The title of this post could not be more accurate – Chatham + Charlie’s wedding is absolutely pure fun! I mean, y’all, the bride’s barefoot-dancing her heart out on a checkerboard dance floor under brightly colored lanterns! Add in that clear top tent and we’re now talking about a fun AND beautiful wedding!
Fun must be in C + C’s jeans, because Chatham’s pale blue dress choice was inspired by her granny’s own nontraditional blue gown. Can you imagine how avant garde granny must have been wearing a light blue dress so long ago? A hair style is almost irrelevant after such a pretty gown, but I love that Chatham topped hers off with a simple ponytail.
Big thanks to Bethany & Dan Photography for sharing this bright splash of fun with us!
How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story.
We met several weeks after I moved to Charlotte. A friend of mine invited me to a birthday party with the intention of setting me up with Charlie. It worked!
Tell us all about the proposal!
We traveled to China and Thailand and he got down on one knee and showed me a picture of the ring on his cell phone! Welcome to the world of technology!
The first dress I saw, I knew it was the one! I had always admired my granny for getting married in a slightly blue dress – she was nontraditional like that sometimes. When I saw this gorgeous baby blue dress among all the white ones I thought, why not follow in her footsteps?!
A perfect pony tail + bare feet. That’s my kind of girl!
We did write our own vows by taking inspiration from here and there. My favorite line is, “I vow to love you for who you are, and not for whom I would like you to be,” because all too often people get married expecting perfection and lacking acceptance.
I love the idea of raising a flag with your new joint monogram! What a great symbol of your new adventure together.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day?
Raising the flag together! It was a surprise for both of us and seemed to mark the rise of the occasion!
Describe your wedding flowers.
Gorgeous! White and green everywhere and the bridesmaids’ flowers were hot pink and orange and fabulously bright.
The cake was layered. One layer had lemon filling and the other layer had chocolate. We also had truffles on another table.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was:
The location. It was in my parents’ backyard and it was gorgeous! There is a picture of the wedding with all the guests sitting and the bright blue sky and a bird flying overhead — magical.
When did y’all get married?
September 22, 2012
How many friends, family, and loved ones attended your wedding?
About 350
Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not?
Yes, we wanted our first look to be in private and to be able to spend a few peaceful moments together before the rush began.
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony?
”Our Deepest Fear” by Marianne Williamson
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them.
We used Ave Maria, simply because it is beautiful.
Did you have something borrowed, something blue, and something new? Yes! A blue wedding dress, a fancy heart shaped diamond earring and a diamond necklace that belonged to my granny and great granny. The flowers in my hair certainly count as new and fresh!
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding?
The people and the kindness and politeness that comes along with the South.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding?
Burying a bottle of whiskey in the backyard in hopes that it would not rain. It was harder to dig that hole than we thought!
What range did your wedding budget fall into?
$75,000-$100,000
What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding?
Our wedding planner was awesome! He covered every last detail, set up the flower vendor, the food, the band, and the photo booth.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Get a wedding planner. Also, meditate or do something calm and relaxing the morning of the wedding. Every hour, stop, breathe and take in all the details because the day goes by VERY quickly and then it’s done.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future?
Having a baby Ripple!
The long purple dresses and the striped Lily’s are tied in my book! All are beautiful. :)
Love the Lilly’s and the black dresses with teal shawls! So glamorous!