Scott and I were married on May 17, 2014. The weather could not have been more perfect; It was a cozy 75 degrees all day, and by the end of the night, we had a fire going and light jackets on. S and I had been planning our wedding, honestly, since the beginning, but seriously since January when he proposed. We both are creative people and had lots of fun ideas. There were a lot of pinterest steals, but there were also a lot of our own original ideas and a lot of heirlooms that we wanted a part of our day to make it special and unique.
The Setting
We wanted an outdoor ceremony and decided on The Farm because that is where we are planning to build our home. Scott and I decided to name our farm, Heirloom and the Bird, and I was so excited that I was going to say "I DO" under a cherry tree that will soon be in view from the window of my home.
Our ceremony was under an arbor that Scott built. My dad hung windows from the back and there were sprays of Eucalyptus, pine, handpicked greens, and roses from each corner. We had cut logs in the back with candles and rose petals. In one of the logs, scott and I planted a tree during the ceremony . We put out hay bails with burlap for our guests to sit on. There were large lanterns and roses set out for decorations.
I walked through wooden doors that my dad built. I walked down the aisle to my good friend, Emily Hearn, singing "Found a Heart." My beautiful niece was the flower girl and she was in a handmade dress, cowboy boots, and a crown of flowers. She tossed petals from Scott's fishing creel that was made from pine needles by the amazing basket maker, Mrs. Betty Dyson. She looked darling, as usual. My ring bearer was the son of a good friend, and he might be the cutest ring bearer EVER. in history. period. He wore handmade leather suspenders over a chambray shirt, linen knickers, with a gatsby hat, and I made him a bow tie. He carried our rings down the aisle in a little handmade box that Ms. Betty Dyson made out if pine needles, as well. Before I walked down, Hugh Arthur walked down the aisle with a sign that I painted, "Scott, here comes your love!"
Khari Manuel and his family flew from Oklahoma City to do our ceremony. He led my first trip to Africa and amazed me with his leadership and humility. I got to know his wife on another mission trip to Haiti, and we became instant friends. When Scott and I got engaged, I knew that I wanted Khari to marry us. Khari and his wife, Jennifer, are some of the wisest people I know, and have taught me a lot about what relationships look like. Their marriage is a beautiful testimony to who Jesus is.
Our ceremony was short and simple. However, Khari packed in a lot of truth. Scott and I exchanged our handwritten vows and planted our tree. Lewis Phillips and Emily Hearn played "I will wait" while we planted our tree. Their rendition, with Lewis killing it on the banjo, might be my most favorite. When it was through, Ruby Cullars Arthur rang a bell hung from the cherry tree when we kissed!
Our ceremony was under an arbor that Scott built. My dad hung windows from the back and there were sprays of Eucalyptus, pine, handpicked greens, and roses from each corner. We had cut logs in the back with candles and rose petals. In one of the logs, scott and I planted a tree during the ceremony . We put out hay bails with burlap for our guests to sit on. There were large lanterns and roses set out for decorations.
I walked through wooden doors that my dad built. I walked down the aisle to my good friend, Emily Hearn, singing "Found a Heart." My beautiful niece was the flower girl and she was in a handmade dress, cowboy boots, and a crown of flowers. She tossed petals from Scott's fishing creel that was made from pine needles by the amazing basket maker, Mrs. Betty Dyson. She looked darling, as usual. My ring bearer was the son of a good friend, and he might be the cutest ring bearer EVER. in history. period. He wore handmade leather suspenders over a chambray shirt, linen knickers, with a gatsby hat, and I made him a bow tie. He carried our rings down the aisle in a little handmade box that Ms. Betty Dyson made out if pine needles, as well. Before I walked down, Hugh Arthur walked down the aisle with a sign that I painted, "Scott, here comes your love!"
Khari Manuel and his family flew from Oklahoma City to do our ceremony. He led my first trip to Africa and amazed me with his leadership and humility. I got to know his wife on another mission trip to Haiti, and we became instant friends. When Scott and I got engaged, I knew that I wanted Khari to marry us. Khari and his wife, Jennifer, are some of the wisest people I know, and have taught me a lot about what relationships look like. Their marriage is a beautiful testimony to who Jesus is.
Our ceremony was short and simple. However, Khari packed in a lot of truth. Scott and I exchanged our handwritten vows and planted our tree. Lewis Phillips and Emily Hearn played "I will wait" while we planted our tree. Their rendition, with Lewis killing it on the banjo, might be my most favorite. When it was through, Ruby Cullars Arthur rang a bell hung from the cherry tree when we kissed!
Scott designed my wedding ring. He had lived in Montana for ten years before we dated. He loves Montana for the beautiful place that it is, but also because of who he became while he was there. He ordered sapphires mined from Missoula to be placed around my diamonds. Because that is his favorite place, I found it only right to have part of my favorite place put in his ring. His ring had cocobolo wood from Kenya, my beloved place, placed in his ring. I found a designer on Etsy (Minter and Richter) that makes beautiful rings with this particular wood and turquoise.
My good friend, Elizabeth Arthur, did all of the floral arrangements and a lot of the decorating. She and her crew made the most beautiful bouquets and arrangements to make this day alive and green. The bouquets were made of David austen roses, blush peonies, peach astille, seeded eucalyptus, and mixed greenery.
Another good friend, Beth Antonakos, helped design the setup and provided most of the props and decor for the wedding. Without Elizabeth and Beth, I don't believe our wedding would have been anywhere near as beautiful! They both sat with me and helped me sort through all the meticulous details and placement of things. I will forever be grateful for what they did for my special day!
Another good friend, Beth Antonakos, helped design the setup and provided most of the props and decor for the wedding. Without Elizabeth and Beth, I don't believe our wedding would have been anywhere near as beautiful! They both sat with me and helped me sort through all the meticulous details and placement of things. I will forever be grateful for what they did for my special day!
The Details
There was a large yellow storage trailer that was on the property that could not be moved. We decided to utilize it and painted it with chalkboard paint. Guests were greeted by a "welcome" sign on one side of the trailer with a flower box that Scott and I built with left over lumber from the fence. The long side of the trailer had the story of our proposal and asked guests to write what was on their bucket list. The other side of the trailer hosted the cocktail bar, with a beautifully built bar by scott that had little wooden pockets for succulents to cascade down from.
I feel like I have been painted wedding signs since I moved to Lincolnton, so I was ecstatic to start painting my own. I painted signs directing guests where to go, and Scott painted signs that had lines from our vows.
We had a tent set up for guests to sit under. We had tables set up with handpicked wildflowers (thanks to the groomsmen and Elizabeth's crew!) pictures, little succulents in old coffee tins, and wooden spools. We had a dance floor and a DJ that entertained guests. Scott and I sat at a handmade table out of my Grandmother's old sewing machine, and I painted Mr. and Mrs. signs from wood from Scott's parents barn.
I feel like I have been painted wedding signs since I moved to Lincolnton, so I was ecstatic to start painting my own. I painted signs directing guests where to go, and Scott painted signs that had lines from our vows.
We had a tent set up for guests to sit under. We had tables set up with handpicked wildflowers (thanks to the groomsmen and Elizabeth's crew!) pictures, little succulents in old coffee tins, and wooden spools. We had a dance floor and a DJ that entertained guests. Scott and I sat at a handmade table out of my Grandmother's old sewing machine, and I painted Mr. and Mrs. signs from wood from Scott's parents barn.
My sweet mother came up to visit a few weeks before the wedding and brought more strawberries than a farm could hold. We mashed strawberries all day long so we could have homemade strawberry jam for favors. In a few batches I threw in a sachet of rosemary from the garden, giving a slight unique hint to the jam. My brother made labels for the top that had our date and "Spread the Love" on it. The label on the side had "Heirloom and the Bird" on it and labeled it either strawberry or Strawberry rosemary.
Our guestbook was a book I made. I made the paper out of old Tshirts, and dyed it with black walnuts, and then I stitched it together. I made the book a while ago, and was waiting for something really special to use it for! The cards were placed in my great grandmother's old painting box, and the favors and gifts were placed on a table that my dad and I built out of an old door.
We had friends flying from all over, and we wanted to recognize that. Scott had the idea to paint mileage sings and post by the fence. I loved it! I missed a few cities, but we were so happy that everyone came, no matter how far.
We had friends flying from all over, and we wanted to recognize that. Scott had the idea to paint mileage sings and post by the fence. I loved it! I missed a few cities, but we were so happy that everyone came, no matter how far.
Since I teach elementary art, and because we both have little nieces and nephews and cousins that would attend, we wanted to make sure they had just as much fun as the adults. I drew a coloring book. I saw the idea on Pinterest, but I altered the book a little with my owl personal drawings. My sweet little friend, RCA made heart shaped crayons for kids to color the book with and to do the puzzles. I made bubble wands out of wire and beads, and we had bubbles being blown by kids and adults.
Scott and I built a three panel photo backdrop out of old pallets. We figured there would be lots of instagramming, so we put up a sign that said "OH SNAP! Instagram? #PeatoaBee" We also had some corn hole to play. Scott made a sign out of license plates for me, so we displayed that by the backdrop as well. There was also our getaway truck in the middle of the field that was a bigger hit for photos! Scott's cousin, Steve, let us borrow a beautiful '57 Chevy, and it matched my lipstick just PERFECT!
I had lots of ideas for programs, but honestly, that got pushed to the last minute. I called my brother and asked if he could design something for me. He did, but I didn't have all of the information for him. Since my friends and family had never met Scott's friends and family, I wanted the program to tell a little about us. You know, "Scott loves to fly fish and lived in montana…"yada yada. Well, when Andy was making the programs, I didn't have that typed out, so I just told him to "fill it in" and I would go back later and fix it.
He wrote in the About Him section: "Dashingly crazy guy. Unbelievable hair. You can tell he loves her." In the About Her section: Hot mess says it all. Cant help but love her. She knew he was the one after first date." When my friends saw it, they said YOU CAN NOT CHANGE IT!!! Its perfect. So, it stuck.
He designed them to look like chalkboards, and put little bird graphics that my niece, Adah drew.
I had lots of ideas for programs, but honestly, that got pushed to the last minute. I called my brother and asked if he could design something for me. He did, but I didn't have all of the information for him. Since my friends and family had never met Scott's friends and family, I wanted the program to tell a little about us. You know, "Scott loves to fly fish and lived in montana…"yada yada. Well, when Andy was making the programs, I didn't have that typed out, so I just told him to "fill it in" and I would go back later and fix it.
He wrote in the About Him section: "Dashingly crazy guy. Unbelievable hair. You can tell he loves her." In the About Her section: Hot mess says it all. Cant help but love her. She knew he was the one after first date." When my friends saw it, they said YOU CAN NOT CHANGE IT!!! Its perfect. So, it stuck.
He designed them to look like chalkboards, and put little bird graphics that my niece, Adah drew.
The Wardrobe
There is only one time I get to brag about a dress, right? Well, my dress was absolutely beautiful and I occasionally just put it on to feel pretty in. Not going to lie! It was a Vera Wang dress and it had all these beautiful lace floral appliqués all over it. It has a sculpted neckline and a cathedral train. My sister-in-law worked at a bridal shop and she helped french bustle it for the reception. I, of course, wore cowboy boots and mismatched socks. (One was borrowed from a bridesmaid, and the other was a mona-lisa sock!) I wore my late grandmother's turquoise necklace, and I used her pearl brooch to adorn my flowers.
I chose not to wear a veil, but I had David Austen roses in my hair.
My girls chose their own bridesmaid dresses. They all wore a neutral color and had turquoise jewelry to wear with it. I wanted them to be neutral but full of texture. They did a great job picking out fun and fitting dresses. They wore cowboy boots too.
I chose not to wear a veil, but I had David Austen roses in my hair.
My girls chose their own bridesmaid dresses. They all wore a neutral color and had turquoise jewelry to wear with it. I wanted them to be neutral but full of texture. They did a great job picking out fun and fitting dresses. They wore cowboy boots too.
If you know Scott at all, you know that he spent our entire engagement making sure his suit was absolutely perfect! He wore a blue ludlow linen suit and a pin dot shirt. He had his wingtips (with no socks!). He carried his grandfather's pocket watch. He made his tie clip from a piece of cherry wood from the property. I made his pocket square from liberty of london fabric.
His guys were outfitted in chambray shirts with brown pants. I made them all bow ties from liberty of london fabric. His best man does a lot of work with leather and made his own suspenders. They are amazing! He also made my ring-bearers suspenders. Scott loves to fly fish, so the boutonnieres were made out of grizzly hackle feathers, rosemary, and nandina by my sister-in-law and mother-in-law.
His guys were outfitted in chambray shirts with brown pants. I made them all bow ties from liberty of london fabric. His best man does a lot of work with leather and made his own suspenders. They are amazing! He also made my ring-bearers suspenders. Scott loves to fly fish, so the boutonnieres were made out of grizzly hackle feathers, rosemary, and nandina by my sister-in-law and mother-in-law.
There were some great beards in the party, but my brothers (bottom right) takes the cake! So handsome.
THE FOOD!
Food was a big deal when Scott and I started dating. Our first date consisted of him coming over and cooking a gourmet meal for me! We fell in love in the kitchen or over a good plate of food. We both love to cook, but we also love to explore new and exciting restaurants together. While we were dating, oysters also played a big role. We both LOVE raw oysters and would frequent the Branded Butcher (in Athens) after church. Good food was a MUST at our reception. As well as oysters.
Epting Events out of Athens, Ga catered. They did a fantastic job. We had an oyster bar set up, and I promised guests that they could find me there!! Our menu consisted of:
Baked Vidalia onion souffle
Mrs. Carters Cheese Ring
Hot baked crab dip with french bread rounds
Beef brisket with apple Q sauce
Roasted chicken breast served with peach salsa
Bacon wrapped pork loin
Garlic cheese grits
Assorted melons and berries
Roasted vegetables: asparagus, parsnips, brussel sprouts, tri-colored carrots
Sweet potato biscuits
Cheese biscuits
Yeast rolls
The food was GOOD. I mean, to die for good. But the best, the best was our Cake Buffett. One of my best friends runs a cake shop out of Asheville, North Carolina. She was a bridesmaid and brought down the cakes. We had a Strawberry Tres Leches cake for our cake, and then an assortment of cakes for the guests. We had a coconut cake, strawberry "short street" cake, Georgia hummingbird, salted caramel, citrus poppy seed, banana split, and a triple chocolate cake. There was literally not a slice left at the end of the night!
We had an assortment of beer and wine for the guests, and we also had a his and her's cocktail. I had a G&G: Grapefuit and Gin cocktail, and he had a B&B: a Bulleit and Blenheim.
Epting Events out of Athens, Ga catered. They did a fantastic job. We had an oyster bar set up, and I promised guests that they could find me there!! Our menu consisted of:
Baked Vidalia onion souffle
Mrs. Carters Cheese Ring
Hot baked crab dip with french bread rounds
Beef brisket with apple Q sauce
Roasted chicken breast served with peach salsa
Bacon wrapped pork loin
Garlic cheese grits
Assorted melons and berries
Roasted vegetables: asparagus, parsnips, brussel sprouts, tri-colored carrots
Sweet potato biscuits
Cheese biscuits
Yeast rolls
The food was GOOD. I mean, to die for good. But the best, the best was our Cake Buffett. One of my best friends runs a cake shop out of Asheville, North Carolina. She was a bridesmaid and brought down the cakes. We had a Strawberry Tres Leches cake for our cake, and then an assortment of cakes for the guests. We had a coconut cake, strawberry "short street" cake, Georgia hummingbird, salted caramel, citrus poppy seed, banana split, and a triple chocolate cake. There was literally not a slice left at the end of the night!
We had an assortment of beer and wine for the guests, and we also had a his and her's cocktail. I had a G&G: Grapefuit and Gin cocktail, and he had a B&B: a Bulleit and Blenheim.
We had lots of details to make this special day wonderful and beautiful, and everything a girl could wish for in a wedding. We also had a wonderful photographer, Kyle Hale to capture our wonderful day! He did an amazing job and we can forever remember this day with amazing photographs to look at! Mostly, we loved having everyone we love and cherish together for us to make our big decision together.
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