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It wasn’t until this summer while foraging around at our team retreat that I learned I might be a “flower person” after all. With that in mind, I couldn’t stop staring at Ruthie and Tyler’s stunning blooms by Gypsy Floral! These botanic beauties brought fabulous pops of color to their wedding day and provided a sweet way to remember Ruthie’s grandfather, “Poppy”–she carried poppy pods in her bouquet as a tribute to him. I also can’t help but chuckle that Tyler and his groomsmen walked into the ceremony to “Another One Bites the Dust!” BDK would have thought that was funnier than an electric switch in a candle factory!

Thanks to Sara & Rocky for sharing R and T’s big day with us!

We were lucky to work with the incredibly talented Sunni and Emily from Gypsy Floral. From the moment I first talked with them on the phone, I trusted them with the vision I had for our wedding. Flowers were very important to me, as my grandfather, “Poppy,” opened arboretums and gardens all over the country. I wanted lots of colors and the feel of the Hill Country. Sunni and Emily delivered with beautifully saturated blooms and exquisite arrangements. In my bouquet, I carried poppy pods in remembrance of my grandfather.

Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? Tyler and I decided to do a first look, and we are so happy we did! Not only did it give us a chance to see each other before the ceremony, which helped calm my nerves, it also gave us the opportunity to get our amazing photos taken so that we could be fully present to enjoy the cocktail hour and reception with our closest friends and family. It was such a special moment when I first saw Tyler–it was the perfect culmination of our journey together and the start of our adventure as a married couple.

Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. Tyler is a HUGE music fan and we both love it, so we were very intentional about the songs we picked for our wedding. Our grandparents and parents walked in to “Stand By Me,” which was a nod to how important and instrumental they are in lives and how thankful we are for them. Tyler and his groomsmen walked into the ceremony to “Another One Bites the Dust,” which was such a perfect fit for Tyler’s sense of humor, and made the whole audience laugh. My bridesmaids walked in to “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” and my dad walked me down the aisle to Canon in D by Pachelbel. I can remember my mom playing both on the piano when I was a child.

Tyler and I designed our entire wedding ceremony with the help of our amazing officiants, who are longtime family friends and trusted advisors. We decided to handpick our vows instead of writing our own. Our favorite part was “I promise to love you in good times and in bad, when life seems easy and when it seems hard, when our love is simple, and when it is an effort. I will make my home in your heart.”

Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! My something borrowed was the beautiful gray wrap that I wore throughout the evening, my something blue was the lining of my Toms, my something old was my grandmother’s pearls that all her grandchildren have worn on their wedding day and my something new was the earrings my parents picked out for me.

The details were one of my favorite parts of the wedding to plan. For our ceremony, we hung lanterns on the oak trees and brought our own altar table. Today, those items are in our house and are a sweet reminder of our wedding. We had lawn games and a mariachi band during our cocktail hour, and we also brought in a vintage Airstream trailer that was renovated into a photo booth. Tyler loves shoes, so he designed his and his groomsmen’s shoes.

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? We had lots of out-of-town guests, so we wanted them to really get a feel for the city of Austin and Texas in general. Salt Lick catered our reception so that everyone got a chance to have the best BBQ in the state. Tyler loves bourbon, so it was featured in our signature cocktails.

Describe your wedding cake or dessert. The cakes were made by the amazing folks at Sugar Mama’s Bakeshop. It is a small local bakery and we love that it’s so Austin. We had trouble picking just two cakes, so we finally decided on four! My bridal cake was blueberry lemonade with buttercream frosting. Tyler’s groom’s cake was called the James Brown, and was a Valrhona chocolate cake topped with chocolate buttercream. We also had a cake called the Frida, which a sweet and spicy cinnamon Valrhona chocolate cake topped with coffee liqueur buttercream frosting and cinnamon sugar. Our last cake was a pumpkin spice and apple naked cake with cinnamon frosting.

During our reception, one of Tyler and I’s favorite songs came on. Not many people know it, so we were the only ones on the dance floor, singing and dancing with each other. In that moment, it felt like there was no one else there. We love that we can sing at the top of our lungs together, dance, and jump around like idiots, and have the best time!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. Since we lived just down the street from each other my sophomore year of college, we used to see each other at the bus stop, at nearby restaurants, or walking to campus, but it wasn’t until the summer that we were officially introduced. I ran into an old friend from Norway at my apartment complex and was invited to a party later that evening. I rustled up some friends to go with me, and later that night, I saw Tyler from across the room–he had a white Longhorns hat on! Tyler introduced himself, and after running into each other a couple of times more on campus, he got my number and asked me out on a date.
Tell us all about the proposal! On July 12, Tyler told me we had reservations to get drinks at the Belmont Hotel in Oak Cliff–it’s the most Austin-esque place in Dallas. We had both stayed there one summer when we were working in Dallas and Fort Worth, and while in the pool, we had found a fish pool toy that I still carry in my car to this day. We arrived early for our reservation, so Tyler suggested that we go check out the pool and maybe dip our feet in. As we got closer to the pool, I started noticing the flowers, the set-up, and that fish pool toy we had found, and I suddenly dropped my purse on the grass. Tyler got on one knee, pulled the ring out of his pocket, and asked me to marry him. I was so surprised, I couldn’t really talk, so Tyler told me I couldn’t have the ring unless I said yes! I finally said “Of course!” After many hugs and kisses (and photos!), we finally made their way to the bar to grab that drink reservation! As we walked into the bar, my mouth dropped open as I saw my baby sister, Amy, luckily in town from China, along with some of our favorite friends and family waiting to celebrate. It was the perfect start to a weekend full of fun!
When did y’all get married? November 1, 2014
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 140
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Both Tyler and I changed jobs within months of our wedding, and trying to balance our careers while planning an out-of-town wedding was definitely an experiment in juggling priorities. Luckily, we were recommended a fantastic wedding planner, Meaghan with Sweet Pea Events, who was able to step in and orchestrate the plans we had made up to that point, help us think through anything we missed, and make sure the day went smoothly.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Be thankful. It’s not often that you have almost all of the people you love in the same place to celebrate your journey with your favorite person. So stop, breathe, take it all in, and be thankful for all the love you’re surrounded by.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? Tyler and I are both excited about finding a house with a porch, fireplace, and yard (for our two huge puppies!). We are looking forward to traveling both in the US and around the world. We can’t wait for more adventures outside and more great music shows!

Photographer: Sara and Rocky Photography / Planner: Meaghan Cody of Sweet Pea Events / Venue: The Vineyards at Chappell Lodge / Florist: Gypsy Floral / Wedding Cakes: Sugar Mama’s Bakeshop / Caterer: Salt Lick BBQ / Rentals: Marquee Event Group / Band: The Nightowls / Calligraphy: Natalie Grace Calligraphy Co. / Paper Products: Minted / Bride’s Gown: Monique Lhuillier Bliss / Bride’s Veil: “Kate” Veil by Nina / Hair and Makeup: Lola Beauty / Bride’s Shoes: Toms / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Various styles in Wild Beet by J. Crew / Menswear: Jos. A. Bank / Photo Booth: Airstream Photo Booth / Mariachi Band: Mariachi Jalisco / Ceremony Musicians: Terra Vista Strings

marissa Written with love by Marissa
10 Comments
  1. avatar Lindsay Colvin reply

    STOP IT! This wedding is beautiful. The colors of the bridesmaid dresses and the flower arrangements, swoon! Love everything little thing about this, beautiful!

  2. avatar Ruthie + Tyler | sara & rocky reply

    […] Ruthie and Tyler are precious, and they are SO FUN. I don’t know another couple that laughs as much or cares so deeply about others as they do. Their wedding in Austin was incredible – the weather was unbelievable, the team of vendors was absolutely perfect, and their friends and family were CRAZY ridiculous. HUGE thank you today to Southern Weddings for the feature, we are always so grateful to those ladies! This team included: Sweet Pea Events, Gypsy Floral, Natalie Grace Calligraphy, The Vineyards at Chappell Lodge, Sugar Mama’s Bake Shop, and many more. Check out their Southern Weddings feature here.  […]

  3. avatar Occasions In Print reply

    So pretty! Love the flowers and her dress!

  4. avatar Tyler reply

    One of our favorite parts was the wedding rap our friend Marcus Perkins wrote and performed for us: http://youtu.be/s2P_bvcYW_o

  5. avatar Bonnie & Lauren reply

    Those reds! Beautiful celebration and beautiful photos.

  6. avatar Classic Wedding Invitations reply

    Love the colour in this!

  7. avatar Rahul Jindal reply

    Well, these are really very beautiful wedding pictures, showing the real love and traditions.

  8. avatar Stacy {Woodsy Weddings} reply

    The oak trees make for a beautiful wedding location! Love the bright groomsmen socks and the thoughtful family details like the poppy and grandmother’s pearls.

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A mountain hike, a car ride, and a breakfast-turned-lunch date were all it took for Annie and Tim to know that they had found something special in each other. While this may have made starting to date an easy decision for most people, they had to consider something unusual before committing to each other–the fact that they would have to be in a really long distance relationship. However, the oceans between Texas and Australia weren’t enough to separate these two, and their months of Skype dates and saving up for plane tickets most certainly paid off. I love the way they combined Southern traditions with favorite things about Australia at their wedding, and in turn, made their celebration completely unique to their amazing love story.

Hugs to our Blue Ribbon Vendor, Feather & Twine, for sharing this lovely day with us!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. I lived and studied in Sydney, Australia for two years, but even though Tim and I had mutual friends and had been going to the same church the entire time I was there, we didn’t meet until six weeks before I left. Two of my friends invited me to go with them to the mountains, and we met up with some of their friends there, including Tim. I remember thinking he was really cute, but since I was moving home soon, I never imagined we would end up together. On the way home, my friend messed up the axle of the car, we ended up having to leave her car in the national park and ride home with the boys. The next day, Tim drove my two friends and I back to the park, so my friend could get her car towed and fixed. We spent the day together visiting little cafés and going to lookouts until the car was ready. Tim and I literally talked the entire way home, and he asked me to go to breakfast with him the next day so we could continue our conversation. After our first date, we became inseparable, and it took me all of two weeks to completely fall in love with him (which I kept to myself until after he told me he loved me three months later). A week before I moved home, Tim asked me to be his girlfriend, and I said yes, which was definitely one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. We dated long distance for 18 months and did five overseas visits, thousands of Skype calls and millions of text messages. Long distance is definitely challenging, but when two people want it to work, they will make it happen, even if that means spending all of their money on airfare or waking up super early to call each other.

My wedding flowers were amazing! My heart melted every time I looked at my bouquet. It was full of blush roses, anemones, berries, and sprigs of greenery. I wanted something beautiful with a little bit of an earthy feel to it. My bridesmaids’ bouquets were smaller versions of mine without the anemones, and with some brighter pink roses to ensure the bouquets didn’t blend in with their dresses.

Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? No, a first look wasn’t even an option for us–we both really wanted the moment I walked down the aisle to be the first time we saw each other on the day. It was so special. I’ll never forget his face when he saw me coming down the aisle, and I wouldn’t trade that moment for anything.

Tim and I share a faith in God, and we wanted our ceremony to reflect this. We started the ceremony with a prayer and a worship song. One of our friends, a pastor from Australia, spoke about the foundations needed for a strong and lasting marriage, and he read from Corinthians in the Bible. My dad, who is a pastor in Texas, led us through our vows and married us, which was really special for me. Before we closed the ceremony, my dad prayed over us and our families stood by us, symbolizing their support in our lives and marriage.

What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Probably holding Tim’s hand during the ceremony while we were all singing a worship song together. I can’t explain how happy I felt–I was finally going to get to marry Tim, and I knew I was making the best decision of my life. Another great moment was during the cocktail hour when the bridal party drove five minutes away to a huge hayfield to take pictures, and we had so much fun. We ran around the field and were all laughing so hard. I am so glad we had that time with our best friends. Plus, the pictures turned out amazingly!

One of the elements that we really wanted our wedding to have was Southern hospitality. We wanted all of our Australian guests to experience how genuine, friendly, and fun Southerners are! The biggest way we incorporated the Southern traditions in the wedding was with our food. Tim and I LOVE Southern food, and for us, BBQ was a must–you can’t get more Southern than a good BBQ, and we had brisket, smoked chicken, sausage, potato salad, coleslaw, and beans. You can’t get BBQ like that anywhere in Sydney! We also did a pie bar to showcase Southern desserts. Our favors were homemade blackberry and fig jams that I made with my bridesmaids and a family friend. One fun element that we included was when we taught the bridal party a line dance at our rehearsal dinner, and we all performed it at the reception. Everyone joined in, and it was so much fun to see the two cultures come together.

Describe your wedding cake or dessert. Our wedding had a ridiculous amount of desserts. We love food and we wanted our guest to enjoy themselves! Our wedding cake was four layers–two layers of chocolate with raspberry filling, one layer of red velvet and cream cheese filling, and a layer of white cake with lemon filling, all covered in buttercream frosting. We also had a dessert table next to our cake table, which my sister and grandmother made most of the desserts for. They baked mini carrot cake cupcakes (my favorite), cookies in the shape of Australia, and milk and white chocolate covered pretzel sticks. A family friend also baked sweetie cookies for us and we brought over a suitcase full of Tim Tams (famous Australian cookies). At our dinner, we had a pie bar instead of cake, to add some Southern tradition to the day. This was one of my favorite things about the wedding because the pies were made from scratch by a local farm close to our venue, and most of the ingredients came straight from the farm itself. My mom and I had a blast going to the farm and taking home a ridiculous number of pies to taste. We chose seven flavors: coconut cream, apple, chocolate cream, lemon meringue, chocolate pecan, buttermilk, and strawberry cream.

Tell us all about the proposal! It was April 2nd and I hadn’t seen Tim since January 8th. I knew that he was coming to Texas to propose, but I expected him to come in March. He worked really hard to make sure I had no idea when he was coming, which was driving me crazy. He even gave his younger sister his phone so she could send me pre-recorded videos, pictures, and messages while he was flying overseas, because he knew that if I didn’t hear from him for a day, I would know he was coming. One of my best friends, Jamie, was getting married at my venue, Oakwind, in May, and asked me two weeks earlier to go to the venue and do a cake tasting with her because her fiancé had a meeting. I didn’t think a thing of this because I had been helping Jamie with lots of the details for her wedding. When we got to the venue, not only did we do a cake tasting, but we also went over almost every detail of her wedding. Little did I know, Jamie and Ann (the venue coordinator) were stalling for time because Tim’s flight had been canceled because of bad weather, and he miraculously got on a flight with another airline just in time. When we were finally done with the tasting, Jamie and I got into the car to drive back home when she started playing a CD from her car. I soon realized it was Tim’s voice coming through the car speakers. Tim had prerecorded himself telling me how much he loved me and how happy he was I was in his life. At the end of the recording, he said “If you want to continue on this journey with me, come and find me.” I jumped out of the car and ran all over the venue looking for Tim–it was about 9:00 at night and was raining. I ran into the barn, which was lit up with candles, lanterns, and fairy lights, and there he was. He got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife, and I said yes. Jamie and her fiancé, Joshua, came in and we all had champagne and cake together in the barn. It was absolutely perfect, and everyone was amazed they had pulled it off because so many things went wrong! The barn Tim proposed to me in is the same barn where we had our reception. It made the venue even more special for us!
When did y’all get married? February 15, 2014
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 150 for the ceremony, 100 for our private dinner
Tell us about finding your wedding dress. This was one of the most difficult things for me–I went to at least ten different bridal stores in Houston. My mom and I even drove all the way to Austin to try on what I thought were my dream dresses, but we still didn’t find the one. I couldn’t believe how picky I was, but I just had this idea of what I wanted in my head, and nothing was quite right. I was moving back to Australia in less than a month and I really wanted to find my dress before I left, so I was definitely praying! One morning, I woke up and decided to try again at a little bridal boutique just 20 minutes from where I live. When I walked into the boutique, the owner remembered me and said, “I think we have exactly what you were describing last time you were here–it just came in.” I tried on the dress, and honestly, all I felt was relief! It was perfect, and EXACTLY what I wanted.
Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We decided to say the traditional wedding vows, but we also wrote our own vows. I cried the entire time I wrote my vows–there is something so powerful about expressing your commitment for another person in words. I’m glad we did this because it made the ceremony especially personal for us. My favorite phrase from Tim’s vows was “Annie, I have fallen in love with you, and I make a commitment to myself to fall in love with you daily. I do not just say I do, but I choose to love you through everything.”
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. We chose our songs together, which was a lot of fun. One of the best nights of my life was cuddling with Tim on the couch and looking for the perfect song for me to walk down the aisle to. We chose “Sun” by Sleeping At Last. Our families walked down the aisle to “Kingdom Come” by The Autumn Film, and up the aisle to “Best Day of My Life” by American Authors. Our first dance was to “I’ll Keep You Safe” by Sleeping At Last. We picked songs that we both loved that would help give the right “feel” to the day.
What was one way you saved money or cut costs at your wedding? The biggest way we did this was buying, borrowing, and doing a lot of the details ourselves. This means you have to plan more, but if you are on a tight budget, it’s definitely the way to go. My mom, grandmother, and I went to about twenty different resale and antique shops to get old tea cups and books for our afternoon tea tables. I also spray painted bird cages from my sister’s wedding for some of the tables. A friend who is a builder tracked down rustic doors and helped me build my photo booth, which looked amazing. Friends really helped us in huge ways.
What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? I am so happy that we chose to invest in great photography and videography. At first, I wasn’t so sure because it took up so much of our budget, but looking back, it is worth it! The day goes by so quickly and I am so happy that we have beautiful pictures and an amazing video to help us remember everything. Tim and I have watched our wedding video again and again, and we love our photos.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? I guess the biggest piece of advice I can give is don’t compare your wedding to other weddings. Use blogs, Pinterest, and social media as tools for ideas–they are so helpful, but at the same time, appreciate that your wedding is unique, and you don’t have to have a live band or a five-course dinner for it to be wonderful. If you keep the mindset that the day is going to be perfect because you’re marrying the person you love, you will set yourself up for a win. Also, focus on building a strong marriage with your future husband, and really take time to prepare for your life together. Tim and I read books together, went to pre-marriage counseling, and set up a budget before we got married, which helped us grow as a couple during the engagement and set us up for our marriage.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? So far, I am absolutely loving married life–it really is the best. Tim and I just moved to a cottage in the mountains of Sydney, Australia, and it’s absolutely perfect. There really is nothing like having your own place together. We are both working and studying and enjoying building a life together. I couldn’t imagine a more perfect person to do life with.

Photographer: Feather and Twine Photography / Videographer: LumaVista Productions / Venue and Catering: Oakwind Estates / Florist: The English Florist / Wedding Cake: Norma’s Cakes and Cookies / Pies: Froberg’s Farm / DJ: The DarKer Side DJ / Bride’s Gown: “Jasmine” by Wtoo / Bride’s Earrings: Valentino / Hair Stylist: Erica at Urban Eve / Makeup Artist: Lily Doyle / Bride’s Shoes: Antonio Melani / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: “Knife Pleated Maxi” in Peach by Victoria’s Secret / Groom’s Attire: SABA / Groomsmen’s Ties: Calvin Klein

Feather & Twine is a delightful member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

lisa Written with love by Lisa
7 Comments
  1. avatar Sera Petras reply

    Such a lovely wedding! I love all the soft colors and sweet details. The bouquet shot is amazing!

  2. avatar LEE reply

    OMG what a beautiful wedding!

  3. avatar Olivia Fischer reply

    Beautiful location and Photography !!

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Sorry for the delay this morning, friends! It is our last day with V6 before sending her (yes, we call it a her) off to the printers, and good gracious y’all, she is a beauty! Have you placed your preorder yet?

As a new North Carolina resident, I can attest to the fact that this state is easy to fall in love with. Kortney and Kyle met shortly after Kortney moved to North Carolina herself, and after many porch-sittin’ dates and a romantic Christmas morning proposal, they were married in one of the prettiest parts of beautiful NC. The views from their mountain venue take my breath away! Even more breathtaking? The love Kortney and Kyle clearly have for each other–Kortney even says that the hardest part of wedding planning was waiting to marry the love of her life. So sweet!

Thank you kindly to Ivan & Louise for sharing Kortney and Kyle’s wedding with us!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. I had just moved to Charlotte, North Carolina from Bloomington, Indiana. It was my first full weekend in Charlotte, living in a new place for the first time by myself. I was visiting a church on Sunday, and when I stepped through the doorway of the church, Kyle was the first person I laid eyes on. It truly was a “love at first sight” moment–he made me feel calm in the midst of being surrounded by the unfamiliar, without even saying a word to me. There was something special about this guy. It only took him four weeks to notice me at church! But when he did, he made a point to cut me off during my race for the door and introduce himself. After finding out how much we had in common, including our visions for church planting and our affinity for craft beer, we spent night after night porch-sitting on rocking chairs together at my Uptown townhome, overlooking the Charlotte cityscape. I fell in love porch-sitting with this man whose love for the Lord and calm, caring personality made me feel more comfortable than I’d ever felt before.

Finding my dress was a breeze! I am pretty particular when it comes to my taste and style, so I knew what I was looking for. I described my hope for a classic, yet simple, look and feel, with an empire waist and a sweetheart neckline. The consultant brought out four dresses and the third time was the charm. I put on the gown, my hands found their way to the pockets, and I was sold! My best friends’ tears helped seal the deal, too.

Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? We decided to forgo a first look for the chance to capture our pure, raw emotions of walking down the aisle and meeting one another at the altar to become husband and wife in front of everyone we love. We wanted to share in the moment with our closest friends and family and I am so glad we did.
Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? Kyle adapted a classic set of vows to fit our style and commitment. They were beautiful. They displayed our promise to live as positive examples of Christ and to stay grounded in the Word of God. Our relationship wouldn’t exist if not for the work of Christ in our lives; He brought us together.

What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? Hebrews 10:23-25: “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Two weeks before our wedding, we picked this as our family verse to live and love by.

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: The stream! It was so much fun throwing our shoes off and dipping our feet into the cold river to snap a few unique shots. We love being outside, especially near water. During our first visit to the venue, we passed the stream on our way in and I was sold at that moment. The scenic drive through the woods, up the stream and through the mountains, was a fairy tale.

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? Besides the pimento cheese, sweet tea, and barn reception, our wedding took place in the gorgeous mountains of Western North Carolina beside the Blue Ridge Parkway. It truly a Southern wedding dream, complete with a parasol!

What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Don’t try to do it alone. I hosted a fun decor-craft party, complete with snacks, Izze’s and music. As long as you make it fun and not too long or complicated, people will be more than willing to help. People are excited to be a part of your special day and need creativity in their lives. Involve others and your day will be elevated from a so-so event to your dream wedding affair, I promise!

Describe your wedding cake or dessert. Our cake was a very special part of our day. Kyle’s grandmother has been baking wedding cakes for her whole life. She has made everyone’s cake in the family, and throughout the years, has never lost her touch. She baked us a delicious white wedding cake with simple lily of the valley icing accents, topped with a festive mini fringe bunting to tie in our theme.

Tell us all about the proposal! Kyle proposed on Christmas morning of 2012. We have been keeping a journal since the day we started dating that we pass back and forth to each other, in which we record every funny moment, road trip, struggle, and happiness. He wrapped the journal as the last gift under the tree. I started getting suspicious when my family was waiting around the gift instead of rushing to the kitchen for breakfast casserole. He had written me a beautiful letter in the notebook, and when I turned the page, I immediately started that silent-happy-cry, because a ring was tied to the notebook binding on the next page. He got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. It was intimate and simple, exactly what I had always hoped for.
When did y’all get married? August 2, 2013
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 130
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. I walked down the aisle to “Beautiful, Scandalous Night.” The words were perfect for a Christ-centered, mountainside ceremony, and put to words exactly what was happening in that moment. We believe that marriage is the closest thing we’ll experience to a relationship with Christ, and we got married under a beautiful oak tree. The chorus says: “At the wonderful, tragic, mysterious tree, On that beautiful, scandalous night, you and me were atoned by His blood and forever washed white, on that beautiful, scandalous night.” We exited the ceremony to an upbeat tempo of Amazing Grace, to celebrate the joyful occasion of beginning a grace-filled life together. We absolutely love the Avett Brothers and know that they frequently visit Asheville, NC, near our wedding venue, so the perfect first dance song was “Swept Away.”
Describe your wedding flowers. I had a vision for simple and soft florals. My bouquet was a beautiful mix of white and blush pink hydrangea, pale pink lisianthus, and blush pink roses, accented with lambs ear, succulents, and eucalyptus foliage. The stems were wrapped with a band of natural twine. The ceremony aisle was lined with large galvanized buckets filled with a cloud of baby’s breath, personalized with our parents’ wedding dates and our wedding date. The centerpieces were self-assembled with an assortment of whiskey and wine bottles, and were filled with baby’s breath and pink hydrangea.
Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! Borrowed: The beautiful necklace with diamonds from my grandmother’s engagement ring. Blue: I sewed our initials in blue thread into the inside of my dress. Old: Kyle’s grandmothers lavalier that her mother wore on her wedding day. New: My feather hair piece. Every girl needs to have feathers in her hair at some point in her life!
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? The biggest challenge was waiting–waiting on marrying the man of my dreams was tough! But I had a lot of planning, details, and showers to get me through it! ;)
If you are comfortable responding, what range did your wedding budget fall into? $10,000-$25,000
What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? So many different people came together to help us plan the perfect day. Truly, our day would not have been the same without our loving families, friends, and community. By far, they were the highlight of our day. Also, I loved our giant 36″ balloons tied with handmade tissue paper fringe! They were so fun, and a little violent when the wind caught them, but they brought that extra special touch to our ceremony and photos. Just make sure you have a minivan to haul them in!
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? My most memorable moment was walking down the aisle to my future husband, surrounded by people we love and that love us. It was very simple and laid back, yet elegant. I felt like a princess because of the love that I felt walking down that aisle–by everyone sitting in the crowd, by our bridal party, by my husband, teary-eyed, ready to make me his wife.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? We plan to make life as much of an adventure as we can, to laugh a lot, to pray a lot, to dance a lot in the living room, and to eat frozen pizza a lot during these first couple years. We can’t wait!

Photographer: Ivan & Louise / Ceremony and Reception Venue: The Fields of Blackberry Cove / Florist: Blossoms at Biltmore Park / Wedding Cake: Roberta Holtzhower / Caterer: Caroline Allured Catering and Kim Aasland / Special Details: Jessee Nevins of Quaintly Uncommon / Bride’s Gown: “Strapless Shantung Taffeta Sweetheart Ball Gown” from David’s Bridal / Big Fringe Garland Paper: Carte Fine / Bride’s Earrings and Gold Bracelet: Anthropologie / Feather Hairpiece: Etsy / Hair Stylist: Lola Salon and Gallery / Bride’s Shoes: Julie’s Boutique / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: “Drifting in Pink” from ModCloth / Men’s Attire: J.Crew /  Men’s Suspenders: Etsy / Men’s Shoes: Aldo / Craft Beer: Greenman Brewery

lisa Written with love by Lisa
11 Comments
  1. avatar Kat reply

    I love the sweetness of this wedding! Her DIY reception details, the stream & those big, white balloons make my heart smile :)

  2. avatar Pam reply

    How cool to read about your wedding here, Kortney!!!

  3. avatar Kortney & Kyle /// North Carolina Mountain Wedding /// Destination Wedding Photographer » Emily Weis Photography reply

    […] This wedding was featured on Southern Weddings a few weeks ago. It was hard to wait to share my own post until it had been published, but well worth the wait.  I’m even more excited to share it with you all now.  And if you didn’t get a chance to see Southern Wedding’s feature, check it out here. […]

  4. avatar Dana reply

    so many bunting flags; obsessed!

  5. avatar DIY Tassel For Giant Balloon | Horny Moose reply

    […] 2. Take your bridal portraits with giant balloons Add a bit of whimsy and delight to your bridal portraits with giant balloons. Like the one above captured by Emily Weis via Southern Weddings Magazine. […]

  6. avatar Lou What Wear | Style Spotting in Louisville reply

    […] There’s more like this over here… […]

  7. avatar Black and White Wedding Invitations + Inspiration | reply

    […] If your day will unfold outdoors, imagine how playful oversized balloons would be as part of the decor. Go all white and these balloons manage to be sophisticated and […]

  8. avatar » garland galore reply

    […] Stringy streamers in the same color, different hues. southernweddings.com […]

  9. avatar Tori reply

    You had such a beautiful wedding!!! I hope you don’t mind me asking but I was wondering the estimated cost of the venue. I saw that you put the budget of your wedding but I wasn’t sure what all that entails. I would greatly appreciate it!

  10. avatar Sarah reply

    Where did you find those leather suspenders? They are amazing!

  11. avatar Winter Woodland Wedding Inspiration | Inked Weddings reply

    […] Colin Cowie Weddings (Top Left), Whimsical Wonderland Weddings (Top Right), Southern Weddings (Bottom Left), Etsy (Bottom […]

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