George + Ashley: A Winter Wedding in Hickory, NC

We loved George and Ashley's vision for their wedding day. They wanted to incorporate things into their day to make it completely unique to who they are as a couple. It was so neat seeing everything come together...all the personalized details they incorporated to tell their love story! We absolutely adore this sweet couple, and it was such a pleasure getting to know them. From the engagement session, to the bridal session, to the big day, we had a blast! :)

“I knew from the beginning that I wanted our wedding to be very traditional from the dress to the ceremony. George and I were on the same page about this. We went through picking the ceremony language and picked all of the same ones--the more classic sayings! We did; however, want our reception to to be a little more unique so that is why we picked the Art Museum.” – Ashley + George

“As far as my bridals and the wedding in general, I really wanted it to resemble Hickory and North Carolina. George and I are living in South Florida (Where George grew up), so I wanted the weekend to represent where I grew up and the first couple years of our relationship were in NC. We sprinkled some Greek food in at the reception... a mix of Southern and Greek!” – Ashley

“It POURED the morning/most of the day of our wedding. If I heard one more person (although it was out of the kindness of their heart) tell me it meant "good luck," I was going to scream. Then someone told me it means "fertility and enables growth." And in those words, I loved the rain. I thought it could not be more perfect for the day that George and I, in front of every person that made us who we are, begin our life together as husband and wife. Although, we had dated for 5 years, we were now starting this new journey-a new relationship- that will need plenty of "rain" so that we can continue to grow as a couple.” – Ashley + George

“Funny story: The Friday before at the bridal lunch... I completely face planted into my future sister-in-law as I was handing out the bridesmaids' gifts. I tripped over my beautiful red, bowed heels!” – Ashley

“In a wedding day note George wrote to me, he stated that he is excited not only for the good times but also the times that we will have to struggle and endure the "rain" of life because that will make our promise to each other even stronger. Now I am so thankful for that rain on 12/14/13 as every now and then when it is raining and I have some time to let my mind think.. it drifts back to mine and George's day and reminds of what an amazing partner I have and how lucky we are.” – Ashley

(The guys wanted to jump) *grin*

“I wanted my dress, George's tux, and our wedding party to look very put together and timeless so that we could look back on in 30 years and still think everything was stunning. After dress shopping at The White Magnolia in Jacksonville, Florida, I found the perfect dress... it was light weight, had pockets, and a bow! It did not; however, have the lace sleeves or buttons I had dreamed of wearing. My mom bravely took my dress to 3 different seamstress before she found someone who would add my lace, with eyelash edges, and buttons up the back! Several trips to Jacksonville, one plane ride with the dress in a duffle bag in the overhead, one night of tears of having to button every single button and then them being too crammed to fit, and one week of anxiety over wondering if the zipper would be added correctly, my simple strapless dress became a classic, one-of-a-kind winter wedding gown...exactly what I wanted. I wore my sister's wedding veils, my grandmother's gold and pearl jewelry she gave my mom, and my great grandmother's fur shawl... I did have to add some sparkles with my gold pumps and my gold TOMS for the reception :-) “ – Ashley