A Southern Wedding With Gatsby Appeal
A midsummer evening filled with respectful ceremony and blissful merriment ... Raise a toast to Conlee and Alex!
The June 2014 wedding of Conlee Adams and Alex Stringfellow began with aΒ traditional ceremony andΒ ended with aΒ Gatsby-esque celebration at the Memphis Hunt and Polo Club.Β The bridal party prepared for the dayΒ at an afternoonΒ soirΓ©e inΒ the brideβs homeΒ before gatheringΒ at the Church of the Holy Communion for a splendid procession and elegant exchange of vows.
A stately church settingΒ introduced their eveningβs color palette with serene arrangements ofΒ white peonies, pale blue hydrangea, sweet peas and Spiraea. Floral displays were created by Greg Campbell and Erick New, co-owners of the Garden District.Β While they have certainly created extravagant arrangements for some of the countryβs most notable nuptials, Greg and Erick hold fast to their belief in keeping it simple and letting the flowers speak for themselves.
The reception was replete with plot twists and turns as guests enjoyed an event that was asΒ captivating by day as it was by night. During the daylight hours of their reception, the soft palette of white, pale blue and green had all the sophistication of a proper Southern garden party.
As the nightΒ progressed, an abundance of white lights and tulle draped across the ceilings created a scene in which time stoodΒ still. Dancing, dining and conversation continued late into the evening.
For those who wanted to gatherΒ in a more subdued setting, there was a courtyard area inspired byΒ the picturesque comfort of a European cafΓ©. From thisΒ vantage point, guests could take inΒ views of aΒ lake, rolling hills and a perfect sunset and later, relax under a tranquil canopy of lights.
Before the wedding ceremony, Kathy and Ben Adams, Conleeβs parents, hosted a luncheon at their home for the bridal party. All of the bridesmaids put onΒ their navy dresses from Bella BridesmaidsΒ andΒ hadΒ their makeup done by Heather of the Heather Boutique, along with Lucy Loveless, a friend of the bride and NYC-based makeup artist. Next, portraits were taken by photographer A.K. VogelΒ in the backyard.
Kathy is a passionate gardener and the former president of the Little Garden Club of Memphis. Her passion for beautiful gardens is apparent in the pristine landscape surrounding their family home, a charming background for this prewedding soirΓ©e.
The brideβs and the mother-of-the-bride dress were both made by Nardos Imam in Dallas. Conleeβs bridal gownΒ had all of the features sheΒ had asked for: an A-line shape, tiers of organza, lace and a sheer back with elegant silk buttons. Kathyβs dress, which she dubbed βhydrangea blue,β was stylishly in keeping with colorsΒ of the event.
The venue was transformed with the natural design and simplistically elegant arrangements for whichΒ Greg and Erick are well-known. Grand urns with aged patina were used for all floral arrangements, and the draping of tulle and white lights, such that the tent and ballroom were joined in seamless transition, proved to be a mood-setting element.
Russell Whitehead and Ruthie Bowlin, sisters known for their party- and wedding-throwing prowess, stood by for the planning of every detail. One of theirΒ signature suggestions was to incorporate bothΒ formal and casual elements in the food presentation. For example, silver serving pieces were juxtaposed with the textural earth tones of McCartys pottery, and the seafood buffet was organized on a large, rustic farm table outside.
All of theΒ silver and pottery combinations employedΒ varying sizes and heights to add visual interest. There were several food tables filled with specialties created by the Memphis Hunt and Polo Club, including the seafood arrangement outdoors, a crepe station inside, a presentation of lamb chops and two bars. Both cakes were made by Cakes by Mom and Me.
Guests toasted and danced the night away, and Conlee brought hats, props, mustaches and boas for late-night frivolity. Small pizzas and peppermint ice cream served in miniature cones were available during the carefree final hours of this memorable day.
This was an unforgettable, multifaceted, midsummer night filled withΒ respectful ceremony and blissful merriment. Raise a toast to Conlee and Alex!
Resources:
- Wedding cakes: Cakes by Mom and Me,Β West Memphis, AR
- Floral design: Garden District
- Bridesmaidsβ dresses: Bella Bridesmaids
- Bridal gown and mother-of-the-bride dress: Nardos Imam, Dallas
- WeddingΒ planners: Russell and Ruthie Events
- Photographer:Β A.K. Vogel,Β Knoxville
- Makeup: Heather Boutique and Spa and Lucy Loveless of NYC
Got wedding fever? Check out more beautiful nuptials from some ofΒ our other SB markets today:
Louisville: North Meets South: An Authentic Kentucky Wedding
Nashville: Game Changer: Brian Miller and Megan Bonds Get Married
Atlanta: Vineyard Vows: A Wedding In Highlands, NC
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