Historic Cedarwood-Laura Lee & Chris’s Southern Destination Wedding | Part One

I’ve been having a little bit of trouble writing the text for this post, because Laura Lee and Chris are such a sweet, amazing couple, and they poured so much of their hearts into their wedding day! I’m going to do my best to do it justice, but I think we’ll have to rely on the images the most 🙂 Enjoy Part One of Laura Lee and Chris’s Cedarwood wedding!

Laura Lee and Chris met at a friend’s dinner party. They had that instant connection, the kind that makes you stay up way too late talking, because you just have to get to know more about this person. During their rehearsal dinner, Laura Lee’s maid of honor read an email Laura Lee had sent to her a week after meeting Chris, absolutely brimming with joy and excitement about this new guy! They are the perfect fit for each other, and so adorably in love! Chris proposed during a family ski trip in Colorado, on top of a mountain. His brother shared the behind the scenes story during the rehearsal dinner, which was also awesome and hilarious! And the next day, Laura Lee was ready to plan. Laura Lee and Chris live in Atlanta, and their families are spread out as well, so they picked Nashville as the perfect in between spot! It was a destination wedding for most of their guests, and they pulled off the Southern hospitality perfectly, with a touch of Dixie Land delight!

I knew from their engagement session that Laura Lee is a planner…she has a knack for making sure everything is just right! So I knew, of course, that their wedding was going to be gorgeous. She shared with me that during pre-marital counseling, she learned that one of her love languages is acts of service. And that’s what she considered her wedding, an act of service. They wanted to include and honor all the people in their lives they are so thankful for, and show their gratitude for all their support through the years! From having her father walk her down the aisle, to be joined by her step father half way, to her childhood best friend’s parents who did a reading during the ceremony, to her grandmother’s famous chocolate cake for the groom’s cake, to the “Wren” details that represent Chris’s family and Laura Lee’s new last name–every detail was so thoughtful and beautiful!

 Laura Lee’s adorable niece watching her get ready here. So sweet!

On the right is their legacy display, to honor different generations of their family

Gorgeous dress by Jim Hjelm

I am in love with these blush colored bridesmaid dresses by Amsale!

And the guys looked so dapper in their gray suits!

Flower girl dress from Tea Princess

This photo is so powerful to me. Chris took this just before Laura Lee left the house to prepare to walk down the aisle. This is one of those images, to me, that just conveys so much emotion. The kind that you look back at in 20 years, and remember exactly how you felt, butterflies in your stomach. Love it!

One thing I loved about Laura Lee and Chris is that they truly were present on their wedding day. They took time to take it all in and live in the moment, and enjoyed every minute of their wonderful celebration! It’s so easy to get wrapped up in making sure everything is going perfectly, that you sometimes forget to enjoy the day. But Chris and Laura Lee did, and that is my hope for all of our couples–that they take in every second of love and joy surrounding them on their wedding day 🙂

A huge thank you to all the amazing vendors who helped make the day so amazing! Venue: Cedarwood | Event Planning, Florals, Decor, Styling: Cedarwood Weddings | Hair & Makeup: Amy Lynn Larwig | Wedding Cake: Patty Cakes | Catering: A Dream Come True | Ceremony Music: Jace Aaron Bluegrass Duo | Reception Music: Nashvegas All Stars

That’s it for part one! Check back tomorrow for part two (now posted!), including pictures of the bride and groom, and their amazing reception!

Have a great afternoon, everyone!