“Anna first met Alex in 6th grade band class, and her first memory of him was when he sat behind her in 7th grade math and said mean things to her. However, his side of the story says that he was immediately drawn to her competitive nature and confidence. {Oh, middle school love!} Their paths continued to cross over the years and after many prayers, she realized that Alex was the one God was leading her to all along. Anna and Alex have been remodeling the family’s old farmhouse. Alex proposed there, we photographed Anna’s bridals there and everyone gathered there get ready for the wedding. This house holds so many memories for their family and I know they are going to create many more in the years to come.

Anna wears her Grandmother’s ring as her engagement ring and had the diamond that Alex proposed with made into a stunning solitaire necklace. She also tied a locket with her Grandparents photos around her bouquet. Alex wore an orchid boutonniere in honor of his grandmother; it was her favorite flower. Many of the details were DIY, including the invitations, florals, favors, hair/makeup and even the bride’s veil!

During their ceremony, Anna and Alex chose to wash each other’s feet, a symbol of being humble and willing to serve one another John 3:1-17. There was not a dry eye in the room! After the service and many celebratory hugs, we went back to their homestead so Alex could carry his bride over the threshold. The reception began at Events at Sapphire Creek and guests were given a swing dancing lesson {one of Anna and Alex’s favorite pastimes}. Despite the rain we experienced all day, it was a beautiful, emotional and heartfelt wedding day for all.” –Jennifer Stuart Photography

What is your favorite wedding day memory?

Several moments stand out to me from my wedding. The first is the look that was on my Dad’s face. He is not the sentimental type, but I remember him trying not to cry as he told me how beautiful I looked. The second is the moment immediately after the ceremony. We were so excited that the planning was over and we were officially married! I couldn’t stop smiling and hugging my new husband. The last memory that stands out as a favorite was seeing my friends that had come together to celebrate with us and having fun dancing the night away with them.

What did you DIY for your wedding?

… as much as I could without driving myself crazy. I was my own wedding coordinator; therefore, there were so many things I handled that I am probably forgetting some things, but I definitely couldn’t have done it without help. My mom, my mom’s best friend, several of my co-workers, my aunt, my future sister-in-law, my brothers, and my matron of honor’s husband, mom, brother, and sister-in-law all came together to help me get all the details set up the day before. I made my own table decorations, which included framed signs, lace and glitter wrapped votive candles, and all the floral arrangements. I ordered bulk flowers from Sams club and vases from Dollar General {Tip: don’t forget floral foam from Amazon!} and spent the majority of the day before the wedding with my Mom, Aunt and Future Sister-in-Law arranging the pieces for the church, the reception and the bouquets. This cut the cost of floral expenses in half from what I was quoted by several florists! – We ordered semi done favors {mint tins}, but we still had to put them together. I bought blank packs of Gartner Studios stationary from Walmart, designed my own layout, printed and assembled my invitations and programs. A friend of mine came over and helped me make envelope liners out of this gorgeous variety pack of purple rose and lace scrapbook paper that I ordered online. I also did my own hair and makeup. Honestly, I could have done a better job on my hair if I had had more time. My nail appointment ran late and I had some unexpected last minute details to attend to, so I ran out of time to perfect my hair. The last major DIY project I did for my wedding was make my own veil. I ordered a sturdy hair comb online, found the right softness and color of tulle at JoAnn’s Fabric, made a trial and error pattern to suit my taste, cut out my fabric and my Mom and I sewed lace around the edges. The lace was leftover from my dress alterations, so it matched perfectly!

Did you have a something old, new, borrowed and blue?

I did not stick to the “old, new, borrowed, blue” tradition and did not worry with trying to incorporate those specific aspects. However, I did have some sentimental objects with me: my diamonds {one in my ring and one in my necklace} and my late Grandmother’s locket. My husband then boyfriend bought me a diamond separate from the setting. When the time came to set the diamond in the setting, my Grandmother passed away, leaving me with her wedding ring set. We decided to use the diamond from her ring in my ring and use the diamond Alex bought me in a solitaire necklace. My Grandmother’s locket had a picture of her on one side and my Grandfather on the other. When I was little, my Grandmother told me you put your picture and your sweetheart’s picture in there like that so that when you closed the locket, you kissed! My Grandmother was very special to me, so as a token of remembrance, I wrapped her locket around my bouquet.

Any advice for brides currently in the planning process?

The best way to save money is to invite less people; it reduces the amount you pay for EVERYTHING. Remember that the goal is to be happily married to your soul mate. If the planning, details, and opinions of others become too stressful, take a step back and evaluate what is really important. -Anna, the Bride

Event Credits

Photographer: Jennifer Stuart Photography // Ceremony Venue: Georges Creek Baptist Church // Reception Venue: Events at Sapphire Creek // Catering: Chef Bek's Catering // Cake: Tip Top Cake Shop // Engagement Ring: Solid Gold Inc. // Bride's Attire: Essense of Australia // Bridemaid's Attire: Charme Bridal // Groom's Attire: JC Penny // Groomsmen's Attire: Belk