A Southern Soiree That Checks Off All Our Boxes

Christine Diaz
April 2, 2018
Categories: Real Weddings, Traditional Elegance

Things we love: high school sweethearts, vintage cars, southern traditions, and couples whose love for each other and for their families is the most memorable part of their special day. Check, check, check, and a big ol’ check — this sweet day planned by Stephanie Shaul Events has it all. So if you need us, we’ll be right here looking at all the pretty captured by Anagram Photo.

From Stephanie of Stephanie Shaul Events… Megan and Evan, the bride and groom, are that couple that every wedding planner dreams of working with — incredibly excited about their wedding day and marriage; so totally in-love; focused on their family, friends, and community that have shaped them; and bursting to have a gorgeous, fresh, stylish wedding day that represents their love story and is filled with thoughtful touches. We worked tirelessly over their year-long engagement to plan and design this stunning, heartfelt wedding at the quintessentially Southern Carolina Inn — a historic inn with sentimental meaning to the couple. We designed a stunning palette of cranberry, cinnamon, rose, greys, a mixture of gold and brass, plenty of rich textures, and organic elements and greenery. There were so many beautiful, cohesive elements and details that we incorporated throughout their wedding to showcase their love story as best as possible.

As a wedding photographer herself, the bride was already deeply immersed in the wedding industry, which made choosing vendors and the design a cinch. We worked with incredible vendors to bring this vision and design to fruition, perfectly and exquisitely captured on film and brought to life through the lens of Graham Terhune. Alexa from Sage Paper Co. designed bespoke wedding invitations with an ombre painting of the Blue Ridge Mountains as a backdrop (a place the bride and groom love and visit often), and Wylde Flowers created the most breathtaking, bold, lush bouquets in the perfect color palette and design. We affixed Megan’s grandmothers’ pins to the bouquet, and it was so special to think of all of these loving, thoughtful touches scattered throughout wedding. The bride’s great-grandfather’s vintage car was adorned with a custom “Just Married!” sign with calligraphy by honorary bridesmaid, Meredith of Oaks and Gray, and it was also decked out with a lush greenery garland. The vintage car was the perfect finishing touch on the wedding day, especially as the couple jubilantly exited their wedding as husband and wife under a joyful sparkler send-off and into the awaiting car.

But above any other details, thoughtful and stunning as they were, what stood out to me the most is Megan and Evan’s inspiring, genuine, deeply rooted love. What matters the most to them: generously loving and celebrating their family, friends, and community and thoughtfully planning for and focusing on their new marriage.

These moments are etched in my memory. Their intimate first look, which was filled with sheer joy, nerves, excitement, and a lot of laughter and happy tears. Their outdoor ceremony, which was set amongst the oak trees, was truly special as they pledged their lives to one another, prayed with their families and wedding party during the ceremony, and recited the most memorable vows. As their wedding planner and friend, it was also a highlight to privately share their reception ballroom with them, and to see our vision come to life so exquisitely was a moment I’ll never forget.

The graciousness and joy of the bride and groom, along with all of their family and friends, was truly memorable and unique, and this wedding simply beautiful and love-filled in every way.

From the bride, Megan Kerns Foote-Hudson… Evan and I met in high school in our hometown, Durham, North Carolina. Shortly thereafter, we started dating and have been inseparable ever since. Last year, we planned a weekend getaway to Evan’s collegetown and one of our most beloved cities, Asheville, North Carolina. On the way to Asheville, Evan’s secret proposal quickly unfolded. After popping the question, Evan and I celebrated our engagement at the historic and renowned Omni Grove Park Inn where we were surrounded by the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains. It was the most perfect and thoughtful weekend — an experience that I’ll cherish forever!

When we started to plan our wedding, we knew we wanted to incorporate intentional details that represented our personalities, love story, and family legacies. The first big decision we made was our venue. The Carolina Inn has always been a special place for both our families, so after officially touring the space, we knew it was the perfect setting to start our new chapter. We both adore the intimate southern charm and hospitality they provide to all of their guests. In fact, we can’t wait to celebrate many anniversaries at the Carolina Inn in years to come!

Leading up to our wedding day, Evan and I were elated to see our family and closest friends gather under the same roof. It was incredibly humbling to celebrate and dance the night away with our families and friends who traveled near and far to celebrate our new beginning. To kick off the wedding weekend, Evan’s parents hosted our rehearsal dinner at a local restaurant in Chapel Hill. Saturday, Evan arranged a groomsmen’s brunch (one of our favorite meals), and I organized a yoga class for my bridesmaids at the Inn.

As we look back on our day, a few moments left a lasting impression on us. My first look with my bridesmaids was one of my favorite moments. Early on I decided I wanted to keep my dress a secret. Until our wedding day, my mom and two sisters were the only people who had seen my dress. Seeing the reaction on my bridesmaids’ faces was priceless — a heartfelt memory that will remain near and dear to my heart. Also, Evan and I cherished our first look, an intimate moment that gave us a chance to truly embrace our emotions and excitement for the day and each other. Above all, our favorite part of the day was the ceremony. We intentionally created a ceremony that represented our story while encompassing our values and deepest promises to one another. Our ceremony took place outside under a full-bodied oak tree with vibrant and radiant fall foliage. Thanks to our faith in the southern tradition of burying the bourbon, we were able to keep our ceremony under the warm sun and clear Carolina blue skies. Thank you, precious bottle of Woodford Reserve!

After a delicious southern meal, drinks, and dancing, we ended the night under a sparkler exit. My dad drove our epic getaway car, my great-grandfather’s Ford Model A from 1927.

Evan and I couldn’t have asked for a better wedding day. We are so grateful for our families, friends, and vendors who were able to bring our vision to life.