Southern Weddings

There are very few more Southern meet-cute settings than an SEC football game, and even though it took a few months after the Arkansas vs. MSU matchup where Alison and Brian met for them to start dating, these Southern roots rang true as they planned their Mississippi wedding! The talented Lesley of Tulip Design Studio helped bring all of their romantic inspiration to life at Providence Hill Farm–an equestrian farm that reminded Alison of her childhood in the country. As you can probably imagine, we’re especially smitten with the monogrammed Oatmeal Lace wraps around each of the bouquets!

Thank you so much to Adam + Alli Photography for sharing this lovely day with us!

Our wedding flowers were so perfect! They were soft and romantic, and they had a garden feel to them. My florist used a color palette of ivory, white, various shades of soft pink, and gray. We had an abundance of beautiful peonies, garden roses, hydrangea, and dahlias. Each of the bridesmaid bouquets featured a custom monogram ribbon by Oatmeal Lace. The reception florals were arranged in beautiful stone and wood vessels that fit the feel of the wedding perfectly!

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. My mom, maid of honor, and I all started the journey to Low’s Bridal in Brinkley, Arkansas after work on a Friday and decided to cut the trip in half by stopping in Tunica, Mississippi. That Saturday morning, we woke up bright and early, only to realize that the light snow that was predicted had turned into inches of thick snow. What was suppose to be a short two-hour drive turned into hours on the road sitting in traffic, and we finally arrived at Low’s Bridal at 1 p.m. (our appointment had been at 10). Everyone was so nice, and told us to take our time browsing. Around 5:30, I was completely worn out and all but in tears as my decision came down to two polar opposite dresses: the exact dress that I knew from the beginning I had always wanted, or the ball gown I was wearing that every little girl dreams of getting married in. Finally, I just decided to go with the one I was wearing, and needless to say, I said yes to the wrong dress. Thankfully, the company it was ordered from had not started making the dress, and I was able to switch them. I was completely overjoyed and happy in that moment, and realized that was the feeling I should have felt when saying yes to the dress.

I’ve always known that if we wrote our own vows, there was no way I would be able to hold it together and say what I wanted to say, much less get anything out before breaking down. That was another decision I am thankful I made because I completely lost it, even just repeating after our officiant. I have two verses from our ceremony painted on a wood palette hanging above our bed: “What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate” (Mark 10:9) and “For where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God” (Ruth 1:16).

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? Beside the fact that it was held at a beautiful equestrian center in the heart of the South, our wedding designer included details such as monogrammed ribbons for all of the bouquets. Nothing says you’re in the South more than a custom monogram! Guests dined on classic Southern food like boiled shrimp, shrimp and grits, and fried chicken.

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: I loved the monogram ribbons flowing down from our bouquets, the pop of sequin linens and pillows throughout our reception area, and our fabulous program fans. We both loved the huge chalkboard that had detailed information on each side about Brian and I, which we stood in front of during our receiving line as a photo backdrop.

What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? We had to make the call two days before the wedding to implement our rain plan. We were all a little bummed about it, but it worked out in the end, and it was beautiful!

Don’t miss Alison + Brian’s film from BGP Wedding Films!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. We met the weekend of the Arkansas vs. Mississippi State football game on November 20, 2010 in Starkville. I was a sophomore at MSU, and Brian had just returned home from playing in the Arizona Fall League. Brian and his best friend drove to Starkville to spend the weekend and catch up. His friend visited my roommate, which is how Brian and I first met. For the next three months, we stayed in contact and saw one another any time we were free. Brian was so charming and such a gentleman, but a guy was the last thing I was looking for at the time, so to me, he was just a friend with an incredible personality. At the end of February, we said our goodbyes as he was leaving for another season of baseball with the Pittsburgh Pirates. It only took two weeks of him being gone before I realized he was truly everything I had ever looked for in a guy. On June 4, 2011, he officially became a part of my life forever.
Tell us all about the proposal! It was incredible! Brian had taken me out to dinner for a “work promotion.” After finishing our meal, we were walking to his truck when I realized a limo was waiting outside the restaurant for us. Brian said it was taking us to go look at Christmas lights, but we had to make a quick stop first so that Brian could help his brother with something at their CrossFit/baseball facility. Once we arrived, he told me to stay in the car. Literally right when he walked through the front door, a video on the limo’s TV screen started playing. Brian had made a slideshow video of pictures from all of his favorite memories of us together over the past few years with a caption on each slide that quickly brought me to tears. As soon as the video ended, the limo driver opened my door. All the lights were off inside the facility, and there were six beautiful Christmas trees, three on each side, filled with lights and a card on each tree. I read a sign with directions explaining to start on the right with the first tree and zigzag back and forth reading each card. Once I got to the end, the last card had an additional special message saying to turn the corner and to go find him. I turned the corner to find Brian standing in between two tables filled with candles. He gave a beautiful speech, and then said he had three questions to ask me. First, he asked if I would accept his rose (yes, he loves the Bachelor/Bachelorette). Second, he dropped down on one knee and asked me to marry him. After lots of hugs, kisses, and tears, he asked his third question, which was if I would dance with him. When the song was coming to an end, Brian whispered in my ear saying he had one last surprise for me. He turned me around, and there stood both of our families. Having our families there meant the world to me and that moment will forever hold a special place in my heart.
When did y’all get married? June 28, 2014
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 400+
What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? Hands down, Lesley Frascogna. She was our florist, our planner, and designer, but to me, she was so much more than that. I owe so much of our wedding day and every single day leading up to that to her. She truly turned my vision into a reality. Not a day went by when she wasn’t contacting me to help me stay on track with everything. Lesley was so much more to us than just a “vendor,” and I will forever be blessed and honored to have her a part of our wedding.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? We’re looking forward to expanding our cooking skills, experiencing football games (since we’re a family divided), making our own traditions, traveling, and of course, starting a family of our own one day!!

Photographer: Adam + Alli Photography / Videographer: Brock Gomez Productions / Planner and Florist: Lesley Frascogna / Venue: Providence Hill Farm / Cake Baker: The Cake Diva / Catering: Pretty Presentations Catering / Rentals: Mississippi Tent / Lighting: Davaine / Band: Al Paris & the Heartbreakers / Monogrammed Ribbon: Oatmeal Lace Design / Signage: Southern Sprout / Paper Products: Thimble Press / Bride’s Gown: “9104” by Allure Bridals / Hair Stylist: William Wallace Salon / Makeup Artist: Louis Peterman of William Wallace Salon / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: “2895” by The Dessy Group / Menswear: Tuxes Too / Linens: La Tavola

Written with love by Lisa