Give me a bouquet from Southern Blooms by Pat’s Floral Designs and I’m always on board. It’s the beginning of this classic southern affair designed by A. Dominick Events and we’ve got all the moments from the lens of Katelyn James. Adorable first look reaction, included.
From the Bride…Yes – the groom, my dress, the unbelievable weather, the incredible venue were what made my wedding day special, But also, truly? The people.
Our families, whose generosity and patience really made the day and weekend itself a reality, but who also shaped everything we believe in, and surrounded us with love on the day and always. Our wedding party made it special – they are not just beautiful humans, but they have always supported us and continue to support us. Our friends (who we consider to be family), who came from near and far and wide, to stand by us as we said our vows.
Both my parents walked me down the aisle – it was important to them, and to me – and then in the middle of the father-daughter dance, my dad and I had planned to surprise my mom by pulling her up to the dance floor with us. Then it just felt silly without my sister – we’re a unit – so we pulled her up too. It was one of my favorite non-ceremony moments. It is so hard to choose just one favorite detail from our wedding, but if I had to it would be pinning my grandmother’s wedding ring (along with a little blue ring of my mother’s) into my dress as my old, borrowed, blue – because I believe my grandmother would have really loved to have picked my dress with me!
I just wanted it to be both the loveliest and most logistically smooth day that our guests had ever attended – it was important to me that it was beautiful, that it reflected us as people and as a couple, and that guests always knew what was happening, how, and where. (As someone in the events industry, the guest experience matters!) So that was major “inspiration.” Decor-wise, I just wanted it to be lovely. Our colors were technically gray and chartreuse and white – modern (John’s taste) but also a little unexpected and romantic (my influence). And then we added in some pink for me, and some deeper greens because spring produces a bounty of beautiful flowers that are hard to resist. My dress and the venue inspired a lot – I picked my dress first, actually, which I wouldn’t have planned to do – but it ended up laying the groundwork for the tone we wanted to set. Romantic, beautiful, flows easily, and a little bit organic but refined. Boom: Pippin Hill. A match made in heaven. And the rest fell (or at least mostly!) into place.
It sounds cliche but I loved the food, the sparkling rose, the perfect gray and white of the escort cards, and the glimmering mercury glass of the votives on the tables. I loved our ceremony music and our reception DJ – it doesn’t sound like a detail, but when it’s good, it’s really good and the guests really enjoy themselves. And of course, the cookie table. It’s a Western Pennsylvania tradition, and my aunts and family members made all those cookies for us – it is such a generous and delicious tradition that we were lucky enough to have our families be willing to transport it to Virginia.
All of this would not have been possible without the most wonderful vendors (who I really continue to think of as my partners in the whole thing) – Cindy from A. Dominick Events (who saved me), Katelyn James (who captured everything more beautifully than I remember it), Pat and Sherry from Southern Blooms (who made my floral dreams come true), Hannah at Pippin Hill (who made my food dreams come true, and service look like a total breeze), Cheree Berry and team (who made my paper dreams come true) and last but not least Alison Harper’s team (who made me feel beautiful) They all brought this entire beautiful thing to life – and made it so easy and smooth for me – and I am forever grateful!
Photography: Katelyn James Photography | Event Planning: A. Dominick Events | Floral Design: Southern Blooms | Wedding Dress: Suzanne Neville | Cake: Favorite Cakes | Invitations: Cheree Berry Paper | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Joanna August | Hair + Makeup: Alison Harper and Company | DJ: Evan Reitmeyer | Groom's Attire: Hugo Boss | Venue: Pippin Hill Farm