With a bridal party of 20 (!!) these sweethearts prove that their celebration was about the more the merrier. A truly Southern affair filled with tradition, a historic cake topper, and heirloom linens, Jacqui Cole Photography captured it all to share and we’ve got it waiting for you to pin in The Vault!
From Jacqui Cole Photography…This beautiful couple wed in the bride’s home town of Macon, Georgia on February 27th 2016. Almost 400 guests attended their wedding, from all over the country, which really goes to show what kind souls they both are! The bride’s family own a pecan farm, so they chose subtly incorporate the pecan motif on many of the paper goods and guest welcome bags. Guests were even gifted a little packet of the families’ very own pecans!
While many of the wedding day moments were centered around traditions, the unique touches that were included really made their wedding one to remember. The couple chose to enjoy a first look to really maximize the time they could spend together on their wedding day. With a bridal party of 20 they also wanted to make sure they had a enough time to enjoy the day with all of their friends!
After the ceremony, guests made their way to the grand Macon Terminal Station where they enjoyed cocktail hour with classic southern hors d’oeuvre passed around. The couple incorporated many unique and personal touches to their wedding day. Lauren Summers Hodgens did an incredible job of planning and incorporating the sentimental southern traditions within the wedding day. It was extremely important for this bride and groom to include their families rich history and traditions. The cake topper was from the bride’s parent’s wedding cake and some of the linens were actually from her grandparent’s wedding! The florals were loose, organic and incorporated many natural green elements. The true statement of the reception was the incredible historic train station!
It’s clear to see the Mr&Mrs had a blast at the reception! The Voltage Brothers band was absolutely incredible and we even found the bride and groom up on stage during the night! They exited their reception to a beautiful vintage car and rode away waving thanks to all their guests. This wedding was such a joyful, beautiful day that was such a joy to capture – I couldn’t be more thrilled for the new Mr and Mrs!
From the Bride… We envisioned a traditional, elegant, Southern occasion surrounded by all of our closest family and friends who encouraged us along the way. We didn’t have a color theme or palette but rather we wanted everything to tie back to the idea of family. The wedding weekend began with the bridal luncheon at the bride’s childhood home. Minutes before guests began arriving, the bride and her two sisters spent time reliving their mother’s of wedding thumbing through her album their mom. As guests began arrived, the bride’s aunt played the piano from sheet music the bride’s grandmother once used to play the organ in their small town for weddings. At the luncheon, each table told a family story – the bride collected beautiful, special heirloom pieces and mixed and matched with the groom’s family. For instance, china from her grandmother, silver from his, napkins from his great grandmother and vases from the bride’s mother all told a story of two families coming together to celebrate the occasion. A little place card on each table told the story of the pieces.
On their wedding day, the bridesmaids came back to the bride’s childhood home to be surrounded my memories, laughs and a few tears.They married in the church where the bride grew up and the pastor was a longstanding figure throughout her childhood. The bride wore her mother’s veil made of Brussels lace her mother purchased while living abroad more than 40 years ago and her two younger sisters plan to wear it as well. The bride also carried a handkerchief that the groom’s maternal grandmother carried during her wedding – the bride and groom married in the their 60th year of marriage. During the reception, the groom’s grandparents danced to the song “May I Have This Dance?” that reminded them when they met at a dance 60 years ago in October.
There were so many happy tears shed – tears of joy, appreciation, admiration. The whole weekend focused on love, happiness and genuinely bringing together all the people who made us the people we are today – a memory of the totally overwhelming love and support is what we will always remember.
Our weekend would not have been possible without our wedding planner who is the most kind, selfless, creative, organized person we know. When we got engaged, we knew that we wanted her to help. She kept our best interests always at the forefront of her mind and navigated others with poise and grace always stopping to ask, “Is this what you want in your heart? Does this feel good to you?” Reflecting back on our engagement experience, she allowed us to focus on one another and our loved ones while she quietly handled the details.
One piece of practical advice I received was to look for occasion outfits (like for a luncheon, shower or party) when you are in the mood and light years before you need them. It makes the experience fun, takes the pressure off and of course you never find something when you need to! More sentimental advice is choose a few things that are important to you and prioritize them. For me, it was this element of family and that helped guide the other pieces of our planning.
Photography: Jacqui Cole Photography | Event Planning: Lauren Summers Hodgens | Floral Design: Mary Pinson Flowers | Wedding Dress: Matthew Christopher | Cake: Lisa Mae Cakes | Invitations: Arzberger Stationers | Catering: Two’s Company | Hair + Makeup: Amanda Jane Salon | Lighting: Tom McCampbell MMI | Band: EastCoast Entertainment | Venue: Hale Koa phineas Estate | Beverage Services: Vineville Beverage | Linen Rentals: BBJ La Tavola | Tent Rentals: Macon Tent Rentals
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