A Georgia Farm Wedding: Kathleen + Austin

There is just something about farm weddings in the South that I just love – and this one seems so amazingly fun! Austin grew up on a beautiful farm in Georgia, so that was Kathleen + Austin’s inspiration for their perfect day. Since they live in Seattle, they had the challenge of planning a wedding long distance – difficult, but it is doable! They hired some great vendors then had family + friends help with the rest including collecting plates, decorating the reception + ceremony areas, building a horsehoe pit and even addressing all the save the dates. Early on they decided that they would consider this the greatest creative project of their 9 year relationship – which I think is a perfect way to look at a wedding. :) All in all, this is a fun-filled wedding with lots of personal touches – my favorite type! Thanks so much to Matt Miller from Our Labor of Love for the gorgeous photos!

cap sleeve wedding dress

polaroid strip wedding invite

bridesmaids in cowboy boots

We were so excited to commission two of our favorite artists in Seattle for the save the date, invitations and rings. Stacey Rozich normally paints nordic creatures but jumped right on the wedding band wagon and now we are officially collectors of her work and good friends with her. Curtis Steiner basically had to learn how to make rings for our engagement, because Austin thought I’d say no if it came from anywhere but Curtis’ shop. :) We then ended up getting both our weddings rings from him, as well as asking him to design the invitations! Austin’s ring was made from his grandfather’s wedding ring, and mine is an opal from the Victorian era, it feels like it has magical powers! 

mint halo wedding ring

wedding illustration save the date stacey rozich

white lace bouquet

first look

bride and groom in field

bride wearing necklace

bride and groom in field

bride and groom in field

Our photographer was a no brainer. We knew we wanted Our Labor of Love , and Kendrick, who is one of my favorite of their staff was in my bridal party, so I snagged Matt and Meghan, who rocked our socks off. I can’t wait to hire them again when we buy a new home or have a baby! They made us laugh and it was just so easy. Plus he tells me it has never rained on him during a ceremony… and the sky was threatening to all day, so he was a good luck charm as well!

bride and groom in field

groom wearing bowtie

wedding party in field

Just love the style of their bridal party!

stylish wedding party

backyard ceremony

What song did you walk down the aisle to? Tom Petty, Wild Flowers both ways. Austin’s groomsmen played the music as I walked down the aisle and as we left. The boys didn’t have long to learn and practice the song together so we picked one that everyone was familiar with and it really was perfect in the garden filled with lush flowers. Our first dance was Rockin’ Years Dolly Parton (with Ricky Van Shelton) – you can take the girl out of the South Carolina… :)

backyard ceremony

backyard ceremony

backyard ceremony

horseshoes wedding activity

barn reception

vintage wedding place setting

Austin’s sister made the adorable cake topper – just love it!

rosette wedding cake

barn reception

live wedding band

We had both a band and a DJ. Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside  was a band we found at Pickathon (a music festival outside of Portland), we saw them a few more times and finally just approached them about playing our wedding. She is also a Carolina girl who lives in the Northwest, which felt good. They said yes and then ended up planning a tour around the event, they went straight from Bonnaroo to our wedding weekend, and spent 3 days celebrating with us. Greg Vandy, a Seattle DJ pal, was a great guest and musical addition to the evening, he loves Americana music like we do and packed the dance floor.

bride and groom first dance

Most memorable moment of your wedding day? Probably dancing on the hay bales. There were too many emotional moments to pick one, but that one was epic and cinematic and of course Matt captured it perfectly. Our first dance was pretty special too, because half way through it all of our friends formed a circle around us, you could literally taste the love. And I wasn’t there, but there were some great photos of my dad learning to tie a bow tie. He was so pleased with himself that no one had the heart to tell him it was catawampus all day. I think he had more fun than anyone, even us!

bridal party on haystacks

Any advice for those planning now? Because we live so far from home, we had a day of swimming, relaxing and eating the day before. We were literally in our bathing suits all day. All of our wedding guests were invited, and because of that we didn’t have to make any small talk on the big day. We got to eat, drink, dance the night away with all the guests…

If time allows you to, pick a day to just let it all go and take it all in. My day was Wednesday, the day I decided to not print the programs that were going to double as fans. No one missed them and I had an extra time to sneak away for chips, queso and a beer with my fiance before it all began!

Also, start an inspiration album on pinterest or picasa and share it with those who want to help! You never know what people will find at an antique mall or what hidden talent they might surprise you with. I was amazed what people came up with when I shared our vision with them. Somehow, without much effort on our part, the wedding was exactly as we imagined it… we are the luckiest.

vendors:
photography: Matt Miller from Our Labor of Love // venue: Groom’s childhood farm, Roscoe GA // floral design: Marie Powell //  wedding dress: Romona Keveza from Marcella’s La Boutique in Seattle // jewelry: Irene Wood // hair + makeup: Tigi // groom suit: Brooks Brothers // bowties: Xoelle  // save the date illustration: Stacey Rozich // invitations: Curtis Steiner  // catering: Avalon // cake: Bonne Boyd Bedingfield // music: Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside and Greg Vandy from KEXP

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