Southern Weddings

For Jamie + Dan, an intimate Southern wedding at the Historic Cedarwood was just the ticket. The two embraced their hummingbird and wildflower settings with an outdoor ceremony flanked by lush trees and looking out onto a sunny field. We love how the lace-covered hay bales look right at home next to the straw aisle and how the bright flowers peek out from the white background. Guests were greeted with mason jars and turquoise straws for ice cold water, which they sipped on as Jamie made her way down the aisle with her daughter. Her short white dress was casual enough for their intimate wedding, but still quite the show stopper! We can’t wait to share more of the wedding in Part II, so come on back later! Big thanks to Ulmer Studios for sharing!

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. Dan and I work for the Forest Service and met when he took a job in the office I was working in. We immediately became friends and I think we both knew that there was something more between us. We began to talk on the phone and eventually started hanging out. It was going so well that after just a few months, we planned a trip to Cozumel together. Dan always said that if you can travel well with someone, then you can work through anything. We had an amazing trip and we plan on taking many more together.
Describe the proposal. Our proposal story is not your typical romantic story. But then again, Dan isn’t your typical romantic. He’s more about the surprise factor. Our proposal begins on Valentine’s Day. He had been teasing me all day that the only surprise I would get was whether or not we would be eating at Wendy’s or McDonald’s. We laughed about it, but I knew we would be going to our favorite sushi restaurant. After work, I rushed home to shower and change for our dinner. Dan showed up to pick me up before I was ready and came straight into the bathroom where I was putting on my make-up. I turned to get a ring out of my jewelry box and when I took it out, Dan said, “Oh no, you can’t wear that, I have something much prettier for you to wear.” I got so excited before he even took the ring out. The ring was so beautiful; I think I even cried a little bit. So, even though it took place in the bathroom, I will always remember our proposal.
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Beautiful, memorable, relaxed.
In what month did you get married? August. We decided to embrace the natural beauty of summertime on a farm with a wildflower and hummingbird theme.
How many guests attended your wedding? 22
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: Our favorite part of the wedding was the reception dinner. Our meal was set on a long table with our entire family sitting with us. Vintage bottles and wildflowers decorated the center, and Southern dishes were passed around the table in true family dinner style. Fried chicken, country style ham, biscuits and homemade jelly made by Dan and myself, and a broccoli salad are just a few of the delicious dishes served. To top off the southern tablescape and meal, we had sweet tea and lemonade to drink.
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? I walked down the aisle to the song “You Are My Sunshine,” which was played by a band including a guitar, a fiddle, and a banjo. The aisle was made of straw and all of the guests were seated on bales of straw covered in lace and decorated with colorful wildflowers. That, along with the family style dinner, was one of just a few of the Southern details of our wedding. To us, the South is about family and being together so keeping our wedding small with our closest family was very important to us.
Tell us about finding your wedding dress: The Bridal Cottage was the first store I went to. As soon as my sister-in-law, my mother and I walked in, we scoured the racks for the perfect dress. I knew I wanted something different – short for the outdoor, August wedding but with enough detail to make it memorable. The first dress I put on fit me to a “T”. Though it was tea length and a little long for my taste, I fell in love with it immediately. After hemming the dress up a bit, it was even more beautiful and perfect for our wedding day.

Photography: Ulmer Studios // Venue and wedding planner: Historic Cedarwood // Flowers and styling: Cedarwood Weddings // Officiant: Ralph Griggs // Hair and Makeup: Katie Guberud of Aura Salon // Wedding Dress: The Bridal Cottage // Invitations and Paper Goods: Designs in Paper // Wedding Cake: Patty Cakes // Bluegrass Music: Mark Burnett and Kathy Kuhn with Jason Fletcher of Nashvegas Ramblers // Catering: Monell’s // Favors: DIY by the bride

Written with love by Nicole