A Southern Plantation Wedding

Congrats! You’re engaged. You may have stumbled on my page searching for wedding inspiration. Look no further. I am going to give you simple and easy steps to plan your entire wedding; stress-free.

Take a Stroll Through a Stress-Free Wedding

Planning the biggest day of your life is only the beginning to your adventure.

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Congrats! You’re engaged. Take a deep breath. I will talk you through the steps to plan your own wedding simple and stress-free.

My childhood friend, Nicole Mazza created our invitations. This is the back.

I found my bridesmaids robes at Target. They are so soft and matched the dresses. Get your girls something to get ready in. It’s so fun.

My sister ordered the wine labels from Etsy and printed onto a sticker over the wines. She is a wine specialist and brought some special wines with her to our wedding.

This is one of my favorite pictures. I love my mom’s dress. We were taking one last look before she and my dad walked me down the aisle.

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Terri caught my family’s reaction to seeing “the bride” the first time.

We made the boutonnieres out of baby’s breath, faux lavender, rosemary, and craft tape

Renting chairs if your venue does not provide them is the way to go. The rental company will usually set them up and break them down for you. I rented Sonoma White Wash Chairs from Terri Smith Rentals. We created the chair runners by cutting a garland in half and attaching fresh eucalyptus and white peonies.

My dad custom-built the huppa and we decorated it with silk drapes and garland intertwined with peonies. If you are interested in a tutorial, comment below...

We rented the swan table from Terri Smith Details.

After extensive research, Taylor and I chose Goodwood Museum & Gardens as our venue. It had a lovely setting for an outdoor wedding, outdoor cocktail hour, indoor reception and cottage for the bridal party to get ready in.

We decorated bubbles by hot-gluing beads and creating a little tag instructing our guests to blow the bubbles after the ceremony.

I created these programs from a free template online. They were front and back and our guests enjoyed reading them prior to the ceremony.

Edna, my mom, two sisters and I created these beautiful bouquets the day before our wedding. We gathered fresh white peonies, seeded eucalyptus, rosemary, and faux lavender. I know I wanted peonies and they are a costly flower so Edna ordered them in bulk and we put together our own. Edna owns a flower shop in Havana and she is amazing.

Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Taylor Biehl

I needed some sort of seating arrangement for a 150 person wedding. I had our guests names listed under specific table numbers on a sign by the cocktail bar. Easel is from Hobby Lobby. Garland & Peonies were used throughout the wedding.

We had jenga and corn hole available outside for guests

It was important for me to honor my late grandparents at our wedding. I originally saw something similar done with a wooden ladder but I already owned this bookshelf. I printed 5×7 photographs of my parents and in-laws wedding photos as well as our grandparents on both sides. The fan on the top left is very meaningful. It was my Nana’s, who is 88-years-old, from her wedding day. When she gave it to me, it had some yellow discoloration for aging but my friend Edna kindly re-purposed it with silk flowers and i proudly displayed it next to their wedding photo.

I used this box for wedding cards from Michaels and decorated it with silk peonies.

My amazing mom, friend, Edna (mostly Edna), and bridesmaids and I set up the entire reception area 7 am the wedding day.

The table decorations were a project my mom and I worked on for several months prior to the wedding day. We ended up having 28 tables and I wanted to have something we could create well ahead of time. I purchased 30 vases at the Dollar Tree. My mom and I spent months visiting Michaels and picking out silk flowers, eucalyptus and fresh cotton stems.

My ultra-talented friend, Meghan, made our wedding cake. She bakes as a hobby and it was exactly what I wanted. I found our raunchy cake topper online. Guests got a kick out of it.

We got the goldendoodle cake from Katie’s Cakes in Havana, Florida. Get on Facebook or social media and ask for recommendations.

You’re Engaged! What’s Next?

Once we set a date, I downloaded the ever user-friendly app, Wedding Wire.  

There are many wedding apps out there today, but I thought it was simple, helpful, and gave me all of the tools to stay organized during my 10 months of wedding planning. I love how Wedding Wire gives you a checklist based on the time you have until your wedding. Each task is associated with a budget that they keep track of for you.

Set a Budget

I think it’s important to set a budget prior to wedding planning. Sit down with your fiance and your parents if applicable and decide on a realistic budget and stick to it.

Choose the Venue

From there, Taylor and I collectively chose
Goodwood Museum & Gardens, a historic plantation in Tallahassee, Florida.

I knew I wanted to spend the bulk of our budget on the venue, photographer, and band and then I would try to do everything else as economically and budget-conscious as possible.

Create the Guest List Considerately 

Wedding Wire sets you up for success if you simply follow the timeline. We started to create our guest list. That was probably the most difficult part of wedding planning. We wanted our families, extended families, close friends, etc. Where do you draw the line? You do. Don’t worry. Sit down with your fiance and make several lists. If you have to put a cost on each head to help you narrow guests down. Go with your gut.

***Get your wedding ring insured while you are at it.

Create a Registry

Developing a registry is unique to each couple. Look into their return policy. Keep it simple. One to two sites maximum. Don’t overwhelm your guests. Register for more than enough gifts. Select items in various increments. Give your guests options. Some couples use honeymoon funding sites. Some do not create a registry at all.

Pick a Color Scheme

I chose a rich purple, green, and ivory color scheme. We got married in May and I felt like purple was a swing color and was more than suitable for my elegant, outdoor ceremony and barn reception. I knew I wanted large white peonies and I wanted the bridesmaids in rich colors that empowered them to feel just as beautiful as I would on my wedding day.

Simply Create a Wedding Website

I just followed the steps. I created a wedding website from Wedding Wire. I didn’t make it live until I sent out the save the dates. We listed a simple URL on our save the dates so guests view the details of the weekend such as ceremony and reception addresses and accommodations. On our website, I introduced the bridal party, went into detail about hotel block bookings, recommendations of things to do, and a link to our registry.

Save the Dates

I’ll never forget walking the save the dates out to our mailbox; each postcard with their individual address. I didn’t want my mom to have the task of writing each formally on each card. She offered and I think she would have gotten carpal tunnel.

They have Avery labels in normal 8 1/2 x11 inch paper that fit perfectly in your printer. You can download the Template directly off Avery’s website. You open the template via Word Processor and transfer your addresses. Transfer!!

Wedding Wire encourages you to gather guests’ full names, addresses, etc. You can download all of your guest’s names and addresses directly to excel and move to your Avery labels. This was a little more complicated (for me) than it sounds but there are clear instructions on Avery’s website to guide you along.

Choose Your Bridal Party

I effortlessly chose my bridal party consisting of my two favorite sisters and two best girlfriends. Keep in mind, your wedding party is going to spend money and time.

Wedding Hashtag

Creating the wedding hashtag was fun. We came up with the Biehl Deal and it set the mood for me to create this killer wedding that everyone would enjoy and remember.

Book at Photographer

Booking a photographer was nail-biting.  In every city, there are so many talented photographers. But in Tallahassee, there is one really great photographer, and I had to have her. I was first intrigued by Terri’s tasteful advertisement in our local wedding magazine. Those were advertising costs used efficiently. I started drooling through her portfolios online and called my husband. He told me that she’s the best in town, he knows her, and she’s luxurious.

I hired Terri Smith. She had two impressive assistants with her capturing timeless photographs that we will have forever. Even her tag line-“soft dreamy wedding’s” says it all. She delivered. And I will have those captures forever.

Flowers

I ran into a former florist through would become a great friend. Edna the confidence to order the flowers and do it ourselves for my wedding. I took on the task and we made 12 boutonnieres, 7 bouquets including my large gorgeous bunch and table decor. Flowers can be an enormous lump of your budget and I am thrilled that I was able to experience the flowers of my dreams at a fraction of the cost.

Find Your Wedding Dress

I drove to Atlanta and stayed with one of my bridesmaids. I found the dress I wanted online and did not think I would need to go to multiple stores or try on several dresses.

Thankfully, my intuition was right. I went to BHLDN, the wedding portion of Anthropologie, and tried on the Rosalind in their sample size about six sizes too big, clipping it to see my waist. I tried on a couple more, just for comparison and my own amusement. Hopefully, Kerry enjoyed it as well. I fell in love with Rosalind right away and ordered my size to be delivered to my house.

I had a local seamstress place an ivory ribbon to accentuate my waist and took the straps in. Nadia, of Excellent Alterations custom, made my veil. I went back and forth on a veil and I’m so glad I went with the veil. Nadia said “veil” means “bride”. She was absolutely right. When my mom clipped the veil with small pearls sewed so intricately in my hair, I was a bride.

All of the above was done in the first three months of being engaged (minus the alterations). I had seven months left until the big day.

Food

Food can be a substantial cost. Do your research. What type of food do you want to serve? Does your venue allow outside vendors or can you bring in? We hired Sharkey’s Capitol Cafe and they executed exactly what we wanted. Our cocktail hour consisted of a strawberry frizze custom cocktail as well as local beer, good wine, and a few liquor choices.

The team passed gourmet appetizers of bruschetta, crab Brian set up two stations; one shrimp and grits to represent the south. Additionally, we had a pasta station. They set up a lengthy salad bar and oatmeal chocolate nut cookies called royals.

Band

I booked our band. Wedding Wire helped recommend the most popular bands locally or willing to come to Tallahassee. Even though we are in Florida’s Capitol, we are not in a big city. I narrowed it down to a few bands. The first one I requested first already had a booking. You know how they say, everything happens for a reason. Southern Satisfaction soon became the highlight of the wedding.

My husband and I were listening to duet vocalists at a rooftop bar downtown. It turned out, they were the lead singer, a female vocalist. I didn’t know how much I wanted and had to have a female vocalist until our wedding day. They made our wedding. The dance floor had so much soul and energy all night long.

Arrange your Officiant

Booking our officiant was easy as it was my husband’s friend and mentor. It was important for me to have someone close to him marry us as the rest of the wedding was really centered around my wishes.

Arrangements for Out-of-Town Guests

I chose a hotel central to the city and less than 10 minute uber or car ride to our venue. The DoubleTree directly faced our local farmer’s market downtown. Our out of town guests could comfortably walk to the market and then walk to museums, restaurants, and government buildings. We reserved a block of rooms and reserved the largest suite that my family would stock with drinks and food for guests to mingle and eat Friday evening as they arrived.

Welcome Bags

It was imperative for me to have welcoming and thoughtful welcome bags for each guest that traveled in out of town. I even managed to deliver bags ahead of time to my guests not staying in our specific hotel prior to their check-in. I filled the bag with oranges, ibuprofen, snacks, wipes, Gatorade. I bought brown paper bags with handles, printed Avery shipping labels with an openhearted note. Each bag had a name tag unique to each guest. Just as I printed the address labels, I printed Avery labels, template 5126.

Fiance’s Attire

We ordered my husband’s tuxedo. My husband ordered his. He has exceptional taste thankfully. In most cases, you will need to order it for a partner. He went with a dark blue tuxedo. His groomsman wore dark royal blue suits and we bought them Ted Baker ties. I found them on sale at Nordstrom.

Rentals

It was easy for me to find any event rentals I was not going to build. Terri Smith, our photographer, has a fantastic rental business as well. Elegant and preppy. We rented chairs for the ceremony outside and reception inside. We rented antique glassware and artistic tables. We rented glass containers to serve our custom cocktails.

Plan Rehearsal Dinner

We booked our rehearsal dinner on the top floor of Table 23. We had to limit it so we kept it to extended family (just Aunts and Uncles and Grandparents), immediate family, and our lovely bridal party. Table 23 is nestled under Tallahassee’s live oak and magnolia trees and a Southern feel. I wanted a restaurant that revealed true Tallahassee to our guests.

Makeup & Hair

Our photographer recommended the makeup artist and she offered a complimentary test run prior to the wedding. I coordinated my trial on the day of our engagement photos. Hint hint.

Plan Honeymoon

Plan the honeymoon. Take a honeymoon even if it’s a weekend away. I was so concerned about getting back to work that I decided to honeymoon two months after our wedding. I should have listened to Taylor and left after our wedding.

You spend time up until the wedding (if you’re planning it) thinking about the wedding. I should have made it a priority to spend the next 48 hours together just the two of us. We went back work Tuesday after spending Monday organizing the decor that I would load into my car and deliver to my assisted living to set up for the wedding we would do again for my residents in assisted living and dementia care.

Okay, so we didn’t plan the honeymoon right away and a couple of weeks later we were pregnant. Over the moon about being pregnant and never anticipating it would happen that fast for us.

We were fortunate and realized that a seven-day vacation in the Virgin Islands, a zika zone, while pregnant should probably not happen. This gift, our little girl, would be the best thing that would ever happen to Taylor and I. We changed our honeymoon to Cape Cod and enjoyed ourselves so in love and complete harmony.

Accessories

My mom helped with my wedding accessories. I wore her elegant pearl necklace.  She crafted my earrings and a bracelet, even the flower crown in my hair. My mom has been designing bracelets and earrings as a creative outlet for years. She doesn’t sell them because she doesn’t trust they will not break even though they are unique and beautiful. I have my own personal collection.

Gifts

We got Taylor’s groomsmen nice ties and bourbon. I got my bridesmaids plush purple robes, nearly identical to the color of our wedding dress. I picked out a pair of earrings from Kendra Scott that I already owned and loved. They have some of my sister’s favorite earrings.

Flower Girls

My mom and I found our two eight-year-old flower girls sweet flower crowns online for a really reasonable rate. Our ring bear wore an adorable navy suit.

Wedding Invitations

Three months before our wedding day, I sent out our wedding invitations. My childhood best friend painted our custom wedding invitations and I had them printed. Nicole and I were best friends born one month apart. Her creativity knows no bounds

Rings & Wedding Book

Taylor and I ordered our wedding rings. I wanted a very thin band with diamonds I would later have cauterized together.

My mom gifted us with a lovely wedding book.

Drinks

Taylor and I had too much fun at Costco; shopping for wine, beer, liquor, soda, and juices. Costco actually allows you to return unopened alcoholic beverages.

Create a Wedding Program

I designed our wedding programs using a free template online. I will try to link it here.

Write Vows & Day of Timeline

Taylor and I wrote our vows; keeping them to ourselves until we read on our wedding day.

Thank goodness for Edna. She helped me create a day of wedding timeline down to the very minute. I can share a “day of” timeline to really allow everything to happen in the allotted time.

A month before our wedding day we went to the courthouse and got our marriage license.

If you need to call people who didn’t rsvp, a month before your wedding is a good time to do it.

Confirm with vendors. Call your mom. Use a crest white strip. Breathe.

Seating Chart

When your wedding is two weeks away, create your seating chart. Do it on Wedding Wire. Have a family member or friend help you. Go over a couple of scenarios in your head. Seat people as comfortably as you can. Definitely, do this with your fiance.

Hire a day-of wedding planner if it’s in your budget. It will be money well spent. If I didn’t have my day-of planner, the day wouldn’t have been as seamless, elegant, and stress-free. I floated on the grass. I had the confidence our special day would fall simply into place.

Write your vows. And enjoy the week following up to your wedding. Marry him.

XOXO
Mackenzie