Hello and Happy New Year friends! Today I wanted to drop in and share a project that's been in the making for a long time. My sister-in-law, Laura was married in November and when she started planning, she put me in charge of all things wedding decor! I was so honored to be a part of her special day. It was a dream job, not only because I love decorating and I love weddings but because it was for such a sweet couple, Laura and Brian. Now that the holidays are over and the photos are back, I have to share the details from this wonderful day! The wedding photographer was Tina Smith of
Four Sparrows Photography. She was great to work with and was kind enough to allow me to feature her stunning photographs on my blog for all of you to enjoy! Most of these photos are hers except for a few that were taken by me and my husband.
The wedding was held at
Gambill Estate on November 4, 2017. Gambill Estate is located in beautiful Roaring River, NC. The country estate features a large barn with rustic touches and modern amenities. From the crystal chandeliers to the wood paneled walls, and with the backdrop of the rolling hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the setting was perfect for Laura and Brian.
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| Photo by Four Sparrows Photography |
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| Photo by Four Sparrows Photography |
To complement the season, Laura chose autumn leaves and flowers with elegant white pumpkins for the arrangements and burgundy and gold as accent colors. Her bridesmaids wore burgundy chiffon dresses with denim jackets and cowboy boots. Their bouquets were sunflowers, red roses, wheat stalks and burgundy calla lilies. The flower girls (all four of them!) wore burgundy lace dresses with matching headbands and carried sunflower balls. The flower girl ensembles were all designed and made by me. :) Georgia was the littlest flower girl and she had a fluffy petticoat under her dress and the cutest pair of boots!
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Photo by Four Sparrows Photography
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| Photo by Four Sparrows Photography |
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| Photo by Four Sparrows Photography |
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| Photo by Four Sparrows Photography |
The bride wore an elegant off-white gown of satin and English net. The V-neck bodice was covered with trailing lace appliques that flowed into a full skirt with net godets. I added custom lace sleeves to the gown, as Laura had always dreamed of having a wedding gown with long sleeves. The bodice and sleeves were accented with sequins, beads and crystals for a hint of sparkle! The full train was complemented by a cathedral length veil of fine net trimmed with scalloped lace. The bride's bouquet was a striking contrast with dark red and cream roses, yellow sunflowers, and burgundy calla lilies.
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| Photo by Four Sparrows Photography |
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| Photo by Four Sparrows Photography |
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| Photo by Four Sparrows Photography |
The groom and his groomsmen wore gray pants and vests with matching ties. Their boutonnieres, which we made, were a cotton stem, wheat stalks, and small burgundy flowers backed with a burlap leaf.
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| Photo by Four Sparrows Photography |
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| Photo by Four Sparrows Photography |
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| Photo by Four Sparrows Photography |
The ceremony was originally planned to be outside at the top of the hill with a view of the gorgeous mountains beyond, but alas, Mother Nature had other ideas. The day was cool and rainy, so we opted to move indoors and hold the ceremony in the barn where the reception was planned.
Arriving guests were greeted on the porch with an autumnal display of pumpkins and potted mums. I painted the sign for the McCarthys to display at the wedding and later in their new home. My dad built the rustic easel chalkboard and I hand-lettered it as a reminder to guests to be fully present during the ceremony. :) Beside on the welcome table, guests could leave cards and gifts and sign the guest book which was a cool family tree painting!
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| Photo by Four Sparrows Photography |
As the ceremony began, the wedding party processed among the guests seated at their tables to the far end of the barn in front of two glass doors. A large, wooden cross marked the aisle and was decorated with fall flowers and greenery. Pumpkins and fall garlands were arranged beside the altar. The rain stopped just in time for the four o'clock ceremony so we opened the glass doors for a clear view of the beautiful mountains and fall color.
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| Photo by Four Sparrows Photography |
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| Photo by Four Sparrows Photography |
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| Photo by Four Sparrows Photography |
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| Photo by Four Sparrows Photography |
Naturally, the littlest flower girl refused to process with the rest as instructed by me, the wedding director, and had to be carried down the aisle by her Daddy. ;) She was quite adorable but wouldn't be directed in the slightest!
The bride's brother officiated the humorous and heartfelt ceremony, which included a unity s'more in lieu of a more traditional unity candle. It was a cute moment for the bride and groom to share a treat, as well as for the flower girls, who all got a bite, too! :)
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| Photo by Four Sparrows Photography |
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| Photo by Four Sparrows Photography |
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| Photo by Four Sparrows Photography |
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| Photo by Four Sparrows Photography |
Luckily the rain held off for the rest of the evening which gave the perfect opportunity for some outdoor photos with the bridal party. The foggy mountain views were a beautiful backdrop for the day.
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| Photo by Four Sparrows Photography |
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| Photo by Four Sparrows Photography |
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| Photo by Four Sparrows Photography |
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| Photo by Four Sparrows Photography |
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| Photo by Four Sparrows Photography |
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| Photo by Four Sparrows Photography |
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| Photo by Four Sparrows Photography |
While the couple took photos, guests were invited to mingle on the porch for appetizers. The appetizers were my favorite part! Among other delectable mini finger foods, there was a tiny mason jar of cheese grits topped with shrimp and pico de gallo. Georgia loved them, and we devoured three servings between us! :) Sadly I didn't get a photo of the actual food, what with running around orchestrating so many things at that time. But the caterers (
Reid's Catering from Banner Elk, NC) were top notch and used some of our extra decor items to display the delicious appetizers! During the cocktail hour we all enjoyed catching up with relatives and friends. Georgia especially enjoyed playing in the gravel with her cousins. :)
After cocktail hour, dinner was served inside the barn. The tables were set with burgundy linens and ivory napkins topped with a single fall leaf. The centerpieces were arranged on a trio of white doilies, including some that belonged to the bride's grandmother. A round wood slice elevated a single metal lantern and was surrounded by a collection of votives. And in the center of the table, a white pumpkin held an arrangement of white and yellow roses, golden sunflowers, red, orange and yellow mums, red hypericum berries, wheat stalks and greenery. My mother came and helped me arrange all the flowers in the pumpkins two days before the wedding. We had such fun designing these centerpieces and shopping for flowers.
After a Southern-style dinner of pork tenderloin, roast chicken, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, salad and cornbread, guests were treated to pound cake and mini cheesecakes in three flavors. The bride and her mother made all of the desserts! The dessert table was adorned with crocheted tablecloths and fall garlands. We used wooden crates and cedar wood slices to elevate the miniature treats. The cake was displayed on a wine barrel and topped with a custom topper featuring a bride and groom and their dog! :)
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| Photo by Four Sparrows Photography |
Dessert was followed with s'mores at the firepit and dancing inside the barn. Guests took turns posing with the bride and groom for family photos and line dancing on the dance floor! At the end of the evening, we all lit sparklers for the couple's grand exit. It was a fantastic ending to a beautiful wedding!
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| Photo by Four Sparrows Photography |
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| Photo by Four Sparrows Photography |
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| Photo by Four Sparrows Photography |
I can't tell you what a fantastic time I had planning and orchestrating this event for Laura and Brian. It was the highlight of my year and something I will not soon forget. Besides the joy of having my daughter pose as a precious flower girl, I was so happy to witness Laura and Brian's love for one another. I wish them all the best in their marriage, and a lifetime of love and happiness! Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. McCarthy!!
Sources:
Flower girl dresses: Sarah Horvath
Boutonnieres/Corsages: Sarah Horvath
Centerpieces and Reception Decor: Sarah Horvath
Special thanks to everyone who helped us pick up, deliver, set up, tear down and create this beautiful event: Elizabeth Guthrie, John Guthrie, TA Guthrie, Michael Horvath, Walter and Elisabeth Citta, Nelson, Debbie, Caroline and Lily Citta, as well as all the additional help from family, friends and vendors along the way. It was truly a group effort and we couldn't have done it without you!
