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The more New Orleans weddings I see, the more anxious I get to attend one–they all look so fabulous and fun! Donielle and Vince’s wedding was certainly no exception, and from the Creole cuisine they served to their lively second line, they filled their wedding with nods to their exciting locale. Even more than all of the beautiful details they used on their big day though, I can’t stop admiring their portraits. Their love is so evident in the way they laughed together at their first look, stared into each others’ eyes during their ceremony, and so much more. Dark Roux, their photographers and members of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory, did a truly wonderful job!

Wedding dress shopping was one of the happiest planning moments for me. I decided to set up initial appointments with only my wedding planner to ensure I would get the dress I really wanted and not rely on anyone else’s opinions. I always knew I wanted a lace dress, but I was unsure of the fit, so I tried one dress in each silhouette on before narrowing my search to the mermaid style. I decided to go with an ivory lace gown by Tara Keely, which had a strapless sweetheart neckline, an elongated bodice, and a chapel train. I glammed the dress up with a diamond studded belt.

Describe your wedding flowers. In one word, they were impeccable. Our florist was amazing! Dee was so good, I just gave her my wedding color palette and trusted she would deliver. I didn’t even schedule a follow-up appointment after my initial consultation visit. My first time seeing our flowers was the day of the wedding and I was blown away.

Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? Yes we did. I wanted the photographer to capture both of our initial expressions seeing one another in one single shot. Seeing each other before the wedding gave us a moment to share our most intimate thoughts before we had to turn our attention to our wedding guests. It was also beneficial because we did not have to take away time from the reception to get the traditional bride and groom shots.

Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? No, we decided to stick to the traditional vows. We liked the idea of reciting the timeless and classic words that united so many other prosperous marriages.
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? We had two readings at our wedding. The first was “I Love You” by Roy Croft and the second was the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi.

Our favorite detail of the wedding was our sweetheart canopy accented with a crystal chandelier. Not only was it a gorgeous statement piece, it also acted as the focal point of our reception. It was nice to be able to eat and spend time with each other under the canopy without leaving our guests.

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? Our menu consisted of many famous Creole dishes. In New Orleans, food is an important part of our culture, so it is only right that it played an important role in our wedding. We also incorporated a second line band. The second line tradition stemmed from the African American jazz funerals and has evolved to become part of all New Orleans weddings. It signifies the start of a new beginning for the bride and groom. We led the second line twirling black and white umbrellas, followed by our guests dancing and waving monogrammed handkerchiefs to the live jazz band.

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. In December 2007, I received a phone call from one of my best guy friends, Kristian. Kristian and I had known each other for years and were great friends. Our lives were so busy, it was difficult to keep in touch. When I finally received a phone call from him, I was excited to catch up, but instead, he told me a story that went like so: “Well, I was at work looking at your Facebook page today. Out of nowhere, my co-worker/friend Vince asked me ‘How do you know her?’ and I told him you were my childhood friend. He proceeded to tell me that he saw you at a party in Baton Rouge and he couldn’t get you off of his mind. Since that conversation, he has been constantly asking me to throw him a little interference, so I was wondering if it would be okay if I gave him your phone number.” I hesitated, but since I valued Kristian’s opinion, I did not oppose. Vince finally called me and we engaged in many long conversations. I found him to be very smart, business savvy, and funny. However, he was still a mystery man because we never met face to face, so we finally set up a date night. I was really nervous because I had never been on a “real” date before, so I gathered my friends to help me get ready. When I opened the door and saw him, he smiled and said hello. It was then I noticed the train tracks in his mouth. My first words were, “OMG, you didn’t tell me you had braces!” I am soooooo ashamed of this, but it was a typical Donielle moment–I am an extremely blunt person and my thoughts are always written on my face! Vince just laughed it off. Our date night consisted of dinner at an upscale Baton Rouge restaurant, Juban’s, followed by a stroll downtown that ended at the Shaw Center. We talked for hours. When I returned home, I called my girlfriends and told them, “I am going to marry that man.”
Tell us all about the proposal! The day we got engaged started off as a low-spirited day for me. To cheer me up, Vince decided to take me to my favorite restaurant, J Alexander’s, for dinner. To make me feel even better, he took me shopping for a new dress and shoes to wear for the evening. The day was starting to look up for me. While shopping, he asked if he could invite some of our friends who were in town to dinner. I agreed–we have the best time with our friends. While at dinner, we received a phone call from our friend Josh, who invited us all to help celebrate his birthday with drinks downtown, so we finished dinner and headed downtown to the Tsunami Restaurant in the Shaw Center. The restaurant has a rooftop with an amazing view overlooking the Mississippi River. I noticed Vince was a little nervous, which was so unlike him, but I continued to have a friendly debate with one of our friends. When I turned around to get Vince’s support of my argument, he was on one knee with a gorgeous diamond! I was extremely caught off guard and couldn’t believe it! He had managed to gather all our friends (near and far) and propose where we ended our very first date. The entire day was staged and I had had no clue!
When did y’all get married? March 8, 2013
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 200
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. We love the beautiful sounds of the harp, so a harpist played all the songs for the wedding ceremony, including “Here Comes the Bride” for my walk down the aisle. Our first dance was to John Legend’s song “So High,” which we chose because of the lyrics, “So high…walking on cloud nine.” It was the perfect song for us. Other songs were: “Mama” by Boyz II Men for the mother/son dance, “Dance with my Father” by Luther Vandross for the father/daughter dance, “Single Ladies” by Beyonce for the bouquet toss, and “Pony” by Ginuwine for the garter toss.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? The biggest challenge I had to overcome when planning my wedding was distance. I had already moved to Dallas, Texas and the wedding was in New Orleans, Louisiana. Although I had a wedding planner, it was still quite difficult to align our meeting availability. The use of technology definitely helped aid the situation; however, I would have liked to be physically present to experience the vendor meetings.
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? First, our photographer, Dark Roux. When picking our photographer, it was very important for us to find someone who possessed the photography style we desired and who had personalities we both connected with. This down to earth husband-wife duo was perfect for us–they were creative, funny, and very professional. Most importantly, they captured amazing wedding photos that we will cherish forever. Our other most important vendor was our wedding planner. On our wedding day, I did not have a care in the world because Mrs. Audi had every detail under control. She was always professional, punctual, and patient. She truly took the time to make this the best day of our lives, and it was.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? The best part of the wedding for me was my father walking me down the aisle to marry the man of my dreams. I am such a “daddy’s girl” and being able to have him by my side to share this special day meant the world to me. This simple gesture was also confirmation that my father accepted and approved of my husband-to-be. For my husband, his most cherished moment was the first look.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Do not rush the process. You want to give yourself enough time to plan every detail, and managing your time will eliminate the stress factor. Wedding planning should be an exciting process for both the groom and bride, but when stress is involved, it can become draining.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? The next step is starting our new life together in Dallas, Texas. We are most looking forward to spending the rest of our lives together and growing as one. We would like to accomplish our dreams and goals as a unit as well as expand our family.

Photographer: Dark Roux Photography / Videographer: Bride Film LLC / Planner: Occasions By Audi / Ceremony Venue: City Parks Botanical Gardens / Reception Venue and Caterer: City Parks Pavilion of Two Sisters / Florist: Bella Blooms Floral / Wedding Cake: La Louisiane Bakery / Groom’s Cake: Haydel’s Bakery / Rentals: Event Rental, Big Easy Photobooth and New Orleans Limo Service / Lighting: Event Rental / Harpist: Ashley Toman DJ: DJ Hollaback / Band: 21st Century Brass Band / Bride’s Gown: Tara Keely / Hair Stylist: Shena O. Cox / Makeup Artist: Kisha Williams from The Makeup Lab Artistry / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Alvina Valenta / Men’s Attire: Brown & Brown Custom Clothiers

Dark Roux Photography is a delightful member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

lisa Written with love by Lisa
2 Comments
  1. avatar Emily reply

    What a perfect bridal look – love her bun + gown!

  2. avatar Happy Father's Day! – Southern Weddings Magazine reply

    […] Dark Roux from Donielle + Vince’s wedding […]

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Oh y’all! I’m so excited to share today’s Real Wedding with you. Not only is our bride absolutely cute as a button, but she is talented, and just as much a doll as she looks. Yes, it’s true, I know her! Today’s bride is one of our darling sponsors, and the owner of the fantastic accessory line MOLLYGEEdesigns! Oh yes, and Justin’s new wife!

I knew when I clicked into Molly Gee + Justin’s wedding that I’d be in for a real treat. Together with their uber-talented planner Kendall Poole (another fabulous sponsor!), and the creative styling direction of Lesley at Tulip, MG + J created a glamorous but comfortable celebration for five hundred people. Five hundred people — talk about a big ol’ Southern wedding! I’m sure Molly Gee took her own advice when she said, “If the wedding doesn’t flow exactly as you planned, you are still marrying the one person you care the most about!” Exactly!

Big hugs to B. Mo Foto for sharing this sweet day!

Even though I work in the wedding industry, I had no idea what my dream dress would be! I fell in love with two completely different styles: a cafe Watters ruffled ball gown and a blush Allure lace and tulle mermaid style. I chose Allure and added my own tulle straps and beaded sash. I also styled the dress with a tulle veil and organza flower clip from my collection. What was supposed to be my farewell dress turned into my reception dress as well once the dancing started. I wore a 1950’s vintage tulle and lace tea-length party dress that I happened to find in Austin, TX for $40! I added my Russian netting headband and glittery gold heels as well.

Did you decide to do a “first look”?
 Yes. Justin and I both wanted to have all our photos taken before the ceremony and to relieve ourselves of those initial wedding jitters. I loved having a quiet moment with Justin to take in the day. Our first look is when it began to ‘feel’ like our wedding day.

My bouquet was wild and unstructured, composed of dusty miller, agonis, cafe au lait dahlias, antique lavender roses, pink astilbe, amaranthus, and thistle.  The stems were wrapped in a nude-toned antique lace. Each bridesmaid carried a different bouquet, but all had the same unstructured, wild feel.  Each bouquet was composed of a combination of dahlias, pink protea, thistle, caramel roses, and gold-painted seeded eucalyptus. Nude-toned lace and gold ribbon accented each bouquet.

I am having a serious swoon-fest over this simple pew tie! That lace is perfection!

Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding.
 Since our ceremony was not held in a church setting, we had complete control over our music choices. Each song was very thoughtfully chosen and our amazing musicians made our day even more special. They were able to adapt to any song with their mix of acoustic guitar, cello, and mandolin. Prelude songs included Chris Rice’s “Untitled Hymn,” Tom Petty’s “Wildflower,” “Amazing Grace,” Alexi Murdoch’s “All My Days,” and “On Eagle’s Wings.” The wedding party walked to The Beatles’ “In My Life,” and then, my dad walked me down the aisle to an acoustic guitar version of Sondre Lerche’s “Family Theme.” It was a beautiful transition from the wedding party to my entrance. Our first dance was to The Arctic Monkey’s cover of “Baby I’m Yours,” which is totally us! Instead of hiring a DJ or band, we used a Spotify playlist and sound system for our reception. It was perfect, and we were able to include all our favorites!

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? Fresh Cut Catering created a delicious display of Southern comfort foods complete with a mashed potato bar and all the fixings (Justin’s main request!), and of course we had mint tea and cranberry punch.

The centerpieces were modern white vessels filled with wild arrangements of dahlias, pink protea, antique roses, thistle, and astilbe accented with gold-painted eucalyptus. The tables were accented with items such as mid-century brass candlesticks, rose-colored candle votives, silver mercury glass, and wooden tree stumps for a rustic touch.  White lace tablecloths adorned each table.

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: There are so many wonderful details, it is hard to narrow down! I loved the overall decor of romance with a touch of vintage, especially the candlelit aisle for the ceremony. A beautiful dusty rose pink chandelier hung above and a draped cream curtain with tree branches on each side stood behind us.

I love the little painting of Molly Gee + Justin – what a fun piece to have in their home after their big day!

The bride’s cake consisted of a center, two-tiered cake, and two small cakes on each side, all in a textured buttercream icing. The cakes were a mix of traditional wedding cake, strawberry, and carrot cake. The cake topper was a set of white lovebirds, and blush dahlias decorated the sides. Justin’s cake was a rich Dutch chocolate, complete with chocolate shavings, strawberries, and a decorative W. Surrounding the cake were photos of our parents and grandparents on their wedding days as well as Arsenal premier soccer league memorabilia (Justin’s favorite team!).

The most memorable part of the reception was the dance party, and Justin and his brother even started a dance off. The photo booth was also a blast — I handmade each decorative prop. The photos that came from the booth are very special. We even applied custom ‘Molly Gee and Justin’ labels to every beer and wine bottle (with the help of our friends) for a special touch!

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. The Lord’s plan for our lives is so much greater than our own. Justin and I met a few times throughout college and shortly after. Just after graduation, I moved to New York to pursue a career in fashion, which is where I started my wedding accessory business. Around the time I decided to move the business to my hometown in Mississippi, Justin was making his move to Barcelona, Spain. I still remember seeing Justin for the first time in years and thought he was so good looking! When he said he was moving out of the country in one week, I was a little disappointed. When he moved back months later, I made the first move and gave him my number. I wasn’t pushy but showed my interest, which is when he took over from there.
Describe the proposal. 
It didn’t take us long to fall in love and know this was a serious relationship that was meant to last forever. Justin and I first talked about marriage in the spring of 2011. We knew we loved each other very much, but also wanted to be sure we were established in our professions before making such a big decision. Looking back, I now know that Justin wanted his main surprise to be the timing of the proposal. So, when he said sometime in 2012, I believed him! On December 23, 2011, my sister called to say she needed me to babysit my nieces while she finished last minute Christmas errands. She seemed flustered, but I figured it was just stress from a long ‘to do’ list. I called Justin to tell him my plans, and he mentioned taking me out to dinner that night. We decided he would pick me up at my house once I was done sitting. I take my dog, Fern, with me most places. So after babysitting, I parked in my garage, unloaded Fern and my other belongings, and headed inside. My first reaction? “Oh no! My Christmas tree lights exploded everywhere!” Fern tore through the foyer ahead of me, sliding on the dozens of candles that were set up and generally making a mess. I dropped my bags and just stared at Justin (who was on one knee) from across the room. He had to ask The Question from a distance, and finally said, “Can you please walk over here?” I, of course, said yes! It’s fun to find out the little details afterward, isn’t it? Justin requested my sister’s help in getting me out of the house for two hours, but in the end, only needed about 30 minutes to get everything set up! (He watched Christmas Vacation on my TV while waiting with his car parked down the street!) My sister relaxed at my parents’ house while baking Christmas dishes… not running errands!
In what month did you get married? October
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? 
We were on a tight budget and had to be very careful about spending. It was difficult to narrow down our must-haves and things we could live without. In the end, everything turned out perfect and we didn’t even notice some of our cut corners. The reception was a blast and the most important part was that we were now married and celebrating with family and friends!
What range did your wedding budget fall into? 
$10,000-$25,000
What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? 
Photography and Videography. With this documentation, we are able to relive all the details and emotions of our ceremony and reception! Save the Date video: http://vimeo.com/41858697 Wedding Video: http://vimeo.com/61850876
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? 
I remember Justin telling me he was going to dip me during our first kiss…well with the emotions of our ceremony I completely forgot and when the time came for our kiss, the dip was a special surprise to say the least!
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? 
We all want our day to be perfect and it’s understandable to focus on making that happen! Even through all of the planning and decisions, remember it is only one day of your life. If the wedding doesn’t flow exactly as you planned, you are still marrying the one person you care the most about!
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? 
Justin and I now own our first house and are spending time in the yard this spring, planting flowers and making it our own special space. We have set goals for travel in the next few years and just overall enjoying our first year of marriage! As for adding to the family, we have talked about getting a second dog so our pup, Fern, can have a best friend.

Kendall Poole and Molly Gee Designs are delightful members of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

marissa Written with love by Marissa
14 Comments
  1. avatar Lisa reply

    What a gorgeous bride! They look like they’re just having the best time in all of these pictures!

  2. avatar Lauren reply

    The picture of them kissing under the chandelier is probably one of my favorite real wedding pictures, ever. It is just so gorgeous.

  3. avatar Parker reply

    This post makes my heart SO HAPPY! As a Jackson girl myself, I love love LOVE seeing Mississippi weddings on here! This post has made my morning, thank you SW!!!!

  4. avatar Molly Gee reply

    Thank you, Southern Weddings Magazine, for this post! It wouldn’t have been our dream wedding without our amazing MS vendors!

  5. avatar Shelby reply

    This is too cute! I love her flowers, they are too perfect, and I’m so glad y’all included the videos in the post! An extra bit of goodness!

  6. avatar Madelynne Moulton reply

    Sweet Molly! I was SO thrilled when I saw this post. It was serendipitous that I came across one of her beautiful headpieces at a store in Auburn that matched my gown perfectly and then lo and behold, we have so many mutual friends! Molly is the sweetest and she is SO creative and beautiful. This wedding absolutely shows that. The chandeliers are amazing, the bouquet is SO unique and lovely, and don’t even get me started on that gown! Congrats to her on a stunning wedding!

  7. avatar Angie reply

    Beautiful wedding! Lesley from TULIP does amazing floral and decor!

  8. avatar isha | isha foss events reply

    I LOVE the ceremony – every detail! And her bouquet is scrumptious!

  9. avatar Sherry Donnelly reply

    Enjoyed all the sweet details and I am madly in love with the bouquet…great job Tulip!!

  10. avatar victoria clausen reply

    LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! Details are just perfect, nothing overlooked, gorgeous flowers! Beautiful job, Tulip!!!!

  11. avatar Justin and Molly Gee Married: Jackson, Mississippi Wedding Photographer | b mo foto reply

    […] Their wedding was featured on Southern Weddings blog on Monday.  To hear about their engagement and more about their wedding from the bride click here. […]

  12. avatar Friday Fresh Squeeze | Floridian Weddings reply

    […] I just swoon over the bouquet, first kiss, and oodles of chandeliers at this bridal designer's […]

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I have to say that between Melanie’s have-fun-planning mentality and the fact that in addition to their wedding cake, they offered milk and cookies and a late night spread of yummy comfort food at the after party – I would love to have attended this wedding! Big hugs to Brooke Mayo for making me feel like I was there!

Melanie + Joe’s goal for the weekend was to exude true Southern hospitality at its finest! I’d have to say that they nailed that! Just looking at the glamorous glittery linens makes me want to put on my dancing shoes, then watching a gorgeous Carolina sunset at their reception definitely gives me the warmth they were looking for.

I wanted a very intimate and romantic feel for our wedding flowers. I described my “vision” to my amazing wedding planner, Katrina Hutchins and she created a breathtaking inspiration board to share with our florist. Together they created a masterpiece! For the reception, we used plush white peonies, roses, and baby’s breath in unique mercury glass vases. Mixed in were floating candles accented with mint colored ribbon to add a subtle pop of color to the tables. The final product far exceeded my wildest expectations!

Did you decide to do a “first look”? After considerable debate, we finally decided to do a first look. Of course there is nothing like that moment when the groom sees the bride for the first time at the end of the aisle. At weddings, instead of looking at the bride when her processional begins, I look at the groom to see his expression. I love the tradition in that. However, our wedding day was about what made the most sense for us as a couple, for our families, and for our friends in attendance. The first look was a really special moment that allowed for us to have those few minutes alone and absorb the beauty of our special day. It also allowed for time alone, pre-ceremony, with our families and wedding party to take the edge off, so to speak, and calm nerves and emotions. Since we got married outside, the heat was a factor and we wanted our wedding party to be as comfortable as possible. Doing the first look allowed them to quickly move on to the cocktail hour after the ceremony and begin celebrating!

At the reception, the wedding party was seated at long farm tables, creating a warm sense of inclusion among the group. In addition to our wedding cake, we offered milk and cookies, along with a late night spread of yummy comfort food at the after party. To cap off the weekend, we offered a drop-in style Sunday brunch for our guests to drop in and say goodbye on their way out of town. We wanted the weekend to exude true Southern hospitality at its finest!

There were SO many details that made the entire day perfect for us. Joe and I were able to take a few minutes before the reception began to sneak a peek at the reception hall in all its glory and really soak in every detail before our guests arrived. We wanted classic elegance, paired with rustic warmth. The silver sequin linens mixed with a natural hard wood in the chiavari chairs and farm tables really portrayed this perfectly. We also had three gorgeous chandeliers hanging from the gazebo overlooking the sound. We loved that our guests could watch the gorgeous Carolina sunset at our reception!

Our wedding cake was perfection! It was four tiers of yummy goodness! The layers alternated between chocolate chip cake and a very unique and delicious key lime bliss cake.

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story: Joe and I met just over four years ago through mutual friends in Charlotte, NC. We hit it off immediately, and the rest, as they say, is history!
Describe the proposal: Joe’s brother and his girlfriend were in town visiting, so we took them out for a fun night on the town, which included an outdoor concert in Charlotte. It was a gorgeous night and we enjoyed showing off our city! As the night came to an end, Joe arranged for a limo take us back home. While I questioned why a trusty cab wouldn’t do, I went along with the plan and alas, was none the wiser. Finally we made it home and upon walking in our front door, I noticed dozens and dozens of red roses. Thoroughly confused and caught off guard, the next thing I see is Joe down on one knee, holding THE most gorgeous ring I’ve ever seen, asking for my hand in marriage! I was completely shocked! Joe had arranged for friends to come over and set the stage for what would be one of the happiest moments of my life!
In what month did you get married? June
How many guests attended your wedding? 126 guests
Tell us about finding your wedding dress: I visited several boutiques in Charlotte, and had settled on two dresses that I really liked, but didn’t “love.” My mother was in town, so I decided we should try one final boutique, which is where I found “the one.” It was love at first sight! I felt like a princess in a fairytale in my dress! I never wanted to take it off!
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? We had two readings: An “Apache Wedding Blessing” and “1 Corinthians 13, 1-13”
Tell us about the music you used throughout your wedding: Music can set the tone for any occasion and we certainly realized the significance of having outstanding talent to make our special day even more memorable. We absolutely loved the musicians who performed for our wedding. First was Roy Murray, who is an artist local to the Outer Banks. Our ceremony music included a trumpeter, flutist, and string quartet. I walked down the aisle to Clarke’s “Trumpet Voluntary.” For our reception, Joe and I knew we wanted to have live music to keep the energy high and people on their feet! We first heard a band called “Rubberband” at a concert in Charlotte and loved every minute! We were so lucky they were available to play for our wedding. We still have guests commenting on how fantastic they were! They performed our first dance song, which was “Crazy Love” and father/daughter and mother/son dance, which was “Wonderful World.” The band was certainly a highlight of the night!
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? Perhaps the most Southern attribute to our wedding was the setting itself. We chose the Outer Banks in North Carolina as our wedding destination because of our love for the Carolina beaches. You can’t help but to relax and enjoy your time in such a serene and beautiful place! In addition to the setting itself, sweet Southern touches were infused throughout the long weekend. We hosted a welcome party, offering traditional Southern fare, and opened the rehearsal dinner invitation to all guests in attendance of the wedding. We wanted to keep it casual, offering Southern barbeque and all the fixin’s! During the ceremony, guests could cool off with a glass of pink lemonade and the family of the bride and groom were seated at traditional wooden church pews in the front rows.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? By far the biggest challenge was that while in the midst of planning a destination wedding, we were also planning a move and building a house in Boston. Physically the planning was quite demanding, but perhaps emotionally it was just as difficult, considering all the very big changes that were ahead!
What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? We were SO thrilled with the exemplary service, food, and ambience of our venue – the Sanderling Resort and Spa. They were a dream to work with from start to finish. We also were thrilled with the work of our most fabulous photographer, Brooke Mayo. Her work is by far extraordinary, and we couldn’t imagine anyone else capturing the memories of our special day!
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Joe and I would agree that the highlight of our wedding day was taking a moment during the reception to look around the room and see all of our closest friends and family members laughing and having such a good time. It was a surreal moment. I remember being overcome with gratitude and emotion over the fact that everyone made the effort to be there with us to celebrate our special day. There is no feeling quite like that. It was a beautiful thing!
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Hire a wedding planner you love, choose vendors that are a good fit for you and your wedding vision, be organized, and don’t procrastinate! Don’t seek out too many opinions from other people – trust your own!, and most importantly, HAVE FUN with the process! It goes by so quickly — absorb and appreciate every minute of it.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? We recently left our home in the South for a new adventure and job opportunity in Boston, MA. We are getting settled and enjoying exploring a new part of the country! Once we’ve had some time to adjust, we’d like to start a family. It has been an exciting year for us and we look forward to what the future holds!

marissa Written with love by Marissa
23 Comments
  1. avatar Lisa reply

    Their tables are INCREDIBLE! I’m head over heels for those linens, white flowers, and letterpress menus!

  2. avatar Marissa reply

    Isn’t it stunning? The glitter is just too much fun!

  3. avatar Utah Custom Wedding Announcements reply

    “Have fun with the process” is soooo true. Too many engaged couples get lost in stress of planning that they miss out on some great memories.

  4. avatar Katrina Hutchins (come+together) reply

    Thanks so much for the feature! My link to my website is not working–can it be fixed pretty please :)? Thanks so much to the ladies at SW!!!!

  5. avatar Featured: Southern Weddings Magazine » come+together events reply

    […] Thanks so much to Southern Weddings Magazine for featuring Melanie and Joe’s gorgeous OBX wedding! What an honor to be showcased on such an amazing publication! For the full post click HERE! […]

  6. avatar Glamour and Glitz | Renee Landry Style reply

    […] and Glitz Posted on August 28, 2012 by bluefintek We are thrilled to be featured in this awesome blog.  These were the most amazing linens we have ever worked with! Gorgeous photos by Brooke Mayo.  […]

  7. avatar MacKenzie reply

    This is awesome! Thanks for sharing this wedding. We’re excited to work w/ Katrina Hutchins next summer; super creative!

  8. avatar Love List – reply

    […] {Speaking of glitter, how phenomenal are these sparkling linens? I am becoming more and more convinced that La Tavola Fine Linens can do no wrong. By Brooke Mayo via Southern Weddings} […]

  9. avatar The Love List {2 Sept 2012} reply

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  14. avatar Theresa reply

    Where can I find the sliver sequin table cloths please let me know?

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  19. avatar Noelia Argueta reply

    I love the tableclots. I am in need of one tablecloth for my daughter Drill Team Banquet table. Every girl needs to decorate their own table with different theme. Our is Bling-Sparkle. I need help……

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