A Wedding at an Abandoned Church: Paige + John

abandoned church wedding

Paige + John quite possibly lucked out with two of the most unique + beautiful locations for their big day. And, seriously, we’re not just saying that! They exchanged their vows at Mt. Zion Church – an abandoned chapel from the 1800’s – and their reception was held in a stunning, historical warehouse that operated as a cotton factory in its previous life. These two believe in the beauty of simplicity, so their day was draped with minimal, yet charming, decor. A handmade arch, adorned with simple florals + greenery, was all that was needed for the ceremony, and a rustic communal table featuring a garland of eucalyptus + vintage glassware was a perfect fit for their intimate reception. The prettiest! And Paige has so much more to share about the inspiration for their day:

Our inspiration came primarily from the things that we both find most beautiful, often elements that are understated, natural, and minimalistic.  We are a couple who is amazed by the beauty of simple things like clean lines, white walls, artistry, craftsmanship, and community. We picked a venue that was about an hour-and-a-half pilgrimage into rural Georgia to get our friends and family out of the ordinary. The drive is exquisite to get to Sparta, Georgia – and when you walk into Mt. Zion Baptist church (built in 1814), you really have your breath taken away. All in all, our wedding wasn’t about the two of us as much as it was about what brought us together, what binds us, and sustains us – and we wanted to share that with other people.

Thanks so much to the lovely Paige Jones for sending this one our way and big congrats to Paige + John!

bride 234

bride


Paige’s simple, yet lovely, dress is by Saja, but altered significantly. Paige dropped the waist, made it backless and removed some of the embellishment on the front, making it a perfect fit for her + John’s clean-lined, minimal day.

rings

flower girl

bride

bride


And her lovely green + white bouquet was designed by Bud & Bloom.

green rustic bouquet

abandoned church wedding

green boutonniere

groom

abandoned church wedding

branch arbor

pew decor

branch arbor


Our processional was a hymn called “Abide with Me” by Henry Lyte + Justin Smith, played live on a solo violin.

abandoned church wedding

emotional groom

abandoned church wedding

abandoned church wedding

Our Favorite Memory From The Wedding

We think the most powerful thing was our separate realizations that this long awaited day had finally arrived. The two of us made the hour and a half drive separately, alone. We were brought to tears by the ways in which everything came together. Hundreds of small details. Dozens of kind friends and loving family members who selflessly strove to make our humble affair as glorious as we both dreamed it would be. And it was. The moment when we realized that all the planning was over, all the waiting was behind us, all the beauty was before us - the moment we realized that all that was left was to say was "I will." That was a moment that makes our hearts beat louder every day.

abandoned church wedding

abandoned church wedding

abandoned church wedding

abandoned church wedding

abandoned church wedding

abandoned church wedding

abandoned church wedding

bridesmaids in blush


The bridesmaids each chose their own style of dress, in blush + nude hues, from Zara.

bridesmaids in blush

groomsmen

bride and groom

bride

bride and groom

bride and groom

bride and groom

bride and groom


Paige + John chose to have a pot-luck reception, which only enhanced the intimacy of the celebration. Also, such a great way to involve friends + family in a special way and save on expensive catering costs.

cotton mill reception

garland table runner

cotton mill reception

band

cotton mill reception

Our Advice To Those Planning Now

I think we would both advise really thinking about the things that may cause you stress on the day and try hard to eliminate those things. Conversely, fight for what you know must be there on that day. But possibly the biggest piece of advice is that when it finally gets to that day, as long as you get to say the vows, it will be the best day of your life - no matter what details might fall through or what the rain might have to say about your occasion. Let the pursuit of a beautiful wedding fuel and excite you, but don't let the process be a burden. If something turns out to be a little different than you expected, you still have a person who has promised to spend their life with you no matter what comes.

photography: Paige Jones // event design: Bride + Groom // wedding dress: Saja // bridesmaid dresses: Zara // hair stylist: Mary Sigalas Hair Studio // makeup artist: Mary Sigalas Hair Studio // groom attire: Zara // ceremony: Mt. Zion Church // reception: Mushroom Factory // reception styling: Erin Wilson and Jodi Murphy // event planner: Ginny Graham Events // floral design: Bud & Bloom // rings: Audrey Laine Collection // benches: Goodwin Events // tables: Goodwin Events // tablecloths: Goodwin Events

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