Proposal Story
Remarks from the bride: “Mark and I met in undergrad our first year. We first saw each other when I was with a friend in his sweet mate’s room with a group of people. After that, we kept seeing each other around campus and while out and about. We started to hang out more and more and he asked me out on a date soon after!I went to a friend’s house to bring her soup (she was sick) and when I got home I was bolt locked out of my apartment. I kept knocking because I saw Mark’s car outside my place and knew he must be inside. He finally let me in and had candles and flowers around. He made a honey shiraz rack of lamb and went and got my favorite bread and dessert. We started to eat dinner and he handed me a card and wrote me a sweet letter inside. Then, he got down on one knee, said a sweet little speech and asked!
Wedding Planning
“I planned our wedding in Rhode Island at my folk’s lake house. I have gone there every summer since I was a little girl and Mark has been there a few times over the years. We love it there. It was hard to figure out the decoration details since Mark and I live in Tennessee. I looked online for ideas about decor and reviews on vendors. There were also plenty of calls to my mom to ask for second opinions! I liked cream and white flowers with greenery and figured that would go well with the natural greenery at the lake. The florist we found did a wonderful job! I talked with my dad about building some sort of structure to get married under. My parents visited us in Tennessee and we found a cool wooden chandelier and my dad used that as the centerpiece to build the structure around.
“Once we arrived to Rhode Island, my sisters and I painted signs and started to lay out all the decor–like an old, antique dresser my mom and I found the previous year. My dad, Mark and I also built the brick pathway that we walked down the aisle to. That made it all the more special. I wasn’t sure how everything would turn out once we arrived in Rhode Island, but luckily it all came together pretty well. I think we were most happy about the sentiment of the place where we married–it is a place we hope we can one day bring our children and relax and just skip a beat for a bit.”
Wedding Stationery
“We bought our wedding invitations using Etsy. They are by the Chelsey Emery Design Boutique.”
Floral Arrangements
“Our flower arrangements had peonies, garden roses and lots of greenery to tie in with the outdoor theme. The florist also decorated the arbor with greenery, baby’s breath and dogwood flowers. ”
Describe the Bride’s Attire
“My dress was by Martina Liana. It was an ivory fit and flare with lace applique. I actually didn’t figure out my shoes until the day before the wedding. I scrambled and found a pair of sparkly flats at Macy’s and called it a day!”
Describe the Bridesmaids’ Attire
“The bridesmaids wore strapless navy ruched chiffon dresses by Monique Lhuillier. They wore their own shoes in a silver/gray color.”
Best advice you received when planning your wedding?
“I feel like wedding planning can get incredibly stressful at times! The best advice I received was to focus on the big picture. Years later I won’t even remember half of the small details that seemed like a big deal at the time. I will remember how I felt in those moments. Also, we did a year and a half engagement and I wish we had done much shorter. I’m indecisive and it gave me too much time on my hands–especially with all the great ideas on Pinterest and wedding blogs!”
Which pieces of music did you use during the ceremony?
We used Vitamin C Quartet covers for the Processional and Bride Entrance.
Processional–It’s a Wonderful Life by Erik Clapton
Bride’s Entrance–Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol
Interlude–Eclectic mix
Recessional—I can’t recall!
Describe the Groom’s Attire
“My husband wore a gray suit with a brown belt, white bow tie and brown dress shoes. The suit was rented and is by Vera Wang.”
Highlights from the Ceremony / Reception
“The help my parents and my husband’s parents gave to make everything come together. My dad built the arbor for us and hung a functioning wooden chandelier in the center. It was so beautiful to walk out to it at night and see it reflecting off the water.
“The previous year my dad, husband and I built the brick walkway from the house down to the lake that we used as our aisle. My mom gave lots of much needed advice and coordinated with everyone. My mother-in-law did arts and crafts, like the lace “Mr. and Mrs.” banner hanging on the back of our chairs at the reception, as well as some of the ceremony flower arrangements.
“Mark and I felt touched by all their hard work! We live in Memphis, Tennessee and planned everything from afar, so it was really cool to see how everything came together! I also loved our first dance. We arrived in Rhode Island and planned on just winging the dance and then my cousin, a dance instructor, said no way! We learned a dance in two days–it wasn’t perfect, but we had fun with it. Through all the craziness, opinions, and up and down emotions, we made a lot of happy and funny memories.”
What wedding favors did you give your guests?
“We gave our guests small bottles of local maple syrup, lobster shaped chocolate from Sweenor’s Chocolates, and chocolate covered Oreos from Chocolate Dreams Candy.”
What did you give your bridesmaids as a bridesmaids gift?
“I gave my bridesmaids wooden boxes with a place to put a photo in the top. In each box I picked a small delicate necklace from Dogearred with a different charm to fit each bridesmaid’s personality. I also got them necklaces with small little crosses to wear with the bridesmaid’s dresses. I threw in some thank-you notes and nail polish in fun colors.”
What did the groom give to his groomsmen as a gift?
“My husband bought his guys Ray Ban sunglasses. They even rocked them in a few photos.”
Where did you Honeymoon?
“We stayed at The Caves in Negril, Jamacia. It was all inclusive and awesome!”
Leave a Comment