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Katie and Mark’s story has my “hopeful romantic” (as Lara calls it) heart skipping a beat! After being set up by Katie’s friend, who Mark met at a party he almost skipped, they had a wonderfully successful first date, and four years later, Mark proposed while on a trip to Paris. With a story like that, it was only fitting that their wedding exemplified the sweet romance of their love story, combined with the down-home Southern feel Katie grew up with. Simply Bloom Photography did a beautiful job capturing the start of their next chapter!

P.S. Recognize Katie’s stunning dress? We used it in our Berry Bliss shoot! We also loved working with the florist behind these beautiful blooms, Lindsay Coletta, on Fine Feathered Fete. As much as we love our gorgeous editorials, it is even more fun to see some of the elements really come to life in real weddings!

Mark proposed on a trip to Paris in October 2012. We were in the Notre Dame Cathedral and it was absolutely beautiful. We both sat in front of the Pieta and said a prayer, and then he pulled out the ring and said, “Mary Kath, I wanted to ask you, in front of God, if you would spend the rest of your life with me?” I was so amazed by the beautiful ring and the feeling of the moment, I forgot to answer! It was only after he asked if I needed time that I said “Yes please! Yes please! I want to marry you!” It was one of the most beautiful, perfect moments of my life.

Describe your wedding flowers. I wanted my wedding colors to be neutral with pops of color. Since we were outdoors, I didn’t want to compete with the setting and nature. Lindsey Coletta was brilliant. The beautiful draping effect of the bouquets were my favorite detail. I had no idea what the flowers would look like and I was beyond thrilled with the results. They added so much to the environment and brought in a soft, ethereal, vintage feel that was so romantic!

After trying on dresses everywhere from Los Angeles to Orange County, I finally found a beautiful dress right down the street from the hotel I work at in Beverly Hills. When I went in to show my maid of honor a dress, I saw that they had a few new dresses for a Hayley Paige trunk show they were having over the weekend. My bridesmaid and I were on either side of the dress rack and pulled my dress out at the exact same time. As soon as I tried it on, I knew it was “my” dress! It was the most stunning gown I had ever put on and it made me feel beautiful!

Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We decided to not write our own vows. I really wanted to stay present with Mark in that moment, rather than in my head, hoping I was getting the words right. I loved the words of our hand fasting ceremony. My husband is Irish, so we wanted to honor his heritage by having our hands tied together with a Celtic woven rope from Kerry County, Ireland. The prayer talks about how our hands will be the same hands we hold our children with, build a life together with, and hold one another with, and in many years, though withered and aged, will still be reaching out for one another. It was so beautiful and meaningful for us.

Living in L.A. has made me pretty homesick for my roots. We knew almost immediately that we wanted a down-home Southern wedding. After five days of driving around Georgia with my wedding planner and seeing different sites, I was almost in a panic. Mark came down for the weekend and we went to go check out a farm in Madison called the Farm House Inn at Hundred Acre Farm. As soon as we drove up, a collie came to greet us, and we immediately knew we had found the place!

What was one way you saved money or cut costs at your wedding? We did quite a bit of DIY. I did a lot of the signage, as well as collected some of the vintage decor. We were not extravagant on the linens; for us, it was just about enhancing what was already there. Nature speaks for itself, and boy, our venue was phenomenal!

Describe your wedding cake or dessert. My cake was pretty simple, but delicious! A small bakery near my home made a three-tiered buttercream cake that was decorated by my floral designer. It was all gone by the end of the wedding, so I think it was a hit!

Our first dance song was to “Passenger Seat” by Death Cab for Cutie. We heard it at the first concert we went to together and it was so moving and beautiful. It has been our favorite song throughout our relationship and just reminds me of us. We had a variety of music played throughout the reception, and our band was amazing! They came from North Carolina and played a ton of Southern rock and country–best dancing ever!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. Mark decided last minute to go to a Christmas party that my best friend and her husband were attending. Her husband had been friends with Mark for years, but when my friend met him, she insisted on setting him up with me. He emailed me and we met for coffee. When he walked me to the car, he hugged me and said, “Well… I love you.” I laughed so hard, and said “Okay!” and the rest is history. For our fourth anniversary, he framed our first email, so now I see it every day. Mark gave a speech at our wedding saying he hadn’t planned on going to that party, but decided “Why not?” Every important moment happens in seconds and inches!
When did y’all get married? October 5, 2013
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 80
Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? We did not do a first look. I wanted Mark to see me for the first time as I walked down the aisle and I’m glad that’s what we did–it felt more traditional that way.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: One of my favorite details was an old ladder that had vintage pictures attached to it. All of the pictures were of members of Mark’s family and my own who had passed on. I even have a picture from the early 1900s! Having all of that history on display to honor those who came before us was very meaningful. I am making an album that we will pass along to our children someday.
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? Everything about my wedding was Southern–just the way I wanted it. Getting married under an oak tree with a tire swing was so romantic, and it was my ultimate dream to have a Southern reception under the stars, complete with string lights and good Southern music! The menu was also extremely Southern–braised short ribs, parmesan fried chicken, fried green tomatoes, collard greens, and sweet tea, of course! The beer was all local Georgia beer from Sweetwater Brewery in Atlanta and Terrapin in Athens, which was about 20 minutes away.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Many details and vendors changed at the last minute. We had to get a new officiant a week before the wedding because the one we had originally booked was no where to be found. The videographer cancelled a couple of weeks before as well, but in the end, everything worked out just perfectly. Truly better than I had expected!
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? I fell in love with Simply Bloom Photography before I even knew where I was getting married. Being able to have them shoot my wedding was a dream come true. Also, A Divine Event Catering was phenomenal–people could not stop talking about the delicious food!
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? The laughter during the ceremony! My husband and I always laugh together, and it is one of the best things about our relationship. A fly kept landing on Mark’s face while our hands were bound, and it wouldn’t go away! I kept blowing at his face to make it fly away, but it kept coming back. We couldn’t stop laughing! I hope we laugh like that forever.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Take a deep breath and realize that it will be beautiful and wonderful, no matter what. If all of the details aren’t exactly the way you want them, it’s okay. Also, things are most likely going to change at some point during the planning process. People will get sick, vendors may cancel, and it’s best to just ride the wave. One of my bridesmaids told me right before the wedding to take in every moment. It is going to go by fast, so stay present and enjoy it!
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? We have quite a bit going on, so our focus for this year is spending quality time together. It can be difficult with our opposite schedules, but it is important. Time can go by so quickly if you let it. We are enjoying our first year of marriage, our three dogs, and our little house.

Photographer: Simply Bloom Photography / Planner: Marisa Negri for Chancey Charm / Venue: The Farmhouse Inn At Hundred Acre Farm / Florist: Lindsay Coletta / Cake Baker: Rhodes Bakery / Caterer: A Divine Event / Rentals: CRUSH Event Rentals / Band: The Several Devils Band / Bride’s Gown: “Guindon” by Hayley Paige / Bride’s Jewelry: XIV Karats Ltd. / Hair Stylist: Lorenzo Andarza / Bride’s Shoes: Boot Star / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Joanna August / Men’s Attire: The Modern Gent

lisa Written with love by Lisa
5 Comments
  1. avatar Stephanie reply

    The flowers in this wedding are unreal!! I love the colors and textures used – what a stunning Southern wedding with a sweet love story!

  2. avatar Judene McCalla reply

    I’m so in love with Southern charm theme weddings and this is no exception. Love the decorated door. Every detail stands out.

    P.S. Lisa, you’re not alone. I’m a hopeless romantic as well.

  3. avatar Rachel reply

    I love the traditional wedding. You can tell from the officiant

  4. avatar Occasions In Print reply

    I am so in love with this wedding! Just gorgeous!

  5. avatar Christina Charlton reply

    We loved styling this pretty wedding at Boho! http://www.loveboho.com

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Ready for basically the cutest love story ever, y’all? Listen up: Michelle + Paul knew they wanted to marry each other when they were seventeen. Back then, Paul even dropped to one knee and asked Michelle to promise to marry him one day. (She said yes!) “Most people don’t think love is possible for young teenagers, but we knew we loved each other only a few months after we started dating,” said Michelle. Six years to the day after their first date, the two tied the knot at J & D Farms in Alabama. Read on for the rest of their courtship (including many more details of epic love story proportion!).

Their picnic reception was a way for them to do one of their favorite things for the first time as a married couple with their closest friends and family. We love that guests were able to mingle among the quilts and tables and then take home their picnic baskets! Big hugs to Simply Bloom Photography for sharing M + P’s lovely day with us!

Did you decide to do a “first look”? Yes, we saw each other before the wedding. We wanted a moment between just the two of us instead of in front of the crowd of guests. It was hard to decide, but it was the best decision we made. It was sweet and relaxing and a special moment between just us, which is often unheard of on your wedding day!
Did you write your own vows? Yes, we wrote our own vows and read them to each other during the ceremony. Our wedding officiant had gone through marriage counseling with us, so we did include some the Biblical husband and wife responsibilities in our vows, but added our own special promises to each other. My favorite line in Paul’s vows to me was “I promise to always be thinking of you and will constantly give you all that I am and nothing that I am not.” Paul’s favorite line in my vows to him was, “I vow to love you more each day than I did the day before, and I look forward to seeing you carry 50 red roses.”

What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Weather and food. It rained continuously the entire two weeks leading up to the wedding, and we had planned a completely outdoor wedding. The days before, we created a Plan A (it’s sunny), Plan B (it might rain) and Plan C (it’s raining). Praise the Lord, it stopped raining that morning and the sun was bright enough to dry the ground. We were blessed with one of the most beautiful sunsets the venue owner said he had seen all summer. It started raining as soon as the reception was over and everyone had left. As for food, I had a clear plan in mind of what I wanted the picnic reception to include. After meeting with several caterers, none of them could offer that exactly. We ended up doing everything ourselves. It was a team effort of my sister’s mother-in-law (who catered years ago), my mom, my sister and brother-in-law, my aunt and cousin, a church friend and her daughter, and one of my former college roommates. The menu was gourmet grilled cheese, chicken bites, pasta salad, Caesar salad, fresh fruit, fudge brownies, my homemade lemonade (I squeezed 120 lemons!) sweet tea and water with lime.

We wanted everything to be shabby chic, so the flowers were very whimsical. They were all shades of lavender and Robin’s egg blue. Instead of using large blooms, we used all sprigs and herbs. I wanted it to appear as if we picked the flowers from our backyard the morning of the wedding, which we actually did end up doing. My Aunt Jenna grew most of the flowers in her own yard the year leading up to the wedding and picked them the day before and day of the wedding to bring to the venue and assemble. We used sprigs of lavender, purple lantana, rosemary, lockspur, delphiniums, and baby’s breath, to name a few. Jenna arranged them in blue transparent mason jars with raffia bows tied around the lip then placed one on each picnic table and all around the reception area.

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? Mason jars for the flowers, quilts that were my great-grandmother’s that have been passed down through the generations, a barn as a focal point of the reception, Paul’s bowtie and seersucker jacket, a banjo and stand-up bass guitar and folk singing, our weddin’ sign, a vintage Model T station wagon for transporting guests from parking to the ceremony, drinks in mason jars with grey and white striped paper straws, a 1950’s two-tiered vintage table I found at the Country Living Fair, and the lead singer of the band (my friend Sharla) made us a personal quilt with our names and wedding date to sit on at the reception.

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. Paul and I grew up together. We started playing together after school when I was in second grade. His mother was a kindergarten teacher and my grandmother was a librarian. At age 13, we became best friends in marching band. We were “just friends,” but we both secretly had a crush on the other. The summer before my junior year of high school – I was drum major and Paul was the drum line captain – I had to call all of the section leaders to remind them of band camp and I called Paul last because I was nervous to talk on the phone with him. When I finally called him, we talked on the phone for five hours straight, chatting about how we wanted to travel the world one day and how we didn’t know we had so much in common. We didn’t want to get off the phone although I had to go (majorette practice was about to start and I had to unlock their practice building). Sitting there watching batons fly, I saw a silhouette in my peripheral. It was Paul. I asked him why he was there and he said, “I came to rescue you.” At that second, I left the building keys with the majorette captain, hopped in Paul’s car and went on what turned out to be our first date – a walk around Heritage Park and eating at Arby’s. Two days later on July 13, 2006, Paul officially asked me to be his girlfriend. Most people don’t think love is possible for young teenagers, but we knew we loved each other only a few months after we started dating. Paul even knew he wanted to marry me when we were 17. One night in my room he even got down on one knee and asked me to promise to marry him one day (I said “yes”). Then on July 13, 2007, Paul came to my house with a single red rose. He said, “This is one rose for one year of being in love with you. One day I won’t be able to carry them all.” That began the tradition of receiving a rose for every year we have been together on July 13.
Describe the proposal. On July 12, 2011, I went to sleep that night at my parents’ house as usual, and Paul was at school in Tuscaloosa. I was woken up at midnight by the sound of my door creaking open and could see a dark figure standing in my doorway. I was frightened because there was something that looked as if it was jolting out the sides of the figure’s body. I rose up and started whispering, “Hello? Hello?” I’m sure I didn’t sound very intimidating if someone was really trying to break into our house… Then the figure started walking toward me. Heart racing, I finally adjusted my eyes to focus. It was Paul. He was carrying five red roses. I couldn’t find my glasses and I was still somewhat groggy from sleep, so I didn’t really understand what was going on. I just kept asking him why he wasn’t at school like he should be. He assured me everything was fine, and he knelt next to my bed. He started reminding me of everything we had been through together, most of it at my house and in my room – the first time he came over to my house and we just talked and tossed popcorn into each others’ mouths, our first kiss, my recovery after gallbladder surgery when he sat next to me all day until I woke up. Then he said, “Right over there when we were 17, I asked you to marry me one day. I knew then what I know now, but this time I brought a ring.” He looked at the clock and brought to my attention that it was just after midnight, making this the first thing to happen on July 13. “Michelle, will you marry me?” I said, “Yes!”
In what month did you get married? July 13, 2012. It was our sixth anniversary.
How many guests attended your wedding? 100
Tell us about finding your wedding dress: I actually found it online! It’s by Lyn Ashworth. I saw a picture and it fit all my criteria: tea length for our outdoor wedding, poofy to fulfill my need to be Cinderella, and in a romantically elegant material. I ordered it online (didn’t even try it on!) and it fit with minimal alterations.
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding. The wedding party walked in to Ben Rector’s “White Dress,” with a small break for everyone to stand up and the house doors to open at the verse, “She’s coming in on Friday and then the close spark…” That’s when I walked down the aisle. For the recessional, we walked back down the aisle to Dave Matthews Band’s “You and Me,” which we also danced to for our first dance.
Describe your wedding cake or dessert: We had miniature cupcakes from Dreamcakes Bakery in Birmingham. The flavors were strawberry, lemon and coconut.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: The picnic reception. Paul and I have always loved going on picnics together, so we wanted our first picnic as a married couple to be with all of our family and friends. We all sat on quilts on the ground and on picnic tables and ate dinner from individual family picnic baskets (which guests got to take home as their favors).
If you are comfortable responding, what range did your wedding budget fall into? We ended up spending between $10,000 and $25,000.
What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? The venue and photography.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Paul and I loved our first moments of seeing each other before the wedding. It was comforting and romantic and we realized that we were minutes away from starting an exciting new life together. Nothing else mattered.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Buy a wedding planning book the day after you get engaged (I recommend The Knot Book of Wedding Lists). Don’t let the tiny details stress you out because at the end of the day, you will still be married to the love of your life, which is much more important. Utilize the talents of friends and family members, and don’t worry about what other people want or think – it’s your wedding!
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? We are looking forward to Paul graduating with his master’s degree and settling into a new job, wherever that may be!

nicoleyang Written with love by Nicole
14 Comments
  1. avatar Desiree reply

    Love love love that someone executed the picnic reception, so well! I had this idea for a photo shoot I worked on last year – only 3 blankets/baskets. It’s wonderiful to see this come to life with lots of blankies and picnic tables – how fun!! So glad the weather held out and this coupld is SO darling! Congrats!

  2. avatar Kate Collison reply

    Congratulations, Michelle! You should send one of your beautiful photos to Lyn Ashworth so she can add you to “Real Brides” on her website! I saw your lovely wedding posted here and checked out the dress designer for one of my friends who’s still looking for her dream dress. Thanks so much for sharing your big day!

  3. avatar Lisa reply

    Not only is this one of the most charming weddings I’ve ever seen, I’m also a little choked up at their sweet story! What a beautiful couple!

  4. avatar YVETTE PRICE reply

    Just darling! Love the story behind this adorable couple!
    xoxoxo

  5. avatar Vania -SimplyBloom Photography, LLC reply

    thank you so much gals! we are honored to have our work on your site :D

  6. avatar Allie reply

    this wedding is gorgeous…very homey & them. i love that about weddings these days. it’s not about dressing up and having a party (well, sort of the party bit), but mostly just about having an event that represents the special day and who you are.

  7. avatar Emily reply

    ADORE this couple’s story! The part about the roses just does me in…

  8. avatar Lauren reply

    The photography is gorgeous, of course! I love the picnic theme and how cozy this wedding feels. What a sweet story!

  9. avatar Sarah reply

    Such a beautiful wedding and great story. July 13th, 2006 is mine and my boyfriend’s anniversary of our first date too!

  10. avatar NC Wedding Planner- Orangerie Events reply

    I love the idea of a picnic reception! Such a fun spin on the traditional wedding reception. Very unique! Thanks for sharing!

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  14. avatar Let’s Have a Picnic! | blovelyevents reply

    […] {Same idea for individual picnic seating but a little more rustic chic. I just love the little pillows and blankest with the benches. This lovely picnic wedding is from I Love SW Mag} […]

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Hey, y’all! We’re busy bees here trying to get the new SW site up and running ASAP! While you wait, here are a few more peeks inside V3. The love just keeps on coming!

Ali, one of our real wedding brides, is a photographer herself! We were thrilled to feature her wedding.

Michelle Cross’s blog post was adorable. Michelle, your excitement is contagious!

Katherine says we succeeded with our cover mission… what do you think?

Love the glamour shoot that photographer Laura Ivanova arranged for her copy of V3 :)

A photo from our girl Brooke Schwab was featured in the blogger directory and she’s giving away a copy!

Lauren weighed in as one of our Southern honeymoon experts!

Camille Deann, one of our V3 sponsors, thinks no bride should be without a copy of SW. We agree!

The ladies at Simply Bloom contributed one of our lovely real weddings, Rachel and Phillip.

We LOVE Tanja Lippert’s work and were thrilled to feature a pair of her photographs in V3!

Christine Tremoulet is another one of our fabulous V3 sponsors. We love you and your images, Christine!

We were thrilled to feature work from Sarah Yates! Now, Sarah, you just have to come shoot a wedding in the South :)

Marie Labbancz was one of our cover finalists, and we loved her shoot so much we gave it an extended spread.

Y’all know I love me some Weddingbee! Thanks, Miss Brooch — you’re making us blush!

Adrienne Gunde practically wrote the book on how to submit the perfect bouquet shot for Southern Weddings. We love you, Adrienne!

Rae and Wes are our huge fans, and we, likewise, are huge fans of theirs! It’s a mutual lovefest :)

Last but certainly not least, we were thrilled to feature a few photographs from Larissa Cleveland.

Thanks, y’all, so, so much!! We couldn’t have put out this issue without your support. If we missed your post on V3, leave a comment here and I’ll add it in!

emily Written with love by Emily
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Southern Weddings reserves the right to delete comments which contain profanity or personal attacks or seek to promote a business unrelated to the post.  And remember: a good attitude is like kudzu – it spreads.  We love hearing your kind thoughts!

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