic / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J. Crew / Men’s Attire: Macy’s / Alterations and Gown Top: Nadya D Custom Design & Alterations / Ice Cream: Scoops2u

Natalie Franke is a delightful member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

marissa Written with love by Marissa
20 Comments
  1. avatar Natalie reply

    Oh my goodness! It is such an honor to see my photographs on Southern Weddings today! Blakely and Curtis are two of the sweetest people you could ever imagine meeting… and I am so happy that you are sharing their love story!

  2. avatar Nicole reply

    Oh goodness, their vows almost made me cry at my desk!

  3. avatar Lisa reply

    Seriously, they could not be more adorable!! Love their story and how lovely and intentional their wedding was!

  4. avatar Stephanie reply

    Does anyone know where she got her mother of the bride’s dress? I love it!

    • avatar Blakely reply

      She got it at neiman marcus! It was a full length dress, which was beautiful too!

    • avatar Maghon reply

      Blakely, I have had your wedding pinned for months! I love every detail. Can you share where you got your canvas pennants? I love the white/natural ones and I want to find them for our wedding on May 22. I keep searching but haven’t had any luck! Thanks so much!

    • avatar Blakely reply

      Hi Maghon! Sorry I missed your comment. I actually made all the pendants. Sometimes you can find old DYI stuff on http://ruffledblog.com/recycle-your-wedding/

      Hope this helps!! Congrats on your wedding!

  5. avatar Alana Klein reply

    Beautiful story! It just made me so excited for me wedding, even though it’s 11 months away! Do you know where they purchased the flag with their initials? I am looking for something just like it!!

  6. avatar Sara reply

    I have to echo what Natalie said – it is an honor to have my invitations featured on Southern Weddings! It was one of the happiest moments of my life to be a part of their big day and celebrate my dearest friends.

    Alana, I designed the flag, but the mother of the groom had it made by Watermark, a company in Annapolis.

  7. avatar Laura reply

    I got the dress at Neiman Marcus. It was full length originally.

  8. avatar seaside maryland wedding. reply

    […] sky, and joy in the air, and I got to marry my dear Curtis! We were lucky enough to get featured on Southern Weddings Blog this week! There you will find all the details to our love story, and our wedding day + amazing […]

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  12. avatar Kristi reply

    I am curious about the invitations in this post. (blue with the compass at the top and water color map included) I love them and would be delighted to find them for a mountain wedding

  13. avatar Mallory reply

    where did she get her beautiful dress?

    • avatar Lisa reply

      Hi Mallory! Blakely’s skirt was from Bridals by Jodi in Charleston, and the top was custom designed by Nadya D Custom Design and Alterations in Mount Pleasant, SC :)

  14. avatar Mother daughter wedding photo ideas to capture on the big day – Wedding Party reply

    […] Natalie Franke via Southern Weddings […]

  15. avatar Susanna reply

    I love your style! And right now I’m really interested in your bridesmaids’ dresses. Where’d you get them?

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Oh my goodness, y’all. Really, Katie + Mike, can you and your wedding get any cuter? Pink and navy are fairly common wedding colors. I love how they’re usually presented as romantic and tailored in the wedding world, but I am just smitten with how K + M turned these colors into a poppy and preppy seaside soiree. We’re sending big virtual hugs to Jacqueline Schmitz Campbell for making our day with this one.

I tried on dresses three different times — once with mom and nanny, again with my mom and sister-in-law, and the third time just with my mom. We were in Raleigh, NC at Alexia’s Bridal. I would say I tried on a total of 10 dresses at Alexia’s and had three dresses that I loved, but none of them were “the one.” The owner then went to pull one of the dresses in the window — this amazing dress that I saw on the way in. I tried it on and I knew immediately. I looked at my mom and she was tearing up and that’s when I knew I had found the dress. I was all smiles!!!

Describe your wedding flowers: They were gorgeous, ivory and soft blush with accents of lilac and buttercup yellow. I had dahlias, peonies, spray roses, Queen Anne’s lace, scabiosa pods, maiden hair fern, and astrantia. My bridesmaids carried a bunch of mini daisies. The flower girl carried a leaf covered basket decorated with ribbon full of cream and blush rose petals. The groom and groomsmen had hypercium berries, astrantia, maiden hair fern and ivy.

We had a string trio, Sage String Quartet for the Processional which played “Bittersweet Symphony.” For the bridal entrance, I walked to Cannon in D. For the recessional, we played “Let Me Call You Sweetheart.” During our cocktail hour, they continued to play an eclectic mix of music. We had a DJ for the reception. He introduced everyone to Calvin Harris’s “The Rain.” Our first dance song was “Feels like home,” by Chantal Kreviazuk and our father-daughter dance was to “I Loved Her First,” by Heartland.

What range did your wedding budget fall into? I had no budget. My parents are the best. At first, Mike and I didn’t want a big wedding. Instead, we wanted to get married in my parents’ beautiful backyard. My parents envisioned their little girl’s wedding to be something different. We compromised; I had a vision of an outdoor garden party for all our closest friends and family.
What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? The venue. The Inn at Perry Cabin, in St. Michaels, Maryland was gorgeous.

How fun is this tent? Cheery flags waving against the blue sky are a sure sign of wedding festivities. Just wait until you scroll down to see the rest of the tent — gorgeous!

Describe your wedding cake or dessert: Ours was a lemon pound cake with lemon curd and fresh raspberry preserves surrounded by a lemon buttercream icing. The cake was three-tiered with mini blush sugar flowers arranged on the exterior of the cake. We also had a vintage candy bar that showcased old school candies as well as some of our favorite sweet cravings such as Fishers Caramel Popcorn, combinations of dark chocolate and a variety of cookies.

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. We met at school at East Carolina University. I was a sophomore and Mike was a junior. We met through mutual friends but most importantly, we have to give thanks to our friend Justin, one of Mike’s groomsmen for introducing us.
Describe the proposal. I knew it was coming but I didn’t know when. Mike had been acting strange and out of the ordinary — like very nervous all the time. We were visiting my parents at their beach house in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, our most favorite place to getaway. It had been an extremely rainy month, but finally there was a break in the rain and the sun came out on May 21. We rode our bikes up to the beach. Usually I carry a beach bag with everything we would need, but this time Mike insisted on bringing his backpack. At the time, I thought nothing of it. We sat together and had a mini picnic. I had a full belly so I began to doze off. Suddenly, I felt someone standing over me. I opened one eye and saw Mike getting down on one knee. I don’t even remember his exact words. I said at last, “YES…YES!” I do remember we were both so happy you couldn’t smack the smile off my face.
In what month did you get married? June
How many guests attended your wedding? 122
Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? Yes, we wrote our vows together. “I knew you were the one when I realized I loved you more than I loved myself.”
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? It was on the Eastern shore of Maryland. Mike and I live in the South so we wanted to bring a flair of the South with us. During cocktail hour, we had specialty drinks served in mason jars. We also served Ruby Red Margaritas and gin and tonics, mini canapés including shrimp and grits, frozen watermelon, fried chicken and waffles, tomato mozzarella and Bloody Mary oyster shooters…delicious.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Planning from out-of-state is pretty tricky. Mike and I live in North Carolina but we were married in Maryland where I grew up.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? The most memorable moment was right after we said “I do.” We took pictures with our wedding party first, and then Jacqueline, our photographer whisked us away to take pictures in private. That was our first moment alone as a married couple. I also remember at one point, under a tent at the reception, taking a look around and noticing how awesome it felt to be surrounded by our closest family and friends celebrating the start of new beginnings together.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? I have a friend getting married soon. I tell her all time to make sure that on the day of the wedding you are calm and relaxed and you enjoy every moment that you can because you spend so much time agonizing over every little detail and then the day of goes by so fast!!
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? We are excited to create our life together as Mr. and Mrs. We are excited to start our own family in the near future.

nicoleyang Written with love by Nicole
12 Comments
  1. avatar Jacqueline reply

    Looks beautiful and I love Katie’s insight into the day. Thank you SWM! xx Jacqueline

  2. avatar Mary Mullen reply

    Oh my! This is one of my all-time faves on SW !!!

  3. avatar Utah Custom Wedding Announcements reply

    I love that color scheme. It looks like the wedding was a huge success. Those pics are just lovely.

  4. avatar Krista Jones reply

    Those flowers are just stunning – especially in the arch at the ceremony site! and I love all the lanterns handing from the tent! So beautiful!

  5. avatar Katie reply

    Aside from the fact that this wedding is adorable! I just needed to say that the last photo of the reception at night is absolutely frame worthy and needs to be blown up and hung in their home! It has such a wow factor!

  6. avatar DC Wedding Photographer reply

    Love the scrabble cufflinks!

  7. avatar Laura reply

    This is what I imagine when I read about Emily’s wedding plans.

  8. avatar AMBER reply

    Gorgeous. Who did the flowers?

  9. avatar Andrea reply

    Where did you get the table number blackboards?

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