Barn Wedding in the Smoky Mountains
This barn wedding in the Smoky Mountains by MHM Photography is absolutely breathtaking! If you think you have seen a vintage wedding before, think again! This blue-eyed-beauty didn’t miss a detail when planning her perfectly rustic, vintage wedding. I believe my favorite detail is the sewn-in flannel heart in the slip of the bride’s dress. This, paired with the fashionista’s embellished boots, are quite the duo! I also love the neutral color scheme of the bridesmaid dresses and groomsmen attire. They perfectly blend with the rustic setting at The Barn at Chestnut Springs . All of us vintage-lovers out there can take notes from this wedding!
Enjoy, lovely readers!
Our love story…
Jake and I were high school sweethearts and dated through college. On our first date, I had to drive because Jake was only 15. In the beginning, our dates consisted of late night runs to the Waffle House, talking over ice cream or high school baseball games. After 8 years, Jake finally popped the question in one of our favorite places. In March 2013, Jake surprised me on the beach and proposed. Our moms captured the special moment and we celebrated that night at our favorite restaurant. It was a perfect day.
Special wedding details…
My dad passed away in 2009, it had always been my dream to have my daddy walk me down the aisle and I would have given anything to have him there. I wanted to do something special so I had a small heart cut out of one of his old blue shirts and sewn into my dress. This was my something blue. Also a picture of my dad and Jake were placed in a locket on my bouquet. Along with a wedding photo of my dad and mom, we had a memory table set up of old photos of loved ones we have lost.
Another special detail from our fall wedding was the old ‘57 Chevrolet. Jake’s great grandmother bought this car in 1957 and passed it on to his grandfather. Jake and his grandfather have spent the past year restoring the car so it was only fit that we drove away in style.
Since the wedding was in the mountains, our families rented two large cabins to spend the wedding weekend to enjoy time together. This also accommodated both wedding parties.
My favorite parts of our wedding day…
Walking down the aisle with my brother made me cry and the best man and matron of honor ‘s speeches made me laugh but the most memorable moments were our first kiss as Mr. and Mrs. Sanford, our first dance, getting ready with my bridesmaids, my mom helping me get dressed, and celebrating with our friends and family.
My advice for other brides…
To plan well. We were able to relax and not worry about decorating and details as this was all being handled by our friends and family. We spent the morning getting ready with hair and makeup while the guys enjoyed breakfast and games of pool. This made for a fun and relaxing start to our big day.
Another tip would be to do a “first look”. This allowed Jake and I to share a very special moment privately. For us it took a lot of pressure away and enabled us to take pictures before the ceremony so that guests were not left waiting at the reception.
Our wedding inspiration…
Jake and I wanted a rustic vintage theme that really showcased our personalities. We fell in love with The Barn at Chestnut Springs and quickly knew it was our venue. I had been dreaming about my wedding day for many years, so I knew exactly what I wanted…burlap and lace. I think our wedding was very unique and had many personal touches that told our story. It was memorable because most of it was done by my mother, close friends and myself. The bridesmaids wore mismatched blush dresses that they chose themselves and the groomsmen wore grey suit pants, blue shirts and plaid ties. The groom wore a grey vest with a plaid shirt. I wore a strapless lace dress with a blush sash and a birdcage my mother designed for me.
We wanted a manly boutonniere so I made them from used shotgun shells wrapped with jute and filled with Overtime. Instead of the traditional wedding cake, we opted for a pumpkin cake (Jake’s favorite) and homemade dessert table including banana pudding, strawberry shortcake, cookies, and brownies. The ceremony took place in a beautiful meadow behind the barn. A family friend created a wooden archway with two old white doors attached for me to walk through. It was a cool fall day so old quilts lined the chairs for guests to use during the ceremony.
Instead of lighting a Unity Candle, we chose to enter our marriage by taking communion.The guest book was placed on an antique white dresser decorated with flowers and lanterns. Old barn wood signs placed next to an old bicycle for two directed guests to the reception area for dinner and dancing. The guest ate on long tables lined with white linens and burlap runners that were decorated with old milk glass vases, lanterns, wood boxes filled with beautiful flowers, books tied with lace and doilies. Dinner was served on mismatched china and silverware tied with lace. We danced and celebrated under a clear top tent to the sounds of Patton James. Our friends and family left with homemade jams, honey and guitar picks designed by Jake. It was the best day!
Participating Vendors:
Venue: The Barn at Chestnut Springs | Photographer: MHM Photography | Florist: Elegant Touch Flowers and Gifts | Catering: Dead End BBQ | Bar: Pour Guys | Dress: White Lace and Promises | Wine: Cork and Bottle | Rentals: All Occasion | Music/Entertainment: Patton James and the Syncromatics | Hair & Make Up: Ella Nolan
By Cailyn McCool
