There is a LOT I love about the gorgeous state of Georgia, but what I love the most is the untouchable style it seems to possess. It’s that dash of old-southern charm, that sprinkle of lace and that perfectly timeless way the fine residents of that state seem to approach any soiree. It’s how all of those things come seamlessly together to create a flawless fête like this one designed by Weddings & Whimsy by Jodie and captured by Buffy Dekmar Photography at Rivermill Event Centre. Where the prettiness tries to take center stage, but it’s the love and family that beats it to it. See the entire day here.
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And there is more gorgeous Georgia goodness sitting pretty in this film from Dekmar Films…
Kendall + Zach | Super 8mm Wedding by the River from Chris Dekmar on Vimeo.
From Buffy Dekmar… Kendall and Zach’s wedding was a beautifully simple, southern affair, set beside an historic Georgia mill on the river (Rivermille Event Centre in Columbus, Georgia). The theme was subtly rustic, infused with soft pinks and bright spring greens. The bride and groom wanted to keep the vibe very relaxed and fun, and they accomplished that goal with a fancy rendition of barbeque, a s’mores bar, and a DJ that knew how to have a good time. The bride’s parents surprised the couple with a big, spherical lantern that rose behind the trees at dusk and slowly went higher in the sky as the night went on, like moonlight through the pines.
From the Bride…Zach and I were introduced by a mutual friend the first semester of our first year in college on a blind date. From the first minute I met him, he had me laughing and smiling; after two weeks, I knew he was the man I was going to marry. Within a year of dating, he proposed to me at a get together at our mutual friends’ house. We held off on getting married for 3 years so I could finish up school, so, needless to say, I had plenty of time to plan the wedding and research (AKA Pinterest) little details I wanted to make our wedding “ours”.
Zach and I had always agreed on having an outdoor wedding with a rustic, homey, Southern feel to it. After everything was said and done, we wanted our guests to come to a celebration of our love, rather than a wedding. We wanted to incorporate all the things into our celebration that we felt made for a great Southern night with friends: great company, tasty food, awesome music, and, of course, a good fire or two. We made sure that every aspect of our wedding would contribute to the feel we aimed to achieve.
I would love to say that I came up with every idea that was made into reality for our wedding, but I would do my Mother and our wedding planner, Jodi, a disservice to take any of the credit. I communicated everything I mentioned above to Jodi and my Mother, and they took all of my ideas and turned them into a gorgeous affair that I couldn’t even dreamed of putting together by myself (especially with finishing up college, working, etc!). And, I would be doing Zach a disservice if I didn’t mention that the fire-pits with rocking chairs and s’mores were his idea. We kept the simplicity that we wanted and costs low by using mason jars, lanterns, and candles as smaller centerpieces with lower-cost flowers that made a big statement. I actually picked Zach and his groomsmens’ boutineers out of a field at our farm. And, instead of sending out elaborate invitations, we kept them simple and plain, so we could direct more of our budget towards food, drinks, the venue, and photography (the things that people remember after the wedding is over).
The best decision we made in planning the wedding was definitely hiring Jodi, our wedding planner. Jodi took care of EVERYTHING, and the day of the wedding, my Mother and I were able to relax and take in the day without having to worry about little things. If anything went wrong on our wedding day, the whole wedding party was completely unaware of it, because Jodi had it taken care of. The second best decision we made was choosing a venue that included a wedding coordinator, food, drinks, tables, chairs, etc in their options, as well as an inside option just in case the weather didn’t cooperate. It cut down on a lot of leg work, and definitely made planning the wedding easier. The third best decision we made was arranging for Zach and I to have a private 15 minute meal immediately after the ceremony. We were able to relish the moment, eat the fabulous food we had picked out, and spend some alone time with just the two of us before we joined the ceremony and spoke with all our guests.
Our entire wedding day was everything that we wanted it to be and more, so it is difficult to pick just one favorite memory from our day. I personally would have to say my favorite memory from the day was dancing with my new husband, all our best friends, and family the entire reception. I love to dance at weddings, so I made sure to make a point to do plenty of dancing at my own wedding!
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Wedding Photography: Buffy Dekmar Photography | Cinematography: Dekmar Films | Wedding Venue: Rivermill Event Centre | Event Planning + Design: Jodie Creswell of Weddings & Whimsy by Jodie | Venue Coordinator: Beth Milner | Arbor: Sarah Hubbuch + Susan Amador | Floral Design: David Benefield of Ann’s Porch | Invitations: Allegra Printing | Linens: Reception Decor | Lighting: Rich Scenery and Lighting | Tent Frames: Outdoor Events | Cakes: Pat-A-Cakes | Catering: Jamie Keating Culinary | DJ: Dave + Tonya Arwood of The DJ Company | Bride’s Dress: Legends by Romona Keveza | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Dessy by Alfred Sung
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