Southern, vintage, garden wedding perfection. There really isn’t any other way to describe this sweet as can be soiree by Browne Photography. There are heartfelt details around every corner – from the flowers on the cake to the fact that gorgeous gown of the pretty as can be bride just happens to be her mother’s! How can you not love that she repurposed the gown of her mom’s to be her dream dress? It surely served that family well. The entire affair is equally as a lovely, and there is more in the full gallery of images!
Click here to see the entire gallery of images!
From Browne Photography…This wedding was in Port. St. Joe Florida. Maclain had a vision of a sweet southern garden party flair which definitely came through in the pictures. Maclain wore her mother’s beautiful wedding dress that her mother wore when she married her father. From the decorations, to the vintage car, her antique wedding dress and the rocking band it was everything she ever dreamed of.
From the Bride…Between wearing my mother’s wedding gown to arriving at our reception in a 1931 Model A, belonging to Wade’s grandfather, vintage was the feeling we envisioned for the day. After a decade, my mother’s lost gown resurfaced less than a year before we got engaged. I worked with Shior Bridal in Atlanta to modernize her early 80’s wedding dress (complete with ruffled sleeves) into a simple, strapless gown. The veil was borrowed from one of my bridesmaids, Liz, to complete my simple, classic look.
We renovated Wade’s grandparent’s 1950s home last summer and it is our pride and joy! Our yard is surrounded with huge camellia trees thanks to his grandmother’s hard work over the years. We both marvel at the beautiful blossoms each season and wanted to incorporate them into our wedding. We found an artist on Etsy to handcraft paper replicas of our favorite blooms. The flowers were used on the wedding cake and now bring life to our china cabinet. Wade owns every size cast iron skillet you can imagine. Among many cast iron specialties, he makes delicious cornbread. We gave his dry cornbread mix and recipe, in small paper bags with labels designed by my sister, to our guests. Wade also gave cast iron skillets to each of his groomsmen as a “thank you” gift! Wade had one request, his mother’s sour cream pound cake served with Georgia peaches. His Mom made a special trip to South Georgia last summer for perfectly ripe peaches and then spent the weekend before the wedding baking her pound cake to serve 200 people. The groom’s cake table was arranged with tiered cake stands filled with her pound cake and a glass bowl of peaches to be served with each piece.
Family friends hosted our reception at their classic southern home overlooking St. Joseph’s Bay. Their front yard is a lush garden and was perfect for the “vintage garden party” theme we were hoping to accomplish. We hung bistro lights and mason jars filled with tea lights through the trees in the courtyard to create a romantic glow after sunset. The table flowers, in shades of white and green, were loosely arranged in borrowed silver pitchers and derby cups. The food presentation was also an important part of our “classic southern with a twist” decor. Our caterer set up five tapas stations throughout the lawn under lighted pagoda tents to encourage social grazing. Huge floral arrangements overflowing with hydrangeas, garden roses, and blossoming cherry branches were the centerpieces of each food tent. The “southern” tent included macaroni and cheese served in mini Chinese take out boxes!
After we said our vows and were pronounced husband and wife, the congregation was asked to stand and join together in saying The Lord’s Prayer. As we held hands and bowed our heads with our backs to the church, we heard the ancient wood floors creaking under the feet of our family and friends as they prayed in unison. We could hear the people and the church itself. We were overcome by emotion realizing, at that moment, that The Lord’s Prayer has been said in that church for 200 years, but this time it was for us.
Catering + Floral Design: Provisions / Ceremony Location: Trinity Episcopal / Reception Location: Private Residence / Wedding Dress: Mother of the Bride’s / Alterations: Shior Bridal / Wedding Photography: Browne Photography