The beautiful mountains of North Georgia hold a special place in the hearts of this outdoor loving couple. One of their favourite places to relax and vacation, it is surrounded with fond memories so what better place to hold their wedding than NEVERLAND FARMS ééò a gorgeous horse farm nestled in the mountains. Their description of the place sounds utterly idyllic to me and AMY ARRINGTON has documented the magical nature of their day to perfection.
HOW DID YOU MEET? Joe and I met in Decatur, Georgia. Our first date was over dinner at the Brick Store Pub. The night was perfect. Little did we know that we would be engaged exactly one year later!
TELL US ABOUT YOUR PROPOSAL: We had driven “home” to Destin, Florida, to enjoy a weekend at the beach. After a relaxing day in the sun, we decided to go for one last swim ééò I had no idea there was a diamond ring in tow! A gorgeous sunset over emerald green water provided the perfect backdrop for his proposal. When we returned to the condo, both of our families were there to celebrate our engagement with a low country boil, champagne, cake and presents. We had the best time!
TELL US ABOUT FINDING YOUR WEDDING DRESS: I tried on several different dresses at various boutiques and finally decided on a gorgeous full-lace gown with a silhouette keyhole back. I chose a dress that was simple and elegant, with a slight vintage flair. It was perfect for the ceremony and the dancing to follow!
DESCRIBE YOUR WEDDING FLOWERS: I absolutely loved the flowers arranged by Jill, the owner of the Flower Post. I wanted flowers that would complement the natural beauty of our surroundings! We chose a combination of white hydrangeas, brunia, white lisianthus, ranunculus, freesia, juliet roses, garden roses, peach stock, dusty miller and seeded eucalyptusééò with lots of additional greenery! We placed hydrangeas in large mason jars, and hung floral garlands from the trees by the arbor.
FAVOURITE DETAIL OF THE DAY: Family is so important to us. One detail that was particularly special that day was a table that displayed pictures of our grandparents — some of the pictures were from their wedding day. We are so very grateful to our amazing photographer, Amy Arrington, for capturing so many beautiful moments from our day on camera. We will cherish those memories for years to come.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE OUT TO A COUPLE PLANNING THEIR WEDDING? Relax and have fun! Things may not always go as expected during the planning process (we certainly had a few surprises)! There is such joy in knowing that you’ll soon marry your best friend. That is THE most important part of your big day. Don’t sweat the small stuff!
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT: April 5th was the perfect day for an outdoor wedding. Guests were invited to arrive early to enjoy a beverage, music and the fresh mountain air. They were seated in pretty pine pews that flanked the ceremony aisle. Ferns and blooming flowers were everywhere! One of the most memorable moments (aside from saying, “I do!”) was riding down Neverland Trail to the ceremony site with my Dad. We arrived in a beautiful antique carriage pulled by two draft horses. As we walked down the aisle, dozens of butterflies fluttered between the trees and cherry blossoms began to fall all around us ééò it felt like a fairytale! It was also pretty special to have one of Joe’s very best childhood friends (also a groomsman) perform with his band at our reception (be sure to visit www.mockingbirdsun.com).
Photographer AMY ARRINGTON / Cake PUBLIX / Florist THE FLOWER POST / Stationery MINTED / Venue NEVERLAND FARMS / Dress Designer MARISA / Hair & make-up THOMAS SALON / Bridesmaids’ Dresses JOANNA AUGUST / Grooms Attire EGARA from MEN’S WAREHOUSE / Planner SUZY TEBOR from NEVERLAND FARMS / Caterer NEVERLAND FARMS / Band MOCKINGBIRD SUN
