It's hard to believe that a week has already passed since I got to share in the festivities of Rebecca and Zach's big day. I first met Rebecca's parents, Sally and John, several years ago when they visited my store. They then became clients and we have worked renovating and redecorating many rooms in their summer mountain house. As is the bonus in my business, when you work so closely on something as personal and intimate as ones home, then many times, clients also become good friends. I was so honored when last fall, they asked me to coordinate and design a special wedding for their middle daughter.

      

You may recall this image of the Jennings Barn that I shared last year of the wedding location, Lonesome Valley. It is a beautiful property in the mountains of Cashiers, NC. It's the only picture that I have posted because I didn't want to share any of the details before the big day. But, now I have tons to show you! So much, in fact, that I am going to divide all of the pics into several posts so I don't overload you!

 

The ceremony was outside among the majestic tall trees on the left. They wanted the décor to embrace the simple, unfussy and relaxed feeling of the property. Now is this not an unbelievable reminder of our artistic Creator?  

 

 

The couple are both foodies and are big fans of Lonesome Valley's Chef, John Fleer. Selecting John's restaurant, Canyon Kitchen, {inside the barn} to prepare the wedding dinner, as well as host the dance party, was a simple choice. 

 

 

The brides younger sister, Mary, gifted the bride her calligraphy skills. She scripted the invites, and all correspondence, as well as the program. I am so impressed with her recently acquired skills and I am thrilled that she has just opened her own etsy store, love, Louise, offering her talents to other brides.  

 

 

The Rehearsal Dinner was on the back veranda at the Clubhouse of Sapphire Valley, overlooking the golf course .  

 

 

A little trick I used was to use a piece of black artists paper and cut it to fit the size of the chalkboard easel that Robert made. I used white paint to create my words which appeared to look just like chalk on a chalkboard. This way, I was able to write the directions to the dinner, in chalk, on the actual chalkboard underneath that we then reused at the ceremony the next day. I simply removed the black paper and my easel was ready to go! This saved a lot of prep work.

 

 

Using cut pieces of beech plywood, I stained and then painted chair signs for the couple. Zach is a NC State alumni as well as an avid golfer. So, I glued Wolfpack golf balls onto tall tees and tucked them into the centerpieces. 

 

 

 

 

 I love this delicate vintage wicker frame that previously housed a mirror. I found it locally at one of my favorite antiques stores, Finders Keepers. It works perfectly now as a kitchy chalkboard.

 

 

 

 

The brides dad crafted the ceremony cross from mountain laurel out of their back yard. Isn't it wonderful?!   I added a few cut branches and some ranunculus. It has now been returned to the backyard where it will provide wonderful memories. With all of the discussion that I overheard from the guests, I wouldn't be surprised if it makes a recurrence in another wedding down the road.

 

 

 

 

 I adore Rebecca's bouquet made of white peonies, hydrangea, velvety lambs ear, succulents and hypericum berries. It felt like she simply reached over the fence and collected this handful of blooms.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A sliced wood disc {if you can't cut your own, Michael's sells them} replaced the traditional ring bearers pillow. After I painted the couples names, I drilled 2 tiny holes and threaded on a piece of twine. The rings were then secured and tied in place.

 

 

 

 

The bride, escorted by both mom and dad, walked in to the music of the bagpipe. The bagpipe has great tradition in these mountains and it was so awesome listening to the penetrating pipes echo through the enormous box canyon.    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Up next--the dinner and dancing....

 

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My friend and photographer, Terri Clark, collaborated with me on this event. She wasn't the event photographer, but rather, the details photographer. The images here are a combination of her shots as well as some of mine.   

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Do you a special event on the horizon? From concept to execution, I can create it! Contact me and we can discuss your one-of-a-kind designed event.     

 

I made my first walk-through of a new clients home in Cashiers yesterday and I stopped at the farmers market for lunch. Oh, how I love visiting the market in the fall. The leaves are just turning golden yellow. There was a wonderful breeze and a perfect 72 degrees. I pulled off and ate my lunch on the edge of beautiful Lake Glenville. I love the places my job takes me!