Q: Tell us about your wedding! What was the inspiration behind your day? Did you have a specific theme, style or color palette? Did you incorporate any cultural or religious traditions in any part of your day?
A: Our wedding (like many other couples') was planned a few different times because of COVID-19. But the main focus, that remained through all the different versions, was gathering with close family and friends. We wanted to create a comfortable and easy atmosphere, where our small group of special people could mingle and enjoy their time with others (safely of course!). When we found Merry Hill, we knew that the venue would easily support this vision. Beautiful views, sprawling gardens, and ample space allowed us to have the wedding of our dreams! Our color palette was navy blue, with accents of pinks, mustards, and berry tones.
Q: Let's talk wedding decor. How did you decorate your space for the ceremony and the reception? Was any part of the decor DIY?
A: Almost all of our wedding decorations were DIY. We are both designers by profession, so we love a good project! We made everything from the invitations, to seating chart, centerpieces, to the ceremony arbor that we stood in front that day. We couldn't have pulled it off without the help of our parents (thanks for the chainsaw, Dad!) and our friends.
Q: What were the florals like in your wedding? Did you use flowers in any of your design elements like the bridal bouquets, centerpieces or ceremony backdrop? Did they play an important part in the overall style of your wedding?
A: Our florals by Rabbit Foot Florals were absolutely stunning! They brought so much life and color to the day. The Maids of Honor had fresh, natural bouquets, and the groomsmen had one large bloom boutonnieres. Our favorite florals of the day were my bouquet, and the larger arrangements on the arbor. Every angle of my bouquet was stunning. And the arbor pieces were overflowing with blooms that created the perfect backdrop to so many moments of that day.
Q: Did you personalize the day in any way (food trucks, guest entertainment etc.)? What were some of your favorite parts of your wedding?
A: There were quite a few personal touches throughout the wedding day. We had personalized seating tags for guests at the ceremony, specially order wine from the finger lake region (sentimental to the bride's family) and pictures of our grandparents who are no longer with us. Dan also found the time to make each of his groomsmen a mock Mandalorian helmet from Star Wars' the Mandalorian - they were a big hit. One of the biggest blessings was Dan's Aunt, who was able to officiate our wedding. She crafted a beautiful intro and spoke with such joy. It was truly wonderful to have her marry us. Last but not least, at the end of the night we played a Bride and Groom trivia game which really got the guests competitive - it was a blast!
Q: Let's talk fashion. How did you both choose your wedding day look? Describe the looks in detail.
A: Because it was going to be a smaller event then the original wedding had planned, we decided to keep it relaxed. I felt that a simple and fresh gown would be more comfortable and easy-going then the original dress I had found. The dress was fitted, with a low back, a long train and fluttery skirt. I accented it with rose gold earrings, and a Swarovski-drop back necklace. Dan choose a navy blue suit from Gen Tux. The color was a bit brighter then a typical navy and gave it a fresh look.
Q: How did you meet? Tell us about the proposal.
A: We both worked at the college school bookstore. He worked in computer sales and I worked a few floors up in art supply. It was truly thanks to Jason Segel for visiting the store, causing a stir of conversation amongst the employees, and Dan and I hit it off after that. The proposal was a complete surprise to me! At the time we were long distance, and I had just driven down to visit. We picked up hot chocolate from our favorite café and walked to our favorite square in Savannah. We had sat in this square many times while we dated. When we arrived, there was a unique bench there, out of the ordinary and I thought nothing of it! Dan suggested we should sit down there - and after talking for a little while, the next thing I know is he's on one knee, and the rest is a blur. I'm glad we have photos of the moment because it was surreal!
Q: What was the most anticipated or special moment of your wedding day?
A: Maybe the most anticipated part was seeing all of our hard work and DIY projects come together. But some of the most special moments were seeing our small group of family and friends in the same place for the first time in over a year. The group pictures, the family game night, being able to spend time with them was invaluable.
Q: Do you have any wedding planning or marriage advice that you'd like to share with other couples planning their day?
A: On the planning side of things - we found it really helpful to put each 'to-do' task on a post it note, and stick them to a board. We were able to move them around based on priority which allowed us to focus on a few tasks at a time. We were able to share the tasks between us and it made our communication and teamwork skills that much stronger.
Floral Designer: Rabbit Foot Florals
Beauty: Wedded Kiss
Event Venue: Merry Hill Weddings
Cinema and Video: RetroSounds Films & Photo
Event Designer: Harmony Weddings and Events