It is finally happening, I am blogging my own wedding! I am so excited to share the gorgeous images from our big day. I plan to go in to more detail in upcoming posts about the specifics from the day, the planning process and our wonderful vendors!
Our wedding day was everything we wanted it to be! I got ready at my in-laws home in Summerfield with my bridesmaids, my mom, Nathan’s mom and my sweet dog Reese. We watched “The Wedding Singer” (which played in to our wedding ceremony later in the day), listened to music, sipped on mimosas and had the full glam treatment from Blush & Bobby’s (can y’all come get me ready every single day please!?). The guys got ready up the street at our house. It was so nice and comforting to be able to get ready in our own homes.
Getting in to my wedding dress with my moms help was such a special moment. Because I am a wedding planner, most of the wedding decisions were quick and easy. I have been planning weddings for 10 years, so I knew exactly what I wanted. That applied to the dress too. I knew exactly what I wanted and really struggled to find anything that even resembled it. Meeting Robert Bullock at Bellisima was fate, because he compeltely understood what I was looking for and said he would custom make it for me! I did not get to have that “say yes to the dress moment” in the salon, so stepping in to my wedding dress on the big day was so exciting.
In the afternoon, the guys came over for photos. I did a first look with my dad and brother, and then a first look with Nathan. I absolutely loved doing a first look. The moment felt so special and private. Just the two of us. After the first looks we did family and wedding party photos and dug up our bourbon! Typically you don’t dig up the bourbon until after the ceremony, but the weather was already perfect – so mission accomplished! Actually mission extra accomplished because it was 75 degrees at the end of December.
The wedding party and our families hopped on the bus and headed downtown to Cadillac Service Garage. We said our vows in front of bookcases filled with candles just as the sun set. I always knew I wanted a wedding ceremony that felt ultra-romantic. For the processional music I chose intramental versions of classic 90’s romantic movies that I had grown up on. My brother and Nathan’s sister did a reading of “I Want To Grow Old With You” from the Wedding Singer.
After the ceremony we had cocktail hour, with oyster towers, charcuterie and buffalo chicken flatbread (my favorite foods). Next we did introductions and first dances and then partied the night away! Stations with small plates and ramen bowls were open for the guests all night long.
One of my favorite elements of the design was our wedding cake. Surprisingly Nathan had a lot of ideas about the cake, and ended up leading the design meeting for it! Incorporating our grey and copper wedding colors, it had a modern look with a classic silhouette.
Instead of an offical send off, we choose “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” to be the last song of the night, and surprised our guests with a confetti cannon. It was a huge hit! After the end of the reception we moved the party back to the cocktail hour space and kept the party going with “Club Kirkman”… complete with corndogs, more dancing and tequila shots.
Over the next few months I will blog about everything from the flowers, to the dress, to the food, to the music and everything else. But lets kick off this wedding blog series with my number one piece of advice for couples planning weddings. I always knew this as a wedding planner, but as a bride it rang even more true… HIRE A WONDERFUL GROUP OF WEDDING PROFESSIONALS. They will make the planning process easy and fun, and make sure that on your wedding day you can be present and actually enjoy the day because they are taking care of everything for you!
DREAM TEAM VENDORS
Venue – Cadillac Service Garage
Photographer – Megan Travis Photography
Videographer – Honey Dew Films
Coordination – Events by La Fete
Catering – 1618 on Location
Florist – Tre Bella
DJ – K2 Productions
Rentals – Party Makers
Specialty Rentals – Prettiest Pieces
Hair and Make Up – Blush & Bobby’s
Chalkboard Calligraphy – Calligraphy by Carole
Confetti Cannon – Ultra Mix Events
Cake – Ashley Cakes
Officiant – Susan Lunsford
Transportation – Black Tie
Photobooth – Joysquad
