Unveiling My Dream Wedding: The Journey of Planning and Perfecting
Weddings are magical celebrations that bring together love, happiness, and dreams. They embody the essence of a couple's unique love story, and for as long as I can remember, I've always envisioned my own dream wedding. In this personal blog, I want to take you on a journey through the meticulous planning, countless inspirations, and heartfelt decisions that culminated in the wedding of my dreams.
Falling in Love with Inspiration:
Every great wedding starts with a spark of inspiration. For me, it began by immersing myself in bridal magazines, Pinterest boards, and wedding blogs. With each image, idea, and concept I encountered, I started to piece together my vision. From floral arrangements to color schemes, from venues to themes, I soaked up inspiration like a sponge, allowing my creative juices to flow freely.
The Quest for the Perfect Venue:
Once I had a clear idea of the overall atmosphere I desired, finding the perfect venue became my mission. I knew I wanted an upscale, classic venue and was convinced I had found my dream location on instagram. While visiting that venue, the owner invited me to also take a tour of their sister venue. I had seen this venue online and didn’t think it fit my vision, but I quickly realized that I had discovered the venue that truly spoke to my heart as soon as I pulled up. Its enchanting landscaping, historic charm, and breathtaking stone architecture instantly captured the essence of my dream wedding. Pictures could never do it justice. It was grand and felt like it had been dropped straight out of a fairytale, and my heart was about to burst! I booked it the very next day.
Designing the Aesthetics:
Aesthetics play a crucial role in setting the tone and ambience of a wedding. With the venue secured, I dove into the world of wedding design. I carefully curated a color palette that reflected my personality and the emotions I wished to evoke. My future last name was going to be ‘Whitener”, so I decided to use a white theme as the foundation of my wedding style. I wanted to keep the decor a perfect balance of modern and elegant. Immersed in the elegance and purity of a white-themed wedding, every design detail was thoughtfully curated to create a breathtaking aesthetic. The venue exudes a sense of serenity, adorned with billowing white drapes in an outdoor tent and soft ambient lighting, evoking a dreamlike atmosphere. The tables are beautifully dressed with pristine white linens, and shimmering gold accents, adding a touch of sophistication. Tall, slender flower stands on select tables made a dramatic statement, while other tables had short elegant arrangements. From the intricately designed white wedding cake, embellished with delicate white pearls, to the carefully crafted white invitations and acrylic place cards, every detail harmonizes to create an enchanting world where love and beauty intertwine. The white theme extends to the attire, with the bride gracefully adorned in a flowing white ball gown. Together, these design elements create an exquisite and cohesive aesthetic that reflects the timeless beauty of our love and the beginning of our journey as husband and wife.
The Culinary Adventure:
Food has always been a way to bring people together, and our wedding was no exception. We wanted our guests to enjoy a sophisticated sit down dinner, so we collaborated with our venue caterer to create a menu that showcased our favorite flavors and celebrated local southern cuisine. Thankfully, our venue required in-house catering, which made the process seamless and stress-free. Our guests enjoyed an exquisite charcuterie board during cocktail hour, accompanied by handpicked wines, IPAs, and our signature sangria. As we moved to the dinner portion of the night, we offered both red and white meat, with delicious southern sides to compliment the main dish. But the most important food of the night, of course, was dessert! My husband and I bonded over macarons early in our dating life, so having macarons at our wedding was a must. We chose gorgeous and delicious macarons from a local European bakery, as well as a dozen intricately designed handmade macarons to place on our cake from an at-home baker in town. We chose the flavors of lemon cream, vanilla bean, raspberry, and espresso. In addition to the macarons, we served a beautiful three tiered white cake covered with pearls. Two of the three tiers were lemon cake accompanied by a layer of lemon curd and cream cheese filling, and the remaining tier was chocolate cake accompanied by a layer of salted caramel filling. Our desserts were truly divine!
Florals in all shades of “White”:
In homage to our last name "Whitener," we made the deliberate choice to exclusively use white flowers throughout our wedding, creating an ethereal and elegant atmosphere. White, symbolizing purity and new beginnings, perfectly complements our celebration of love and unity. From the exquisite white roses, lilies, and orchids adorning the aisle and bouquets to the delicate white arrangements adorning the reception tables, every flower exuded a timeless and classic beauty. The simplicity and purity of the white flowers served as a reflection of our love, a love that is pure, genuine, and everlasting. With this intentional choice, we created a cohesive and enchanting ambiance that embodied our journey together as Mr. and Mrs. Whitener.
Crafting Personalized Details:
To infuse our wedding with a personal touch, my husband and I embarked on a journey of crafting personalized details with a friend who helped create our stationary and signage. From designing custom invitations to hand-picking bible verses and fonts that resonated with our story, we poured our hearts into every aspect. Creating a signature cocktail and curating a playlist that reflected our journey as a couple were just some of the ways we made our wedding uniquely ours. But more than what meets the eye, there were special hidden treasures immersed throughout our day. One of the most intentional decisions I made on our wedding day was to wear my purity ring down the aisle in place of my engagement ring. When I was 16 years old, my father gifted me a diamond ring after I made a covenant with the Lord to save myself for marriage. My parents told me that what I chose to do was valuable, so they wanted to give me something of equal value. I wore that ring for years until it was replaced on my engagement day. As part of our ceremony, my husband removed my purity ring and replaced it with my wedding band. It was a special moment to show our love and devotion of obedience to the Lord as we began our marriage. Engraved on the inside of my husband's custom tuxedo were the words “my love” to symbolize the nickname he calls me. My father also purchased a custom tuxedo like my husband (with different lapels, of course), resulting in them influencing each other to also purchase custom leather shoes from Spain (and they call me boujee?). My husband lined the inside of his shoes with the color garnet, while my father lined the inside of his shoes orange (both knowing good and well that I would only allow the colors if they weren’t seen). This was a tribute to the Carolina vs. Clemson rivalry that would exist in our marriage. More importantly than any of his other wardrobe choices, my husband wore gold cufflinks that belonged to my grandfather who passed away. Now, the most special hidden moment of the day came as a surprise. When exchanging gifts with my mom, she handed me a dried flower crown with a note that read “little white flowers all up in her hair” and a baby picture from my dedication. Those words were lyrics from my baby dedication song “Butterfly Kisses,” and the flower crown was the same crown I wore on that day. I can’t put into words how special that moment was for me (and how ironic that years later my wedding would be full of white flowers without even realizing the significance). If I can give brides one piece of advice, it’s to take the time to plan out special moments. They are memories you will cherish forever.
Personalized Gifts for Irreplaceable People:
The bridesmaids and groomsmen who stood with us on our special day mean so much to us. We wanted to express our heartfelt gratitude to the irreplaceable people in our lives with personalized gifts that reflect our love and appreciation. Each gift had been carefully chosen to embody the unique bond we share with our loved ones. As the girls were getting ready, each bridesmaid received a heartfelt letter and a pair of pearl and gold earrings. Meanwhile, the boys spent the morning of the wedding enjoying a round of disc golf. Each groomsman received an engraved putter with a personalized nickname chosen by the groom. Next came the parents of the bride. My mother helped me get dressed, which gave us a special moment alone. I gifted her an engraved gold ornament describing how the woman I am today was a reflection of her. If you know my mom, you know she collects ornaments to remember special moments and destinations. I knew this gift would be meaningful to her and she hung it on her tree every year. My father’s gift needed to match in meaning, which he received while we shared a first look. I presented him with a pendant to pin in his tux and wear close to his heart. The pendant had a picture of my grandfather with an engraving that read “he’s walking with us.” By presenting these heartfelt gestures, we hoped to convey just how much these remarkable individuals mean to us and how their presence has enriched our lives. But of course, I couldn’t forget about my groom! As a southern tradition, I gave my husband a framed bridal portrait to hang in our home as his sentimental gift. I also gifted him a leather travel bag packed with new clothes for our honeymoon complete with personalized luggage tags. Ironically, he gifted me luggage tags as well.
Capturing Memories Forever:
Photography and videography were integral parts of our wedding plans. We wanted professionals who could capture the fleeting moments, raw emotions, and joyous laughter in a way that would transport us back to our special day whenever we looked at the photographs or watched the film. After careful research and numerous consultations, we found the perfect team who understood our vision and executed it flawlessly. It’s so important to prioritize your photographer and videographer when forming your wedding budget.
Unique Dances:
The week following my engagement, my dad called requesting a special father/daughter dance. Anyone who knows me knows that I do not enjoy being the center of attention, so hearing that my dad wanted to plan an epic breakout dance made me more than nervous. However, it quickly became one of my favorite parts of the planning process. We worked with our Dj on developing a mashup of songs and hired a choreographer to create a one-of-a-kind dance routine. We didn’t tell anyone what we had planned, not even my mom! It was truly one of the best surprises to unveil. On top of that, my bridesmaids and I learned a choreographed routine to perform for my husband during the reception. These personal touches made our reception so memorable.
Entertainment That Changed the Atmosphere:
As the wedding day progressed, the atmosphere changed from sophisticated elegance to a party full of celebration. We were excited to bring the magical sounds of a skilled violinist to the ceremony and the infectious energy of a fun DJ to the reception to create an unforgettable atmosphere. Since our wedding took place at a historic mansion, we had several rooms and locations to consider when choosing our musical entertainment. The enchanting melodies of the violin set a romantic tone, creating beautiful moments during the pre-ceremony as guests arrived. The ceremony music included two beautifully powerful worship that set the tone of our Holy ceremony. Our guests worshiped with us to “Rest On Us” by Maverick City Music, and later worshiped to “Move Your Heart” by Maverick City Music as we received communion. For cocktail hour, the violinist played classical music inside the mansion while the DJ played a blend of classical and jazz music for the outdoor portion of cocktail hour. The night ended as lively beats and curated playlists of the DJ ignited the dance floor, ensuring that our guests were filled with joy while dancing the night away. With this dynamic duo, our wedding was an extraordinary blend of elegance and excitement, leaving us with memories that will last a lifetime.
The Send-Off:
Our wedding concludes with a captivating send-off, as the air is filled with excitement and anticipation as friends and family hold sparklers, creating a magical tunnel of light for us to walk through. My father wanted to send us off with something special, and he certainly met the mark. He secured a 1959 Silver Cloud Rolls-Royce, previously owned by Milton Berle. As the grandeur of the vintage car came into view, its timeless beauty and elegance took our breath away. With its sleek lines, gleaming exterior, and luxurious interior, it was the perfect way to end the night. With a final wave and a heartfelt thank you, we drive off into the night, surrounded by the love and support of those who have witnessed the beginning of our lifelong journey together.
Planning my dream wedding was a labor of love, a process that allowed me to transform my dreams into reality. Each decision, from the venue to the details, was made with utmost care and consideration, guided by the desire to create an experience that truly reflected who my husband and I are as individuals and as a couple. As I walked down the aisle on that magical day, surrounded by loved ones and the vision I had crafted, I felt an overwhelming sense of joy and fulfillment. It was the wedding of my dreams, a celebration that will forever hold a special place in my heart.
Remember, planning a dream wedding is a personal and unique experience. Embrace the journey, let your imagination run wild, and create a celebration that reflects your love story in every detail. If you hire The Coordinator Co., you can trust that we will work tirelessly to make your wedding day dreams come true, down to the very last detail. Happy planning!