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Getting our past Southern Brides of the Month organized lit a fire under us to make sure we continued this lovely monthly tradition! I’m so happy to welcome this series (one of my favorites!) back with Amy. As soon as I saw that she is engaged to her high school sweetheart, I knew we’d get along, but it was her answer to what she’s most looking forward to about marriage that made me fall in love with her. I know you’ll agree, so please help me welcome our February Bride!

Hi! What’s your name?
Amy Leigh Bell

What’s your fiancé’s name?
Daniel Clark Salo

Cameron Faye Photography

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story.
Daniel and I met when we were juniors in high school in our hometown of Charlotte, NC. I was in another relationship at the time, but there were always things about Daniel that I admired, even as we were just becoming friends. As we started our senior year (and I was single again), our relationship began to develop with a little help from our friends! Daniel was not allowed by his parents to officially date while in high school, so he began “courting” me, inviting me to spend time with his family or just in groups with our mutual friends. As a smitten 17-year-old girl, this was certainly frustrating, but little did I know, he had big hopes for the future! His protection and caution through those beginning stages has made all the difference over the past four years in college, and I am so thankful!

Now tell us alllll about the proposal.
After attending a friend’s wedding earlier in the day, I was quite excited to spend an evening with my beau on September 14th. The night started with dinner at P.F. Chang’s (one of my absolute favorites) where my fortune cookie read, “Good news of a long awaited event will arrive soon.” This was a complete coincidence, and it was all Daniel could do to not show a reaction all over his face.

After dinner, he drove me to the outdoor North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh. I have never seen the boy so nervous. As we walked quite briskly toward a gazebo, I began to catch glimpses of white curtains draped throughout it, with hundreds of small tea lights glowing inside. As we entered the gazebo, Daniel stopped walking and grabbed my hands. He said a lot of beautiful things (which he later had to email to me since I couldn’t remember a bit of it), and proposed with a stunning ring made from the diamond my grandmother and my mother wore during their marriages.

After I said yes (of course!), he led me to a chair and washed my feet, representing the way Jesus served his disciples during his time on earth. Daniel grabbed his Bible and read Scripture to me, promising to lay down his life daily for me, his bride. It was the most romantic, joyful moment of my life!

When’s the big day?
May 24, 2014

Where might you two be tying the knot?
We are getting married at the Aqueduct Conference Center in Chapel Hill.

How did you pick your ceremony and reception venues? What do you love most about each space?
I chose our wedding venue based off of pictures from a friend’s wedding that took place at Aqueduct. When I first mentioned it to Daniel, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that he had already been there for a few weekend retreats, and thought it was just as beautiful as I do.

Our ceremony and reception will all be at the same place, which is one of my favorite aspects of the venue. Evening receptions in gigantic, white tents with beautiful lighting make me swoon, and I am thrilled to be planning one of my own! Although Aqueduct is just moments away from the heart of Chapel Hill, the winding, gravel driveway and rolling fields make it feel hours away.

Because Aqueduct functions as an overnight conference center as well as an event venue, there are two large cottages on the premises, which allow Daniel and I and our wedding party to spend the night at the venue after the rehearsal dinner. I love knowing that after we arrive on Friday afternoon, we don’t have to leave until after the wedding on Saturday! The cottages also double as a place for my vendors and guests to stay after the wedding, since the entire facility is ours for the weekend.

A sweet first look at Aqueduct from this wedding by Caroline Joy!

Tell us a little bit about the wedding you’re planning: style, theme, feel, colors?
Above all, my goal is for our wedding day to point forward to a beautiful marriage. I want the aura of the day to reflect us as a couple, but my intention is not to “wow” my 250 guests with every detail. I am focused on using my budget wisely to create simple elegance.

Our wedding will be made up of soft shades of green, with yellow accents and lots of white. Because it will be outdoors in May (hopefully with beautiful weather!), I want the colors, the flowers, and the décor to feel fresh and romantic, and of course, Southern!

Who or what has been most helpful and/or inspiring in the wedding planning process?
I have had tons of amazing support through this process, with 11 beautiful bridesmaids and incredible Southern belles (literally, Bell’s!) in my family that could not be more excited for May 24th to arrive. When your wedding party is the size of a small football team, opportunities to chat and dream about the big day are in no short supply!

Bridesmaid inspiration from Elizabeth Messina and Ron B. Wilson

What part of wedding planning, if any, has made you the most anxious?
All of the little details! There are literally hundreds of small things to remember, in addition to the big decisions. I have to make lists constantly, making sure I am spreading out all of these little tasks evenly throughout our engagement. My biggest fear is getting to the last few weeks before the wedding and being overwhelmed with a million things to do!

Which part of your wedding have you been most intentional about planning?
I have been the most intentional about picking vendors that I love. I was already booking our venue and photographer before we were actually engaged (whoops!) because I believe that those choices will make such a huge impact on the feel of the day, for us and for our guests. Beautiful wedding photography and videography are quite literally irreplaceable, and I know that’s what Daniel and I will have, thanks to Cameron Faye Photography and Needle + Thread videography!

Have you picked your dress yet? How’d that go? What will you be wearing on the big day?
Yes! That process was very fun and easy. Like I said, I tend to know what I want! I only went to one store (New York Bride & Groom in Charlotte), and I came in with a picture of my dream dress. Although that specific dress was way out of my budget, I found one that had all of the potential to be exactly what I wanted, after some major alterations! Seamstresses are amazing, y’all. I will be wearing a Justin Alexander gown, and that’s about all I can say until May 24th!

Wedding gown inspiration from Ryan Bernal via Style Me Pretty and Virgil Bunao

What has been the best part of wedding planning? The worst part?
The best part about wedding planning has been spending at least part of every day thinking about and working towards what I hope will be the best day of my life! I love getting home from work and having packages to open full of wedding items that have arrived in the mail that day. Wedding planning has even allowed me to take up a new hobby, as I am learning calligraphy to hand address all of my invitations!

If I had to choose a “worst” part of planning my wedding, it would probably be the amount of time and communication required to coordinate between so many people and vendors. I chose to forgo a wedding planner for budgetary reasons, and I have definitely felt the need for one more than once! However, doing everything myself allows me the freedom to fully put things together the way I want, and I know the day is going to feel that much more beautiful after so much hard work!

Tell us about planning with your fiancé. Has it gone smoothly? Is he more involved, or hands-off?
Daniel is amazing. He is involved when I want him to be involved, and hands-off when I need to do things myself. As a musician himself, the music that will fill our wedding weekend from beginning to end is very important to him, and it has been so fun to talk about options and decide on playlists, while letting some of our musical friends and family members take the reins on special parts of the day. Daniel has done a great job making it clear that he cares about the details of our day, while also affirming that he trusts my decisions and is excited to finally see the day come together the way we have envisioned.

Centerpiece inspiration by Brittany Janelle Photography and Ian Riley via The Perfect Palette

What do you wish you would have known at the beginning of your engagement?
I wish I had known just how many decisions I would have to make over this 8-month period. I have learned that there are a million options for every little detail, but it is never going to be worth my time to peruse all of them on Pinterest. Sometimes, you just have to pick something you like and run with it, knowing there is a chance that there is something out there that is cuter, prettier, or more unique. When I began to realize that I was adding wedding planning on top of graduating from college and starting a full-time job, there were tons of options I just had to let go of.

What are you most looking forward to on your wedding day?
I am most looking forward to our first look. We debated a lot over whether or not to do one, but after advice from other brides and my photographer, we decided it would be a very special moment between the two of us. We are not writing our own vows, so this will be our opportunity to read letters to each other and spend plenty of time getting pictures of just the two of us.

Any plans for a honeymoon? Where do you want to go and what will you do?
Yes, of course! Daniel and I are going to Secrets St. James Montego Bay in Jamaica. We purposefully have no plans except to relax and enjoy our first vacation together as Mr. and Mrs. Salo!

Cameron Faye Photography

What are you most looking forward to about marriage?
I am most looking forward to starting and ending each day with Daniel. Throughout our relationship, every time I see him is marked with the knowledge that we will eventually have to say goodbye before the night is over. I can’t wait for his home to be my home, too.

Any advice you’d like to pass along to fellow brides?
For every time someone asks you, “How’s wedding planning?” remember to ask yourself, “How’s marriage planning?” The purpose of your wedding is to celebrate the beginning of your marriage, and it is infinitely more important that you are planning well for that. Don’t let a perfect wedding become the end goal, because that is simply a brand new beginning to something even more beautiful!

Thank you so much, Amy! We can’t wait to see that gorgeous gown! Readers, interested in being featured as a future Southern Bride of the Month? Take a peek at this page for all of the details!

emily Written with love by Emily
3 Comments
  1. avatar Lisa reply

    Love, love, love her perspective on planning for her marriage!

  2. avatar Erin Jamesson reply

    Aww! Adorable couple and proposal story too! Her, bling is similar to mine http://bit.ly/1bR9Ltm

  3. avatar Jillian Boland reply

    Love this!!! Such a sweet couple. Thrilled for you both, Amy!! Thankful to know and work with you! :)

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Mimia will no question go down in history as one of my favorite Southern Brides of the Month ever. I adore her thoughts on what makes a wedding Southern, I love how complimentary she is about her beau and his wedding planning skillz, and I love their engagement story. Given the epic travails Mimia + Joel went through with their venues (yes, multiple venues), her sunny outlook is even more amazing, and her advice and reflections, even more valuable. Friends, please enjoy this interview!

Howdy! What’s your name?
Mimia Johnson

What’s your fiancé’s name?
Joel Edmondson

Matthew Moore

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story.
That’s a tricky question because the first time we met, I don’t exactly remember (whah-whah). I was an undergrad at Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia, and Joel had just moved to Savannah to start his master’s degree in Furniture Design. I was super involved in college, and of course had volunteered as an orientation assistant. We had to arrive around 7am, and a morning person I am not; I was even more disgruntled about the fact that I was assigned to the grad student table. Little did I know that would be where I met Joel for the first time. Joel remembers me charming him with my stories of growing up near his alma mater of Appalachian State, but it’s all a little hazy to me.

Lucky for me, Joel got a job at the restaurant across the street from the building where all my major classes were. At the time, SCAD was a small school, and Savannah is a small city, and we just kept running in to one another.

Finally, that winter, of course I had volunteered to work at the school’s annual gala and Joel’s restaurant was catering the event. I thought I would waltz over and offer to sneak him a drink during his shift. That drink turned into eight amazing years, 6 apartments, 4 cities, and one incredible partnership.

Have I said how much I love Mimia + Joel’s engagement photos? So much!

Now tell us alllll about the proposal.
Whoa – talk about a surprise. We had been dating for seven years, and this girl has always she was never getting married. I told Joel that I didn’t need a ring on my finger to show the world how we felt about each other — they should see it in my eyes and my heart. We had never looked at rings, never even talked about getting engaged, but we always talked about “when we’re old people” and “when we get a house” and I might have even let the phrase “when we have kids” slip out of my lips.

My family had planned a big trip to Hawaii, but I had no idea what was awaiting me when we got there. We spent the week kayaking, snorkeling, and surfing with my family, but on Friday, Joel was adamant that my mom, dad, and sister do a tour on their own. We started out that morning driving the perimeter of the big island to a location that I wasn’t allowed to know. We drove literally to the end of the road. What awaited us was the most beautiful cliff looking out onto a black sand beach growing out of a rain forest. I thought, oh how scenic, we can take some amazing Instagrams and keep on trucking.

But before I could get out of the car, Joel asked if I was ready to put on my hiking shoes. I should probably clarify that I don’t own sneakers, so I tied on my fierce saddle oxfords and prepared for a trek. I had no idea that a steep climb (more like a repel) down the side of a mountain was in my future. After about 30 minutes of intense hiking, we reached the beach. It was literally us, the beach, and the sky. I was fooling around with Joel’s camera, and could tell he was doing something in the sand off in the distance. Of course I had to see what he was up to, and to my surprise, spelled out in the sand, accompanying the most incredible ring I had ever seen, were the words “Wife Up?”

The first words out of my mouth were “Is this real life?” I honestly was in shock, and what I remember most vividly about that moment is trembling in each other’s arms for what felt like an eternity, and if I could live in that moment for the rest of my life, I would be completely satisfied.

I am by no stretch of the imagination athletic, but I have never hiked faster, or with more excitement in my life, as I did up and off the beach that day. We couldn’t wait to tell our families!

Let’s see the ring!
The months leading up to the Hawaii trip got crazy, and I was working 10 and 12 hour days, getting home late every night, and spending weekends in the office. I had no idea that Joel was using all of his extra “man time” to plan the most incredible surprise. He put his 3-d drawing skills to work, and crafted the most perfect, modern piece of jewelry I have ever laid these brown eyes on. All those nights when I was working late, he sat at our computer, drafting the design and rendering the entire ring so the metalworker could see every dimension and facet. With the help of a jeweler friend of ours, he was able to purchase the diamond here in New York and then design the setting around it. He had it delivered to his office the day before we left for Hawaii so I couldn’t find it – talk about cutting it close!

When’s the big day?
September 28, 2013

Where might you two be tying the knot?
Asheville, North Carolina

How did you pick your ceremony and reception venues? What do you love most about each space?
What a loaded question.

When we first decided on Asheville as the perfect halfway point between our families in Bristol, Tennessee and Greensboro, NC, we knew we wanted a beautiful industrial space that would really set off the natural beauty of the Appalachian Mountains. After only viewing the Lift Studios, an old Nabisco Factory converted into gallery space for local artist Daniel McClendon, we knew it was perfect — we just needed to find a ceremony space to match.

When I originally contacted Emily back in February, we had contracted with a farm in Fairview, North Carolina to build a ceremony space from the stone remains of a burnt-out house. Joel and I meticulously drafted plans and spoke with the owner at length about the small changes that would be needed to complete the project, and he assured us that it would done by July, well in advance of our September wedding. July 4th weekend, Joel and I made the trip down from NYC to Asheville to check out the space one last time and walk through final plans with our coordinator.

That was when things started to fall apart. The space wasn’t ready, and we were told it wouldn’t be even close to ready by September. It was definitely frustrating, but we were determined to work it out. After all, it was just the ceremony venue, and most of our plans centered around the reception space, so we could slot in a different location, no problem.

We spent the rest of the weekend with our awesome planner, Kiersa Holy, scouring Asheville for another available venue. Unfortunately, we didn’t find anything we were in love with, especially considering the strict constraints we had. Joel and I are lucky enough to be graced with two sets of maternal grandparents who can celebrate with us on our special day, but they do come with a list of requirements: close parking, level ground, bathrooms, no steps… the list could go on and on. Finally, after calling what I am almost positive was every single venue in Western North Carolina, Kiersa was able to secure the beautiful North Carolina Arboretum for our 6:30 ceremony.

I remember sitting at work, having just signed the contract for the Arboretum, when Joel called and said, “You’re not going to believe this.” (Those weren’t his exact words, but the ones he used can’t be repeated outside of prisons and pool halls.) The owners of the Lift had called that morning to inform her that they would no longer be honoring their contract because the original occupancy number they had quoted us was not valid with the city, and we could either cut our guest list in half or find a different space. Devastation doesn’t even describe the weeks that followed. Invites were designed, ready to go to press; rental contracts were signed and deposits sent in; friends and family had booked flights from all over the country; fiasco is about the closest I can come to a description of that time. With only 8 weeks before the big day, Joel and I had planned and unplanned a wedding in a matter of days.

Once we realized the thousands upon thousands of dollars it was going to cost to “undo” all of the planning, we consulted Susan Olive, Joel’s cousin and an incredible and well-respected lawyer in Durham. I have to give a major shout-out to her, because instead of just giving us advice, she was on the phone with the city of Asheville, the fire inspector, the building inspector, the owners of the property — probably the mayor for all we know — resolving the whole situation.

Now, here we are, four weeks before the hitchin’, with our ceremony scheduled for 6:30 pm at the Johnston Pool at the North Carolina Arboretum and a 7:30 shindig at the Lift Studios in the River Arts District of Asheville. And if I had to pick what I like most about the venues, it’s that we have them, and so far, they haven’t backed out on their contracts :)

Tell us a little bit about the wedding you’re planning: style, theme, feel, colors?
Joel is a furniture designer and I am an art director, so to say we’re picky about design would be the understatement of the century. To save our sanity, instead of trying to identify a theme or color scheme, we have purposefully chosen every detail with the emotion that it will invoke. How will it make our guests feel, what will they remember, and what will they reflect on? (Even long after the event is over.)

The most prominent color we have used is mint, with touches of grey and of course Tennessee orange, but our florals will mainly be succulents with pops of seasonal shades. If I had to nail it down in a few words, I would classify it as a Sassy Southern Soireé.

Pretty close to Mimia + Joel’s palette, via Brooklyn Bride

Who or what has been most helpful and/or inspiring in the wedding planning process?
Our grandparents have been the number one inspiration as we have planned the entire thing. Both sets of them have been married almost 60 years, and experiencing the love, respect and total adoration they have for one another is all we could ever hope to achieve with our marriage. After all, we’re planning for our marriage and not simply a wedding.

How have you involved your “community” (friends, family, etc.) in the wedding planning process?
Much to my mom’s chagrin, Joel and I have taken on most of the planning, designing, and “chaos” ourselves. We wanted our family and friends to be able to show up on the big day and just enjoy it without worrying about having to make or bring or set up or even lift a finger.

Has your vision for your wedding changed or evolved over the course of your engagement? If so, how?
Because I was never one of those girls that dreamed of my wedding day, I would say that Joel and I developed a vision for the wedding together. That was such a huge blessing, because it was never what I dreamed of or what he wanted, it was always what we wanted to experience together on our wedding day.

See more of Mimia + Joel’s amazing save the dates here!

What part of wedding planning, if any, has made you the most anxious?
After having two venues cancel on us, I can safely say that nothing can really ruffle my feathers at this point. Anything that “goes wrong” really isn’t so bad in the grand scheme of life.

Besides that, paying for the whole thing ourselves has been the most stressful part. Going a year and a half with minimal dinners out, no vacation and not even buying Christmas presents for one another will definitely be so worth it when we get to experience this incredible day with our friends and families.

How has the budgeting been? What’s your best budgeting tip?
I am the last person on the planet that should be asked this question. I can justify just about any expense with “we’re only doing this once.” Needless to say, we made a budget and have exceeded it probably three times over.

This is probably the opposite of what most financial advisers will tell you, but as soon as Joel and I got engaged, we both got credit cards with great mileage rewards. We started using that for wedding expenses and for everyday purchases (of course paying it off every month). Now, a year and half later, we will be using our miles to pay for all of our accommodations on our honeymoon. By no means do I want anyone to go out and get into credit card debt, but if you use them responsibly, you can make them work in your favor.

Of course, their invites were equally as beautiful and intricate (with buttons!). See more photos here.

Tell us about the one that got away. Is there one dream thing or vendor you wish you could have fit into your budget?
Nope – not a thing. If it was just me and Joel doing this in a Dollar Store parking lot, I would be elated. There is nothing in the world I need more than just my guy.

Have you picked your dress yet? How’d that go? What will you be wearing on the big day?
Yes – my mom, sister and Joel’s mom flew to New York for a weekend to help me pick it out because I am so indecisive. After a whirlwind trip to at least 8 different salons, I finally found one that I think I won’t hate when I look back at the photos in 50 years. They are the only ones who have seen it – not even my nanny – so I don’t want to give away too many details before the big day. But I can tell you it’s a Vera Wang and she’s a beauty.

What do you love most about Southern weddings?
I have always thought that “Southern” is a state of mind. What makes a wedding Southern isn’t a barn, or wearing your grandmother’s pearls, or having everything down to your panties monogrammed. While all of those things are definitely a mark of a marriage below the Mason-Dixon, what I love most about a Southern wedding is the feeling of being surrounded by a huge group of people who love and support you and the new family you are building together. There is just something about a gaggle of Southerners in their Sunday best, joining together to stuff themselves with fried foods and sweet tea, that will always feel special to me.

Bouquet inspiration from Green Wedding Shoes (photo by Jill Thomas) and Ruffled (photo by Jonathan Ong)

Do you have a favorite Etsy or independent store you’d love to tell us about?
We have ordered from too many Etsy stores to count, but beyond that, Spoonflower.com has been a godsend for printing custom fabric, gift wrap… you name it, they will print it for you. And they are in North Carolina, which is always a big plus in my book.

What has been the best part of wedding planning? The worst part?
Wait – there’s a best part? Kidding (only slightly). For us it has been the reinforcement that family will be there for anything. The way Joel’s cousin Susan jumped in and resolved our venue issue, or how my mom hand-punched and sewed 100 individual confetti packets — those are the moments that remind you of just how lucky you are to have these incredible people in your life that you get to bring together and celebrate with, if only for one day.

Tell us about planning with your fiancé. Has it gone smoothly? Is he more involved, or hands-off?
One word – fantastic. Joel should really just go into the wedding planning business. People don’t believe me when I say that some things will even be a surprise to me on our wedding day, because Joel has planned so much on his own. Each week, we make a list of things that need to get done, and then divide and conquer. Some weeks, Joel ends up taking over some of the tasks on my list and finishes them himself. I don’t know how I got so lucky but I try to tell him every day how thankful I am not just for his help with the wedding but that I get to spend every day beside him. I know – super sappy, but super true.

More decor inspiration!

What are you most looking forward to on your wedding day?
Besides actually seeing everything come together, and without giving away too much, all I have to say is, “Hot Now.”

Any plans for a honeymoon? Where do you want to go and what will you do?
Huge shout-out to Louisa Gehring, our travel agent, who planned the most amazing honeymoon to Thailand. She gave us a bunch of options in our budget and helped us maximize our honeymoon dollars while still organizing an incredible 5-star experience in an exotic place. We’re spending the first half of the trip in Phuket in our own private pool villa with some kayaking and snorkeling built in, and then we will hop back up to Bangkok for a little shopping, history, and rooftop dining.

What are you most looking forward to about marriage?
As crazy as it sounds, being able to call each other husband and wife. I know that sounds so small, but after dating for 8 years, boyfriend and girlfriend didn’t quite fit the sentiment of our relationship.

I am so glad you joined us today, Mimia. Fingers crossed no more venues cancel on you!! Readers, if you’d like to apply to be a Southern Bride of the Month, check out this post for all the details! If you’ve already emailed me, you’re still in the running for future months!

emily Written with love by Emily
4 Comments
  1. avatar Kat reply

    Mimia, I am so excited for you!!! I don’t even know you but your personality is so alive in this post that you literally had me smiling the whole way through!!! I truly hope you and Joel have an amazing day and amazing LIFE together! Congrats :)

  2. avatar Inna Olimpiyuk reply

    Wow! I really liked this story. Especially, loved the proposal on a beach in Hawaii, very romantic. I hope that everything will be good with their venues, yes fingers crossed!

  3. avatar Ann Marie reply

    Happy to say I know this sweet couple! I loved hearing your engagement story – just perfect! Here’s to a perfect wedding day and the beginning of a wonderful journey together.

  4. avatar Southern Weddings “Bride of the Month” | for butter or worse reply

    […] “Bride of the Month” this week.  Read Mimia’s interview with the blogger here.  Spoiler alert, it’s a bit of a tear-jerker, but mainly just funny due to Mimia’s […]

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July’s Southern Bride of the Month is squeaking in under the wire in more ways than one — today happens to be the last day of July, after all, AND her wedding is in just three days!! I think you’ll agree after reading her interview, though, that we couldn’t let Charlotte and her sweet middle school romance trot off to married land without a few words of wisdom and advice! Please enjoy this month’s interview :) And P.S. Don’t forget about our amazing Golden Gift Card giveaway going on right now!! Place an order from the Shop before midnight tonight to be eligible!

Howdy! What’s your name?
Charlotte Jean Shartzer (blog here)

What’s your fiancé’s name?
Nicholas Ryan Conklin

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story.
Nik and I first met as middle schoolers in our hometown of Stafford, Virginia. For weeks we exchanged glances and smiles in the hallway, but nothing more. I remember thinking how cute he was and telling all my girlfriends. The summer after my eighth grade year and Nik’s seventh grade year, we were finally formally introduced at a mutual friend’s going-away party. We traded screen names for AOL Instant Messenger – that’s right, y’all! AIM! We began talking regularly, and Nik and his dad would pick me up for our weekly dinner and a movie dates. We officially began dating on August 3, 2003. We dated throughout high school and then Nik made the difficult decision to go away to Long Island University in Brooklyn, New York to play soccer. Our long distance relationship was not easy by any stretch of the imagination, but we made it work. Finally, we are just a few days away from our wedding and could not be more excited to be Mr. and Mrs. after all this time!

Now tell us alllll about the proposal.
Just the thought of our proposal makes me smile! It happened two Christmases ago. We spent the whole day with our families opening gifts and sharing meals. Just when I thought the fun was over, Nik suggested that we go see a movie. The whole way over to the theater we danced around and acted ridiculous in the car, per usual. Nik masked his nerves perfectly!

We arrived and walked up to the ticket booth where he stopped me. Still not thinking anything of the situation, he asked me, “What is the significance of this movie theater?” I paused and probably looked at him funny. Afterward, I replied, “It’s where we had our first date…” Then, he asked, “Do you remember what movie we saw?” Again, I just looked at him. Nik pulled an item from his pocket and said, “Maybe this will help.” It was the ticket stub from our very first date! At this moment, I knew what was about to happen and I squealed, “You still have that?!” Of course he did. He also pulled out a small hair clip that I had given him that first night.

Nik got down on one knee the same time a movie let out. He asked me to marry him in front of a crowd of people who applauded when I, of course, said yes! Even the girl in the ticket booth was excited and congratulated us on her microphone. We did not see a movie – sitting still was out of the question for me – and instead we left to share the exciting news with our family!

Let’s see the ring!
Nik designed my ring himself using diamonds from his grandmother and great-grandmother’s engagement rings. He put so much thought into my ring and I could not feel more special to be wearing such a beautiful heirloom.

When’s the big day?
August 3, 2013 – our tenth anniversary!!!

Where might you two be tying the knot?
We are having our ceremony and reception at the beautiful Mill at Fine Creek in Powhatan, Virginia.

Tell us a little bit about the wedding you’re planning: style, theme, feel, colors?
I have always dreamed of a simple, romantic, and laidback feel for our wedding. Nik and I both agree that our venue already does a lot of the talking so we really just want to incorporate more meaningful details. For colors, we will have lots of white and ivory, with touches of blush, grey, and my favorite color – teal!

How have you involved your “community” (friends, family, etc.) in the wedding planning process?
For our centerpieces, we will be using antique books and assorted styles of vases. We asked our friends and family to be on the lookout for these and I’m so glad we did!!! At this moment, we have more vases than we know what to do with!

Desi Baytan and Josh McCullock via Every Last Detail

Which part of your wedding have you been most intentional about planning?
Our photographer was the first vendor we booked! Nik and I both love photography. I especially love wedding photography! So finding a photographer was at the top of our to-do list. Laurie from Bee Photographie is so fantastic and has been such a pleasure to work with! She has helped me with so much and truly feels like a friend. I think that’s how it should be!

Have you picked your dress yet? How’d that go? What will you be wearing on the big day?
Nik’s Aunt Tina owns a lovely bridal boutique in New Jersey called Wedding Belles. She invited me and my girls up to try on dresses and I honestly could not have asked for a better experience! It was so funny because I went there with a specific dress in mind, but Tina knew better! When we arrived, I pulled at least 10 dresses and as we walked into the dressing room, there was already one dress waiting for me. It was love at first sight. I tried it on first, cried, and proceeded to try on all the others for fun! My dress was designed by Sottero and Midgley – and that’s all I will say for now!

A few other images that have inspired Charlotte!

Tell us about planning with your fiancé. Has it gone smoothly? Is he more involved, or hands-off?
Nik has been pretty involved in planning our wedding day! We went to check out venues together, spent hours researching different photographers and videographers, and shopped at several antique and thrift stores. I gathered most of the ideas for the décor, which he knew was my “thing.” He decided what he and his groomsmen would wear and helped big time with the seating chart. We work best as a team and it’s been fun having his input!

What do you wish you would have known at the beginning of your engagement?
No matter how much time you have to plan, it goes by fast!!! Faster than you think! We had a year and 8 months to plan – so I was always saying that we had plenty of time. Well, before I knew it, we only had 6 months, then 4, and now it’s almost here. Don’t waste any time booking the big things, like your venue, photographer, DJ, etc. They tend to book up quick!

Any plans for a honeymoon? Where do you want to go and what will you do?
Nik has planned our entire honeymoon and I have no idea where we are going. I love to be surprised! He did tell me to pack a bikini and floppy hat, though!

What are you most looking forward to about marriage?
The promise of a lifelong companion and never ending adventures with my best friend!

Any advice you’d like to pass along to fellow brides?
You only get to do this once. We all know that, but those words are really sinking in during these last few days for me. Take time to think about what’s important to you both as a couple and include those meaningful details in your day!

Now it’s your turn to ask for advice – is there anything you’d like to poll the SW readers on?
Married gals, what is your very best advice for the wedding day?

Thank you so much for joining us today, Charlotte! Best wishes this weekend!! Readers, if you’d like to apply to be a Southern Bride of the Month, check out this post for all the details! If you’ve already emailed me, you’re still in the running for future months!

emily Written with love by Emily
4 Comments
  1. avatar Sara M. reply

    At one point during the reception, I snuck away to the back of the space while everyone was dancing, just to take it all in. It is so neat to see all of your friends and family together having such a good time! Good luck and congrats!

  2. avatar Chelsea Watts reply

    I was very excited to see Charlotte was the bride of the month because I actually know Nick from an organization we were involved with in college. From the first day I met him, he ranted and raved about Charlotte and was so excited about proposing. We talked about his plan quite a bit as I was engaged at the time and tried to give him tips on wedding planning!

    My advice to you for your wedding day would definitely be to take time to breathe. It sounds crazy, but find a couple times in the day to take a minute or two by yourself to sit and take it all in. I thought the wedding planning flew by — but the wedding day goes even faster! Also, another good tip is to not let little details or drama get to you. Something WILL go wrong, but that is ok! You will never remember all those little things when you are married to the love of your life.

    Nick is a very lucky guy!

  3. avatar Kristin reply

    Charlotte!! I couldn’t be more excited about your big day this weekend. I know it is going be to lovely – your sweet love story stole my heart. As for advice for your wedding day – I would simply remind you to live out your own advice to other brides. 1) Do your best to soak in each moment. And try to take a few mental ‘snapshots’ throughout the day of different moments. LITERALLY STOP and take a few deep breaths and take it all in – make yourself make memories. It will be one of the sweetest days and you will want to look back on it with vivid memory. 2) After you return from your surprise honeymoon (*which I LOVE by the way – I did the exact same – and only found out at the very end of our reception where we were going the next day – SO FUN!) take time to jot down a few thoughts about your wedding weekend – how you felt, what you did. I think it makes a great time capsule. Something you will treasure for years to come. CONGRATULATIONS!!!

  4. avatar Creative Wedding Signs To Add A Personal Touch To Your Big Day | crazyforus reply

    […] include print, paint/calligraphy, lights, individual letters from a variety of materials, flowering, balloons, and glitter, of course (pictured […]

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