COUPLES PUT NEW TWISTS ON OLD TRADITIONS

Written by JENNY ENDERLIN

With shades of blush and bashful (aka pink and pink) reigning as popular wedding colors among Southern brides this year, one might think little has changed in wedding traditions since the movie “Steel Magnolias’’ came out in the late 1980s.

Modern brides are comfortable embracing tradition when it suits them but are unafraid to forge new paths when it feels more fitting.

The emergence of COVID-19 has driven couples to become more flexible and prioritize what is important to them. While brides still veer towards white gowns, white wedding cakes, and bouquets of roses, little else is considered untouchable.

Few couples toss bouquets and garters nowadays; instead, they may add a game to the festivities or simply enjoy dancing the night away. Many consider incorporating their four-legged furry friends. Whether pets actually attend is typically a matter of the dogs’ individual behavior rather than social mores.

In short, wedding styles are all about reflecting the couple’s personality. Here’s how three couples personalized their Newnan nuptials.

Leanne Dunn + Chris Liebe

Photographed by Danielle Thompson Photography

MAY 1, 2020

Even though Leanne Dunn and Chris Liebe grew up in Newnan and had mutual friends, they didn’t know each other prior to attending Auburn University.

“I guess the timing wasn’t right yet,” mused Leanne.

With their wedding, they knew the moment was right to bring their loved ones together.

“Our goal was to have all our family and friends in one place, especially after the pandemic and not seeing everyone for a long time.” Nearly everyone they invited, almost 250 people, showed up.

“We’re a low-key kind of couple,” says the bride, adding that she just wanted to have fun while describing her wedding as “classic but not formal.”

The wedding was held at Newnan Presbyterian Church, and the reception took place at the Historic Train Depot in downtown Newnan, where a rented tent, tables and chairs expanded the venue.

The couple enjoyed traditional dances. Their first dance was to “Wonderful Tonight.” The father-daughter dance was to “My Girl,” and the groom and his mother danced to “What A Wonderful World.”

The groom’s cake table was outfitted with Auburn memorabilia, but it was the Liebe family’s favorite key lime cakes that stole the show. The groom’s aunt, Suzanne Brooks, made six three-layer key lime cakes with cream cheese frosting to satisfy the guests.

THE DETAILS

Bride’s Attire
The bride wore a cathedral-length veil to match her white satin dress from J. Andrews Bridal.  

Styling
The bride’s makeup artist was Amy Camp from Auburn, and her hair stylist was Natalie Sims from Athens.

Groom’s Attire
The groom’s classic black tux was obtained from Celebrate Tuxedos.

Rings
The bride’s yellow gold band with solitaire cushion-cut diamond came from Da Vinci Fine Jewelers in Atlanta. The wedding bands were from Morgan Jewelers in Newnan.

Flowers
Arthur Murphey Florist constructed the white rose and greenery for the ceremony flowers. Lori Strange, with Kroger on Bullsboro Drive, assisted in creating blush, white and blue hydrangea arrangements for the reception.

Cake
Along with the key lime cakes, the reception featured a wedding cake created by Newnan cake artist Bonne Boyd Bedingfield, owner of Beautifully Baked by Bonne. The four-tier almond cake with buttercream frosting was decorated with a hydrangea and greenery on top.

Caterer
Contemporary Catering suggested a buffet/serve combination in which they plated parmesan crusted chicken, beef tenderloin, mashed potatoes, green beans, salad and rolls.

Venues
The wedding ceremony was at Newnan Presbyterian Church, and the reception was at the Historic Train Depot in downtown Newnan.

Tamiko Washington + Whitney Williams

Photographed by Chasity Posey

MAY 1, 2020

Although bride Tamiko Washington and groom Whitney Williams met at Georgia State University, it was after graduation when Tamiko caught a glimpse of Whitney’s new puppy and reached out on social media to ask for a date.

Years later, when the two former business administration majors began organizing their big “I Do,” it was all about attention to detail. Nothing was overlooked.

“At the end of the day, it’s the bride and groom getting married, and it’s their special day,” says Tamiko. “You want it to be what you dreamed it would be.”

The Atlanta-based couple began their wedding planning by searching for the perfect outdoor location to fulfill their desire for an open environment in pandemic-uncertain times. With few wide open spaces in the city, they turned their sights toward Newnan and found The Venue at Murphy Lane. The pair instantly fell in love with the 88 acres of rolling meadows, all-in-one service and high-end facilities that evoke Southern luxury.

The couple included COVID-19 protocol inserts with their wedding invitations to set expectations and assure guests their health was a priority. They adopted a roaming style to their reception by spreading out the grazing table, dance area, instant-delivery photo booth and lawn games like cornhole, giant Jenga and Connect Four.

To keep stress at bay, Tamiko employed Lea Ann Hurd, owner of Southern Flair Wedding & Events in Newnan, as her month-of coordinator, a professional who shadows the bride for the month leading up to the wedding to take care of all last-minute details, down to the final moments of the reception. One recommendation Tamiko shares is to have a photoshoot before the wedding day: “It was a fun dress rehearsal, and I was guaranteed to have some great images in my dress so I didn’t stress on the wedding day.”

The couple opted for a pre-ceremony first look, giving her husband-to-be the opportunity to see her wedding gown before the nuptials. She acknowledges that while some may consider it bad luck, it was anything but for her and her groom – plus, it allowed another round of pre-wedding photo sessions, which gave them more flexibility on the day of the ceremony.

“There’s all this stuff people are ‘supposed’ to do,” says the bride.

The question this couple chose to ask themselves was, “How do we make this right for us?”

Tamiko created the design for the wedding program and, using her Cricut machine, created signage for the table, bar and games. Piedmont Strings provided the ceremony music, and DJ Steve Haynes kept guests entertained and on their feet at the reception.

The wedding cake was adorned with a peony that the couple grew together. When they were dating, the groom mistakenly ordered bulbs encased in dirt, thinking he was sending Tamiko a bouquet of her favorite flowers. Rather than being upset, she suggested they enjoy planting the bulbs together.

The new bride shares helpful hints for couples on their wedding day: “Pause throughout the day. Just take in different moments. Take mental snapshots to slow down the day and help store special memories. Recognize all the love that went into it.”

THE DETAILS

Bride’s Attire
The bride’s tulle and lace spaghetti-strap mermaid gown came from Essense of Australia, Oxford Street label. The coordinating Martina Liana chapel-length veil also consisted of tulle and lace. The bride’s floral pearl dangle earrings are creations of Kate and Mari, and her bow-topped sandals are by Loeffler Randall.  

Styling
Internet-famous Erica Bogart of Bogart Beauty, in Atlanta, did the bride’s makeup, and Denishia Nix Horton of The Color Den Hair Studio, in East Point, did her hair.

Groom’s Attire
The groom’s light gray suit was from Atlanta’s Bespokuture. Sewn into the inside liner were milestone dates in the couple’s relationship. His camel-colored shoes were from Cobbler Union, in Atlanta.

Rings
Provided by Solomon Brothers Jewelers in Buckhead, the bride’s platinum ring bands are embedded with diamonds that set off a large pear-cut center diamond. The groom’s ring is rose gold with a meteorite strip encircling it.

Flowers
Susan Jennings of Kudzu Creative Designs, in Whitesburg, designed the bouquets and floral arrangements that consisted of peonies, roses, spray roses and eucalyptus.

Cake
Mary Jane Hollister of Something Delightful Bakery, in Peachtree City, made a cake featuring two vanilla layers with a third layer of lemon and raspberry filling.

Caterer Sam and Rosco’s Restaurant, in Douglasville, provided the cocktail hour grazing table and dinner buffet, which consisted of beef medallions, chicken kabobs, crab cakes, bacon-wrapped dates, and macaroni and cheese. The Venue at Murphy Lane supplied beverages, including the couple’s signature strawberry mojito cocktail named after their dog, Comet-ka-zee.

Venues
The rehearsal dinner was held at The Cellar in Newnan, and the ceremony and reception were at The Venue at Murphy Lane.

Tayler Lewis + Justin Fambro

Photographed by ONCE LIKE A SPARK

MAY 1, 2020

When Justin Fambro proposed to Tayler Lewis, he had filled the apartment with 100 balloons attached to pictures of the couple’s adventures together, donned his best suit, and put a bowtie on their dog Ruger.

The couple had dreamed of a romantic ceremony to match the epic proposal and planned a destination wedding in Aruba; however, COVID-19 had other intentions, so the couple settled on a small backyard ceremony in May 2020.

As they regrouped to plan the big wedding of their dreams, the LaGrange couple looked closer to home and decided on Lillian Gardens because of its beauty and full-service amenities.

Then, in March 2021, an EF-4 tornado ripped through downtown Newnan, all but destroying the 1859 Victorian house that’s home to Lillian Gardens. Owner Ashley Keeley says she and her staff experienced “pure terror” when they first saw the destruction before switching their attention to doing whatever it took to move forward.

“I feel personally responsible for a bride’s special day,” says Keeley. “There was no time to feel sorry for ourselves.”

She declared that come May 1, her venue would be ready for the Lewis-Fambro wedding.

“I wasn’t worried about it,” said Tayler, who had every confidence that the staff could pull it off. “They knew what they were doing. We had been planning a wedding for three years. We wanted to go ahead and do it if it was possible.”

“Some would say the universe is trying to keep them apart, but we think it’s a sign that true love prevails all,” adds Lillian Gardens employee Stephanie Villegas. “With less than two months before their wedding, we worked endless days to make our venue beautiful again for Tayler and Justin’s wedding day.”

The couple’s ceremony was the first event held at Lillian Gardens after the devastating tornado, and the bride says she felt “the garden was prettier after the tornado than before.”

The Fambros report thoroughly enjoying their outdoor ceremony and tented reception. Instead of the bouquet and garter toss, the couple opted for newlywed games and, instead of a traditional guest book, chose to have guests autograph a signing globe.

As for Lillian Gardens, Keeley hints that “surprises” are in store for the venue and promises an upcoming grand reopening in the spring of 2022 to showcase the renovated venue.

THE DETAILS

Bride’s Attire
The chapel-length gown with ornate lace back and satin and rhinestone belt are from
J. Andrew’s Bridal in Peachtree City. The bride wore coordinating pearl and rhinestone T-strap sandals and chose a delicate metal hairpiece instead of a veil so as not to hide the detailing
of the dress.  

Styling
The bride’s makeup was done by B. Young Beauty Studio and her hair was done by Lacy Duffie, of LaGrange.

Groom’s Attire
The groom obtained his gray suit and soft pink tie at Men’s Wearhouse in Newnan.

Rings
The bride’s solitaire diamond engagement ring with diamond band is from Solomon Brothers in Atlanta, and the band is from Morgan Jewelers in Newnan; both are Gabriel and Company. The groom’s silver wedding band is from Zales.

Flowers
Arthur Murphey Florist in Newnan created white and blush rose bouquets with sprays of eucalyptus.

Cake
Publix provided the three-tiered chocolate and vanilla marble cake with white frosting, which was adorned with blush roses on top and two dog figurines that appeared to be eating
the icing.

Caterer
Lillian Garden’s chef Rose Bezenah provided the buffet-style reception meal, which consisted of barbecue, baked chicken, macaroni and cheese, green beans, rolls, baked beans, sweet tea and lemonade.

Venues
The rehearsal dinner was at Brickhouse Grille in LaGrange where the couple first met. Their ceremony and reception were at Lillian Gardens. NCM