This next wedding from Stella Harper Events is filled to the brim with cotton, lace and the sweetest dose of Southern charm. Family played a huge role in the simple (yet stunning) event as the mother and grandmother of the bride made the jam favors and quilt guestbook while the groom’s father built an amazing bar out of wood from a 70+ year-old barn! There’s a gallery full of even more beauty + love seen through the lens of Caroline Peters Photography.
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From the Bride… You always expect to hear these crazy stories of how people meet their husbands. Mine was actually quite simple: I met Derek by walking up to his front door. Once he opened it, I knew my wait was over. Within a year and a half, I found myself rushing home to see him before he left for a business trip. I was in the midst of my usual routine when Derek said he had a new shirt for our pug, Harpua. Harpua is your typical pug and enjoys dressing up, so I was super-excited and didn’t expect anything out of the ordinary. Harpua ran into the living room and jumped on me, and then I noticed what his shirt said: “Will you marry me?” Derek was behind him on one knee. I was so surprised, and after some sweet words from Derek, all I could do was nod yes. It couldn’t have been more perfect for us.
Then the craziness of wedding planning began. There is nothing better than a fall day in the south. Derek and I are both huge football fans, so our number one concern was what football game was what weekend. Thankfully, we were able to find a weekend in September that wouldn’t upset too many SEC fans. Once we got the “hard” part out of the way, everything started to fall into place. We wanted the wedding to represent everything we love about each other and to make sure everyone had a good time. We decided to get married in my hometown of Cartersville, Georgia, at an old civil war house that sits on over 300 acres. There were so many sentimental details, from the sweet tea signature drink to having our pug dance to the Phish song he was named after. We had a cotton theme to represent my great-grandfather, who was a cotton farmer. The tent was decorated with Coke bottles, minnow buckets, lace, magnolia leaves and tobacco tins — basically, all things southern. The reception had mason jars galore, as well as my mother’s and grandmother’s famous canned goods and food. Many things were hand-made, from the runners to a friendship quilt sewn by my grandmother for our guestbook. The crowning jewel was a bar built by Derek’s father that was made out of wood from a barn my great-grandfather built over 70 years ago. These are things we will cherish forever. Last, but not least, we had to honor my soon-to-be fly fisherman husband with cocktail napkins that said “The Perfect Catch.” That summed it up for me. I had reeled in the best man I could have ever imagined … and had one heck of a party to celebrate the occasion. Storybook ending.
Wedding Photography: Caroline Petters Photography / Ceremony: Sam Jones United Methodist Church in Cartersville, Georgia / Reception: A Private Residence in Cartersville, Georgia / Wedding Coordination: Stella Harper Events / Floral Design Stems / Catering: Grand Oaks (770-382-6322) / Cocktail Hour Music: High Strung String Band / Band: Atlanta Soul Band / Farm Table Rentals: Four Inch Fold Vintage Rentals / Tent, Tables + Chair Rentals: Unlimited Party & Event Rental