This wedding was so ridiculously stylish…just what we would expect from the editor of DailyCandy! From the bride’s gorgeous dress, to the groom’s dapper ensemble, to the mismatched Ivy & Aster bridesmaid dresses, not to mention the amazing flea market decor, this is a wedding chock full of inspiration. The beautiful bride Jay gives us the details on her celebration of love and what made it the most incredible day of her life.
Lovely: Tell us about THE dress and what inspired your look.
Jay: I wanted something romantic and slightly bohemian, but I’m not tall enough to pull off a slinky beaded gown. I came really close to buying a more traditional strapless dress but decided to go on one last appointment at a salon that happened to be hosting a Jenny Packham trunk show. The Giralda was the first and last dress I tried on that day. I loved that it was soft and ethereal with a vintage feel, and the moment I put on a veil with it, it was like they say: I just knew.
Lovely: What were the most important details to pulling off your dream wedding?
Jay: My husband and I are both from the South but met and live in NYC, so we wanted our wedding to reflect both our roots and the city we now call home. The location (my hometown of Clarksdale, Mississippi) provided the perfect Southern backdrop, as did the blue barn we used for the reception.
Because the barn wasn’t a typical wedding venue — and we didn’t have a wedding planner — we brought everything in ourselves. My mom and I scoured flea markets, craft stores, friends’ attics, and Etsy for everything from Mason jars to antique furniture to musical instruments, and we put my dad to work creating the wooden signs. Friends and family made traditional Southern dishes like turnip green dip, Mississippi caviar, and pimento cheese, which we set up at various food stations (grits bar, buns bar) and named after the people who made them (e.g., Ms. Patti’s banana pudding). My husband (a former Ma Peche and Empire Hotel bartender) created the signature cocktail: a mint-infused bourbon lemonade, which we called Tennessee Tea after his home state.
Another favorite detail was the “food truck.” I really wanted one to serve a late-night snack, but food trucks aren’t exactly prevalent in Mississippi. So we convinced a local restaurateur to pull up in his trailer and hawk barbecue sliders and Zapp’s potato chips – it was such a fun surprise for our guests!
Lovely: What was the most memorable moment?
Jay: The moment my husband and I arrived at the reception. The last time I had seen the reception venue, it was just an empty barn. Friends and family worked tirelessly in the days leading up to the wedding to bring my vision to life, so as soon as the barn came into view and I heard Daddy Rich (a local blues musician) playing, I was completely overwhelmed by how it had all come together.
Lovely: If you could give future brides any advice, what would it be?
Jay: Find a photographer who not only takes beautiful pictures but also makes you feel comfortable. Some of the best advice I received was to not skip out on engagement photos, because that’s how you get to know your photographer. That, as well as the fact that our photographer simply wanted to document the day, played a huge role in making our day special and relaxed.
DRESS DESIGNER: Jenny Packham
SHOES: Jimmy Choo
ENGAGEMENT RINGS AND WEDDING BANDS: Doyle & Doyle
VEIL: Sposabella Lace
PHOTOGRAPHER: Josh Goleman
FLORIST: Mary Lou Dill
BRIDESMAID DRESSES: Ivy & Aster
HAIR AND MAKEUP: Julie Clark
GROOM’S SUIT: Billy Reid
TIES: Pierrepont Hicks
CAKE: Momofuku Milk Bar
CATERING: Meri Tenhet Catering, Oxbow Restaurant and Catering
MUSIC: Daddy Rich, Bradley Gordon
INVITATIONS: Chelsea Petaja
