An outdoor wedding is always a bit of a risk. Just a tad. But when it all goes as planned (or even better that you could have imagined), that’s when wedding magic happens. There is something so sweet about saying I do outdoors, particularly at a place as pretty as Kellum Valley Farm. And it just gets better. This Bride’s gorgeous vision of her biggest of big days unfolded in the most perfect fashion, and you can see it all right here.
From the Bride…Everyone always asked Jamie and I the same question about our venue, “Do you two have family up there?” And the answer was always the same, “No, but have you seen it up there!? It’s beautiful!” We knew we wanted an outdoor ceremony, and we knew we wanted natural beauty within driving distance of most of our family. That left an obvious choice- the mountains. The Ruins at Kellum Valley Farm was the first and only venue we visited; I think we both knew that was “it” before we even stepped out of the car. The ruins exude such rustic elegance, and it was a perfect fit for our dream wedding. We won the wedding lottery in choosing The Ruins at Kellum Valley Farm, as they introduced us to a dream team of suggested vendors, all of whom we used, and all of whom went above and beyond our wildest dreams.
We originally chose to have the ceremony in front of this beautiful old tree on the side of the house that by April, would be adorned with gorgeous purple blooms. The reception was to be held in the ruins strung with twinkle lights and adorned with tons of romantic candles. As luck would have it, the cool spring held off the blooms, and it rained. So, our outdoor wedding resorted to plan B. We were fortunate enough to have a dry ceremony, still under our tree, and the overcast weather made for fantastic pictures. We even had umbrellas waiting in the wings just in case the rain moved in. We were determined to carry on the ceremony under the tree; no rain was going to stop us! The aisle was marked with beautiful flower arrangements in mason jars hung on delicate shepherds hooks. The same arrangements hung in the tree in mason jars adorned with ribbons that blew in the coming winds. It was incredible.
The reception was moved under a tent that was draped in lights, chandeliers, and beautiful flowers. It truly was a dream. I gave very little direction to any of the vendors, save for “rustic elegance and timeless romance with pink and peach hues.” Truthfully, that was all I really had of a vision, it really was created for me that day. There were twinkle lights with intertwining tulle that were strung around the perimeter of the tent. Fresh flowers in pinks, peaches, and lavenders spilled over all the surfaces to create the most romantic setting I’ve ever seen. Whitewashed woods, rustic antiques and intricate details kept the ambiance cozy and personal. Dinner was served in the adjoining barn, where the gift table, guest book and favors were set up as well.
Jamie and I enjoyed our last dance to “Come Away with Me” by Norah Jones before running through a tunnel of our favorite people cheering with sparklers (a long held dream of mine) to a getaway car we had no idea was there. My grandparents surprised us with a car to take us to the Atlanta airport to fly off to Jamaica. While the cooler temperatures and rain threw our initial plan for quite the loop, the day turned out to be the most picturesque fairy tale. All that mattered in the end is that I married my best friend in the company of our favorite people.
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Photography: Adam Nash Photography | Flowers: Flower Buds | Ceremony Location: The Ruins at Kellum Valley Farm | Reception Location: The Ruins at Kellum Valley Farm | Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas | Dress: Jim Hjelm | DJ: Party Animator DJ