One look at this bride’s fabulous blog, and I knew we were in for a super chic wedding. And I wasn’t wrong. The Ban.do ostrich feather poof, the gorgeous J.Crew gown, the groom looking dapper in a white jacket and black bowtie… Lacey does not disappoint. And neither did Proud to Plan, as they pulled together a wedding just as beautiful as the couple at center – and just as stylish. This is a gallery, from Claire Hudson no less, that you won’t want to leave!
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From the planner… Lacey and James hosted their wedding weekend at Sweetwater Bed & Breakfast – a charming inn, located on the property of Grace Winery, which features an outdoor ceremony amphitheater and an amazing ballroom space inside a converted barn. The location is elegant, with just a dash of rustic flair, and was the perfect spot for their wine-inspired wedding theme: Love Is Intoxicating.
At first, Lacey found the planning process to be hectic. The bride is the author of A Lacey Perspective, a well-known blog on the D.C. fashion scene and the girl knows good style a mile away! She had a clear vision of the design elements she wanted to incorporate, but just needed a little help getting the big plans moving. Enter Proud to Plan. Erin and Caitlin helped guide the couple’s planning decisions, recommended the perfect professionals and created a team that made the rest of the planning process a breeze!
The wedding day started with overcast skies and a few scattered sprinkles, but that didn’t stop the fun at the inn! The girls were pampered with hair and makeup and posed for photos in custom pink monogrammed robes- their gifts from the couple. The guys also enjoyed their gifts, swanky monogrammed flasks, while they played pool and hung out in the main house waiting for the festivities to begin.
The bride wore a beautiful J. Crew wedding gown featuring simple cap sleeves and a sparkly jeweled belt. An Ostrich feather pouf courtesy of Ban.do was placed in her long, loose curls and her gorgeous red shoes by Valentino perfectly matched the shade of her maid of honor’s gown. The rest of Lacey’s ladies dressed in long, flowy dresses in varying shades from pink to peach by Jasmine Bridal, while James’ gentlemen donned tuxedos by Jos. A. Bank. The guys also showed off a peek-a-boo of pink socks for a fun twist on their classic look. No stranger to style, either, our groom, James, looked dashing in a white jacket that set him apart from the rest of the guys.
The couple’s first look was an intensely romantic moment. Lacey was so excited to see how handsome James looked and was all smiles as she approached him. Once he saw her, he couldn’t stop telling her how beautiful she was in her wedding dress, how much he loved it and how it fit her so well; you could tell he thought she looked stunning! It’s always so amazing to see a groom so smitten with his bride and James was no exception to the rule! The couple, their attendants and family members spent time on the winery grounds, taking amazing photos with Claire Hudson. The bridal party was high-energy and crazy-fun so the time spent before the ceremony was full of belly laughs and genuine excitement for the bride and groom!
To Lacey and James, the details of the day were just as important as the comfort and enjoyment of their family and friends. They were sure to infuse each element with a personal touch, so guests would really take notice! Custom stationery by M.A. Designs was made to provide directional signage, the ceremony program information and they even used the monogram on the cupcake toppers! The personalized element really created a cohesive look for the event and looked fantastic.
As family and friends arrived, they found their table assignments by way of personalized wine glass tags, and then they were treated to a tasting to a few of the house-made blends! Next to the seating tags, we displayed a wine cork guestbook. Guests were asked to write Lacey and James a personal message and drop their cork into a shadow box frame. It was such a unique and fitting detail! Guests walked a garden path down to the ceremony area- a stone altar at the floor of a hill lined by flowering trees and tons of natural beauty. The look on the groom’s face was purely emotional and love-struck as his bride made her way down the long, dramatic walk to becoming his wife. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house!
Their wedding ceremony was unique, funny and so very romantic! The Wedding Pastor, Andy Mahaney, wrote a personal and touching script that resulted in both laughter and tears. Lacey and James had reserved a chair in the front row to pay honor to the memory of her brother, Kevin, and Andy was sure to incorporate a sweet and thoughtful mention during the ceremony that was really special to Lacey’s family. Another memorable part of the ceremony was when Lacey and James made their vows to one another.
From the beautiful bride… Writing our own vows and sharing them with our family and friends was definitely one of the most romantic moments of the day. I’ll never forget how much love I felt.
James ended the ceremony by sweeping Lacey off her feet for a dip and a kiss and then everyone made their way to the tasting room for cocktail hour. Timing was everything, because the rain held off just long enough to get everyone inside for the cocktail reception- the raindrops didn’t spoil a second of the event!
The catering by Brandywine Prime was top-notch! Butlers passed yummy hors d’oeuvres while guests devoured the amazing artisan cheese display at cocktail hour. Later, for dinner, they enjoyed a meal of short ribs, pan roasted chicken or cheese tortellini, before enjoying a wine and chocolate pairing and delicious monogrammed cupcakes by Cake Art Studio.
The floral design by Honeybunches was simple and chic. Lacey carried a hand tied bouquet of white tulips with a large satin bow. The ladies carried coordinating tulip bouquets tied with gold organza, which we were able to repurpose into some of the reception décor. Antique vases of tall, white tulips added a sophisticated touch to clusters of wine bottles and tons of candlelight. The reception ballroom looked incredible, lined with long tables in neutral colors, black chivari chairs with a mix of black and ivory cushions, and rustic string lighting by Eventions, who also provided sound & DJ services for the night.
One of the best parts of the wedding day (for everyone involved!) was showing the bride the reception room! She lit up with happiness when the doors opened to reveal a warm and inviting space for the party.
From the Bride… My favorite part of the wedding was seeing everything I had been planning pulled together. It was everything I had envisioned and hoped for! James’ favorite part of the wedding was the music. Our DJ was fantastic and so easy to work with! Not one person was seen sitting down in their seats. Everyone was up dancing and having an amazing time. It was great to see everyone celebrating!
The groom was a music major at FSU, so naturally he had a lot of specific requests, but the DJ, Brian, worked extra-hard to make sure he was happy. The bride and groom’s first dance was incredibly romantic! They were just staring into each other’s eyes and smiling- it was as if they were lost in their own world! Another memorable part of the event was when the groomsman serenaded Lacey by singing “My Girl” while she sat on a chair in the middle of the dance floor. They did a great job and the entire room was singing along by the end of the song!
Once the party kicked into high-gear, Lacey changed into an ivory sequined mini dress by Erin Fetherston and put on a necklace, courtesy of Max and Chloe, to show off her new “married” monogram! The wardrobe change allowed her to rock the night away in style and she looked fantastic staying cool on the dance floor.
The perfect evening ended with the couple running to their private honeymoon cottage through a sparkler sendoff. It was a magical ending to a beautiful wedding day!
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Photography: Claire Hudson | Flowers: Honeybunches Floral Design | Event Planning: Proud to Plan | Ceremony & Reception Location: Sweetwater Farm + Grace Winery | Catering: Brandywine Prime Catering | Cake: Cake Art Studio | Entertainment and Lighting: Eventions Productions | Save the Dates & Invitations: Paperless Post | Wedding Day Signage and Stationery: M.A.Designs | Bridal Gown: J.Crew | Reception Dress: Erin Fetherston | Bridal Shoes: Valentino | Brides Necklace: courtesy of Max & Chloe | Brides Ostrich Feather Pouf: courtesy of Ban.do | Tuxedos: rented from Jos. A. Bank | Bridesmaid’s Dresses: Jasmine Bridal
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