I do fall winter 2015

I Do!

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Sophie Magazine’s Wedding Guide

Keeping

The Faith 8 REAL WEDDING STORIES Celebrating 5 Years of Weddings in Western NC & Beyond

Fall/Winter 2015

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Featured Brides

AUGUST 2, 2014

Catherine & William

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Blind Date Leads To True Love

MAY 23, 2015

(Pictured on cover)

Maggie & Caleb Tears Of Joy

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AUGUST 10, 2014

Shelby & John

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SEPTEMBER 19, 2014

Robin & Jay

16

24

MAY 2, 2015

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A New Orleans Dream Wedding

MAY 2, 2015

Cassie & Jordan One In A Million

American Classic

Debbie & Rick

What A Wonderful Life

I Do!

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Sophie Magazine’s Wedding Guide

It was five years ago when we published the first issue of I Do! Along with this issue, we will have featured photographs from over 60 real brides.

Thank you to all of the brides who have shared their love stories with our readers.

MAY 9, 2015

Nicole & Jeremy

Smoky Mountain Magic

32

JUNE 20, 2015

Kayla & Steven A Carolina Kiss

36

If you would like your wedding to be featured in the 2016 Spring/Summer edition of I Do!, please email us at writer@sophiemagazine.com

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I Do!

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Sophie Magazine’s Wedding Guide GENERAL MANAGER/PUBLISHER

Patricia Martin Betts IT/PRODUCTION MANAGER

Jeff Ruminski CREATIVE EDITOR

Debi Manfre CREATIVE SERVICES

Carrie Harder Rachel Hoeft Randy Whittington PROOFING DIVA

Karen Shepard ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS

Meg Hale Brunton Pamela Hart Pam Hensley Rick Jenkins Roberta Lloyd Rose Lunsford Crystal Pressley Tiffany Welsh CIRCULATION MANAGER

Sam Howell To advertise in the 2016 Spring/Summer edition of I Do!, Please call 828.274.8888 ext. 312 or e-mail editor@sophiemagazine.com.

Sophie Magazine 22 Garfield Street, Suite 100 Asheville, NC 28813 828.210.0340 I Do!, a publication of Sophie Magazine, has accepted contributions which may not reflect the opinion of the publisher. No portion of I Do! may be reproduced without permission of the publisher.

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Catherine and William

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hen William and I met in 2012 it was a ‘double blind’ date for a quick drink on a Friday afternoon. We were the only people on the patio where we met and we were both excited to meet and have great conversation. As we talked, it was amazing to discover that we lived in the same area, knew a lot of the same people but our paths had never crossed. We both realized that we both recently lost loved ones which instantly gave us a deeper connection – William had recently lost his father and my sister died in 2010 after battling a long illness.

During the two years that we dated, we spent many weekends in the mountains of Montreat, NC - this is where my beloved family house has been for over 100 years. We spent lots of time outdoors there enjoying the local hiking trails in Montreat and dining at our favorite restaurants in nearby Black Mountain and Asheville.

We knew quickly after becoming engaged that this was where we wanted to be married. William had been previously married with three children. For me, it would be my first.

The rehearsal dinner was an intimate group of family and close friends held at The Red Radish in Black Mountain.

Our wedding took place on the afternoon of August 2, 2014, at the Chapel of the Prodigal in Montreat and was officiated by The Reverend Leslie Dibble. We had a small wedding with family and close friends. William’s stepfather was his best man and his two sons and daughter also were part of the wedding party. My brother walked me down the aisle. The bridal party was complete with William’s three children and my five nieces and nephews.

The event was captured by the photography work of Audrey Goforth and the flowers were designed

by Deborah Bell and Company of Charlotte, NC. The reception followed at the Biltmore Forest Country Club who provided the catering and also designed the custom wedding cake.

Live music was provided by duo Evan and Dana with my nephew musician, McClain Cauthen, playing his song that he wrote just for us – this was a highlight of the evening and enjoyed by all.

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Top 5 Favorite Moments 1 The fun picture session in a great setting behind the church right after the ceremony while the guests departed for the reception.

2 The pink striped bow ties in memory of Catherine's sister (pink was her favorite color).

3 The grounds of the Biltmore Forest Country Club and golf course were a great setting for pictures.

4 Catherine’s nephew playing the song for the wedding guests that he wrote for them.

5 The wedding night stay at the Biltmore Estate Hotel and weekend ‘honeymoon’ on the Estate grounds.

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BRIDE: CATHERINE LAKE CAUTHEN • GROOM: WILLIAM JOEL TURNER • MAKEUP & HAIR: MICHELLE NATURAL SALON FLOWERS: DEBORAH BELL AND COMPANY • VENUE: BILTMORE FOREST COUNTRY CLUB • CAKE: BILTMORE FOREST COUNTRY CLUB RECEPTION MUSIC: EVAN AND DANA MUSICIANS • PHOTOGRAPHER: AUDREY GOFORTH

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Shelby and John

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J

ohn and I met at the University of Alabama when I was a Senior and he was a Freshman. He was in the same class as my sister, Mary Scott, and they were in the same group of friends. I never thought much of it, just that he was one of my sister’s friends. I moved to New York after college and I would run into John and his buddies when they would come and stay with my sister at my parents place over Mardi Gras. John’s best friend, Ryan, and my sister started dating not too long after they graduated and they both moved back to New Orleans and John went to Auburn for Grad School.

About four years later, I was back living in New Orleans and my sister and Ryan got engaged. John came in town to celebrate and we all went to a Saints game. That was the first time John and I actually got to know each other. We kept in touch a little bit but he was living in Auburn and I was in New Orleans. A few months later Ryan and Mary Scott invited him to come in town for a Charity event and we just hit it off. We started dating long distance from then on and four months later I was the maid of honor and he a groomsmen in Mary Scott and Ryan’s wedding at the Grange. After about a year of dating long distance, John graduated and moved to New Orleans. It was so nice to finally be in the same city!

In February of 2013, right in the middle of Mardi Gras season, John invited me to dinner before the parades at a restaurant in New Orleans called La Petit Grocery. When we got there we both ordered martinis and when the waitress put down the napkin and then my martini, I looked closer at the napkin and screamed as I read what it said, “Shelby, Will you Marry Me?” When I looked up John was in front of me on one knee holding the prettiest ring I had ever seen! I screamed yes! We ate dinner and then met all our friends and family at my parents’ house to celebrate. It was the best Mardi Gras ever!

We planned to get married at the Grange where Mary Scott and Ryan did as that is who introduced us and where we fell in love.

It was only fitting that they serve as Matron of Honor and Best Man. Our wedding was a magical night and we were surrounded by our best friends and family. My sister and Ryan were so excited as their best friend was becoming their brother and I was

excited because I was getting the best husband. They still have our napkins at La Petit Grocery and we use them every time we eat there.

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3 Going down to the reception and seeing how beautiful it all

was. I was blown away. It was something I had in my head as my dream wedding for months but had never seen it in reality.

My mother and all the vendors involved worked hard to actually create it and it was so beautiful.

4 Dancing the entire evening to Party on the Moon. They

were the best band and never took a break. John and I were surrounded by all our best friends and we were all so excited to be together. I have never had more fun dancing in my life.

5 Watching the

Top 5 Favorite Moments 1 Riding with my dad to the chapel. It was just the two of us and it

was the first time all weekend we really got to hang out. We drank Champagne and told each other funny stories. My dad is hysterical so it was a really entertaining car ride.

2 The first time I made eye contact with John when walking down the aisle. His expression matched how I was feeling which was very lucky and blessed. Not only were we getting married but we were surrounded by the people we love most in the world.

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amazing fireworks show with John and all the wedding guests at the end of the night. It had rained all day and was really muddy, I had changed into flip flops by then and looked down and my feet were covered in mud.

Even with muddy feet that moment was perfect. It was such a magical and memorable night.

BRIDE: SHELBY SCOTT WESTFELDT • GROOM: JOHN DAVID MILLS WEDDING DRESS: CUSTOM MADE BY DESIGNER SUZANNE PERRON OF NEW ORLEANS BRIDE'S RECEPTION DRESS: AMSALE • SHOES: JIMMY CHOO BRIDESMAID DRESSES: MONIQUE LHUILLIER HAIR: LINZY PENNINGTON OF CHARLOTTE WILLIAMSON SALON, NEW ORLEANS MAKE UP: TISA CAMMET FROM TISA’S BEAUTY BAR, NEW ORLEANS FLOWERS: THE BLOOM ROOM WEDDING PLANNER: GWENN WITH WEDDING INSPIRATIONS PHOTOGRAPHER: AUDREY GOFORTH CATERING: MARGO BOUANCHAUD FROM BATON ROUGE WEDDING CAKE: ICING ON THE CAKE • RENTALS: CLASSIC EVENT RENTAL THE BAND: PARTY ON THE MOON • FIREWORKS SHOW: PIKE “PYRO” HOWARD

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Robin and Jay

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obin and Jay met on a Labor Day weekend in East Troy, Wisconsin at a retro diner. Bored and needing to escape the confines of her apartment, Robin jumped on her motorcycle and rode to the 50’s drive-in for lunch. Jay made a lastminute decision to ride along with his best friend to an impromptu car show, which just happened to be at the same diner.

Robin was inside waiting for her order and suddenly, a voice called out from behind her. It was a friend from the past. He introduced her to Jay and *pow* - spontaneous combustion! Robin and Jay spent the rest of the afternoon strolling around the parking lot swapping muscle car stories.

The hours went by quickly and soon Robin had to get back home.

Jay’s friend nudged him and whispered, “Hey, she’s single!” Robin

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said goodbye and rode away. Jay’s friend gave him her phone number. After daily nudging from his best friend, Jay called Robin 4 days after they met. Robin happily agreed to a first date. They soon discovered they had a lot in common – from their upbringing to their hobbies and interests. They also met each other at a time when they had both decided to give up on the blind date/online dating scene.

Oh the stories…

Everything after that first date just fell into place. Jay and Robin were inseparable.

Wedding rings were chosen (already) at Christmas time; with Jay popping the question in mid-June in the light tower of a historic Milwaukee lighthouse!

The couple decided on a small, destination wedding the following fall in Asheville, NC at the Biltmore Estate. Robin was born and raised in Wisconsin, but lived in Charlotte, NC for 10 years. She always enjoyed escaping to the Blue Ridge Mountains. Jay was also born and raised in Wisconsin, but quickly fell in love with the beautiful mountain scenery and friendly people.

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Our Top 5 Wedding Moments 1 Robin and Jay: A dream-come-true destination wedding

at Biltmore Estate’s Champagne Cellar. The day was nothing less than spectacular, thanks to the Biltmore catering staff who took care of every last detail to ensure our guests had an unforgettable experience.

2 Robin: After dinner, my father asked the guests to join

in singing “Edelweiss” (Sound of Music). Having seen the musical too many times to count, I wrote the lyrics on bar napkins and passed them out to each table so everyone could join the sing-along! It was magical and what awesome acoustics in that champagne cellar!

3 Robin: The love and support from our family, especially

my 86-year old parents, was priceless. I was so happy and grateful they made the trip to NC to see their “baby” finally get married!

4 Jay: My parents are deceased, but Robin and I truly felt they were there with us to share our special day.

5 Robin and Jay: Our minister, Reverend Jacqui from

Asheville, made the wedding ceremony so intimate and spiritual. She accommodated our every wish, including reciting the “Our Father”, which was a last-minute request of Robin’s mother.

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BRIDE: ROBIN HASELEY • GROOM: JAY HOMMEL • BRIDE'S DRESS: JUSTIN ALEXANDER • VENUE: BILTMORE CHAMPAGNE CELLAR FLOWERS: DEBORAH BELL AND COMPANY • CAKE: BILTMORE • RECEPTION MUSIC: BRIDE'S IPOD MUSIC MIX • PHOTOGRAPHER: AUDREY GOFORTH

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Maggie and Caleb

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C

aleb and I first met in high school. We had home room together. We became really good friends. We never talked about dating in school. We were best friends.

When Caleb left for boot camp right after high school we lost touch. I didn't hear from him for about six months and one day he texted me to say he was coming home and wanted to hang out. I agreed and our first date was on the 4th of July watching fire works at his grandparents house. Ever since then we have been together!

About a month later Caleb deployed and was gone for seven months. When he came back that fall, we became engaged!

Our wedding day came up fast and before we knew it, it was here. We were married in Haywood County at Camp Daniel Boone. It is a Boy Scout camp located in Haywood County, NC. It was absolutely beautiful. We had fallen in love with it the first time we saw it.

THE COVER PHOTOGRAPH STORY Caleb and I had planned to pray together before walking down the aisle and keeping the tradition of not seeing each other. Our families came together and hid me in a room while Caleb stepped up on the steps. He reached his hand out and grabbed mine. He was shaking. I didn't know if he was nervous or crying but when he started praying I could tell he was crying. When he started to pray there wasn't a dry eye in the room. It made me really happy and feel blessed that the person I was getting ready to marry felt the same way about God that I did. The picture wasn't staged or really planned. The photographer just happened to be in the room when it happened.

God has been a big part of our lives; we didn't want to take a step without Him in our new marriage. God has always been important to me and Caleb. Our faith is a big part of everything we do and we know that we would be nothing without Him. We are excited to see where God takes us in our future but as of now we're enjoying being newlyweds.

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Top Favorite Moments 1 Seeing my dad for the first time in my dress with no one around. It was amazing. We both cried like babies.

2 Caleb and I praying together before seeing each other. There

wasn't a dry eye in the room. It was one of the best moments ever to hear him pray for our marriage and thanking God for me.

3 The actual wedding

knowing in just a few short moments I would go from Maggie Mae Edwards to Maggie Mae Earwood.

4 Getting to see Caleb's true emotions when he saw me for the first time.

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BRIDE: MAGGIE MAE EDWARDS • GROOM: CALEB EARWOOD • HAIR: AMANDA RAY WITH ADORN SALON • FLOWERS: GUDGER'S FLOWERS VENUE: CAMP DANIEL BOONE • CAKE: DANA SHADE • PASTOR: BRIDE'S FATHER, RONNIE EDWARDS • PHOTOGRAPHER: DWAYNE SCHMIDT

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Cassie and Jordan

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ordan and I met in Charlotte, NC 5 years ago. There was an immediate connection that humors me now how stubborn we both were at expressing our love for one another. Looking back, it was so obvious! Sooner, rather than later, we received the news a baby was on the way. So not only was our relationship still forming, we were now moving in together and planning to raise a child together. Terrifying. We remained dedicated to growing our love stronger in this hectic time, and Asheville was (and still is) our favorite short little getaway to spend some QT together. We love this magical city, and knew that no matter the size of the wedding, this is where it would be held.

I have never been attracted to the idea of planning my wedding.

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I had never put much thought into it. Why would I? I needed to meet my future husband so we could plan OUR wedding…not him just showing up to MY wedding as a groom. After a little research, we visited The Venue in Asheville and immediately knew this was it! My creative juices started flowing and I could finally envision it all! The team at The Venue are wedding scientists with a cure for any wedding day disaster. They make planning such an effortless art. Everything fell into place so organically, I still am looking back thinking…how did this happen so perfectly?? The Venue referred me to Brown’s Floral Design for a florist. After a meeting there, I went across the street for coffee at Well Bred Bakery and shortly after, hired them for our cake/dessert display. Their amazing catering manager, Laura,

connected me with her friend, an LA photographer, who coincidentally would be in town for our wedding. This path was so clear and the most amazing, talented vendors were falling in our lap. Wedding planning was becoming a blast!

When thinking of the theme/details/tone of the evening, there is no one term I can use to describe what I was envisioning. Complete romance, touches of old Hollywood glam and class, elegance, but with bit of contrasting southern charm (but no burlap!)…not one detail taking away from the other, just a complete balance. The tiny details that some may never notice, are what I’m always drawn to. A few of my favorite details are the random votives I collected during our engagement. Especially the small touch of blue on the feasting table. Also the champagne glitter sprayed on tops of the spiral branches on the tables. Karen’s artwork on the flower arrangements took my breath away. The lanterns and vases lining the aisle were also very romantic. The Venue’s use of the original building’s windows turned into tables filled with votives throughout every room. I wanted one votive away from breaking fire code, and they delivered!

Even the details in the food were perfect for Jordan and I. Chef at The Venue sat down and we pretty much took items off their menu and redesigned the delivery. BBQ stuffed hushpuppies and a creation of chicken and waffles were passed for cocktail hour. Instead of shrimp and grits station, we did a Chef attended Lobster Mac and Cheese station.

The desserts from Well-Bred are out of this world, and that display was wiped out in minutes! To continue our southern menu, we had Krispy Kreme doughnuts for favors/late night snacks. I didn’t even get one and we ordered double the amount of guests! I love photo booths but had no idea how big of a hit it would be. Shutterbooth even designed panels with our logo and this put a touch of elegance on the booth. (They can sometimes be an eyesore.) Our photo booth guest book is looked at daily and brings smiles to EVERYONE’S face. Our DJ was Devin Dzioba from Get Vocal Entertainment. He had the dance floor PACKED the whole night. I literally would take moments and stand to the side looking around the whole room just to take it all in. So much love and joy happening in one room, all in honor of Jordan and I. We are so thankful we found such a true artist like Aurelia to capture all the special memories with such beauty.

All of our friends and family traveled into Asheville for our wedding day. The bridal party alone is scattered across the country (Austin, Boston, Orlando, New Orleans, Los Angeles, Alabama and more). As much as we try to travel and spend time together, never have we all been together at once (since college). To showcase our love for one another and have everyone by our side made our day beyond priceless. There was so much emotion throughout the ceremony and speeches, which was followed by tons of fun throughout the night from the dance floor to the photobooth.

For Jordan and I, this day was more than just our wedding day. Our non-traditional beginning led us to fight hard for a relationship that is one in a million. The obstacles we faced within the first few months of knowing each other, is what most face many years down the road, while under more stable circumstances. The strength of our bond is beyond words, and with our angel of a daughter by our side, we were able to showcase this accomplishment in a truly touching ceremony. We will be forever grateful to everyone involved to make 5-2-15 unforgettable.

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Our Top 5 Favorite Moments 1 Ceremony: I never knew how many priceless memories could be held

within such a short time frame. Within the 30 minutes of our ceremony, I hold many of the most cherished moments of my life. We had my grandmother and our daughter share the role of flower girls. I love seeing the special bond they have, but to see it while honoring Jordan and I made it all the more special. My dear cousin escorted me down the aisle in honor of my late father. They were very close and he has always taken the father figure role. It gave me so much strength and confidence having him by my side. We had also built such a great relationship with our Pastor, and he delivered the most beautiful ceremony. All of these pieces set the mood for an unforgettable evening.

2 Food/Desserts: I have never met anyone that enjoys food as much

as my husband. I knew this would be an important part of the wedding day for him, but I had no clue how much fun it would be picking out our choices. Chef Steve Boeger at The Venue is incredible. We took inspiration from The Venue's menu, and were able to re-create recipes/ displays to make them our own. My personal two favorites were the chicken and waffle passed hors d'oeuvre and the chef attended lobster mac and cheese station. Our dessert table from Well Bred Bakery was devoured instantly. We are counting down to our one year anniversary just to have more of the cake! So many guests approached us just to say that it was the best food they had ever had at a wedding.

3 Flowers: When we arrived at The Venue and received the bouquets, I

literally couldn't stop staring at them. It was EXACTLY what I envisioned.

From the arrangements down the aisle, to the tables at the reception, she could not have done a better job. The small detail and placement in her work really brought a new level of beauty to an already gorgeous venue.

Karen is so kind, so honest, and always made me feel comfortable at the most vulnerable time in a bride's life.

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4 Photo booth: I realize these are at many weddings, but I had no

clue how thankful I would be for having one at ours'. Shutterbooth really delivered with providing unlimited props, the personalized graphic design on the booth itself, and the attendant working the booth was so much fun. The guestbook from the pictures are priceless. We die laughing every time we bring the book out. The enclosed booth really gave people more confidence to be themselves and made for funnier pictures. I highly recommend!

5 Photographer: Being introduced to Aurelia so randomly was

such a blessing. For geographic reasons, we weren't able to meet face to face until the day before. Jordan and I loved her instantly!

She showed up to the hotel rooms the next day and was snapping pictures right after entering. She eats standing up so she is ready for any opportunity. She is like a ninja! I would see flashes here and there, but I couldn't believe the volume of memories she captured... not to mention the quality! Aurelia is so kind, so passionate, and beyond talented. We are so lucky to have her because so many precious moments Jordan and I missed, she captured with so much beauty. We will always cherish them and be forever grateful.

BRIDE: CASSIE CONRAD • GROOM: JORDAN HILTON HAIR: CODY LAGOTTE • MAKEUP: JENN VANGILLER DRESS: DESIGNER - WATTERS FROM J MAJORS BOUTIQUE BRIDE'S SHOES: BADGLEY MISCHKA • TUX RENTAL: PAUL SIMON RINGS: BENJAMIN PRIVATE JEWELERS • BRACELET: MAGPIE VINTAGE JEWELRY HAIR ACCESSORY: BELOVED SPARKLES • INVITATIONS: SOIRÉE CUSTOM PAPER CO. PROGRAMS: WIREGRASS WEDDINGS • VENUE AND CATERING: THE VENUE PHOTOGRAPHER: AURELIA DAMORE • FLORIST: BROWN'S FLORAL DESIGN CAKE/DESSERTS: WELL-BRED BAKERY PHOTOBOOTH: SHUTTERBOOTH • DJ: DEVIN

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Debbie and Rick

I

f you don't believe in Angels, then you have never met my Debbie. She is my lifesaver, my best friend, my hunting and fishing buddy, my life.

I went to school with my wife 36 years ago. She went her way and I went mine. Many miles had passed between the both of us, we had traveled the world. She settled in the Charlotte area and I ended up in the Leicester community of Asheville. We had spoken briefly one time 5 years ago and then went on our way. My, my, how that was going to change.

My life was in a rut. I had been single for a few years, living by myself, drowning myself in work, the outdoors, anything to fill the void of being alone. Then as fate would have it, on June 5th of last year, in a McDonald's in a Wal Mart, while ordering my cheeseburger and sweet tea, my life changed forever. Debbie walked by. She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. Her presence filled the room. All of a sudden, in a restaurant full of people, we were the only 2 there. I was not letting her leave without me saying hello. When she turned to me all the problems of my life vanished. My world stood still. Standing before me was a 6 foot blonde, perfect make up, and a smile that wiped all my troubles away.

We hit it off immediately. Come to find out, my new friend Debbie Warren was single too. We quickly made a date for the next week, and met the following day. We became best friends. We were inseparable.

We did everything together. If you saw one of us, then you saw the other. It was a Heaven sent love from the start. We both had our struggles, problems, busy jobs, kids, and yet we loved each other unconditionally. I knew from the day I met her, 36 years after our graduation, She would be my wife. I could not imagine life without my Debbie.

In November of 2014 we decided to marry. Nothing special, maybe even go to the Justice of the Peace. But with kids, moms, and family, as happy as we were of the announcement of our marriage we decided to find a small place, and include our family and close friends in the exchanging of our vows. A May wedding was soon planned. We chose Lake Tomahawk in Black Mountain for our venue. It will hold about 125 people, a large kitchen for the catering, plenty of room for a DJ, and a beautiful view of the Lake. Yes, you guessed it! We had a party! Our wedding music was not traditional. She came down the aisle, looking like she had just left a modeling shoot, to I Can't Fight This Feeling Anymore. The pastor, Jonathan Jordan, did such a wonderful job with the ceremony. We recited our vows, which we both had written. It was so much to take in. I was standing 28 | 2015 Fall/Winter I Do!

there, with the most beautiful woman in the world, my best friend, my partner for the rest of my life, and she was pledging her love to me, forever. My cup was running over! When Jonathan pronounced us man and wife and we kissed to seal the deal, at that moment, I knew my life had come full circle. It was now complete, We were one, and the party began! We exited with Pride and Joy by Stevie Ray Vaughn and the reception escalated from there. Our children toasted our marriage, Our first dance was What a Wonderful World.

The DJ kept the party going and everyone celebrated our union!

Our marriage is like a trip to Disney World! Fun! Fun! Fun! Our home is in the beautiful mountains of Maggie Valley. Wild life abounds and love fills the air. Our lives are now complete. Our love for each other grows daily.

So for those of you who don't believe in Angels. Let me assure you. I know there is one. Her name is Debbie Jenkins. She is my hope, my rock, my wife..... I love you Debbie!

Debbie's Top 5 Favorite Moments 1 A Bear Hunter's Wedding and Camo Cookies: I wanted our

wedding to reflect Rick and his personality. Rich is such an avid hunter – especially a bear hunter. I will always remember the expression on his face when I placed his wedding band on his finger. His faced glowed. His ring had bear paw prints on the side, and I had engraved inside "I Belong To You." My groom does not have much of a sweet tooth, so a groom's cake was out. But we did have camouflage sugar cookies – which were a hit! The camo cookies were placed on the "Hunting Table" which was filled with all sorts of Rick's past hunting photos through his years. Rick was surprised and pleased to see some "camouflage" at our wedding.

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2 Rick's Vows & Song To Me: I wanted our ceremony to reflect

our relationship with God, and His blessings on our marriage.

Rick and I recited our own vows to each other. What beautiful words he spoke. My Uncle Ray told me during the reception "Any man that will include his and your daughter into his own wedding vows, that's a real man."

At the end of Rick's vows, he sang to me "In this life, I was loved by you." to me. All you could hear were sniffles throughout the clubhouse. There was not a dry eye in the place after his promise to me. Rick has a very powerful voice. It is warm and comforting.

John Lennon once said "A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together, that is reality." Our dream became a reality on May 2nd.

3 Green Punch: I had to have Trisha Yearwood's Green Holiday

Punch at my wedding. Nothing real special; just a real good punch...and I wanted my punch, green.

I had planned our wedding...flowers, venue, catering... everything. I had given Rick one thing to do, and that was to get all of the punch ingredients before May 2nd. I had given him the recipe six weeks before our wedding and reminded him every week. One guess! Guess who waited one hour before our wedding to go "punch shopping" and could not find green KoolAide? (Which was the main ingredient of this punch.) My Prince Charming! Forty-five minutes before the ceremony, Rick found green Kool-Aid at Bi-Lo's in Black Mountain. Three cheers for BiLo's!

I'm sure I could have went with another color...another flavor, but it had to be green! So...my groom came through.

4 Our First Dance: Choosing our first dance song was probably

the easiest planning decision of our whole wedding.

You look for lyrics that speak to your relationship together. Rick and I chose "What A Wonderful World" sung by Louis Armstrong.

It's a song that just makes you smile. It reminds me that there is still so much of God's beauty around us. It encourages us to remember what a wonderful world we live in.

A quote I saw last year "Don't compare your love story to those you watch in movies. They're written by script writers. Ours is written by God." Yes, God definitely had a hand in ours.

5 Our Children's Wedding Toast and Speech: My daughter

Candice, has remained the one person who has been there for me from the very beginning. She is my hero.

Candice walked me down the aisle, and gave me away – but nothing tops the kind words, and wishes my daughter and Rick's son both said to us and our guests.

Rick's son Brooks was very emotional. He spoke the sweetest words about Rick and my relationship. He shared with all of our guests how great it was to finally see his dad happy again. At the end of his speech, Brooks said "Today I toast the man that taught me to be a man."

Thank you Candice and Brooks for making our wedding day perfect!

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BRIDE: DEBRA WARREN GROOM: RICK JENKINS BRIDE & MAID OF HONOR DRESSES: DONNA MORGAN COLLECTION MAKE-UP: KAYCE M. YOUNG "ABOUT THE FACE" HAIR: ALEXANDER RATZ OF RATZ STYLING PASTOR: JONATHAN JORDAN FLOWERS: GUDGER'S FLORIST VENUE: LAKE TOMAHAWK CLUB HOUSE, BLACK MOUNTAIN CATERING: PRECISION PALATE EVENTS SERVICES, WEAVERVILLE CAKE & DESSERTS: RUTH & RANSHAW MUSIC: PAFF DADDY D.J. & ENTERTAINMENT PHOTOGRAPHER: CAPTURED BY CRYSTAL PHOTOGRAPHY

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Nicole and Jeremy

J

eremy and I have been together for almost six years. We met through a mutual friend one crazy New Years Eve night. Our relationship blossomed the following hot and lazy summer where we spent all our free time together.

We parted ways at the end of the summer to our respective colleges but remained in touch. Once we were both out of school we picked up right where we left off. It seems we've been inseparable ever since.

Jeremy is the kind of person who makes you want to be the best version of yourself. He's challenged me to grow in ways I never thought possible. Part of what makes our relationship so

wonderful is our shared love for the outdoors- we love to explore and adventure together. Jeremy even proposed to me in the middle of a mountain bike trail during our annual camping trip last summer. To make it even more magical, my parents were with us, so they were part of that special moment. That's the kind of man Jeremy is, knowing that family means so much, he included them in our special day!

We have always loved Asheville with all its trails, mountains and hidden gems. We decided we wanted to share that with our guests as well. Jeremy found the Vineyards at Betty's Creek and we knew immediately when we saw the property it was exactly what we had hoped for. It has the rustic feel we wanted with the gorgeous mountain views you can't get enough of. It was the perfect mountain wedding spot.

We are both originally from New York, so our friends and family traveled from as far as California and New York to celebrate with us. We wanted to show our guests the magic of the Great Smokies and capture our love for the outdoors. The wedding held a rustic feel beginning with bluegrass music for the ceremony by the Honey Chasers. As the musicians began to play the sun was shining and the chairs were set for guests to arrive, it seemed someone was watching and starting dropping rain from the sky.

We hurried everyone inside and pulled the chairs from the event, including the mason jars filled with babies breath to line the aisle. Our guests stood instead of sitting, in case it rained, and those standing closest to the aisles held our little mason jars with flowers. Once we got down the aisle, everyone moved in closely, it created this sense of intimacy and love that truly made our

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ceremony even more special. Rain isn’t always a bad thing!

Our evening went off without a hitch, the flowers done by Brown’s Floral, complimented the venue and the outfits perfectly with lots of greenery, succulents and gorgeous pink hues. Our photographer, Meghan Rolfe, captured magical pictures within the vineyards, gardens and barns. My hair and make up was wonderfully done by Heather Ellison, who made me feel like a princess in my dress! The food was made by Saffron Fine Foods, we chose an upscale southern menu using seasonal dishes created with locally grown foods to fit our rustic wedding feel.

The music continued throughout the evening with Soulutions Band, who made our wedding the party we hoped to throw by choosing classic rock and roll tunes that our entire wedding could enjoy!

I look back on this day with so much love and excitement, the entire day captured us and our love for each other perfectly. To top it off we had all our favorite people in one place celebrating that love with us. It was truly the best day.

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Top 5 Favorite Moments 1 Seeing all our friends and family as we walked down the aisle

as a married couple. It meant so much to have all our favorite people in one spot to celebrate with us! It was such a wonderful feeling to feel so loved and supported on our special day by all the people we love most in the world!

2 Holding my husband's hand at the altar while we said our

vows. It is a magical feeling I will never forget for the rest of my life. Your fingertips feel like magic and your cheeks hurt from smiling because there is so much love in that moment!

3 My sister, Rachel's wedding toast. She put so much thought

into her words, it was the first time I cried that day, well actually, maybe the third, or fourth!

4 Watching everyone have a great time! After all the planning, I

felt like the only thing that really mattered that day was seeing all our favorite people in one spot, having the best time celebrating with us!

5 The day after. We had rented the wedding venue for an

additional evening after the wedding, which happened to be Mother's Day. We were able to stay on Sunday to reminisce about our favorite parts of the weekend and celebrate our wonderful Moms and our families.

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BRIDE: NICOLE MIMKEN • GROOM: JEREMY GADEN • WEDDING DRESS: CASABLANCA FROM HEART TO HEART BRIDAL, MANCHESTER, NY GROOM'S OUTFIT: JACKET BY JOS A BANK, PANTS BY BONOBOS • HAIR & MAKEUP: HAIR AND MAKEUP BY HEATHER VENUE: VINEYARDS AT BETTY’S CREEK • CATERING: SAFFRON FINE FOODS • FLORAL: BROWNS FLORAL DESIGN • DESSERT: CITY BAKERY PHOTOGRAPHER: MEGHAN ROLFE • CEREMONY MUSIC: HONEY CHASERS • RECEPTION MUSIC: SOULUTIONS BAND BRIDAL CONSULTANT: JULIE SYLVESTER OF PINNACLE EVENTS • TRANSPORTATION: JOHN FAULK

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Kayla and Steven

S

teven and I met through mutual friends in College. We both attended The University of South Carolina and from the moment we met there was an instant connection.

Our first date was a Braves game back in Steven’s home state of Georgia. After we had been dating about three months Steven moved to New Zealand to study abroad for a semester.

Since we had only been dating a few months I knew this would be challenging for us to do, but wanted to see if our relationship grew even with the distance. Steven had been in New Zealand for about three months and I just had to go and visit him. We visited so many amazing places and made memories that I will cherish for a lifetime. We both knew we wanted to travel the world together and spend forever together.

After college, Steven moved to Tennessee for a job at a Chemical Company. I had one year of college left, but knew I eventually wanted to join him if it were God’s plan. In May 2013, I graduated and joined him in Tennessee to start my teaching career. We had been living in Tennessee about 2 years when Steven popped the question on October 14, 2014. We started wedding planning right away.

From the very beginning, Steven and I knew we wanted to have a destination wedding. We have family from as far as Germany and as close as Asheville. We knew they would have to travel no matter where we got married. When we started planning we

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never would have imagined that we would pick Arden, North Carolina. After looking at several venues, someone recommended that we check out The Cliffs at Walnut Cove. Sure enough, after we saw the venue we both immediately knew this was the place we wanted to tie the knot. The beautiful clubhouse, the oak tree and mountain landscape was absolutely breathtaking.

We got married on a beautiful sunny day in June. The weather forecast called for 65% rain on that day and sure enough I didn’t sleep the night before because we had chosen for everything to be outdoors. It must have been fate, because it ended up being the most perfect day without a drop of rain. There was even a slight breeze throughout the day and night that made the weather so wonderful.

After such a special night celebrating our guests sent us off with a sparkler exit. An old vintage white Ex-Calibur whisked Steven and I off our feet as we rode away in the moonlight.

What a fairytale day it was. We will never forget this special day and want to thank everyone who made it the best day of our lives!

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Our Top 5 Favorite Moments 1 The officiant who married us has been the pastor I grew up

listening to all of my childhood. He also did several weeks of marriage counseling with us. This made the ceremony even more intimate and meaningful to us both.

2 During the evening all of our guests were welcomed by music

and our signature cocktail called “Carolina Kiss.” Steven and I both went to The University of South Carolina. We met in college and wanted to incorporate this into our special day. The drink had hints of pomegranate infused with basil and vodka. Needless to say the most refreshing drink to toast the new couple.

3 During the wedding reception my dad and I sang “Mustang

Sally.” This was something I knew I wanted him to do. He sings very well and typically sings this at any function or event we go to.

Needless to say, it started the night off in fun and laughter.

4 Steven and I wrote each other letters to read before the

ceremony instead of a first look. I knew I wanted to wait to see him, but reading his sweet words of excitement for our future made me even more excited to see him when I walked down the aisle.

5 During the Father/Daughter dance the DJ had a little trouble

getting the song to play. We danced to "I’ll Be Your Man" by Zac Brown Band. While my dad and I were standing there on the dance floor Steven’s groomsmen free styled for a bit of comic relief. It was one of the funniest moments of the night.

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BRIDE: KAYLA WILLIAMS • GROOM: STEVEN RICHARDS • BRIDE’S DRESS: ESSENCE OF AUSTRALIA • GROOM’S AND GROOMSMEN ATTIRE: MEN’S WAREHOUSE HAIR: JACQUE FRANKOWSKI • MAKE-UP: POP OF COLOR • CEREMONY & RECEPTION: THE CLIFFS AT WALNUT COVE CEREMONY OFFICIANT: REV. MARSHALL SARGENT • FLORIST: BROWN’S WEDDING DESIGN • CATERING: THE CLIFFS AT WALNUT COVE PHOTOGRAPHY: KRISTY VEST • DJ: LIVESOUND ENTERTAINMENT • HARPIST: CARROLL OWENBY • TRANSPORTATION: AIR HAVEN LIMO

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Greenville Spartanburg Anderson Asheville

Tuesday, Sept. 22nd, 2015 | Greenville Thursday, Sept. 24th, 2015 | Asheville Sunday, Jan. 3rd, 2016 | Greenville Saturday, Jan. 9th, 2016 | Anderson Saturday, Jan. 16th, 2016 | Asheville Saturday, Jan. 23rd, 2016 | Spartanburg Saturday, Jan. 30, 2016 | Greenville

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Attention Brides: Share your wedding in

I Do!

™

Sophie Magazine’s Wedding Guide

For details, call 828.274-8888 ext. 328 or email writer@sophiemagazine.com 2015 Fall/Winter I Do! | 41

Sealed With A Kiss SHELBY & JOHN DAVID MILLS

the kiss Photo by Audrey Goforth

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