Jennifer and Russel’s Southern Plantation Wedding

Jun 27, 2016 | Weddings

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What a stunning wedding! We are enthralled with Jennifer and Russels classic, elegant, and effortless Southern plantation wedding. From the lovely neutral color palette to the stunning BHLDN capulet, this bride has some serious style. Perhaps what we love most is the whole concept that Jennifer and Russel dreamed of: unfussy, fun, and complete with amazing food! See more from the uber talented film photographer Sawyer Baird, coordinator I Do Events, and florist Emerson Events below...

From The Bride: "Russ proposed on a Charleston plantation by sitting me on a beautiful live oak branch, tying the ring box to our beloved dog’s collar, and getting down on one knee. Although both of us were born in the Midwest, we fell in love with the South while living briefly in Asheville. Although we moved to LA shortly after our engagement, when it came time to plan the wedding, we knew it would be in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

We wanted our wedding to be elegant yet unfussy with amazing food, Southern charm and stunning natural setting that would need little adornment. We found all of that at gorgeous Lonesome Valley. We were blessed with the most gorgeous spring day, with mountain laurel in full bloom, blue skies, and dramatic Carolina clouds rising over the box canyon.

Planning a wedding is a full-time job and I knew early on I needed help. My amazing mother and mother-in-law took on the brunt of the details with the help of our planner, Elizabeth, whose local contacts and experience was incredibly helpful for us planning from afar. I was determined our wedding would be beautiful but not lavish and I aimed to invest in the things that really mattered to us – food, photography, and a beautiful tent that could accommodate everyone in case it poured rain (but it didn’t, thank goodness!)

Jennifer and Russel's Southern Plantation Wedding

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I work in the arts as the director of a contemporary art gallery and my husband is an architect, so suffice it to say we had very strong feelings about the design and decor—however translating that into a wedding is not easy and I was lucky enough to find our stylist Sarah Ingram, whose impeccable taste and eye mirrored mine. I trusted her completely; we had a modest budget and she was amazing in helping us invest in details that made the most impact. Our decor was a neutral palette, with pops of grey, soft blue and buttery yellow which felt sophisticated yet understated. My bridesmaids selected their own dresses from Jenny Yoo’s line in various shades of grey and blue.

Finding my dress was a miracle of patience and good luck. I quickly learned that I was not a fan of traditional dresses, nor was I prepared to spend thousands of dollars on my dress. I was on a mission to find something effortless, classic and romantic and I was determined not to spend more than $2,000. After being so disappointed at several shops, I fell in love with the Rebecca Schonoveld separates at the Sentimentalist in Atlanta, the most amazing dress shop. My dress had a tulle skirt that felt like air and a classic, simple bodice that stayed up all night without straps.

Two days before the wedding I found my sparkling caplet from BHLDN and had it overnighted on impulse to the wedding. All my wedding jewelry were sentimental family heirlooms; I wore my beloved Nana’s pearls and my great great grandmother’s vintage diamond watch, my wedding band from the 1930s and was my husband’s late grandmother. My earrings were my something borrowed, vintage diamond and citron drops lent from a very dear friend."