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I always love when wedding venues hold a special place in couples’ hearts before they get married, and Camille and Austin reminded me that a wedding day can make a sentimental place even more special! Together with their planner, Shelly Fortune, Camille and Austin transformed Camille’s family’s farm into a venue for their beautiful wedding day, bursting with joy (and gorgeous blooms!). Now when they visit the farm, these two are reminded of their magical day over and over again! Heavens, what a wonderful memory to have!

Big hugs to Melanie Mauer for sharing such a sweet day with us!

Austin and I chose to get married at my parents’ farm, Three Fields Farm. I have three older sisters, and the sister right above me actually got married there in 2009, so I loved the challenge of showing the farm in a different light, as many of our guests overlapped. It is so special for Austin and me when we visit the farm now–we get to relive our magical day over and over!

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. Two of my sisters, my mom, and I went to Cincinnati’s Bridal and Formal to shop for my wedding dress. Both sisters that went with me had bought their wedding gowns there, so I was very comfortable in the store. The same bridal consultant that helped me find my dress had also helped two of my older sisters, in 2003 and 2009! My dress was the first one I ever tried on. I felt so special when I put it on and walked out of the fitting room–it had a lot of drama and presence to it, both of which I loved. Since this was going to be the one and only time I got to wear a wedding dress, I wanted to look very bridal. My dress and veil definitely accomplished that!

Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? Honestly, I never considered not doing one–it made the most sense all around. Logistically, we couldn’t hide from each other, because we got married on my parents’ farm, where there are no homes or buildings (other than the barn) for us to hide in. Also, everything is so close together at the farm, which means all of our guests would have been sitting and watching us take pictures, causing us to lose that sense of intimacy. Another reason we chose to do a first look was because we wanted to be able to jump right into the party after the ceremony and let loose! Lastly, I wanted all of us to look as fresh as possible for our pictures, so getting all of the formal pictures checked off the list within four hours of finishing hair and makeup was so nice!

When I was walking down the aisle (it was very long and on the grass!), I kept stepping on the front my dress. I started to panic, as I imagined that everyone could see it, since all eyes were on me. My dad kept trying to get me to slow down. Just before we got to the chairs (the actual aisle), he said to me, “Camille, slow down. You only get to walk down this aisle once in your life. Take your time and enjoy it!” Even typing it, it still brings tears to my eyes because it was so special and is so true!

Our wedding flowers were one of the most important details for me, as I love flowers! I wanted to bring all of my colors together in my flowers so that everything would look cohesive. We used ivory and varying shades of pink (from light to a bright raspberry), mixed with pops of coral and burgundy. I wanted the flowers to flow naturally with various textures, and to be noticeable–I definitely didn’t want them to blend in. I hung fabric at the entrance of the barn and had my florist create a green garland to line the fabric, which was the perfect finishing touch!

What was one way you saved money or cut costs at your wedding? I paid a lot of attention to my rentals. Since we were married on my parents’ land, everything had to be brought in, from the chairs/tables/dishes to the restroom trailer and kitchen setup, which meant my rentals were going to be pricey. Anything that was decorative that I could buy myself rather than renting, I did, and it ended up being less expensive in the end! I purchased all of the lanterns, large glass hurricanes, and gold chargers, to name a few.

Raspberry (the color) and raspberries (the fruit) were present throughout our wedding–there were raspberries in the pre-ceremony, non-alcoholic signature drinks, in the pink champagne, the invitation ink color, the flowers, etc., so I chose a champagne cake with buttercream icing and raspberry filling. It was delicious!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. Austin and I met in high school and were friends throughout. Sparks didn’t fly until years later (six years to be exact!) when I very randomly received a Facebook message from him, asking me to go to a wedding with him. My jaw literally dropped because it was COMPLETELY out of the blue–although we both attended UK, we didn’t stay in touch after high school. Occasionally, we’d run into each other on campus and exchange a quick, “Hi, how are you?” but that was it. Luckily, I didn’t have any plans and agreed to be his date. I recommended that we get dinner first to catch up, and we were the first ones seated for dinner at the restaurant, and the last to leave. The next day, my best friend came over to my apartment, and I specifically remember saying to her, “This is it–he’s the one!” Up to that point, I had always thought the saying, “You’ll know when you know” was so cliché, but I knew in that moment that it was true.
Tell us all about the proposal! Austin proposed while we were on a special Christmas trip to NYC. We were staying at the Waldorf (which should’ve been a giveaway that it was going to be an extra special trip, but I didn’t catch that one…), and he surprised me with room service for breakfast. When I lifted the silver dome on the plate, there was the ring and “Will you marry me?” written in chocolate on the plate. He got down on one knee and asked, and I said yes!
When did y’all get married? September 20, 2014
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 170
Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? No, we chose traditional vows–we felt it was an honor to say those vows to each other that so many have said before us. They perfectly said what we promise and feel for each other.
Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! My maternal grandmother passed away just a few years ago. She was someone I was very close to and missed very much throughout my engagement and wedding. I carried an old handkerchief of hers (she always had handkerchiefs in her purse!) that had blue hydrangeas on it. It held the place of my borrowed, blue, and old–my dress and accessories were all new. It felt as though a piece of her was there that day to help wipe my tears as Austin and I said our “I dos.”
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? I planted a small bottle of Woodford Reserve (since we were getting married in Woodford County, where Woodford Reserve is located/distilled) on my parents’ farm about a month before the wedding on a BEAUTIFUL day, in hopes that our wedding day would have that same kind of weather. We were so lucky and did, indeed, have that exact weather on our wedding day–no humidity and a high of 78. It was gorgeous! We also served a bourbon drink, an Old Fashioned, for our “His” signature drink, toasting to Kentucky tradition.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Knowing what advice/opinions to listen to and when to just nod, smile, and pay no attention! :)
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? Austin and I are just enjoying being married and working on our home. We’re also trying to travel as much as possible!

Photographer: Melanie Mauer / Planner: Shelly Fortune / Venue: Three Fields Farm / Florist: Hide and Seek Design / Wedding Cake: Martine’s Pastries / Caterer: Apiary Fine Catering / Rentals: Purdon’s Rental; Bryant’s Rent-All and Fifty Chairs / Band: The Downtown Band / Paper Products: Dancing Pen and Press /
Bride’s Gown: Lazaro / Hair and Makeup: PinkLouLou Design Studio / Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade / Bridesmaid Dresses: Twirl Boutique /

marissa Written with love by Marissa
4 Comments
  1. avatar melanie mauer reply

    it’s so fun to share this dream of a wedding with the southern wedding blog readers! i’m particularly in love with this family…these sisters are stylish x 1000 but their style is eclipsed by their hospitality and love.

    camille’s presence makes any day great! warmly, -melanie-

  2. avatar Stacy {Woodsy Weddings} reply

    The invitations are adorable, love the color palette and the hand drawn map. They look personalized and thoughtful.

  3. avatar Alyson Luckett reply

    Can you tell me where she got her veil? I have been searching high and low for a horse hair trim veil! Thanks!

  4. avatar Tatyana Lee reply

    These are so gorgeous!

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The iconic “little blue box” color can be a tough one to pull of in a wedding, but as Southern belles know, that’s no reason to shy away from your signature color! The trick, as evidenced by Cally and Robert in today’s lovely wedding, is to use the color sparingly and intentionally, letting it accent your venue and details rather than distract from them. That is especially important when your venues are extra special–Cally and Robert were married in Cally’s brother and sister-in-law’s home, and their reception was at a fabulous downtown Houston restaurant that was a delicious nod to Robert’s Cajun roots.

Thank you so much to Cameron & Kelly Studio for sharing Cally and Robert’s special day with us!

Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! I borrowed my sister-in-law’s gorgeous earrings. My something blue was my sapphire engagement ring, something old was my grandmother’s wedding rings, and something new was my dress.

For my procession, the string trio played “Trumpet Voluntary” by Clark, and for the recessional, they played “La Rejouissance” by Handel. Great classics!

What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they have any special significance to you? The ceremony was at the home of my brother and sister-in-law. The reception was at Brennan’s of Houston–a nod to Robert’s Cajun heritage.

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: There were many wonderful details, but one that really stood out as different was the scotch bar that my sister-in-law came up with. Robert loves scotch, so it was a really neat surprise.

We had a white three-tiered cake with real flowers on top. Each layer had a different scroll design, and each layer had a different flavor inside. The wedding flowers were mostly white and consisted of peonies, roses, orchids, and hydrangeas. They were gorgeous!

When did y’all get married? May 22, 2014
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 40
Tell us about finding your wedding dress. My mother and I found the dress on our first dress shopping appointment. It was the third dress I tried on.
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. Our first dance was to Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me To The Moon” and my dance with my father was to “My Girl” by The Temptations.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? The biggest challenge I faced in planning the wedding (even with a wedding planner) was working a very full-time job while trying to pull everything together. There was a lot of travel involved as well, since I bought my dress in one city, lived in another, and had the wedding in a third city.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? The whole day was full of beautiful memories, but walking down the aisle toward my husband-to-be was probably the most exciting part.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Don’t wait to start planning–it’s never too early.

Photographer: Cameron & Kelly Studio / Planner: Mary Beth Burrow / Ceremony Venue: Private residence / Reception Venue: Brennan’s of Houston / Florist: David Brown Flowers / Wedding Cake: Who Made the Cake / Music: Yvonne Washington / Bride’s Gown: Romona Keveza / Hair Stylist: Monica at Adytum Salon / Makeup Artist: Melissa Morvan / Bride’s Shoes: Rene Caovilla

lisa Written with love by Lisa
3 Comments
  1. avatar Cameron Clark | Cameron & Kelly Studio reply

    Cally & Robert were so thrilled to get married to one another. Everything about this wedding was classic Southern elegance. We loved these two families!

  2. avatar Stacy {Woodsy Weddings} reply

    The tea length dress is adorable and not worn often enough! I love the scotch bar and the bright touches of teal throughout.

  3. avatar Tulle Convertible Bridesmaid Dresses with Different Color Options | TulleandChantilly.com reply

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We’ve taken a bit of hiatus from our Southern Delicacy features, but in honor of Derby Week, we think the mint julep is a great one to jump back in with!

Photo by The Studio B from Anne + Eric’s wedding

There is just something about those shiny silver mint julep glasses–we love them filled with fresh mint or flowing with flowers. There is no question that that these glasses are the epitome of classic and Southern! How to make a true mint julep remains a hotly debated topic in the world of bar tending and mixology, but the classic version of a mint julep is served in silver julep cups, filled to the brim with a refreshing concoction of the finest bourbon, simple syrup, fresh mint, and crushed ice. These classic silver cups should be chilled before being served.

Fun fact: if you want to fit in at the Derby, be sure to hold the glass properly! Only by the bottom and rim of the glass, so one’s hand does not transfer heat to the drink. I imagine Rhett Butler made a mean mint julep, AND knew how to hold the glass!

On left: photo by Elaine Palladino from Baylor + Daniel’s wedding; on right: photo by Ashley Seawell from Sarah + Gabe’s wedding

I was unable to track down the exact origin of the julep, but it is said that the mint julep originated in the Southern United States around the eighteenth century, and can be traced back to a British novel from 1803, in which a traveler wrote about drinking a mint julep at a northern Virginia plantation. It was described as “a dram of spirituous liquor that has mint steeped in it, taken by Virginians of a morning.” It has also been said that farmers in the South drank mint juleps in the morning, using the mint to jumpstart their days! Yikes, I bet that’d put a pep in your step!

Photos by Katie Stoops from Love in the Commonwealth

The term “julep” is generally defined as a “sweet drink, particularly one used as a vehicle for medicine.” The word itself is derived from the Persian word Golâb, meaning “rose water.”

While earlier recipes included many other spirits, such as rum or gin, bourbon-based juleps have decisively eclipsed all others. As a champagne celebration kind of gal myself, I love the twist of a champagne julep! And if you didn’t think the MJ could get any more Southern, there’s the mint julep sweet tea recipe!

On left: photo by Justin DeMutiis from Jessica + Derek’s wedding; on right: photo by Laura Gordon from Ellie + Breck’s wedding

Nowadays, the mint julep is synonymous with the Kentucky Derby, and rightly so! The mint julep first became the signature drink of the Kentucky Derby in 1938 when they were served them in collectable glasses and sold them for 75 cents apiece. Since then, almost 120,000 mint juleps are served over the two-day period of Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby weekend at Churchill Downs Racetrack. This feat requires more than 10,000 bottles of Early Times Mint Julep Ready-to-Serve Cocktail, 1,000 pounds of freshly harvested mint, and 60,000 pounds of ice! Woah!

Now if only I could don some Lilly and my Jacks, and have a silver glass in my hand, I’d be sure to enjoy the Derby! Cheers, y’all!

P.S. Check out our past Delicacies for some yummy treats to accompany your drink!

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

    I am growing mint for the first time this year, and it’s grown like crazy this week! I will have to use it for derby drinks. Thank you for this history.

  2. avatar Veronica reply

    Hey Marisaa,
    Great post.Thanks for sharing.Mint is really beneficial in summers.I love its smell :)

  3. avatar Lisa Hays reply

    Where can I purchase the silver cups? Do they have to be of sterling? And while I’m asking – does anyone know where to get copper cups that Moscow Mules are served in?

    • avatar Marissa reply

      Hi Lisa! We love these monogrammed ones from Three Hip Chicks! http://www.threehipchicks.com/products/monogrammed-silver-mint-julep-cup And these Moscow Mule ones from Sur La Tables: http://www.surlatable.com/product/PRO-1398882/Moscow+Mule+Copper+Mug

  4. avatar Matt reply

    Nice summary Marissa…the photography make me thirsty :)

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