Heidi + Grant: A Vintage-Rustic Inspired Destination Wedding in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville, North Carolina
Heidi + Grant had a beautiful destination wedding at The Sourwood Inn, a dreamy little place tucked away in the mountains of Asheville, NC...
“I wanted a wedding that reflected my now husband and me. I wanted something that showed our personalities and our upbringing. The best way to accomplish that, we decided, was to hand-craft as much of it as we could. I wanted the seemingly incongruous mix of a Blue Ridge Mountain/vintage bookworm/English garden/DIY wedding. Grant wanted something that represented his Southern roots. ”
“Sourwood, constructed of cedar and trimmed with stone and sits on 100-acres of hilly terrain at an elevation of 3,200 feet. It was created to provide a retreat where guests can experience the delights of the Blue Ridge Mountains and still easily access the arts and sophistication of downtown Asheville. ”
The ladies got ready in the Sourwood Inn, while the guys got ready in a nearby cabin on the property...
“There were so many times during the planning process that I wondered how it would all fit together with these vastly different elements. But in the end, and after a lot of hard work and long hours with the glue gun, I feel that we accomplished it all. It was perfect. ”
“On the day of the event, I was floored how every single friend and family member pitched in. My bridesmaids helped to put together the centerpieces and my mother made the flower arrangements at the arbor. My sister and brother’s girlfriend made lunch for the entire wedding party while my other sister steamed my dress. ”
“Our family pitched in from every angle to help make things beautiful: the arbor was hand-crafted by Grant’s father from his pine tree farm in Georgiana, Alabama. The wooden rounds on the tables were also made and stained by him. My brother and his girlfriend crafted a sign from an old wooden panel that had been tossed serendipitously outside their apartment in my hometown of St. Petersburg, Florida. As a lover of English literature, I gathered vintage books (including some of my favorite novels: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Dombey and Son by Charles Dickens). I used these for table décor and framed some of my favorite authors’ quotes on love. So many folks made and gave so many things, which made the event feel that it was not solely the bride’s dream, but a celebration of our families, friends, and each other, which is really what we wanted the most. ”
“When the ceremony first started, I was alone upstairs in the bed and breakfast that overlooked the site, waiting to be called by my event planner to come down. The balcony door was open. I could see all my loved ones and hear the cellist and guitarist playing the selections I had picked, which were hymns I had sung in church with my father. It was one of the most peaceful, satisfying moments of my life. ”
“...my only advice to future brides and grooms would be to make something that is representative of what means the absolute most to you. It will all come together. And take time that day for not only the person you are marrying but also for you. Take a few minutes to just reflect, observe, and feel. This is the day that you helped create and it is absolutely perfect as it is. Congratulations.”
A destination wedding, surrounded by loved ones and the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains... tears, laughter, and fun times - It was truly such a beautiful celebration that we are so honored to have been a part of! We wish you a lifetime of blessings and happiness, Heidi + Grant!
xoxo
Jason + Heather
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