Weddings (Fall 2019)

SYDNEY STRONG + MICHELLE GEANNAKAKES

SEPTEMBER 28, 2019

When the helicopter landed, surrounded by a landscape of ice, it wasn’t just the scenery that took Michelle’s breath away—it was the question that Sydney had in store, as their tour of Colony Glacier in Alaska became the perfect setting for a proposal. It wasn’t long before Michelle popped the question in return, on the Capilano Suspension Bridge in Vancouver, British Columbia. Their adventurous proposals, however, were only the start of building their life together.

Yielding an incredible view of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Hotel Domestique in Travelers Rest was the setting for their wedding day. Sydney and Michelle were each walked by their parents down a branch of a Y-shaped aisle, then met at the center point and continued toward the altar together. Personal touches to the ceremony included a reading from the monumental Obergefell v. Hodges decision that deemed all love equal when it comes to the right to marry. Details of their reception drew upon comforts of the brides’ homes, from the inclusion of their own artwork to a color palette of deep blues, gold, and subtle rose. Live music by The Retreat accompanied plenty of dancing until the night came to a close, as loved ones lined up with sparklers to celebrate the radiant couple.

Not yet sure where they will plant their roots, Sydney and Michelle split time between Greenville, where Sydney is a jewelry designer with llyn strong fine art and jewelry, and Atlanta, where Michelle is a nurse practitioner at the Children’s Hospital of Atlanta.—Olivia McCall

By Red Apple Tree Photography

ANGELA HOUSWORTH + CALEB ADKINS

DECEMBER 7, 2019

Angela and Caleb are no strangers to the outdoors. Each has always loved exploring, and, one day, through a group of mutual friends, the pair met on a hiking trail at Caesar’s Head. They cultivated a deep friendship through kayaking, camping, and rock climbing, and in May 2019 they went on their first date. Six months later, back at the place they first met, Caleb told Angela he undoubtedly wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, and proposed a week later in Paris Mountain State Park. Angela checked all of her boxes, with a wedding gown borrowed from her roommate, a blue handkerchief from her grandmother woven into the bouquet, and an intricate floral headdress crafted by Leaph Boutique’s felt flowers and greenery. In a laid back (and, of course, outdoors) setting, the couple said “I do” in Inman, where both of their large families filed in for the weekend of celebration. The couple now resides in Greenville, where Angela works at Swamp Rabbit Café and Grocery and Caleb at Anderson Hydra Platforms. —Kathryn Norungolo

By Jack Robert Photography

TYLER MICKEL + BLAKE JAMESON

NOVEMBER 9, 2019

When you attend a wedding, the chances of meeting people from different walks of life are high. When Tyler was at a close family friend’s wedding, she met Blake, who was one of her friend’s groomsmen. Five years of dating later, Tyler and Blake would be planning a wedding of their own. Blake proposed after surprising Tyler with a horseback tour of DuPont National Forest, where the trail ended at the High Falls waterfall, painting the perfect background for Tyler to say that coveted “yes.” In a ceremony at Greenbrier Farms, Tyler met Blake under their flower-covered archway in a Hayley Paige gown from the White Magnolia, and spent the evening celebrating with family and friends to music from Uptown Entertainment. The pair lives in Taylors, where both are self-employed.—KN

By Sposa Bella Photography

EMILY MATTHEWS + MATTHEW ANDERSON

OCTOBER 12, 2019

When Emily Matthews started her job in the solicitor’s office, she shadowed in the sheriff’s office to gain perspective about her new role. Little did she know that work lesson would lead to her future husband. At the time, Matt Anderson was the on-call K9 handler, and an eager Emily was dying to meet the pups. For a year, Emily and Matt remained work acquaintances, but when she left the solicitor’s office to work as a paralegal, she and Matt realized the timing was right. The pair dated less than a year before Matt was down on one knee alongside Walloon Lake, Michigan, for a cold, winter wonderland proposal. A year and a half later, with Matt’s daughter and son as the flower girl and ring bearer, Emily walked down the aisle in a custom dress from The Poinsett Bride, adorned with the buttons of her mother’s gown, to the man she would be “on-call” with forever. The couple now lives in the home they built together in Travelers Rest.—KN

By Simply Violet Photography