Wedding Wednesday: Joanna and Eric

Joanna and Eric said "I Do" September 14^th, 2013

Photo Credit: Kayla Hembree, A Creative Pear Wedding Photography

The newlyweds both attended Lee University in Cleveland, TN. It was a small college, so you would think they would have met here, especially since they had numerous mutual friends. But, as fate would have it, they didn't meet until years later at Rafferty's in Kennesaw. "I went there to eat one night with one of my friends, Hadley (who used to work there), and Eric ended up coming over to say hey after he got done with his shift. Eric and I hit it off immediately, and as we began talking, we realized that we both went to Lee and were both surprised that we hadn't met before. After a couple weeks of figuring out ways to run into each other and flirt with each other, we finally went on our first date and the rest is history."

The couple had been talking about engagement for a couple of months, and were trying to get their families together to meet for quite some time. Eric nonchalantly told his then girlfriend that he had finally worked out a date where his family could meet hers for lunch. "Because we had been talking about how they needed to meet for so long, I didn’t think much about it. But, it turned out Eric had already picked up the ring and our families were all in on the surprise!"

They went to lunch in Marietta Square, and after lunch walked to the middle area where the fountain and pavilions are. "His family said that they wanted to take a picture of us and that we should go up on the pavilion to pose. As soon as we got to the top (and everyone already had their cameras out for a 'regular' picture), Eric got down on one knee with the ring. Of course I screamed and said 'yes.' My mom had given Eric the diamonds from her and my grandma’s old engagement rings, and he used them to have my engagement ring specially designed. It was perfect!"

"The weather ended up being so perfect and The Wheeler House was the most beautiful venue we could have chosen." Joanna's vision was shabby chic and vintage, as her ring was antique and she wanted a venue to compliment this theme. But, they also wanted their reception to be semi-casual and fun. "The Wheeler House ended up being SO perfect and exceeded my expectations for how beautiful my wedding could be. From the beautiful barn with lights and chandeliers to the stone fireplace to the historical white house with a wrap-around porch – my vision was entirely fulfilled! We used lace and burlap to accent most of the décor, and a vintage octagon frame with a “J” inside (for James) hung above the fireplace – so beautiful!"

We met Joanna at a bridal show when she first got engaged in March. "We met Debbie and Karen that day, and we had a great feeling about working with them right from the start. When we went to visit the venue in person, there was no question that I had found my perfect fairy-tail location for my wedding day! There was no need to look further. We literally picked the date and booked it that same day!"

Their inspiration? The newlyweds wanted to invoke some tradition, but they really wanted it to be our own. From writing their own vows to adding some additional wording into the ceremony for their officiant to say. "We also had one of our friends read a poem that we picked out, and it really helped capture our love for each other."

The most unique part of their ceremony was the Celtic Knot Ceremony - Eric is from Irish decent and Joanna from Scottish decent, and the Celtic Knot tradition is something that was used in both of their heritages. "We wanted something a little more personal to us than a unity candle or sand pouring in order to signify our unity. My mom sewed a beautiful piece of lace with a champagne colored ribbon for us to use for the cloth to wrap around our hands as her and Eric’s mom read a very special Celtic blessing that read:


'These are the hands that will work alongside yours as together you build your first home, plant your first garden, and walk forward hand in hand into your future. These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you, the only ones with the ability to comfort you like no one else can. These are the hands that will tenderly hold your first child, the hands that will build your family and hold it together as one - no matter what the obstacle may be. And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours - as they hold you here now - promising you that they will never ever let you go.'"

It was truly a beautiful wedding for a beautiful couple! We wish them all the blessings in the world. Congratulations!

Wedding Wednesday: Chelsea and Chase Gravois

Chelsea and Chase said "I Do" Saturday, July 13th

Photo credit: Justen Clay Photography

The newlyweds met at Highlands College, a ministry school in Birmingham, where they both went to, "get our lives back on track and find ourselves in God again," says Chelsea. Their stories are so similar, it's clear that it was meant to be - both deciding to go at the last minute within a few weeks of the program starting, and both deciding to give up on relationships for a while.

"I had heard the other girls talk about him, and even though I’m sure I had passed him in the hallway, I had never really noticed him. I just knew there was some handsome man with beautiful eyes my friend has named Chase Gorgeous." The name stuck, especially after the first time Chelsea really saw him.

"He was sitting at a tent that was giving out hot dogs talking to some other guys, and I remember thinking 'Oh goodness, he‘s handsome.' Being the smart, clever girl I am I went right up to the hot dog tent and asked for a group picture (as part of the Media Track). I got one shot and then jumped in (coincidentally landing right next to Chase), grabbed a hot dog, and turned it into a mustache. He copied me, and it was history after that."

How did he pop the question? "I want to start by saying I called it. I knew it was coming." Chase's family plans a family trip each year - this time it was Gatlinburg for Thanksgiving. "The week before we left for vacation, I called my best friend, Taylor, and told her I had a feeling like I was coming home with a ring on my finger, even though I had seen no signs of a ring or anything close to proposal material."

Her soon-to-be fiancé and his parents insisted Chelsea invite her mom and sister to come visit for Thanksgiving, which surprised her as she hadn't known Chase's family for longer than a few months. The morning they arrived, Chase started acting abnormally antsy. He was up to something. "He dropped me off with my mom and sister for lunch, which was strange because I thought we were all going together, but he insisted that he HAD to run some errands - who 'runs errands' when they’re on vacation?"

After not hearing from him all afternoon, she got a text saying he needed to meet her in an hour or two. "That was it. I knew it." When it was time, she went to meet his mom who had tickets for all 13 of them to ride the Space Needle, a 360 degree view of the mountains (minus one, as Chase was waiting at the top).

"When I stepped out of the elevator door and saw him, everything in my heart and soul came to a complete state of peace. I remember waiting to hear him finally tell me he loves me, but he was too nervous to even squeeze that out. His tears really said everything I needed to know, he got down on one knee still all teary eyed with that little black velvet box. I was a little impatient, so before he even finished asking I pulled him up, wiped his tears, and kissed his face telling him of course I’ll marry you."

The "I Do"

"I have always envisioned a comfortable, classic, homemade wedding. I love plantation homes, antebellum homes, or anything that has character of it’s own from being loved and lived in. The Wheeler House really provided the perfect structure to fulfill what I was looking for. I knew for sure two things: I wanted a lot of dainty lighting, and I wanted it to feel comfortably intimate. I got both of those things in The Wheeler House."

The newlyweds actually booked The Wheeler House before touring. Chelsea sent her mom to scope it out, and when she gave her the thumbs up she had her mom reserve the venue. “I did it without visiting mainly because of how kind and accommodating [the staff] was, and I knew I was going to be needing a tremendous amount of help being out of state.” When she finally did come tour herself, Chelsea almost cried. “It is the most beautiful, rustic, and comforting venue I have ever seen.”

“The Wheeler House has a type of southern charm to it that you don’t get with a lot of wedding venues. There are so many details you don’t notice in photographs, but when you see them in person you fall in love.”

Their theme was rustic chic, timeless and elegant. They used mason jars, lace, tea candles, roses and soft colors – ballet slipper pink and dusty mint – atop a wood slab that held a handmade ivory letter G.

Chelsea’s tip: “I had a blast hand crafting each item, but I would warn anyone reading: If you decide to create all of your decorations, START EARLY. If you like crafting, it is so cool to see all of your hard work put together and displayed.” 

"The most important component of our wedding was our families. We wanted everyone to see how far we’ve come since we had met, and the progress God had led us through to get us ready for meeting each other. Chase has changed my life multiple times and continues to change me, challenge me and help me grow daily. It was really important for us that everyone saw how much God has moved in our lives making us a natural team."

And the groom? Chelsea says Chase was fully involved in the planning process. He helped her with everything from picking a wedding dress silhouette (not the actual dress) to stringing the G’s for their centerpieces. “He was there for every step, fully involved and hands on.”

Congratulations to this beautiful, sweet couple. We love you and wish you all the best!

Want to switch things up? Piece of cake!

This is a guest blog post by Kristen Ley of Something New for I Do. For the original posting, please visit www.somethingnewforido.com.
We love tradition with a twist! A fun and easy way to incorporate something new into your big day is by changing up your dessert options. Ask yourself – how important is it that I have an extravagant tired cake on my wedding day? If this tradition is one that you absolutely can’t part with, opt for an equally beautiful mini version so you can have your cake and eat it too (had to)!

Dessert Bar by Green Gables Events | Photography by Happy Everything Co. 

The next most popular dessert options, leaning slightly more toward the traditional side, are cupcakes and cake pops. Brides save money with this option – sometimes a forth of the price – by nixing the elaborate cake.

Cake pops and other bite size treats, such as cupcakes, can be just as beautiful, displayed on a beautiful tiered cake stand with stunning decorations and colors. The best part – these options are super easy, as there is no messy cake cutting and virtually no clean up. And if there are left overs (which we highly doubt there would be with these delicious balls of heaven), you can simply bring them home as is and save them for later! Cupcakes too, are just as fun and innovative. Spice things up by serving your guests a combination of flavors, frosting and decorations.

Deliciousness by Cakes by Carissa

A pie table, enough said. Other than the rare occasion, many wedding cakes often go uneaten. Whether it’s the not so tasty fondant or the dry cake layers, spending so much money on something that isn’t truly enjoyed by your guests might not be worth it to some brides. With a pie table, multiple options can be offered to satisfy each guest’s sweet tooth. Still beautiful and elegant, you can dress up your pie table with top-notch linens, antique pie cake stands, candles, flower arrangements and more. I’d even argue that pie tables can be even more stunning than cake tables.

Can't get enough of Buttermilk Pie Company

Dessert bars and candy bars are also trendy and if done correctly can add quite a bit to the design element of your reception. Candy and sweet nibbles served in different dishes and jars in colors that match your theme are very eye catching and fun. For inspiration and ideas, search Pinterest. Inspiration tip: A Viennese table featuring an array of desserts, miniature cheesecakes, brownies, pies, cookies, individual trifle, mousse and other small plated desserts are displayed for your guests to choose from. This alternative is much more reasonable than other options and a lot more fun.

Our hope is that every bride finds a way to make their wedding their own. If you don’t want a cake, choose a pie display or a table of beautifully decorated cheesecakes. Have fun, be creative and don’t settle for traditional if that’s not your style!

My Lynn Haven, Florida Goose Hunt

This is a blog post written by Lee Lusk, Owner of The Wheeler House. 

When we started making plans to build our barn, the first step was figuring out what type of wood and lumber to use. I thought, as memories at The Wheeler House would last forever, so too should our barn.

I wanted our barn to be different and set us apart from our competitors, but most importantly, I wanted to create a space that encompassed character. Anyone can build a ballroom or a barn without character or history, but that’s just a building. I knew I wanted to do something more, something special.

I also knew the bones of the structure and siding needed to be durable enough to last lifetimes to come, and it had to be pressure treated. So, I researched the most effective pressure treated wood. What I found – it was pilings in the ocean that hold up structures like piers, bridges and airports!

I used to work in real estate investing/developing/building in Sea Side, Florida before the market crashed. It was there that I first discovered a company in piling that pulled used poles out of the ocean. While doing my research, I instantly thought – with the new "reclaimed wood trend," these poles would be perfect for my barn.

After getting in touch with my contact in Panama City Beach, I found out that he had just pulled poles from where the new Pier Park is! Before, the pier’s pillars were wood (what I bought), but they were eventually replaced with concrete pillers. Luckily for me, they built a new international airport inland and tore down the old one in Lynn Haven. This last batch of poles sat in the Saint Andrews Bay holding up the end of the runway.

My team and a large tractor-trailer headed to pick up this last load, which cost us a pretty penny along with some blood, sweat and tears. But, it was worth it because the hot and humid Georgia weather cannot destroy the barn with these special treated pilings. Our arbor was also built from these poles – if you look closely, you can still see some of the barnacles, boat anchors, tie downs and oceanic salt stains. But, that’s character.

Every single beam and piece of barn siding was cut right here in downtown Ball Ground from a mill that is decades old – from a time when people used the timber from their land to saw and build their own barns and houses. If you look closely at our mantle and exterior siding, you can see the circular marks from the round saw. And with the interior siding, you can see the vertical marks from the band saw used at Harris Lumber in Ball Ground.

Anyone can build a barn with Home Depot lumber, but I choose the hassle (100 percent worth it), brain storming and research it took to create a truly one of a kind barn – that Lord willing will last hundreds of years… Especially with that industrial grade, high-strength concrete foundation that my over achieving dad insisted I build! Haha.