Southern Weddings

Brandy and Adam tried to keep things professional after meeting at work during a very quick business trip for Adam, but the two simply knew that their connection meant something more! After 52(!) flights between the two or them in just nine months, they said their vows at the beautiful Peachtree House at a wedding that was uniquely them. Passing on floral decor, Brandy and Adam worked with their planner, Lori Ritzie-Wardman, to incorporate over 100 ivory and metallic pumpkins into their celebration. The couple also included Adam’s favorite sweet treat, pecan pie, into their fabulous dessert bar created by our Blue Ribbon Vendor Two Sweets Bake Shop. While the pecan might be Adam’s favorite, I’m eyeing those mini pumpkin pies with perfect-sized dollops of whipped cream!

We’re so glad our Blue Ribbon Vendor Jordan Weiland was on hand to capture this lovely day!

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. I went with friends and family to several appointments, and although I tried on many beautiful dresses, none felt like “the one.” I actually found my dress at Calvet Couture during a lunch break by myself! It was really nice to have found it alone because it was truly a surprise to everyone else on the big day.

I chose something different and walked down the aisle to an instrumental version of Beyonce’s “Halo.” It’s really pretty. For our walk back up the aisle, we had “You Are the Best Thing” by Ray LaMontagne played.

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: Rather than flowers on the tables, we had ivory pumpkins and lanterns. Actually, the ivory pumpkins were everywhere throughout the property, thanks to Lori Ritzie-Wardman! Lori was our wedding coordinator and she made my vision a reality. The pumpkins were wonderfully different and the market lighting made everything feel magical.

We got married and had the reception at The Peachtree House because it is an absolutely gorgeous Florida estate home. Ashlie Darley at The Peachtree House is an amazing hostess and very accommodating. She went out of her way to make our day special!

We had a fabulously delicious dessert bar. Two Sweets did a knock-out job styling the bar and making everything so yummy. We had pies, cupcakes, dessert shooters, cookies, and more. It was a great way to have something for everyone and it was very pretty.

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? Well, we served pecan pie, Adam’s favorite. Also, where else can you have an outdoor wedding in November?

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. Everything happened so quickly! Adam flew down from Tennessee to Florida for a one-day business trip and walked into my office on a Thursday in February. We had an immediate connection and did our best to keep it professional, but by the end of the day, we knew better, and he asked me to visit him sometime. Adam returned to Florida to “see if our connection was real” that weekend–needless to say, it was. By the time we married (nine months later in November), there had been 52 flights between us!
Tell us all about the proposal! After only four magical months, we went on our first big vacation together. I thought being able to go to Maui together was amazing enough, and then he surprised me with a sunset proposal!
When did y’all get married? November 15, 2014
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 100
Did you decide to do a first look? Why or why not? Yes. I thought it would take some pressure off of us and I wanted to take photos before the wedding so that we could focus on our celebration after the ceremony.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Finding 100+ pumpkins at a reasonable price!
If you are comfortable responding, what range did your wedding budget fall into? $10,000-$25,000
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Hire Jordan Weiland if you can! She is an amazingly talented photographer, and we were fortunate enough to have her capture our wedding. A great photographer is a must! Also, hire Lori Ritzie-Wardman. An organized, calming, and knowledgeable wedding coordinator is another must!
What’s next for you as a couple? What memories are you looking forward to making together? We are still getting to know each other and every day is an adventure!

Photographer: Jordan Weiland / Planner: Lora Ritzie-Wardman / Venue: Peachtree House / Florist: Lee Forrest / Dessert Baker:Two Sweets Bakeshop / Caterer: Big City Catering / Rentals: Orlando Wedding and Party Rentals / Lighting: Get Lit Productions / DJ: Adam Rubman / Paper Products: Minted / Bride’s Gown: “Willow” by Hayley Paige / Bridal Salon: Calvet Couture / Hair Stylist: Danielle Watkins / Makeup Artist: Lena Graham / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: “Annabelle” by Jenny Yoo / Menswear: BLACK by Vera Wang / Men’s Ties and Bow Ties: Absolutely Fitting

Two Sweets Bakeshop is a delightful member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

Written with love by Marissa