It’ll come as no surprise that Audrey Hepburn’s earliest career ambitions were to become a professional ballerina and the beloved actress will forever be known as one of the most fashionable women in history, and we couldn’t help thinking of Audrey the moment we laid eyes on this bride. Amy Cambell Photography captured Shannon in her Amsale gown, which looks like it was made for her with its crepe bodice and sheer back that fit the bride like a glove and the tulle skirt that harkened back to her own ballet days. Clearly, this would be a timeless, elegant affair, so don’t miss a second of it, filmed by Reel Special.
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From Amy Cambell Photography… Shannon and Colin’s wedding was planned to perfection. The couple wanted a formal day with neutral hues and lush greenery. Beige hues were found in the gorgeous floral details with greenery, the amazing paper suite, and even in both mothers’ dresses to seamlessly blend with the bridal party. The Apiary in Lexington Kentucky was the perfect reception venue blending the outdoor gardens with the indoor tablescape.
From the bride… In most aspects of my life, I appreciate elegance in its simplest form. That concept became the guiding design principal for our wedding. As I worked through details with my wedding planner, Camille Tucker, we defined elegant simplicity with a neutral color palette punctuated by soft gold accents. We worked alongside Elizabeth Earnest Floral Design, a master of highlighting the beauty and elegance found in a plant’s natural form. Floral design centered around layered white florals and an array of greenery textures. While formality was a priority in all of our events for the day, Colin and I also wanted our reception to exude intimacy. We kept the guest count to 165 and achieved an intimate setting through a plated dinner in The Apiary’s dining room, known as the Orangerie, on tables overwhelmed with tall arrangements of nothing but lush greenery, small arrangements bursting with white blooms, and an abundance of candlelight. The end result took my breath away.
Classical ballet played an important role in my childhood and teenage years and seemed to leave a lasting impression, as I found myself attracted to tulle and its ethereal quality. After a whirlwind weekend in Atlanta with my mother, sister, and future mother-in-law, I decided on an A-line Amsale dress composed of a crepe bodice with a sheer back atop a soft tulle skirt. For the ceremony, I completed the look with a floor length veil (because when else do you get to wear a veil?) and some fabulous hand-beaded earrings by Mignonne Gavigan.
Colin and I went back and forth on whether or not to do a first look. We were enamored by the romantic quality of seeing each other for the first time as I walked down the aisle. After much discussion, however, we decided to do a first look. We were swayed by the idea that by doing a first look, when we walked out of the church as a married couple, we were done with all the formal obligations of the day and had the entirety of the evening to celebrate our new marriage. We experienced every second of our cocktail hour and reception alongside our guests, and I couldn’t have been happier with our decision.
Cocktail hour began immediately following the ceremony and took place in the formal gardens of The Apiary. In lieu of a signature cocktail, guests were greeted with champagne garnished with a lemon twist and were free to mingle as a harpist set the mood. Light, summery hors d’oeuvres were passed and consisted of a chilled cucumber soup, whipped brie, and fish tacos. Guests transitioned inside for toasts and the cutting of the cake, a lemon cake with vanilla swiss buttercream. Following the cutting of the cake, the Orangerie doors were opened, and guests flowed inside for the plated dinner. Our dinner consisted of a compressed watermelon salad, a pork tenderloin entrée, and our cake was cut and served as the dessert course. We danced the rest of the night away to a fabulous local band, Encore of Lexington.
Colin and I were married at Central Christian Church, a historic church in downtown Lexington that I have attended since childhood. Following our ceremony, we descended the front stairs of the church as our loved ones showered us with white rose petals. We drove away in a white vintage Bentley, listening to the cheering and laughter of all our closest family and friends. It was truly a magical moment.
After our engagement, Colin’s grandmother, Maxine, wrote a letter of congratulation in which she shared Shakespeare’s commentary on love, Sonnet 116. We invited Maxine to share these words with all of our wedding guests and had her read Sonnet 116 during our wedding ceremony. The words that touched Colin’s grandparents throughout their marriage were now a part of our marriage from the very start.
When Colin and I began dating, he lived in an apartment near the construction of what would become our wedding venue, The Apiary. We often took walks to nearby restaurants and bars, walking past what we heard would be a new event venue. One night, as The Apiary was nearing completion, we walked past and peeked through the iron gates, trying to steal a glimpse at the new construction. I found myself looking at a maze of formal gardens unlike any I’d ever seen. I knew I’d get married there as soon as I laid eyes on it. Two years later, when Colin and I got engaged, The Apiary was the first decision we made, and after we booked it, I knew everything else would fall into place.
Photography: Amy Campbell Photography | Cinematography: Reel Special Productions | Event Planning: Camille Tucker Events | Floral Design: Elizabeth Earnest Florals | Wedding Dress: Amsale | Cake: Kathy Martinolich | Ceremony Venue: Central Christian Church | Reception Venue: Apiary | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Dessy Collection By Vivian Diamond | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Bridal And Formal | Catering: Apiary | Hair and Makeup: Ana Crane | Calligraphy: Marcardin Calligraphy | Band: Encore of Lexington | Ceremony Music: Michael Rintama | Transportation: Gold Shield Cars | Transportation: test | Hotel: 21c Museum Hotel | Bridal Boutique: Bridals By Lori | Cocktail Hour Music: Elaine Cooke | Paper Goods: Cardinal And Straw Fine Paper Goods | Rentals: Bryants Rent All | Rentals: All Occasions Event Rental | Rentals: Canvas Event Furniture