When I look (and when I say look, I mean gaze in awe and wonder at every click) through the pretty pretty pretty photographs from the lovely Artstar by Laura Stone, I’m caught up in all of the beauty and splendor of these two gorgeous lovebirds at the Montaluce Winery & Estates. The talents behind Lovelee Affairs have made this pink, yellow and gray color palette one that I simply can’t.get.enough.of. From the invitations from Alee and Press to the to.die.for Vera Wang number, this wedding is all things charming and splendid. Take a look at the full wedding in our gallery, right here.
Click here for the FULL wedding!
From the Bride… I often call David my better half. He’s got traits I sometimes lack: patience, athleticism and a sense of humor that makes me giggle every day. We met less than a year after I graduated from Northwestern University in Chicago. I had moved to Atlanta for my first-ever real job as a reporter for the Wall Street Journal, and I didn’t know a soul. Little did I know, two years prior, my future husband graduated from Virginia Tech and moved to Atlanta to work at a software company. After our first date over fondue and South African wine (we both had spent some time there and loved the country), the chemistry was instantaneous. We’ve talked every day since that date four and a half years ago, and he has become my best friend. David proposed on October 3, 2010, after work on a Friday. He tried to convince me to go on a walk to Piedmont Park. He had planned to propose at our favorite spot we like running by, a small spot overlooking the water where you can see the Atlanta skyline. But I was tired and stubbornly made my way upstairs where I found champagne and rose petals everywhere. The next thing I knew, David was on one knee asking me to marry him. The answer was obvious!
Because our family and friends live all over the world, we thought it would be the most convenient to host the party in Atlanta. Of course, we also selected Atlanta for its sentimental value: It’s where our relationship deepened and evolved, both as a couple and personally as we transitioned into grownups. This wedding meant so much for our families; especially mine since I am the first of all my siblings and cousins on both sides to get married. My parents came to the U.S. from Taiwan, so this was their first American wedding. I wanted to create a romantic but modern feel for the wedding by using vintage items. I’ve also always had penchant for details, so we made sure to add vintage family photos of ourselves and families, as well as incorporating a homemade map that reflected the adventures we love in our lives. I selected yellow because it reminded me of warmth and happiness and added gray to balance out the brightness. The shades of pink satisfied my girly side, and I had always wanted pink in my wedding! I worked with our florist to pick out gorgeous pink peonies that really added to the softness I wanted in the wedding. I’m also a huge fan of simple, clean lines and fonts. The letterpress invitations I designed were all hand-pressed by David at a local vendor with a great old-fashioned machine!
We wanted to bring a bit of both of our cultures (Taiwanese and Italian) to the wedding. We incorporated a Taiwanese tea ceremony during the reception and used my great-grandparents’ tea set. It’s customary in Taiwanese culture to pass tea to your elders, and in return, they hand you a red envelope with your wedding gift and give you a piece of advice for your life ahead. We also selected Montaluce, which featured Tuscan architecture, to add in David’s Italian roots. We served an assortment of fresh Italian pastas and dishes for the main course. My most vivid memory from the wedding day right after our officiant pronounced us husband and wife. The moment of walking back down the aisle with David, hand in hand, was a sweet memory I’ll have forever. I can remember our friends and family smiling at us, the music playing in the background and how the best party of our lives was about to begin. David and I both spent three years volunteering for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta, and the experience really meant a lot to us. We decided to donate to the charity, and we had the kids come help us assemble all the favors.
Wedding Photography: Artstar by Laura Stone / Wedding Venue: Montaluce Winery & Estates in Dahlonega, Georgia / Wedding Planning, Floral + Event Design: Jade Lee of Lovelee Affairs / Wedding Cake + Desserts: Publix / Wedding Invitations: Alee and Press / Menus: DIY by the Bride / Wedding Dress: Vera Wang / Bride’s Earrings: Tiffany & Co., Borrowed from Her Sister-in-Law / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Ceremony Music: Lark Chamber Music