Our Vintage Lakeside Wedding: A Look Back

A few weeks ago, I asked you, my readers, what you’d like to see more of on this blog. I was genuinely surprised that many of you wanted a glimpse into the personal side of my life. I often get caught up in the world of design, DIY, and crafting, and I sometimes forget to step back and share a bit more about myself.

Several of you mentioned that I’ve talked about my wedding in previous posts, but I’d never actually shared the photos. Well, let’s fix that! Get ready to take a trip down memory lane with me.

Even though it might not seem like the right time of year to share a spring wedding, I didn’t want to miss the opportunity. Plus, now that our bathroom makeover is complete, I have some exciting details for our next room that I’m eager to share with you all next week.

If you’re new here and don’t know the story of how Robert and I met, you can read all about it here and here. In short, God knew what He was doing when He brought my best friend into my life.

We got married on April 23, 2011. It was during the wedding planning process that I first fell in love with rustic and vintage decor.

I wish I could say that on the morning of my wedding, I felt like this…

…or this…

…or this…

But the reality was a little different. I’d had only three hours of sleep, thanks to a noisy nightclub next to my hotel room, and I was greeted by the biggest pimple I’d ever seen in my life.

As my feet hit the floor that morning, I told myself, “Self, something might go wrong today, but at the end of the day, as long as you’re married to your best friend, the rest doesn’t matter.” And it’s true.

During our year-long engagement, a bird theme somehow took flight, and I fully embraced it. My mom and I DIYed almost everything: the birdcage centerpieces, the invitations, the table numbers – almost all of the decor. It was a true labor of love.

For the things we couldn’t make ourselves, we enlisted the help of friends and family. They contributed to our wedding cake, the ceremony arch, and even the music for the ceremony and reception. We were so grateful for their support.

A friend of mine who was a colleague hand-painted our guestbook on canvas – a tree for our guests’ thumbprints to act as leaves. It’s a treasured keepsake.

And Robert’s father hand-carved and painted our cake topper. Every detail was infused with love and meaning.

To honor my ballet dancing background, I wore shoes reminiscent of my old ones. It was a nod to my past and a reminder of who I was.

To help stay within budget, I bought my wedding dress pre-owned, at half the original price. Smart choices like this allowed us to make our day even more special.

My mother-in-law, a skilled seamstress, gifted her talents by making my garter from lace remnants from both her and my mother’s wedding dresses. It was a beautiful touch and added another layer of sentimentality.

The first half of the wedding day involved me driving five bridesmaids from downtown Charlotte to my hometown, 45 minutes away. I got lost three times! Who lets the bride drive? But we made it, and it was a fun memory.

The six of us got our hair done, sipped mimosas, and enjoyed a big breakfast together with my mom, mother-in-law, and grandmother. There were lots of laughs and happy tears.

When we arrived at our wedding venue, I wasn’t nervous at all. I was so excited to finally “do this thing.”

We all did our makeup together, and my mom and mother-in-law helped me into my dress.

That dress weighed a ton, but I never felt more beautiful in my life. It was a moment I’ll never forget.

Our photographers, Brandywine Photography and Cassie Leigh Photography, did an incredible job capturing the day. They have a true gift for storytelling through photography.

We even took a moment to get a four-generation ring shot, with my sweet 94-year-old great-grandmother’s hand at the very bottom. It’s a precious memory.

And of course, more pictures. I was so fortunate to have the best bridesmaids and shared so many laughs with them all day long.

Meanwhile, this is what Robert was up to…

Causing mischief as usual! Nobody makes me laugh like him. He’s my partner in crime, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

But he kept his cool… at least most of the time.

Finally, when the music started, and all the bridesmaids left the bridal room, and the photographers took their places near the altar, it was just me. I had a few quiet minutes while I waited to walk down the aisle with my dad.

I’ll never forget that moment. It’s still so vivid in my mind. I closed my eyes and talked to God, thanking Him for allowing me to marry my best friend. I prayed for a long, happy life together, but most importantly, I asked that we would honor Him through everything in our marriage – to remain forgiving, trusting, and loyal. Because if He is at the center, nothing that comes our way can break it.

When I stepped outside and hugged my dad, I couldn’t have imagined a more perfect day…

…with the birds chirping, a bright blue sky, and Robert smiling at me. For those few minutes, I saw only him, and the rest was a blur of pure joy.

And then my dad whispered, “I’m not wearing underwear,” to keep me from crying. Mission accomplished, Dad.

I’ll never forget the twinkle in Robert’s eye. (He swears he didn’t cry, but I had a front-row seat that told a different story.)

We said our vows. Well…I squeaked mine out! And in our usual fashion, we made googly eyes at each other.

Then we discovered Robert’s ring was too tight and cut off circulation to his finger! Oops. He ended up with a fancy pinky ring for the day instead. It made for a funny story.

Then we sealed it with a kiss…

…and some air guitar. (Although, we saved this pose for the “formal” pictures.)

We sipped sweet tea and laughed with our bridal party, and I remember thinking, “It can’t get any better than this.”

Then we boarded our vintage trolley for one last photo opportunity before the reception.

We hit the reception hall and prayed, ate, and hugged so many loved ones. Then, the real party began.

We took a few dance lessons for fun to use during our first dance together. Our song was “Marry Me” by Train, as the lyrics perfectly captured how we met. (I was his waitress at a restaurant. We talked, and we’ve never stopped talking since. The rest, as they say, is history.)

Not a single person stayed in their seat the entire night. Even my great-grandmother, in her wheelchair, took a spin around the dance floor.

Our family knows how to move!

A little bit softer now! 😉

We closed out the night with Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’”…

…and more air guitar. Because, really, it’s impossible to listen to Journey and *not* play air guitar and sing off-key at the top of your lungs.

In that last dance, I remember trying to hold onto every second, hoping the party wouldn’t end.

But then I remembered that every day is a party with this guy around. (Side note: Birdseed sticks to sweaty faces like glitter sticks to glue.)

At the end of the day, I thought back to what I told myself that morning, “Something will go wrong today, but at the end of the day, as long as you’re married to your best friend, the rest doesn’t matter.”

I think about that often because the wedding isn’t the hardest part. But in our marriage, whatever obstacles we face, whatever challenges we endure, something *will* go wrong. At the end of it all, as long as I’m married to my best friend, the rest truly doesn’t matter.

If we could handle living with my parents for nearly two years when we were broke, if we can handle home improvement projects with smiles still on our faces, we must be doing something right. And if an argument ever arises, the instant cure is a good laugh.

P.S. Brandy Wine Photography and Cassie Leigh Photography were our amazing paparazzi for the day! If you’re in the Carolinas, I highly recommend them.