Handmade South Carolina Wedding
Katie and Chris just happen to be one of those incredible couples that are as beautiful on the inside as they are on the outside. Katie spent years working as Display Coordinator at Anthropologie, so you can just imagine that her wedding would be something special – and you’d be right! Thank you to Haley George Photography for sharing your images with us and our readers.
From the bride, Katie: As we began planning our wedding, we wanted to bring elements of ourselves into the event. Since our families lived at opposite ends of the East coast (his NY, mine FL), we decided to have our wedding here in Charlotte. Having always loved old architecture and farms, my mom found the dairy barn’s website and the loft space was the main selling point, but I knew the bare white downstairs would require a lot of work for the feel that I wanted. Always having loved all things Jane Austen and Anne of Green Gables, I wanted a partial outdoor experience for a fresh, sophisticated picnic feel. The ceremony was in the loft space, cocktail hour on the back lawn and reception flexed inside and out.
We wanted a fun, lively party, something that was bright and colorful, with a balance of rustic elegance. Having grown up amongst Central Florida orange groves, I wanted to incorporate a citrus feel in the floral arrangements, as well as a sangria bar. The personal element Chris wanted: Cheesecake. Which was perfect, because unbeknownst to him, I had decided on cheesecake years previous to meeting him, as I dislike traditional wedding cake! We are both foodies and love some good BBQ — what better way to welcome our families to a barn wedding in the south?
As a visual artist, it was important to me to have a touch of hand throughout our wedding and to involve my many talented friends and family. My parents were heavily involved as we did most of the planning and coordinating ourselves. We made paper flowers that hung as our ceremony backdrop. My dad potted rose bushes with candle-holders that lined the aisle. I illustrated, designed and printed our invitations and save-the-dates. My friend Sarah reused my invitation illustration and created “recipe for a good marriage” cards for guests to answer in lieu of a guestbook. Another friend made the bunting for over the buffet. I dyed old bed sheets, shredded them with my mom, and hosted craft parties with friends tying 300 feet of fabric garland for days! I thrifted all the table clothes, object centerpieces, and made the cake stand. Made a Yankee pinstripe cornhole set for Chris and had a croquet set for the back lawn. The florist made beautiful bouquets, and 4 arrangements for key points of impact. We bought rose stems in bulk from Sam’s Club and had a friend do the rest of the table arrangements. We had an army of incredible friends and family during our rehearsal time helping setup up. It truly transformed the space into a beautiful and festive atmosphere, bringing a personal touch and warmth to the barn’s great architecture. The weekend was a dream that passed way to fast, but we were blessed with incredible people in our lives who all contributed in making it truly magical!
View all images from this wedding in the gallery
Wedding Music:
Processional: “Dawn,” Pride & Prejudice soundtrack
Recessional: “Better Together,” Jack Johnson
Wedding Location: Fort Mill, SC / Photographer: Haley George Photography / Second Shooter: Emily Chidester / Flowers: Blossom Shop and DIY / Event Design and Invitations: Bride, Kathryn Godwin / Day-Of Coordination and Catering: Leroy Springs / Venue: Anne Springs Close Greenway Dairy Barn / Wedding Dress: Modern Trousseau “Quinn” via Hayden Olivia Bridal / Shoes and Earrings: BHLDN (Elopement Pumps and Lucent Drops earrings) / Cake and Cannoli: Cheesecake Etc. / Ceremony Music: Wedding Music Designs / Reception DJ: Split Second Sound / “Recipe for a Good Marriage” Cards: Sarah Hearts / Handpainted Wine Glasses: Creations by Meryl / Rentals: Creative Solutions Special Events