Happy Wedding Wednesday, SMPers! Are you ready for a day of pretty, pretty inspiration and a whole lot of L-O-V-E? We sure hope so, because we have quite the lineup in store for you lovelies and it’s bringing the HAPPY like you’ve never seen. So, silence those phones, clear those calendars and prepare for a day of sweet, sweet gallery gazing. It’s going to amazing.
Up first in our pretty parade is a downright gorgeous Asheville affair boasting soft pink hues, fab DIY details and a bride and groom who are the epitome of stunning. I’m talking a crazy gorgeous White by Vera Wang gown and love-filled smiles that will seriously brighten your computer screen. The oh-so-wonderful Floataway Studios captured every last magical moment… and those warm-your-heart shots of that dapper puppy? LOVELY. See so much more right here.
From the Bride… Our wedding was a surreal and magical day for us. Surrounded by candlelight and our closest family and friends, we exchanged our hand-written vows in a romantic stone manor built in the ’20s. We first met in college in graphic design class, and following a five-year friendship, both ended up in New York City, where we found an unexpected spark and decided to take a chance on love. Since we originally bonded over art and music, it was only fitting that we were married in the room where one of our favorite jazz musicians, Nina Simone, learned to play the piano. During our ceremony, our string quartet played modern selections, such as “Here Comes Your Man” by The Pixies, “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley and Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing”.
Because I’m a photographer and graphic designer, it was inevitable that I would style and design our wedding from a visual perspective. I’m fairly certain I drove a few people crazy saying, “But how will it look in a picture?!” I also love details! So from the stationery to the napkins to the cake, I wanted everything to tie together and make our wedding memorable. A loose theme of modern-vintage romance was inspired by our venue choices and our love of literature and theatre. We wanted to create an event that was aesthetically gorgeous, but also stay true to our personalities. We knew we wanted our wedding to be personalized, to be fun, to exude warmth and romance, and to celebrate love — our love as well as the love of our parents (both have been married for 40 years or more). We received our greatest compliment when one of our guests told us our wedding made her and her husband happy to be married. In order to make our wedding “ours” and stay within budget, we designed and crafted as many of the details as time would possibly allow. This was truly an experience I will never forget. At times it was stressful, wondering how it would all get done, but it was definitely worth it. It was such fun brainstorming ideas, sourcing, thrifting and then working with our parents and friends to pull it all together. I couldn’t have done it all without them! Some of our favorite details were our handmade vows book, the wooden cross my fiancé carved for our ceremony, our wedding date pillow that guests stuffed with heart-shaped messages for us to read on our first anniversary, our Costa Rican coffee favors (Costa Rica was our first international trip together) and our table assignments, which were named after streets that were meaningful to us in Manhattan (we recently moved from NYC to NC). The table assignments hung from the mantle of our old fireplace beneath a grouping of family wedding photos.
My advice for other brides: Follow your heart throughout the planning process and have fun! Prioritize your projects, give yourself deadlines, and let people help you! Align yourself with vendors who get your vision … and trust them. They’ll bring your ideas to life and take your wedding to a new level. I was blown away when I walked into our reception and saw how it had all come together! That was the moment I knew I could relax and enjoy the night, and I was so thankful. Also, keep in mind that no matter how prepared you are, not everything will go exactly as planned or imagined. During these times, try to stay focused on what’s going right and what’s most important — marrying the love of your life. Time has a way of ensuring that you forget about the mishaps and look back on your big day with great joy, laughter and admiration.
Wedding Photography + Cinematography: Floataway Studios / Ceremony: Homewood in Asheville, North Carolina / Reception: The Venue in Asheville, North Carolina / Floral Design: The Bloom Room / Wedding Day Coordination: Verge Events / Officiant: Rev. Jack Hinson / Wedding Cake: City Bakery / String Quartet: Cafe String Quartet / Band: Bueller / Accommodations: The Grove Park Inn / Wedding Dress: White by Vera Wang / Bride’s Shoes: Kelsi Dagger / Hair: Suraj Spa and Salon / Makeup: Wendy Ballance of Blush