My stars! I am a sucker for a groom in a bow tie and a great downhome, Southern soiree so you know I’m just jumping for joy over this sweet-as-can-be Georgia wedding by Chris Moncus Photography. It has everything we cherish and adore about an outdoor, country chic celebration from mason jars filled with iced tea to cotton-filled floral arrangements. Anyone who loves Steel Magnolias as much as I do will surely smile at the Armadillo groom’s cake! A southern must-have! See all the pretty as pie details in the full gallery!
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More than anything else we wanted our wedding to incorporate lots of Southern elements. For starters, the location. We got married in a small, country church at 6 pm. After the ceremony we had the guests have lemonade and peanuts on the church lawn before heading across the road to our reception. The tent was placed in the middle of a hay field right beside this old, red barn. It provided the perfect backdrop for the celebration as well as pictures. The bride’s dress was a beautiful fit and flare style dress made of raw silk. The dress originally was strapless but the wonderful team at Elegant Bridals crafted a custom made floral silk strap to give the dress a unique touch. The groom wore a oyster suit with navy pindot bowtie. The groomsmen were dressed in navy blazers and lime green seersucker bowties. The bridesmaids wore matching navy J. Crew dresses and accessorized their outfit individually with nude heels and pearl jewelery.
The menu consisted of mini fried pork chop sandwiches, Texas caviar, fried green tomatoes, shrimp and grits, and fruit. We had lemonade, punch, and of course sweet tea. The wedding cakes was four tiers with three flavors- Blueberry Lemonade, “Joe” Cake- chocolate cake with mocha buttercream, caramel, and Kahlua, and Pistachio. The groom’s cake was a nod to the classic film, Steel Magnolias, and was a red velvet armadillo.
The church was adorned with two magnolia leaf and cotton wreaths on the doors. The alter and rails had pillar candles of varying heights placed randomly to give a very warm and romantic feel. There were two large floral arrangements on either side of the alter consisting of hydrangeas, peonies, roses, willow, and hanging amaranthus. The path to the reception was lined by mason jars filled with black eyed peas and candles as well as low hanging crystal chandeliers in the trees. The guest tables had white table cloths with burlap runners and handmade wooden candle holders and brown vases. The vases were a DIY project of the bride and groom and were filled with flowers in whites, greens, and a pop of hot pink. The food tables were adorned with draped burlap, cotton, greenery, and more wooden candle holders. The overall feel of the decor was very lush and casual, yet elegant at the same time. Old wooden crates and boxes lent to the rustic feel. Ferns were places around the tent sitting on old tree stumps. The cake stand was made by the bride’s father from a cedar tree. The favors were a nod to a favorite of the brides- Krispy Kreme doughtnuts wrapped individually and tied with raffia and a special handmade card reading “thanks y’all.” The bride and groom and their 200+ guests enjoyed dancing to shag and beach music from Flashback underneath the tent on the wooden parquet dance floor. No one stayed seated for long once the band started playing. At the end of the evening the couple left to a sparkler exit in the groom’s vintage 1966 Mustang – the same car that he proposed in!
Location: Mitchell United Methodist Church in Mitchell, Georgia / Photography: Chris Moncus Photography / Flowers: Al Woods of Warthen Lane Interiors / Catering: Phoebe’s at the Pink House (478-232-8842) / Band: Flashback / Cake designer- Burke Perk / Wedding Dress: 2Be Bride / Wedding Dress Purchased From: Elegant Bridals / Bride’s shoes: Nina / Bridesmaids Dresses: J.Crew / Groom’s Suit: JoS. A. Bank / Ringbearer’s Bowtie: xoelle / Flowergirl’s Dress- Strasburg Children / Invitations- Minted. / Wooden Candleholders, Cake Stand, Doughnut Favors, Ringbearer Pillow: DIY by bride and groom