Can a venue be made for a Bride? We certainly think so after seeing Eliza Morrill Photography’s bridal portraits of this gorgeous gal, with her stunning red hair and porcelain skin shining against the backdrop of the gorgeously aged walls of Illges House. P. Hasting Design and B. Andreson Floral customized the space to the Bride’s vision, and the final look could not have fit the Bride more perfectly. See it all in the Vault!
From Eliza Morrill Photography… What happens when a NICU nurse falls in love with a captain in the Army? A sweet, dreamy wedding day that will have us drooling for years to come. Ivey and Michael met on Tinder, of all places, and immediately hit it off on their first date over Thai food and a trip to the shooting range (what else would we expect from a military man?!). There’s no doubt these two were made for each other, and the rest is history.
Ivey and her team of vendors did an exceptional job of seamlessly marrying tradition with whimsy, creating a unique twist on the classic southern wedding. That said, she didn’t want to overdo it in the planning process. “Prior to planning our wedding, I envisioned a relatively small, intimate gathering of family and friends,” Ivey told us. “I had been a Bridesmaid in ten weddings prior to my own, and I knew after experiencing the planning process with these friends, I wanted to be able to enjoy each moment of the planning and each day of our engagement.”
When asked about her vision and style for the day, Ivey remarked, “The style I was going for initially was farm-to-table. I knew from the beginning I wanted things to be simple yet elegant. It all seemed to come together when I met with my floral designer, Brooke Anderson. I began telling her my visions to include lots of greenery. She immediately caught on to the style and thought of the potted herbs as centerpieces. I chose my favorite colors for the overall color palette. I referred to them as dusty rose and dusty blue. After choosing our reception venue, the Illges House, I knew the color scheme would be perfect.”
The Illges House, indeed, offered the perfect color scheme – an antebellum home full of unique and modern decor, and exposed patina plaster served as an incredible backdrop for Ivey’s porcelain skin and red hair. Seeing her seated on the emerald velvet sofa reminded me of Boticelli’s Venus! Ivey and her Bridesmaids – her sister and her best friend – carried bouquets of peonies, ranunculus, and anemones with a long, blush ribbon trailing from Ivey’s hands. “The flowers were by far my favorite part of the decor. I told Brooke I wanted everything to be very loose and natural, and that is just what she provided. It was magical!,” Ivey said.
Ivey’s gown, by designer Tara Keely, was seemingly made for her, and the Bridesmaids’ blue tulle skirts and simple, white tops were the perfect amount of playful and elegant. Michael wore his traditional dress blues and showcased his many medals (some of which he earned while he and Ivey were dating!) and had one of the sweetest reactions to seeing his Bride that we’ve ever photographed. To say that he loves his wife would be the understatement of the century, and watching the subtle ways he doted on her throughout the day had us melting. The feeling was certainly mutual: “My favorite moment of the whole day was walking down the aisle to my husband. I chose to have my mom and my stepdad walk with me, and I was immediately overcome with emotions as the doors opened to the chapel. From seeing Michael’s face to seeing all of the friends and family who had come to celebrate with us, it was the most joyous moment. I could not have been more thankful in that moment for all of the incredible people we have in our lives.”
The two were married in the same chapel where Ivey’s parents tied the knot years before and were married by a dear family friend. They entered their reception through a traditional saber arch (and cut the cake with a saber, too!).
Rather than traditional centerpieces, Ivey opted for potted herbs that also doubled as gifts for her guests. Classic southern fare was served on vintage china while a keg of craft beer flowed nearby. Guests danced the night away to music played by close friends of the couple before exiting through a tunnel of glowsticks. As for Ivey’s advice to other Brides? “For anyone planning their wedding, I would say to remember to enjoy each moment. It is easy to get caught up in the little details, but those details don’t matter at the end of the day. Remember the reason for your wedding to begin with. At the end of the day, you get to be with the one you love, forever!”
Photography: Eliza Morrill Photography | Coordination: P. Hasting Design | Floral Design: B Anderson Floral | Wedding Dress: JLM Couture | Cake: Tara Van Etten | Invitations: Wildfield Paper Co. | Ceremony Venue: St. Luke United Methodist Church | Reception Venue: Illges House | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Revelry | Catering: The Farmhouse Ellerslie | Hair + Makeup: Anne Robertson | Beverage Services: It's Your Day Catering | Bridal Boutique: J. Andrews Bridal | Reception Music: Cracker Jack Prize | Rentals: Outdoor Events