Southern Weddings

Do y’all scour Etsy like I do sometimes? I love finding cool new items that we can feature on the blog in some way. Natalie + Wade were pros at this, too. Their wedding consisted of many heartfelt details, like family photos and fun customized props, but also many Etsy finds that made their day full of handmade charm. We love how the couple infused the wedding with their favorite memories while dating. The part that I love the most? The mixed CDs that the newlyweds made for guests’ drive back home, which were full of love songs that N + W traded while living apart. Thanks again to Tec Petaja for sharing this wedding with us in V4!

What was the design inspiration for your reception? I wanted the reception to be very whimsical/Anthropologie-inspired/vintage with lots of pretty elements. I spent months browsing through various wedding blogs, the new BHLDN website, and Etsy for typewriters, chalkboards, tags, vintage bottles, birdcages and other pretty elements.
Bride’s favorite detail of the wedding: I enjoyed planning and preparing the creative elements of our wedding, which included typed love letters, a “key to happiness” tree and the Polaroid guest book. I also loved our favors that we did through Wade’s company, usimprints.com. We designed a couple of different logos, and had canvas tote bags, plastic cups, sunglasses and travel journals made for the guests. I also spent time over the last year taking snap shots of the area and had postcards made for everyone. We also had CDs made by Kraft and Jute with our favorite love songs for guests to have for the drive back to Texas or Tennessee.
Groom’s favorite detail of the wedding: I loved the ceremony in the garden. It was like a movie. The garden was intimate and so beautiful.
Tell us a bit about your first dance. During the first month we were dating, Wade and I made each other mixed CDs. He made me a Nashville mix of all country songs and he put a song on it by LeAnn Rimes called “Some People.” We played it on repeat for months. It was everything we felt for each other, but weren’t exactly telling the other, so when it came down to picking a song for the first dance, we knew it was the perfect song.
What was the funniest moment? What was the scariest? The funniest moment was when I looked around and realized that everyone was wearing props from the photo booth on the dance floor. Wade’s company sells promotional products, so we decided to make old school neon sunglasses with “N + W” on one of the arms for everyone to wear at the reception. They were a huge hit on the dance floor. The scariest moments were when three guests were rushed to the hospital due to heat exhaustion. All three recovered, which made for a good story.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? We are starting our life together in Nashville. I’m going to start working for Wade’s company, which should be fun. We are looking forward to all the fun that goes along with married life — lots of home-cooked meals, traveling, the joy of having someone to come home to and eventually, children.

Photographer: Tec Petaja // Videographer: Celia Hilton // Planner: Watercolor Inn and Resort // Ceremony Venue: Western Lake Park at Watercolor Inn and Resort // Reception Venue: The Boathouse at Watercolor Inn and Resort // Florist: Bella Flora // Wedding Cake Baker: Confections on the Coast // Caterer: Fish Out of Water // Bridesmaid Dresses: BCBG and J. Crew // Bride’s Dress: Monique Lhuillier // Hair Stylist: Katie Carter // Makeup Artist: Two Fishes Artistry // Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade // Bride’s Jewelry: Grandmother of the bride’s // Bride’s Veil or Hair Accessory: Toni Federici veil, BHLDN wreath // Groom’s Fashion: J. Crew // Groomsmen Fashion: J. Crew // Paper Goods: Save the dates by Posh Paperie, invitations by Rock Scissor Paper, programs and maps by Jennifer Lane // Rentals: Bella Flora // Linens: Bella Flora // Favors: Kraft and Jute // Lighting: Bella Flora

Love this wedding? Here are a few past posts we think you might enjoy:
Two peeks at our V2 editorial set in Watercolor (here + here)
Natalia + Levi’s pink and vintage-whimsical wedding here and here

Written with love by Nicole