Schoolhouse Celebration

March 31, 2012 in
Etsy.com handmade and vintage goods

Natalie Takiera
luludixie

Natalie is an artist, designer, photographer and sporadic blogger. She runs the Etsy shop Lulu Dixie, and she’s currently working on a new business called Buttermilk and Moss that will specialize in vintage wedding, garden and farmhouse decor. Her husband Greg works as a helicopter mechanical engineer and is a vintage car aficionado. They live in a restored hunting cabin at the edge of the Nantahala National Forest in the mountains of Western, North Carolina with their sweet dog Georgia Lulu.

When my best friend proposed to me with loving and humbling endearments, I (of course) said yes. He’s the love of my life, and I couldn’t imagine it without him. The planning began.

We wanted to have a wedding that was quaint; a reflection of who we are. We decided on a little 18oos schoolhouse up the road from our home in Western, North Carolina. At one time it was a church, and it has since been restored with loving care, its historic aesthetic intact. It even has a bell tower that still rings!

The little school house, surrounded by towering trees in a crayon box assortment of fall colored leaves, was the perfect blank canvas for our country wedding.

[pullquote]Being an artist and a lover of antiques and handmade, I wanted our guests to feel as though they were journeying back to a time when things were made with absolute care and attention to detail.[/pullquote] I began collecting vintage table linens, dishes, cups, stemware, and other decorative items from local flea and antique markets and either made the rest or found handmade versions on Etsy, which was an incredible resource.

My engagement and wedding ring were estate pieces purchased from a local jeweler. My husband’s wedding band was custom made by Silver Sparrow Designs out of Colorado. As a love token, I had the artist engrave “my forever, my love, my life” inside his band. The groomsmen’s boutonnieres were created by Sparkle and Posy.

My birdcage veil was made by Deeds and Petunia, and my intricate lace shrug was handmade by Mary and Angelika from Tel Aviv, Israel. The cupcake flower girl dresses were custom made by Vintage Valise.

Our divine butter cream cake was handcrafted by Renee with Heavenly Creations Cakes. Renee’s brother made the cake stand and cupcake tower out of wood slices. The cake toppers were vintage salt and pepper shakers I fell in love with. [pullquote]My husband designed the cake with Renee from a recipe he created years ago when he was practicing to be a pastry chef.[/pullquote] Family and friends contributed with food and flowers. We had the remaining food catered by a local restaurant that specializes in locally grown and organic fare.

Our wedding favors were quilted jelly jars filled with homemade apple butter made by my neighbor from an old family recipe; we also gave apples from a local apple farm. It was a perfect blend of spice and sweet, adding a yummy seasonal touch — a tasty southern treat for our guests to take home!

Everything came together beautifully. Our family, friends and neighbors all pitched in to help us get everything set up, which was an absolute blessing. We couldn’t have done it without them. The day couldn’t have been more stunning – the trees were on fire, peaking with the vibrant colors of fall. The sky was a cool, crisp blue. We have never been surrounded by more love in a single day. The only thing I would have changed would have been to have more time to spend with our loved ones. It all went by too fast!

All photographs by Kenny Simmons Photography, assisted by Melissa Henderson.