Ever wonder what would happen if you paired a drop-dead gorgeous rustic setting with a bride and groom who are all kinds of adorable? Well, lovelies – wonder no more… because this stunning Jackson soiree? The perfect example of both. Set against the breathtaking Dauset Trails Nature Preserve and boasting beyond beautiful yellow hues, it’s burlap-tied mason jars meets an amazing outdoor chapel meets pretty, pretty blooms by David Barnes. Sarah Esther Photography is the genius behind the gallery and it’s one that is filled to the brim with heartwarming moments between an uber-stunning bride and groom. Join me there for more.
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From the Bride… Josh and I first met on Match and messaged back and forth several weeks before we actually met in person. We both knew within weeks that we were right for each other. We dated for a year before he proposed to me at Piedmont Park, overlooking the city. We have worked together for our whole engagement, from picking out the ring, to deciding on invitations and decor for the wedding. It was very important for us to both play a part in the making of our big day. We wanted to make sure no one passed out from the heat since it was the hottest day of the year. Overall, we wanted to have our wedding surrounded by nature and to have a very rustic feel. We were hoping to have a wedding that fit both of our styles through the use of the location, flowers and decorations. The wedding took place at a nature center in Jackson, Georgia, and we decorated the outdoor chapel and the reception area to fit with the overall feel of the nature center. The outdoor chapel was located in the woods beside a lake, and we decorated the aisle and pews with burlap and mason jars filled with green and white hydrangeas and yellow roses. The reception, which is a lodge style room with cathedral ceilings and windows overlooking the lake, was decorated with burlap, bird house centerpieces and rustic accessories.
We used a local florist, David Barnes, who designed and arranged all the flowers for both the chapel and the reception area. The cake designer, Cakes by Kemi, was also local and made the cupcakes and duplicated a cake design found on Pinterest. The groom’s cakes and many of the other hors d’oeuvres and dessert were made by the groom’s mother, grandmother and bride’s grandmother.
We were both absolutely stunned the first time we saw the chapel and the reception area fully decorated. We had hoped that the decisions we made would turn out to be pretty, but we had no idea how beautiful our vendors and families had made everything. One of my favorite surprised from the day was our getaway car from the chapel was the Ramblin’ Wreck from Georgia Tech, the Josh’s alma mater. It was the perfect personal addition to our day!
Wedding Photography: Sarah Esther Photography / Wedding Venue: Dauset Trails Nature Preserve in Jackson, Georgia / Floral Design: David Barnes / Wedding Cake + Cupcakes: Cakes by Kemi / Groom’s Cakes, Hors D’Oeuvres + Dessert: The Groom’s Mother, The Groom’s Grandmother + The Bride’s Grandmother / Wedding Dress: J.Crew / Bride’s Shoes: Nina / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Etsy / Men’s Tuxedos: Men’s Wearhouse