Wedding Wednesday: Emily & Jamie Cheshire // July 19th, 2014

All weddings are special, and we are sure to make each wedding day fabulous and unique to the bride and groom. Every wedding is different.

Well, being in the wedding industry, there are weddings and couples that you can't help but to absolutely fall in love with (as there should be, since weddings are all about being in love).....and this is one of those weddings. This wedding was a dream.

This couple absolutely shines in the beautiful photography by Happy Everything Co., and just by looking at the photos you know that this wedding encompasses everything about love in its truest form. It's just sweet. We had so much fun with Emily and Jamie, and we are so happy to have been able to be a part of their unforgettable day! 

So, how did all of this come about? How did these two sweet people meet, how did they fall in love, and HOW did they pull off this spectacular day? Well...


Jamie and Emily actually went to daycare together at the age of four.
"My sister Adrien and I went and so did Jamie and his brother along with a ton of our current friends now. But Jamie was too cool for me and stayed upstairs eating candy instead of hanging out with me most days." They went to different elementary schools and different middle schools, but they ended up being reunited in 7th grade when Jamie actually started dating Emily's best friend... "They broke up and then Jamie asked me "out" in 8th grade!"
Jamie and Emily are from Pickens County, Georgia and at the time Canton was the nearest town with restaurants and a movie theater.


"Technically our first 'date' was in 8th grade when our moms dropped us off (separately) at the movie theater to see the movie, Signs. But our first real date was in 11th grade when Jamie picked me up and took me to dinner at O'Charleys in Canton (real romantic stuff) and then we went to the movies afterwards."

To Emily, the most memorable date her and Jamie went on was the time when they got engaged (of course!), but she did say that there was another time that stuck out to her..."I’ll never forgot one date when we were in college and Jamie planned a big surprise datenight and wouldn’t tell me what we were doing. We drove from Athens to Atlanta and I was shocked because I knew how much Jamie hated Atlanta traffic. He ended up taking me to an awesome dinner and then Cirque du Soleil. I was shocked because Jamie normally never surprises me (because I hate surprises) but it was an amazing date!"

This makes things 'tricky' since they have been dating since middle school, but Emily and Jamie decided that their dating anniversary was January 22, 2006, so they were together for about 8 1/2 years before they tied the knot at The Wheeler House on July 19th.

So, after almost 8 years, Jamie knew that Emily was 'the one' and asked her to marry him, and it was the "BEST PROPOSAL EVER!" according to Emily.










"I was in Greenville for work and Jamie randomly asked me that Monday if I wanted to go to the Atlanta Aquarium with him that Friday because his department at school had given him free tickets. I didn't think anything about it and I told him 'of course!' I asked him if I needed to take the day off or if we were just going to go quickly and I could take it as my lunch break. He played it sooo cool and told me I didn't need to take the day off."

"That Friday he picked me up and he was sooooo chatty. I was working in the car on the way to Atlanta and he would not stop talking to me! At one point I told him that he really needed to be quiet, that he was being really distracting. I didn't think much about it, I thought maybe he had a Red Bull before he picked me up..."

"We got to the Aquarium and he said our tickets were at will call and when we picked them up they said 'Jamie Cheshire' instead of Pickens Middle School, which is who he claimed gave them to him, so I started to get suspicious. Then, when we were entering the aquarium, the security men with metal detectors searched my purse and pockets and then just pushed Jamie through, which I thought was really strange..."

"We went in and had this amazing behind the scenes tour set up. It was just Jamie and I and our own tour guide who showed us around the entire aquarium and took us into all the exhibits! I was too excited about the tour (I am obsessed with penguins) that I forgot how weird he was being earlier. We finished the tour and it ended in this big room that looked into the shark & whale tank. I was getting antsy about work so I didn’t want to stay for the demonstration but Jamie insisted that we did. There was a scuba diver in the tank that interacted with the speaker and told us all these fun facts about the aquarium. They said that they needed a volunteer from the audience and went to pick me. I was super confused because we were in a room with over 200 people and a ton of them were kids that all had their hands up to be picked. Jamie pushed me up there to do it so I was a good sport and went on stage. She asked me a ton of questions about things our tour guide told us on the tour and then said that they needed another volunteer from the audience. I thought it would be hilarious to pull Jamie up because he gets really bad stage fright..."

"She asked us both a question and then told me that the scuba diver in the tank would have my next question. So I turn around to look in the shark tank and the scuba diver is holding a sign that says EMILY, WILL YOU MARRY ME? I turned around and Jamie was on one knee with a beautiful ring in his hand. I think I blacked out so I don’t remember much detail after that but I of course said yes!"



Emily despises the cold, just as most Georgia natives, so she knew she wanted her wedding to be between April and October, and Jamie is a school teacher so he has summers off. July 19th was an open date at The Wheeler House, so they chose that date and it worked out perfectly!

Jamie and Emily are both from Jasper, Georgia and they went back and forth between getting married in Jasper and getting married in Athens, where they live and went to school. They decided to stay close to Jasper because that is where their families live and it would make it easier on them...

"I also used to pass the Wheeler House every time I came home or drove to & from UGA and I've always been in love with it. We've seen it transform over the years and it was the absolute perfect venue for us!"





Sometimes wedding planning can be overwhelming, but to Emily it was a lot of fun... "I have 2 creative sisters and a super creative mom so they made it easy. It also helped that my aunt and cousin did all the decorations & flowers for me!" 



The morning of their wedding it was rainy and muggy outside...However, it cleared up RIGHT before the ceremony and ended up being beautiful and not unbearably hot (like Georgia usually is in mid-July).



"I knew I wanted to get married outside but always pictured an indoor reception. The Wheeler house had both and the barn is ABSOLUTELY gorgeous and the arbor was what I always imagined getting married under."


"I wish I could relive it! I am a huge daddy's girl, so our first dance was very special to me..."
The moment it stopped raining right before the ceremony was "pretty wonderful," too!

"I absolutely loved our band (Finesse) and loved that everyone was dancing and at one point I couldn't see a single person sitting down."

This. Wedding. Was. Awesome.

Jamie and Emily left from good ol' Georgia and headed to the Hard Rock in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic for their honeymoon... 

"It was amazing and the beaches were the prettiest I have ever seen!"

Congratulations to this fabulous couple and their sweet pups! Emily and Jamie plan to live in Athens with their 2 dogs and live happily ever after...

We were so glad we were able to share such a sensational day with the both of you and your families! 

This was a really good wedding.... 

                 

                                                       
                                                                    Thanks especially to the fantastic vendors:

Photographer: Happy Everything Co

Florals and Decor: Keiley Caldwell

Cake: Memorable Creations Cake Shop

Band: Finesse Band

Makeup Artist: Princeton Salon

Hair: Michelle Godfrey

Food: Talk of the Town

Wedding Gown: Watters

Paper Goods: Bev Gunderson

Bridesmaid Dresses: Bill Levkoff

Groomsmen Suits: Calvin Klein

Videographer: Bobs Eye View

Venue: The Wheeler House

*Special thanks to Happy Everything Co. for allowing us to use their fabulous photographs!

 

Wedding Wednesday: Hannah + Nick Taylor // June 7th, 2014

Hannah and Nick Taylor

6.7.14

Hannah and Nick Taylor were married at The Wheeler House on June 7th, 2014. A couple of High School sweethearts from Cherokee County, it is no wonder that they chose shabby chic and southern décor for their big day. The rustic atmosphere at The Wheeler House went right along with the décor and theme that they went with for their gorgeous, southern wedding.

“We met in history class our junior year in high school. Although Nick won’t admit it, he winked at me and that’s how it all started.”

“Our first date was to a movie and putt putt. I am notoriously bad at putt putt and I remember thinking how embarrassing it would be to play on our first date! I didn’t play too bad that night; I actually beat Nick and bragged about it the rest of the night! Little did I know Nick was a golfer, and he let me win that night. The next time we played he beat me by like 20 strokes.”

“For me, our most memorable date was the first time we went to the drive in theatre in Blue Ridge...We piled a ton of pillows and blankets in the bed of his truck had a picnic and watched a couple movies under the stars. A simple date, but there is noting better than being outside snuggled up with your sweetie!”

Hannah and Nick dated for seven years before he popped the question...

“Nick told me we were going to eat dinner at his grandma's and I needed to be at his house no later than 5pm. Nothing about this seemed strange to me because we went to his grandmas often. As we started to approach his grandma’s neighborhood he didn't slow down, so I asked him where we were going. He replied "going to get some rocks for grandma's garden.” His grandma has a very well manicured yard; so again, I didn't think anything of it."

"We pulled up to Fields Landing (a park on Lake Alatoona in Canton) where Nick always took me for picnics and I saw a table that was set up for a picnic with candles and a trail of roses leading to it. I looked over at Nick and he couldn't stop smiling. We got out of his truck and walked over to the table and he got down on one knee and FINALLY asked me to be his wife. Of course I said yes!”

Hannah always wanted a summer wedding, and what better month is there than June?

The search for the perfect venue can be challenging and time-consuming, but when Hannah found the Wheeler House she knew it was the right place for her and Nick to tie the knot.

 “After hours and hours of research on wedding venues my friend Taylor Bennett mentioned that Lee was building a barn at the Wheeler House. I had dreamed of a barn wedding since I was young. After seeing the sketches of the barn I immediately knew it was the venue for me! We booked before the barn was even built! We had faith in Lee’s vision, and what a vision it turned out to be!”

"The wedding process was a roller coaster for sure! My mom and I worked ahead on a lot of things, we didn’t know it but that ended up saving us when it came close to the time of the wedding. My older brother Timothy was in a horrible motorcycle accident just 2 weeks before the wedding and he was supposed to be a groomsmen and sing/play his guitar. The first thing he told my mom when he was able to talk is that he had prayed everyday since the accident that he could make it to the wedding. God performed a miracle by saving his life and with a blanket of prayers over my family my brother is healing. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to make it to my wedding, but my dad officiated, my aunt sang, and my mom read a beautiful reading. It was so important to have my family be a part of our big day.”

The Wheeler House was the perfect location for Hannah and Nick’s wedding. “I love the barn the most. It is absolutely perfect. I also love the easy going but gorgeous atmosphere and that everything is at the same location.”

Hannah and Nick had extravagant décor, some of which was rented from Mama Sweet and Company, based in Holly Springs. Hannah’s inspiration for her décor was country elegance.

“The barn and charming house set the theme for the wedding but the décor was a way to make it look romantic and elegant. There were a few country details like “Nick’s Favorite Things Table” where family friends made all of Nick’s favorite goodies since he doesn’t like cake. There were mason jars and adorable lace wrapped hay bails where guests enjoyed a fire and roasted s’mores…”

“We incorporated a lot of family details into the décor, as well. All of the windows and mason jars were from my Uncle’s farm in Roswell. I also used lace from my moms dress and pictures of my grandmother in my bouquet. My dad’s dear friend hand painted our corn hole games…”

“We really wanted our family and friends to enjoy the night and celebrate with us and, from the feedback, everyone was able to do just that!”

We love the idea of incorporating family and traditions into your wedding day by using family heirlooms and keepsakes as pieces of your décor and inspiration. The idea of the groom having a table designated for his favorite things is the perfect way to incorporate his taste and style into the reception. A candy bar is also a cute and easy way for guests to take home a bag of candy as a favor!

Hannah and Nick spent their honeymoon in beautiful Punta Cana, Dominican Republic at an all-inclusive resort and absolutely loved it. They love being married and things are very busy for them!

“We just bought the cutest little house on 6 acres and are in the process of getting everything moved in and situated. We look forward to spending the rest of our lives together and can’t wait to see what God has in store for us!”

We are so happy for this sweet couple of newlyweds and wish them a lifetime of happiness! Thank you, Hannah and Nick, for allowing The Wheeler House to be a part of your big day!




Vendors:

Photography: Heather Photography

Decor: Crush Vintage Rentals

Honeymoon Giveaway to St. John USVI

The Wheeler House will be giving away a free honeymoon trip to one lucky couple who books their wedding with us by the end of the summer. The owner of The Wheeler House, Lee Lusk, recently went on the exact trip that we will be giving away. After seeing and experiencing the island, it is his intention to send the happy couple on an unforgettable honeymoon to some of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean sea.

Lee has painted a picture of this beautiful island get-away that can potentially be yours if you book with us by September. This is merely a description of Lee's trip to the island and all that it has to offer. If you are the winner of this luxurious vacation, you will be provided with a map designed by Lee himself to feature the spots you will not want to miss, a complete itinerary (which is optional, of course), as well as flight and accommodations at the Grande Bay Resort on St. John USVI (which is directly on the water at Cruz Bay) or possibly a surrounding resort, based on dates and availability. The resort is one of the few areas with air conditioning on the island, has a gym/fitness center, and is located in downtown. The room is equipped with marble tile floors, granite counter tops, and a balcony overlooking the marina in the bay.

Grande Bay Resort, St. John USVI 

The following is Lee’s description of his exotic and extraordinary vacation to the island:

Local Restaurants and Night Life

 

“You can walk to everything you would ever want or need. We walked to restaurants and bars that were made famous by Kenny Chesney and Zac Brown. You cannot miss the ‘hole-in-the-wall’ restaurant, Woody’s, which is owned by Kenny Chesney’s friend. There are several restaurants to choose from that will not break your bank or exceed your budget. There is a line of restaurants near the resort with $8 burgers, which is pretty affordable for island food.”

“If you’re going for the more luxurious and fancy-type of food, some of the best Italian food I have ever had was at Café Roma. Another place I enjoyed was Restaurant 360 (old Zo-Zo’s location), which was a very nice restaurant with the best duck I’ve ever eaten. The duck sliders with cucumber on top were delicious.”

“On Sundays and Thursdays, Mutu’s, a bar within the same complex of the resort, has free drinks from 4pm-6pm. Also while you are there, you have to go to Castaway’s- a rooftop bar with live music and karaoke almost every night. You can never fail with Beach Bar, a bar near the resort, where the tables are in the sand, the drinks are cheap, and the music is good. Across the street from Woody’s restaurant is the famous bar, Across the Street, which also features in-expensive drink specials.

If you don’t mind walking about 5 minutes, you can walk to Mongoose Junction Shopping Center for shopping, good food, and a few bars. There is a famous sandwich place called Deli-Grotto within the shopping center that you don’t want to miss.”

Solomon Beach

The trail at Solomon Beach

The View from the Hike at Solomon Beach

 The Beaches

“On the first day we hiked to Solomon Beach, which is about a twenty-minute hike, but well worth  it. Solomon Beach is known for it’s three palm trees that have grown out in the ocean. This beach is the most remote beach on the island, therefore, when you pass Deli-Grotto on the way stop in and grab a sandwich for the hike. It is such a private beach that when we hiked to it we were the only people there. At this beach, we snorkeled around a huge rock and went to the neighboring beach where we found a hut that sold food but did not sell alcohol. Therefore, we kept walking and went to the next beach over, Caneel Bay, which is an all-inclusive resort where celebrities and politicians stay when they visit the island. The food and drink at Caneel Bay was very good, but very expensive." 

Cinnamon Bay

“There are restrooms, rentals for water sports, and lots of people. Although it was crowded, a deer walked up 6 feet from us and one person even saw a deer swimming in the ocean."

“The snorkeling was also extraordinary at this location. At Cinnamon Bay, you can swim west around some rocks to a private beach called Peter Bay, which is the location of a subdivision where there are multi-million dollar homes in which politicians and celebrities own and the beaches are private and exclusive.”

Cinnamon Bay

 "On the third day, we went to Maho Bay, which was about a $10 taxi ride from the resort. What is nice about Maho is that the beach is directly on the road, so there is no hiking involved. This particular bay is famous for its snorkeling and sea turtle habitat. Within thirty seconds of being in the water, we saw three lager-head turtles that were 3-4 feet in length. Be sure to drag your feet so you don’t step on a stingray, because they are everywhere. You also don’t want to forget your camera when you go to Maho because of the underwater scenery."

Maho Bay

"The next day we went to Hawksnest Bay. One mistake we made there was that we should not have brought our electronics along with us because next to Hawksnest Bay is Gimme Beach, which is the most gorgeous beach on the island. However, the only way to get to Gimme Beach is to go through Hawksnest and to swim around a rock. So, unless you want to leave your towel and electronics on Hawksnest- leave them at home."

Lee at Gimme Beach

"Once you’re on Gimme Beach, there is a little driveway that you can walk to catch a taxi back to the resort. There are grove trees that have branches sticking out over the water, which gives you a place to hang your belongings. There are beach chairs that you can sit in that are in the shoreline. This place is SO worth the hassle it takes to get to it, so don’t be discouraged. You MUST see it. This was my absolute favorite beach on the island."

The swing featured in the music video for Zac Brown's Toes

Trunk Bay at Sunset

                "On the final day we went to Trunk Bay, which is known for its underwater snorkeling trail. If you’re daring enough, like myself, swim out around the island and make a loop to see some exotic tropical fish and coral.  

When you get to the front of the island where the lifeguard cannot see you, you can climb the rocks and jump off into the 20-ft deep, crystal-clear water.”

“Overall, it was one of the coolest and prettiest places I have ever been. I am so excited to be giving this trip to a couple getting married at the Wheeler House. They will not be disappointed.”

~Lee Lusk, owner of The Wheeler House 

Any couple who signs a contract at the Wheeler House for their dream wedding  will be placed into a drawing to win this unbelievable trip to St. John USVI. The drawing will take place at the end of the summer. Do not miss out on this amazing opportunity! Call The Wheeler House at 770)402-1686 or email weddings@thewheelerhouse.net for more information. 

Resort Information

St. John Attractions

Visiting St. John

 

Wedding Wednesday: Hannah + Alex Barfoot // April 26th, 2014

Wedding Wednesday

May 21st. 2014

Hannah and Alex Barfoot

Photography by Hillary Leah Photography, LLC

Hannah Sheffield grew up in the Canton area, not far from Ball Ground, Georgia, where The Wheeler House is located. In the fall of 2008 she went off to stand on the sidelines and cheer on the Yellow Jackets at Georgia Tech, where she met the love of her life and future husband, Alex Barfoot.

Soon there-after, Alex convinced Hannah to switch her major from mechanical engineering to industrial engineering (which was what he was studying). Hannah says it was one of the best decisions she has made thus far.

One thing that was special about their college career was that they were both able to do a co-op program with Delta Airlines, which allowed them the opportunity to travel quite often... So when asked how Alex proposed, Hannah said "I know this sounds extreme, but we were both doing co-op programs with Delta Air Lines and had the opportunity to travel often..."

So, while in Italy.....

"Alex proposed on a gondola in Venice, Italy right under the Rialto Bridge (the bridge of love). After I said yes the entire bridge of tourists clapped for us! Alex's parents were there to capture the moment on camera. We cannot wait to travel back to Italy as husband and wife!"

Hannah and Alex said "I do" at The Wheeler House on April 26th, 2014. They chose to have a spring wedding to avoid interfering with football season and it was "as close to the perfect date as we could get," according to Hannah, referencing the famous quote from Miss Congeniality, "Stan Fields: 'Miss Rhode Island, please describe your idea of a perfect date.'
Cheryl "Rhode Island: 'That's a tough one. I'd have to say April 25th. Because it's not too hot, not too cold, all you need is a light jacket.'"

Hannah wanted a rustic wedding, without necessarily being 'country,' and The Wheeler House provided just that. When asked what they most loved about The Wheeler House, Hannah said that she "loved the way the arbor looked at night with the string lights and drapes" and that she "was so excited when it finally got dark so we could enjoy the arbor!"

Hannah said her favorite memory from the wedding was "walking down the aisle and catching my first glimpse of Alex at the front." Meanwhile, Alex's favorite part of the ceremony was "seeing her for the first time coming around the house."When asked the same question, Alex said that he "liked the fun atmosphere, like playing in the front yard, along with it looking awesome!"

Before the wedding, the groom and groomsmen played corn hole and Kan-jam in the front yard, which kept them busy and enjoying themselves while the bride and bridesmaids were getting ready.

The couple's wedding decor was simple, yet elegant and unique, and we absolutely loved it. When asked what their inspiration was, Hannah explained, "I love neutral colors, so I wanted everything neutral with light pinks and pretty greens. I wanted my wedding to be feminine and look like something out of a Southern Living magazine."

When asked about the reception, Alex said that his favorite part was eating and dancing with all of his friends. Hannah, being that she is a former NCAA Football cheerleader, said that her favorite moment from their reception was her cheerleading bridesmaids and friends putting her into a stunt- IN HER WEDDING DRESS.

Alex and Hannah's wedding was one of the most elegant, rustic, shabby chic, and absolutely gorgeous weddings we have had the privilege of hosting. We are so happy for the beautiful couple and wish them all the best! Thank you for allowing us to share in your dreamy, "Southern Livings wedding." Congratulations to the (almost one-month) newly married Mr. and Mrs. Alex Barfoot!

 

 

 

Vendors: 

Catering, Cake, & Decor: Green Gables Catering and Events 

Photography: Hillary Leah Photography 

(All Photo credits to Hillary Leah Photography)