I can remember nervously looking over the ceremony site from my grandparent’s doorway. People often called their house the “White House”. It has 4 large white columns with black shutters. I was anxiously waiting to walk down the newly paved driveway in my daddy’s arms. There were so many people and I nearly panicked with all the emotions. All 320 seats were filled plus there were some standing in the back and a couple on the cabin’s porch. “Can I go now?!” as I began to step on their renovated porch. “No, just a minute, sweetie.” as he watched for my aunt to signal us to come. I got confused because I heard my song, “Hallelujah Chorus” which means it’s time! I nearly jumped out on the paved driveway and grabbed my daddy’s arms, “slow down” he said. I saw that my 4 little Misses were still making their way in the carts pulled by my Uncle’s elite miniature horse, Cutter. Most people know…I get terribly anxious and therefore, get very impatient by excitement. I saw my daddy brush some leaves off my dress and I said, “that’s okay…it’s just natural, doesn’t have to be perfect.” 
My mom was also bursting with excitement all day and couldn’t stop talking about how “perfect” everything was coming along, the weather, the set-up, etc. I don’t believe in perfect, so she would end up saying, “almost perfect”. I took a deep breath and tried very hard, to walk elegantly down the driveway towards my groom. I looked around and realized my mom was right (I’m just now admitting this), that God’s nature, beauty, his people, my family, the wedding – is perfect. I never dreamed I’d be walking down this driveway on the most calm and beautiful September day to marry my husband (FYI, we had a damaging, high wind storm 2 weeks prior and without electricity 1 week prior)! After all, she did pick our wedding date (I wanted it in Oct.).
I finally saw the end result of all the DIY (Do-It-Yourself) planning and preparation. All the months of my family and friends cleaning, clearing out the backyard, remodeling, and gathering ideas…truly shined through! As I approached the back end of the crowd, I saw my friends, mentors and colleagues and wanted to thank each of them for coming right then and there…so I waved with my bouquet in hand. When I turned down the aisle, the climax of the orchestra playing Hallelujah heightened, and I saw Andrew's family and my family. My daddy turned to me and said, “you having fun,” and almost too overwhelmed, I responded and said, “this is so much fun!” That’s when he said, “well you look like it and you look so happy!” I finally eyed my groom whom I hadn’t seen for 3 months up until this weekend! He was grinning, ear-to-ear, and I was giggly (I’m not much of a crier but thought I would at least be in tears, so my emotions were replaced with giggling). Andrew handed my dad the Bride’s Bible (significant in our marriage) and my dad, joined us together.
This was only the beginning of the next chapter in our life and I could not have asked God for a better day, a better wedding, and we were truly blessed to have had all our friends, colleagues, mentors, and families – for they are a significant part of our lives. What amazed me even more was how much some had sacrificed to be there to share our special day – some were sick and even released from the hospital, others traveled long distances, and a few came briefly due to other events! Having them there alone was enough to complete our special day.
The details...Fall is our favorite time of the year which was the reason we MUST have pumpkins and the whole she-bang! We made Huber's Orchard and Winery our annual trip for pumpkin picking, wine-tasting, market shopping trip since the beginning of our dating relationship. Therefore, every detail of our wedding day - had some type of sentimental value!
The Roberts Family Farm helped give our wedding a beautiful Fall look...pumpkins, mums, straw bales, a wreath made out of PeePaw's old barb wire fence with pieces of all the wedding flowers, decorated pumpkins, a chandelier made out of ripe vines and miniature pumpkins, decorated all grand entrances, and so much more!
Dad made this cross out of an old Dogwood tree. Below the cross, is a vase that was completed by the parents and grandparents who placed flowers in remembrance of a loved one in their family (i.e. our deceased loved ones - grandparents and great-grandparents that were a part of our lives).
I made all the flowers - Bridesmaids, Lil Misses, Bridal bouquet, and center pieces...from Garden Ridge :) I couldn't have asked for better bridesmaids or a wedding party in general...they have all been the most supportive and loving group of family and friends throughout our lives!!
Sheila Reott of Dolce Vita Bridal shop in Louisville, KY, made my earrings. We designed and she put it all together with Swarovski Crystals and pearls to match the details on my dress.
The three strand of pearls represented my mother and both my grandmothers. I wore all three while my mother wore the multi-color pearls and my grandmothers the solid white pearls...all from Shane Co. 
Uncle Bill and Aunt Jill got their elite miniature horse, Cutter, all dolled up and escorted my Lil Misses. Each one had a duty...Kaleigh carried the rings on a miniature pumpkin and handed to the Best Man, Molly carried the Bride's Bible and handed to Andrew, Sophie rang the Bell on the 4th hour, and McKenzie, walked in with some flowers.
Our programs were created by Andrew and me. It was a story album like a kids book with pictures of each chapter of our life along with the wedding program in the middle and all the sentimentalities listed in the end.
All center pieces were canning jars used by my late Papaw who canned the best green beans! The jars were wrapped with big gold and cream ribbons and corn in side to hold the flowers and twigs in place. Homemade snacks were provided and made by my MeeMaw along with her famous LeTang Tea and my PeePaw's popcorn stand. These were all a part of childhood memories and part of my experiences living on my grandparents' farm.
The Roberts Family Farm helped give our wedding a beautiful Fall look...pumpkins, mums, straw bales, a wreath made out of PeePaw's old barb wire fence with pieces of all the wedding flowers, decorated pumpkins, a chandelier made out of ripe vines and miniature pumpkins, decorated all grand entrances, and so much more! 
Dad made this cross out of an old Dogwood tree. Below the cross, is a vase that was completed by the parents and grandparents who placed flowers in remembrance of a loved one in their family (i.e. our deceased loved ones - grandparents and great-grandparents that were a part of our lives).
I made all the flowers - Bridesmaids, Lil Misses, Bridal bouquet, and center pieces...from Garden Ridge :) I couldn't have asked for better bridesmaids or a wedding party in general...they have all been the most supportive and loving group of family and friends throughout our lives!!
Sheila Reott of Dolce Vita Bridal shop in Louisville, KY, made my earrings. We designed and she put it all together with Swarovski Crystals and pearls to match the details on my dress.
The three strand of pearls represented my mother and both my grandmothers. I wore all three while my mother wore the multi-color pearls and my grandmothers the solid white pearls...all from Shane Co. Uncle Bill and Aunt Jill got their elite miniature horse, Cutter, all dolled up and escorted my Lil Misses. Each one had a duty...Kaleigh carried the rings on a miniature pumpkin and handed to the Best Man, Molly carried the Bride's Bible and handed to Andrew, Sophie rang the Bell on the 4th hour, and McKenzie, walked in with some flowers.
Our programs were created by Andrew and me. It was a story album like a kids book with pictures of each chapter of our life along with the wedding program in the middle and all the sentimentalities listed in the end.
All center pieces were canning jars used by my late Papaw who canned the best green beans! The jars were wrapped with big gold and cream ribbons and corn in side to hold the flowers and twigs in place. Homemade snacks were provided and made by my MeeMaw along with her famous LeTang Tea and my PeePaw's popcorn stand. These were all a part of childhood memories and part of my experiences living on my grandparents' farm.My mom and MeeMaw's wedding dresses were up on display along with their wedding pictures. And I wore my MeeMaw's 50-year old wedding dress the night of rehearsal! We surprised her and had it cleaned...it was yellow from being in storage and she didn't think it would look brand new!!!
The quilts were my great-grandmother's and were used on the straw bales where the Lil Misses sat and on the display tables. We also cleaned the old Amish horse buggy which was used to hold all the gifts. There was also an old white carriage displayed with a sign, "Memphis Bound" on the back. We didn't really take off in the carriage :)
Last but not least and my favorite...is our cake on tiered princess pumpkins. This was a must for me and Ruth Ann Nash, made it all possible with the help of her husband to get my cake on stacked pumpkins! My mom bought us the Waterford Crystal Cross to display in the center and my Grandparents' cake topper was also used in my parents wedding. It's been used in 3 weddings! Instead of purchasing a cake knife and server...we used my parents!
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