One of the things I miss most about the South is all of the beautiful coastal venues; the majestic oak trees and lovely Spanish moss make me so happy! I was thrilled to see this sweet wedding from Shipra Panosian Photography, full of family heirlooms, vintage details and the palest shades of pink and green – sure to please the romantic in us all. The stunning bride, Devon, is here to share her planning insight:
What (or who) helped you most in your planning process and/or on your wedding day?
My mom and I worked together the most. Don’t get me wrong, my amazing husband did a lot, but I knew what not to bother him with and what he would enjoy (food, building things for the reception, and planning the cigar and whiskey bar). My mom and I are very close so she knows what I like and what I don’t like. She was also really good at telling me what she would like to see and if I said no, she would say “that is fine, it is your day”.
For the day of my wedding, our caterer Rachel Horan was also my “Day of Planner”, she was fantastic and was able to make sure every last detail was just like I had envisioned.
What was the most important thing to you when deciding who to work with for your wedding?
My work schedule is so busy and I am out of town every week, so it was important for me to feel a connection with each vendor. I actually had several first meetings with vendors on Skype! We choose each vendor because our conversations felt organic and when we explained our vision they were receptive. It is important to research your vendor and find the one that fits with your personality and doesn’t try to make you conform to their ideas. Don’t be afraid to tell a vendor what you want too.
What was your inspiration for your wedding details and/or design?
Every girl dreams about her wedding and has an idea of what she wants, but I knew what I wanted down to the tiniest detail, and it was a day filled with love, laughter, and forever memories. My inspiration was my family, we are very close and love each other deeply. I decided to go for a soft, romantic, and vintage theme. I was able to incorporate that into the wedding by using my grandparents cake topper, my parents cake knife, mini frames were attached to my heels with my dad’s picture in them (so he could walk me down the aisle). I also kept the wedding small, it was our closest friends and family.
What was your favorite thing about your wedding?
Marrying Patrick! There were so many wonderful parts of our wedding that I loved, but I did have a favorite moment which I knew nothing about. My dad passed away almost two years ago so he was not there for father daughter dance. I still did the dance with my mom, to a song that my dad and I had picked out when I was 8 years old. As my mom and I were dancing my brother cut in to dance with me, then my uncle cut in to dance with me, then my dad’s best friend cut in to dance with me, and finally my husband cut in to dance until the end of the song. There was not a dry eye around. It is a memory that is so incredibly special to me and I know it is something my dad would have wanted.
What is your best piece of advice for other brides?
My advice is to get it all done way before the wedding! It is not for every bride, but I was super organized and had a spreadsheet to track all my purchases, payments, and to-do lists. I set realistic dates for everything to be completed and wanted to be done no less than 3 weeks before the wedding. Now, there are items that will pop up last minute but you won’t be as stressed if everything else is done.
You only get married once and you deserve to sit back and relax the day of your wedding. Tell your parents you love them, laugh with your girlfriends, have a glass of champagne, and most importantly spend time with your husband once you say “I do”.
Wonderful advice, Devon! I love that she got her groom involved to help plan out their special details. I especially love the bourbon and whiskey bar! Mr. Sizemore gives his stamp of approval as well. Specialty stations like the tasting bar get your guests involved and are a great conversation starter. Are you planning a fun tasting station or similar? I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments below!
XOXO,
Carlee
Vendors who made it all happen…
Carlee
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Oh my goodness! What a beautiful event and such a sweet couple! The Duncan House looks like a beautiful venue. What a fun wedding this must have been to photograph.
Beautiful! talented photographer and a wonderful couple!