I absolutely love today’s Real Wedding celebration, complete with vintage style and a charming locale. April and Josh married in what used to be her family’s lovely Bed & Breakfast. A beautiful new covered porch made the perfect spot to exchange vows. At the vintage themed reception guests enjoyed “breakfast for dinner” (how fun is that?), a “roll your own” cigar lounge, and dancing the night away to live music. Little details like a “milk glass” design cake, vintage cake stand and champagne flutes set the perfect scene for these two “old souls” to begin their new life together!
April + Josh | April 7, 2012 | Charlotte, North Carolina
The ceremony
Our wedding took place at my great aunt and uncle’s old bed and breakfast. They ran “The Homeplace” for over 20 years in Charlotte before selling it to the new owners who have expanded the Victorian home into another matching conference building. The new owners were nice enough to let us get married at my favorite childhood tea party destination. The old Victorian home was now connected to the new building by a large white porch. Very southern chic! We held the ceremony in between the two houses and Josh and I were married under a garland of hydrangea on the white porch. A pianist played different arrangements of Josh’s favorite Dave Matthews Band love songs as my bridal party walked down the isle. My minister helped us exchange vows that we wrote together by letting us repeat after him. Then, we sealed the marriage with a kiss. Then, it was time to party!
The reception
The reception was held in the garden of the Victorian home that was once the Bed and Breakfast. A brick patio transformed into a dance floor with the live band set up on the porch. We also had a cigar roller and a cigar lounge set up for guests to enjoy (this is one of my husband’s favorite ways to relax!). We used our own vintage couches and barrels to create a neat smoking lounge outside. As the sun set our vintage oil lantern lit up the reception site. Beautiful topiary arrangements of purple and blue flowers centered the tables. We of course served “breakfast for dinner” in honor of the Bed and Breakfast I once loved as a child! A waffle station, shrimp and grits station, and carved ham with sweet potato biscuits were just a few highlights of the menu. Our cake was simple cream colored with a vintage hobnail texture to make it appear like milk glass, and we covered the top with our purple and blue flowers and let the flowers cascade down the cake. Of course vintage silver cake stand just added to our old fashioned look. We also found old silver champagne flutes on an antique hunt that we used for our toast. Overall the wedding was perfect, and it was the perfect reflection of our old souls!
How April found her dream wedding gown
All I knew is that I wanted something whimsical and different. I tried on a few different styles but the drop waist and one shoulder was the perfect style for my body shape. I loved the petal detail of my dress as well. It added to the whimsical feel I wanted.
The way April felt in her wedding dress
Gorgeous, Vintage, Flattered
Why she decided to sell her wedding dress
I know that one day I’ll have a daughter and when she gets married the styles will have changed and I don’t want her to feel obligated to wear my wedding dress. I want her to pick a gown that fits her personality. I want someone to enjoy and love my gown the same way I did. I know that’s most likely to happen now while the vintage whimsical style is still in fashion.
