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!