Brittany + Ben
Venue: Oconee Ridge Outfitters
Florist: Warthen Lane Interiors
Caterer: J.T. Jeffords Catering
Cakes: Vanessa Ashley & Susan Haywood
Hair: Kaitlyn Coffee & Chelsea Garner with Designing Line
Makeup: Paige Walters
Videographer: Justin Peay Productions
Band: Reunion Band
Coordinator: Sharon O'Neal
Second Photographer: Candice Emerson
How did you feel when you saw each other for the first time on the wedding day?
Brittany - "I was so excited for him to finally see my dress and just have some time together just the 2 of us. Seeing him made it all so real. It's an indescribable feeling I will never forget."
Ben - "Stunned. I turned around and saw her and she looked so beautiful. All I could do was smile."
What was the most memorable moment of the day?
Ben - "First look."
Brittany - "The vows of course. But we both come from a musical family (even though we didn't inherit any of it) so they played our first dance live. My dad played the drums, my uncle on the bass, Ben's brother Thomas on acoustic and then my sister in law and first cousin sang the duet. The song talks about being part of God's greater plan and Him bringing two people together. In that moment I just wanted time to freeze. It was so special and something I will always cherish."
If you could do it all over again, would you change anything?
"No! We still talk about how perfect and smooth everything seemed to go."
Do you have any advice to other brides & grooms?
Ben - "Take it easy the night before at the rehearsal dinner. You want to feel good the next day. It's the most important day of your life."
Brittany - "Stay calm and really take the time to think about the commitment you're about to make. We were the first wedding at our venue so it was a big undertaking to bring my vision to life. We were out there the week of stringing lights , working in flower beds, building an arbor, etc. I was so scared if wouldn't all come together but finally convinced myself to just relax. The morning of I took time (by myself) to walk around the venue and thank God for the beautiful day. Just having some quiet time to myself really helped ease my nerves and I was so calm through everything. I wasn't nervous in the slightest."
Where did you go on your honeymoon?
"St Lucia - Sandals Grande"
How did y'all meet?
“We grew up 15 minutes down the road from each other but didn’t actually meet and get together until New Years Eve 2012 in Nashville, TN while both visiting our siblings who are friends. I knew of him through his brother and his cousin, who also happened to be one of my friends. She had always put little bugs in our ears that we should meet and hang out but it seemed like one of us was in another relationship when the other one was not so the timing was never right. After that New years, Ben started visiting me in Statesboro, where I was still in school at Georgia Southern, and I would visit him back home. I always said I wanted to move to Nashville upon graduating so when May rolled around, I went forward with my plans with the understanding we would try to make the long distance thing work. Things progressed and got more serious and after being there a year, I decided to move home so we could be closer and see more of each other. Fast forward to now and well.. now we’re getting married! I prayed about the situation constantly and felt like God was leading me back home. I missed my family too and was quite homesick. Even though it’s cliche, the saying “If you want to hear God laugh, tell Him your plans” rings so true for me.”
