Southern Weddings

Amy and Evan’s love story is what summer romance dreams are made of–they first started dating at 13 and 15 while on the same swim team, and although they rarely spoke during the school year, their young love reignited every time summer rolled around again. Since that very first year, Evan knew Amy was the one, and twelve years later, they were finally married! Y’all, it just doesn’t get sweeter than that. The decision of where to tie the knot was a no-brainer–Amy’s parents and aunt and uncle had both been married at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, and her grandfather served at the church for many years, even ensuring that each brick was laid perfectly when the new location was built. Amy and Evan’s wedding added one more beautiful layer of family history to the church, and Amy recalls that it was so special to be married in a place already full of memories!

Thank you so much to Kristen Gardner for sharing this lovely day with us!

I credit my sister, Katy, for finding my wedding dress. She stumbled upon a picture on Pinterest and sent it to me in a message saying “This is the one.” We shopped around at a few places, but nothing seemed just right. Finally, we found a boutique near Baltimore that carried the dress from the picture. The store ended up being the perfect place to find my wedding dress–Garnish is a small, intimate boutique, and it is beautifully decorated. Mia, the owner, is incredibly knowledgable, and Jessica, the sales associate, was so very sweet and positive, and made me feel gorgeous in every dress I tried on. I knew as soon as I put my Tara Keely dress on that it was absolutely perfect and exactly the way I wanted to look on my wedding day. The whole experience was so easy and I have such amazing memories of choosing my dress because of this adorable boutique!

Describe your wedding flowers. Our wedding flowers were gorgeous blooms in shades of blush pink, cream, and ivory, combined with lush greenery. We also tastefully included my favorite flower, baby’s breath, into the centerpieces, bouquets, and wreaths.

We were married in the church where my parents and my aunt and uncle were married. The church also meant so much to my grandfather, who passed away several years ago. He was the congregation president for many years, and when the church moved to its current location, he went by the church each day after he got off of work to ensure that every brick was laid perfectly. It was so incredibly special to say our vows and begin our marriage in a place with so many memories. Evan and I stumbled upon King Family Vineyard while we were vineyard hopping for his birthday one year. Evan works in the restaurant industry and is incredibly passionate about wine, and I thought the venue was absolutely stunning. It was an easy choice for us.

Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! My something old was an old penny that I wore in my shoe–it has been worn by every woman in my family on her wedding day. I ended up having to tape it in to my shoe because I was so nervous about losing it! My something borrowed was my grandfather’s wedding band that I tied into my bouquet. My something blue was a blue monogrammed hankie that I kept in my dress pocket–yes, my wedding dress had pockets! I used the hankie to dry my happy tears.

Our wedding included many Southern details, such as our farm tables, monograms, and Southern cocktails. I think what made our wedding truly a Southern wedding though was that it was so very centered around family. Our day celebrated not only us as a couple, but also two families joining together. We were sure to include traditions from both sides.

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: Aside from having the ceremony in my grandparents’ church, my favorite wedding details were the garlands and flowers draped down the centers of our long farm tables. It was the exact vision I had in my head, and I was speechless when I saw how flawlessly Cody executed them. I will be forever grateful to her for making our wedding floral dreams come true!

Our wedding cake was as delicious as it was beautiful! Our cake was almond cake filled with alternating layers of raspberry curd and triple cream, iced with a delicious Chambord buttercream. I loved the simple textured layers accented with natural greenery and flowers. We also had an adorable doughnut truck that served fresh, hot doughnuts and hot chocolate and cider. It was so fun and our guests absolutely loved it!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. Evan and I grew up swimming for the same summer swim team at Franklin Knoll’s pool. Although we had seen each other around the pool for years, the first conversation we remember having was when Evan asked me to cover one of his swim lessons. In 2002, when I was just 13 years old and Evan was 15, Evan officially became my boyfriend. Although that first relationship only lasted several months, it was the spark that ignited our summer romance that would last for many years to come. Although we rarely saw each other during the school year, Evan and I would be reunited every summer. Each summer, we spent every waking moment together, from our 7:30 AM swim practices until late at night when they closed the pool and our parents finally made us go home. Once we were finally separated, Evan would call me and we would spend hours talking on the phone until we fell asleep. I remember our parents asking us what we could possibly have to talk about on the phone for two hours when we spent every day together! In 2006, Evan and I finally turned our summer romance into a year-round relationship. Over the years, Evan and I have gone through so much together and have truly grown up together. Since that first summer when he was just 15, Evan was always so sure that we were meant to be, and that we would get married one day. Twelve years later, we finally are!
Tell us all about the proposal! Evan proposed to me on Thursday, July 25, 2013 on the beach in Emerald Isle while we were on my family’s annual beach trip. Evan woke up early that morning to begin his planning, and when I woke up, he asked me to go for a walk with him. I agreed, but since I had no idea what he had in store for me, I spent the entire morning running around doing errands and giving Evan just enough time to get really nervous. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity to him, I was ready for a walk. We walked several houses down, and Evan got down on one knee. I was in utter shock, but of course, I said yes! We are so grateful for my brother-in-law, Chris, who was hiding in the dunesand captured some amazing photos of the magical moment. My family was able to watch the entire proposal through the windows of our beachfront rental. After we walked back down to the house, we were greeted by the entire family with tons of hugs, kisses, and tears. His proposal was topped off by toasting with a bottle of 1993 Moet Chandon Dom Perignon that Evan had been saving for years, just for the occasion. It was the most perfect day.
When did y’all get married? May 9, 2015
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 135
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? We chose to use the same readings and hymns used at my parents’ wedding ceremony. It was so special!
How did you plan for your marriage while planning your wedding? It was so important for us during the wedding planning process to keep in mind that we were not only preparing for one day, but preparing our hearts for the rest of our lives. We thoroughly enjoyed our pre-marriage counseling with our pastor, and topics from our sessions sparked deep conversations during our road trips home from Charlottesville.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Hands down, the most amazing part of the evening was our getaway. We rode in a 1940s vintage limo to our bed and breakfast, which was about 20 minutes away from our venue. We were still on such a high from the amazing day and we spent the entire car ride completely wrapped in each others’ arms, reliving every magical moment from the day. It was the happiest I have ever felt, and I know we will both carry that moment with us for the rest of our lives.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Make sure you take time to connect with yourself and be truly present and in the moment on your wedding day. Do whatever you need to do, whether that is yoga or just spending 20 minutes alone together to slow down and enjoy the moment. It is so surreal to be surrounded by everyone that you love. You will want to bottle that amazing feeling up and carry it with as you enter your marriage and the rest of your life.
What’s next for you as a couple? What memories are you looking forward to making together? We are just taking time to let all the newlywed bliss soak in, and we truly enjoy being married. We are excited to get ready to start looking for our first house, and hopefully, adding a furry friend to our family!

Photographer: Kristen Gardner / Planner and Florist: Amore Events by Cody / Ceremony Venue: Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church / Reception Venue: King Family Vineyards / Cake Baker: Cakes by Rachel / Caterer: Harvest Moon Catering / Rentals and Lighting: MS Events / Band: Ignition / Calligraphy and Signage: Linda Sung of Amore Events by Cody and Remember November / Bride’s Gown: “2357” by Tara Keely / Hair Stylist: Top Knot Studio / Makeup Artist: Shirin Ratner / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Amsale in Blush, Champagne, and Bellini / Groom’s Attire: J. Crew / Groomsmen Attire: Jos A. Bank / Doughnuts: Carpe Donut / Yoga: Zen Bride Yoga / Transportation: Albemarle Limousine

Amore Events by Cody is a delightful member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

Written with love by Lisa