I want to become a society lady Rockin' a new rock?!

Lindsay and Giles​ hosted the most gorgeous wedding ever at 701 Whaley in Columbia, South Carolina! Friends and family traveled from afar to be there, so the pair pulled out all the stops not only with a crazy beautiful day, but also with a party that was literally planned around their absolute favorite band ever: The Hackensaw Boys. I can’t even imagine the delight of the couple, as well as their friends, to join in such a fun night!! There’s so much more to the big day, that we’re letting Lindsay take over and tell you all about it! Le sigh!

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What made the wedding special and unique?

Since moving to Columbia, whenever we have out of town visitors it always rains. Literally always. We really wanted an outdoor wedding but since we were cursed and all of our guests would be traveling from out of town, we would bring the garden inside! Fern Studios is an absolute genius! The overflowing centerpieces in vintage boxes to the ladder overflowing with greens, the reception felt like being in a garden. I told Sarah, owner of Fern Studios, to design whatever she wanted and to be as creative as possible, and it was the best decision ever. After all, she is the professional so I wanted her creativeness to run wild. To complete the look, Meagan Warren, my wedding planner, suggested we use farm tables and vintage china. To top it off, we rented vintage furniture from 428Main in Charleston. It was my big splurge and it was worth it! I took all of Meagan’s suggestions and let her run with her imagination! Best lesson I learned is to find vendors with similar styles, take their advice, and let them be creative!

We absolutely love live music. And we especially LOVE bluegrass music. One of our favorite bands, that we’ve seen so many times and traveled many miles to see, is The Hackensaw Boys. It had always been a joke that we were going to have the Hackensaw Boys play at our wedding. Once we finally got engaged, we decided to see if we could make this little joke into a reality. After a little Google-ing, I got a hold of The Hackensaw Boys‘ booking manager. To our complete surprise, they agreed to play a private event. Since we hadn’t set a date, we booked our wedding around when the Hackensaw Boys were available to play. We debated on having them play at the reception, but decided having an after-party was the best idea. The wedding and reception were over, so at the after-party we really got to let loose and enjoy having a private show by our favorite band. It still feels like a dream thinking back at it!!

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Tell us about the dress and where/how you found it!

When my sister, Beth, got married in 2013, my mother and I traveled to DC (where my sister lives) to go wedding dress shopping. I wanted to share the same experience with them. So we traveled to DC and went to many of the same bridal salons. On the second day of shopping, we went to a boutique that my sister’s best friend, who is like a sister to me, got her wedding dress. Mom knew instantly that was my dress because I started swaying and spinning like I was dancing. It was the perfect dress because it was whimsical but classic and most importantly…did not require lots of squats to fit into! Since we found the dress so easily, we had some extra time for the weekend in DC. Beth somehow convinced me to get glitter Kate Spade shoes. I have never owned anything like these shoes and are not typically my style. I figured you are only a bride once, so heck, you might as wear gold glitter shoes!

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What were some touches added to make it personal?

Our family and friends are scattered throughout the US, so we figured whatever city we decided to have the wedding in, the majority of our guests would have to travel. Many of the guests had never been to Columbia, SC so wanted to stay as southern as possible. We decided to stay as southern as possible, having a low-country boil for the rehearsal dinner, and things like fried green tomatoes and deep-fried catfish at the reception.

We love to drink craft beer so we wanted to feature that at our wedding. Giles’ favorite beer is from a local brewery in Nashville, TN. Since it was the city we met and fell in love in, we definitely had to have it at the wedding. The only problem was they do not sell Yazoo in South Carolina. And its legal to ship across state lines. So to solve this problem, we ordered a keg of Yazoo’s Pale Ale and had a friend bring it with her from Nashville. Not only was it fun to feature Giles’ favorite beer, but also to share a Nashville favorite in South Carolina.

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What was the most memorable part of the day?

Besides the vows and getting to marry Giles, I have one memory that always sticks in my mind. It was when my Dad first saw me in my wedding dress. My family means the world to me and having the moment with my Dad was so special. I had accidently sent him a picture of the wedding dress and he was very upset that the surprise might be ruined. (My mom caught the email before he saw it!) Those were probably the hardest tears to hold back. I’ll always be his little girl but he looked so happy for Giles and I to start our new life together.

Giles says his most memorable party of the day is getting to see the Hackensaw Boys!

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Tell us how you met and became engaged!

Giles and I were set up by a mutual friend while living in Nashville, TN. She knew of our shared love of great music and being outdoors, so she knew we would be a good match. Giles and his friends had weekly Sunday night dinner which I was invited to one night. It was actually at his apartment. Following the dinner, our mutual friend organized the group to go see “The Muppets Movie” later that week. Conveniently everyone in the group cancelled (probably because its The Muppets and we were almost 30 haha) so it was only Giles and I. We left halfway through the movie and went to a bar for dinner and a drink. We talked all night and have spent almost every day together since.

Giles proposed in August of 2013. One Saturday we decided to go kayaking on Deher Island at Lake Murray. When we go kayaking, we take both of our dogs, Hogan, an old beagle and Banjo, a yellow lab puppy. We paddled to one of the many small islands on Lake Murray to let the dogs swim. Giles asked me to turn around because he had a surprise for me. The whole time I thought he had gotten some new toy for the dogs (I kept thinking, did he really buy an inflatable kayak for the dogs?!). But when I turned around, he was on one knee holding a ring box. He had a blanket laid out with champagne and candles. Plus he had both dogs on each side dressed in their finest clothes–Banjo had on a pink princess dress and Hogan had on a bowtie. Of course I said yes! We drank champagne, swam with the dogs in the lake, and then paddled back to call our parents.

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Lindsay and Giles Short Highlight Film from Cinema Weddings on Vimeo.

Vendors: Photography: Landon Jacob Productions // Wedding Planning & Event Design: Meagan Warren Weddings // Floral Design: Fern Studio // Ceremony & Reception Venue: 701 Whaley // Linens: Creative Coverings // Rentals: Party Reflections, Inc. // Ceremony Musicians: Simply Strings // Cocktail Hour & Reception Music: Partytime Djs // Cake & Desserts: Christie Richardson, The Southern Gourmet // Caterer & Bar: Southern Way Catering // After Party Venue: Pearlz Upstairs // After Party Band: The Hackensaw Boys // Bridesmaids Attire: BHLDN // Departure Transportation: 1953 Blue Alpine Sunbeam // Makeup & Hair: MiKel Rumsey // Honeymoon: Breckinridge, CO // Invitations: Poeme, Ohio // Lighting: Ambient Media of SC // Officiant: Rev. Kevin Roberts of VOW // Rehearsal Dinner: City Roots // Lounge: 428 Main // Guest Transportation: Southern Valet // Videographer: Cinema Weddings 

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Today, we are overwhelmed with joy to welcome Perry Vaile Photography to our Grey Collective family. Her work is absolutely beyond, so we couldn’t think of a more perfect way to prove our prowess for spotting talent than to share some of Perry’s images with you today. This wedding at The Graylyn Estate is one for the record books!!! Pale blue bridesmaid gowns and stationery (by Rebecca Rose Creative) are paired with bountiful pink flowers by Amy Lynne Originals. We could not be more in love with the absolute romance of it all, designed by Rebecca Rose Events. We know you are going to become obsessed, not only with this wedding, but also with Perry Vaile. Not to pat ourselves on the back or anything, but seriously…we are so dang proud to share her with you.

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Vendors: Photography: Perry Vaile Photography // Planning & Design: Rebecca Rose Events // Lighting: Sound Illusions // Rentals: Hauser Rentals // Florals: Amy Lynne Originals // Reception & Catering: The Graylyn Estate // Ceremony Venue: Highland Presbyterian Church // Linens: La Tavola // Invitations and Paper Goods: Rebecca Rose Creative // Calligraphy: Calligraphy by Carole // Band: ANITA (East Coast Entertainment) // Cake: Cakes by Chloe // Hair: Ego Hour Hair Designers

We are on board with blue, ladies! This gorgeous shoot put together by Live View Studios and Rebecca Rose Events  is one for the books! We are seriously obsessed, not only with the color, the style, and the ideas, but also the gorgeous location–River Oaks Charleston–a beautiful home and venue set amid beautiful towering oak trees and dripping southern moss, right on the banks of the Wando River. The inspiration for this shoot came entirely from nature–the organic textures and colors found on land, in the water and the vast blue sky.  Some of the greenery and flowers were foraged from the property and everything was shot just before dusk to capture the warmth and glow of sunlight streaming through the trees, dancing on the water, and spilling over the wooden dock.

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Vendors: Photography: Live View Studios // Location: River Oaks Charleston // Creative Direction, Styling & Floral Design: Rebecca Rose Events // Film Lab: PhotoVision // Wedding & Bridesmaid Gowns: Jenny Yoo for BHLDN // Shoes: BHLDN // Hair & Makeup: Charleston Events Hair & Makeup // Graphic Design/Paper Suite & Lettering: Rebecca Rose Creative // Rentals (Glassware, flatware and farm chairs): Snyder  Events Rentals // Table Linen: La Tavola // Blue Chairs Upholstered Chairs: World Market // China: Johnson Brothers // Model: Becky Boggs, Tout Talent 

Jessica of A Vintage Affair wanted to do something very feminine with vivid colors for Caitlin’s bridal shower. A garden party seemed to be a perfect fit. The inspiration for the whole party started with the quote: Spring is nature’s way of saying, “Let’s party!” The invitation set the tone with a watercolor floral border, a honeycomb patterned envelope liner, and a bright pink envelope and Tricia Egan of Violet Floral Design combined a cheerful mixture of peach, ivory and pink Peonies, blush Garden Roses, Lilac and Clematis to create a fun pastel garden-fresh palette.

A special detail, the adorable floral wristlets that greeted each guest with a Ranunculus bloom attached to the most beautiful pink ribbon. The splendid pink striped bar provided the perfect spot to gather and sip champagne. For a sweet treat, guests nibbled on colorful macaroon favors. The scrumptious waffle bar was the perfect choice for this brunch party (and what fun to include Pop Tarts in the buffet! Guests also loved the “Pin the Lips on Ryan Gosling” game! And the bride won! It turned out to be the perfect spring party that the bride wanted.

The whole party was captured on film by the talented Connie Dai.

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Vendors: Photography: Connie Dai Photography // Event Design and Styling: A Vintage Affair Events // Floral: Violet Floral Design // Invitations: dear jane // Rentals: Allwell Rents // Poptarts & Scones: Sugar Bakeshop // Prettiest Girls Sign: The First Snow

 

Today we are super excited to welcome a new member to our Grey Collective, Jodi Miller Photography. We always want to give you a little preview of the type of fabulous talent that we work so hard on curating, so we though today we would feature just a few of the gorgeous images of Aaron and Danielle’s wedding, recently shot by Jodi. To see tons more of these gorgeous images, you can head over to SMP. But for now, here’s a little about Jodi Miller Photography:

Jodi & Kurt are a husband-wife photography team based in Virginia. Their passion as photographers is to create images that are filled with light and beauty. They believe in simple and thoughtful imagery, that combine intimate moments with timeless portraiture. Their work is filled with softness and romance, finding balance through a masculine & feminine perspective. One of their greatest accomplishments is being able to work side by side every day. Jodi & Kurt are honored to be named a Top Wedding Photographer by Martha Stewart Weddings and recognized in such publications as Southern Weddings, Weddings Unveiled, Southern Living Weddings, Belle Lumiere, The Knot, and Magnolia Rouge.

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Photography: Jodi Miller Photography | Calligraphy: Meant To Be Calligraphy | DJ: My Deejay | Bride’s Dress: Ann Barge | Bridesmaid’s Dress: BHLDN | Catering & Cake: Windows Catering | Event Planning & Design: Karson Butler Events | Florals: Holly Heider Chapple Flowers | Hair & Makeup : Bridal Beauty Associates | Paper Goods: Little Bit Heart | Vintage Furniture Rentals: Something Vintage