Caroline and Will’s wedding at Vinewood Plantation is the epitome of barn-wedding charm filled with rustic views, gathered florals and hay bale lounge sofas! Planning and coordination was by J. Elliott Events & Weddings, dahlia-centric florals created by Virtu Floral and lovely images of all the details captured by Amy Arrington Photography.
Tell us about the gown and where/how you found it!
I knew that I wanted to wear a dress that was both natural and ethereal. I pictured a dress with sleeves that blended with the bodice and a soft tulle skirt. The ladies at Kelly’s Closet helped me find just that combination – the gown is by Ivy & Aster and combined a top and a bottom from two different dresses to fit my vision. Appliqués from the dress were used to create a matching hair piece.
What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?
We had a lot of family members participate in our ceremony, which was special for us. Caroline’s brother-in-law played classical guitar as guests arrived. Will’s aunt and cousins played strings during the ceremony, and Will’s uncle officiated the service. Rather than have traditional bridesmaids and groomsmen, we only had our siblings stand with us, and our young cousins acted as flower girls and the ring bearer. Caroline’s bouquet was held together by lace from Will’s grandmother’s wedding dress, and we were married on what would have been the birthday of Caroline’s late grandfather, who died from ALS several years earlier. We are both fairly laid back, and we wanted our wedding to reflect that. We had a fire pit with s’more ingredients and corn hole set up outside to mirror a party we might host in our own backyard. We opted for a jazz band over a DJ or dance band for a calming vibe that allowed for either dancing or just hanging out, and we served beer that Will home-brewed for the occasion out of customized pint glasses with our initials, which guests took home as wedding favors.
What was the most memorable part of the day?
The part where we married each other in front of our family and closest friends.
Tell us how you met and became engaged.
They met in 2013 when Will and Caroline’s sister ran together on a Ragnar, a long distance relay race. Caroline’s sister, whom she lived with at the time, had the team over for pasta dinner before the race. While at the race, Caroline’s sister invited Will over to the house to “hang out with her husband,” who had similar interests as Will, but she had an ulterior motive of setting up Will and Caroline. She proved herself an excellent matchmaker, and they started dating a couple months after initially meeting. About a year and a half later, Will asked Caroline to marry him while walking home from breakfast one morning. He proposed at a sidewalk square where they had previously carved “W+C” into wet cement.
Photography: Amy Arrington Photography // Planning & Coordination: J. Elliott Events & Weddings // Floral: Virtu Floral // Venue: Vinewood Plantation // Dress: Ivy & Aster // Dress Salon: Kelly’s Closet // Makeup/Hair: Beauty Asylum // Food: Dennis Dean Catering // Cake: Blooming Flour Bakery // Reception Music: Kayla Taylor Jazz