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Sidney and Dane’s Vintage-Inspired Kentucky Wedding

Sidney and Dane’s Vintage-Inspired Kentucky Wedding

August 05, 2015

This southern family gathering was distinguished by an old-world romance, from a veil inspired by Queen Victoria to a reception space that was decorated to resemble “Miss Havisham’s parlor in Great Expectations.”

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The Couple

Whitney Neal Photography

Dane, a landscape architect, met then Yale student, now English teacher, Sidney, while working in England. Right when they hit it off—at a wedding, no less—Dane had to cross the pond back to his hometown in Colorado. For the next year, the pair dated long-distance, exchanging handwritten letters and voice recordings. Once the duo reunited back in England—at, yes, another wedding—they made their relationship official.

The very next day, they flew back to the States—Dane to Colorado and Sidney to Connecticut—faced with an additional 20 months apart. With more than two years of separation over land and sea, Dane and Sidney knew they were ready for a change. Sidney took time off from school to move west to Grand Junction, where Dane resided. After just one day in the same time zone, Dane popped the question, ensuring a life lived in the same zip code.

Sidney and Dane tied the knot in a small, family-only church ceremony in Colorado on August 30, 2014. Then, months later, on January 3, 2015, the couple invited 220 of their nearest and dearest to commemorate the union in Louisville, Kentucky, the bride’s birthplace. Guests were greeted at a reception hall made to feel like “a home-cooked winter supper,” Sidney says. “We cared most about making people feel comfortable, loved, and most of all included in the very exciting and momentous decision.”

Watch Sidney and Dane’s Wedding Video

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The Stationery

Whitney Neal Photography

William Morris’s “Strawberry Thief” motif inspired the invitation suite that Hound Dog Press designed.

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His Threads

Whitney Neal Photography

Dane sported a blue Harris Tweed suit, Banana Republic shirt, Allen Edmonds shoes, vintage green tie, and a boutonniere of carnation, chablis spray rose, privet berries, and seeded eucalyptus.

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Bespoke Ensemble

Whitney Neal Photography

Get Tips for Shopping for a Vintage Wedding Dress You’ll Treasure

Sidney donned her mother’s lace wedding gown. “I liked the idea of wearing something with history,” she says. Unlike most brides who might rework mom’s out-of-date dress, Sidney kept the gown in its original form, simply dying it in coffee and tea to bring out the vintage detail. A fur stole (also from her mother’s closet) and a green sash tied the Victorian look together.

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The Bouquet

Whitney Neal Photography

Jaclyn Journey created Sidney’s bouquet of protea, roses, olive branch, Japanese sweet pea, fringe tulip, seed eucalyptus, lisianthus, and tarantula amaryllis.

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A Royal Headpiece

Whitney Neal Photography

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Sidney wore a floral crown of ranunculus, roses, and wax flower reminiscent of Queen Victoria’s on her wedding day.

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Heirloom Jewelry

Whitney Neal Photography

See More Ways to Wear Vintage Jewelry on Your Wedding Day

Sidney paired her gown with custom pearl-drop earrings and a lavaliere pendant many brides on her mother’s side have worn down the aisle.

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Charming Country Girls

Whitney Neal Photography

The bride asked her maids to choose any jewel-toned patterned dress from ModCloth.

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All Aglow

Whitney Neal Photography

The bridesmaids carried beeswax candles surrounded in olive branch, seeded eucalyptus, garden roses, ranunculus, amaranthus, and astilbe to “light the way” for the bride’s walk down the aisle and into the blessing ceremony.

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The First Look

Whitney Neal Photography

After a first look, the couple posed for portraits outside of the church.

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The Church

Whitney Neal Photography

Sidney and Dane held their ceremony at Christ Church Cathedral, which they chose for its history and architectural beauty.

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A Bold Entrance

Whitney Neal Photography

Guests entered the cathedral through an embellished arched doorway.

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Flags From Afar

Whitney Neal Photography

Great Britain, Colorado, and Kentucky flags flying near the altar clued wedding-goers into the couple’s long-distance relationship.

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Personalized Processional

Whitney Neal Photography

“To represent that Dane and I had been previously joined in marriage, we walked down the aisle together,” Sidney says.

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The Blessing Service

Whitney Neal Photography

Sidney and Dane held a blessing service for kith and kin to express their spiritual love and support in the couple’s previous August marriage. “Even though it wasn’t our actual wedding, we still wanted to make the ceremony feel significant and special for those attending,” says the bride.

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The Festivities

Whitney Neal Photography

The cocktail hour and reception was held at The Pointe, a factory-turned-event-space decorated with an assortment of antique furnishings and cherished family treasures such as candles, vases, and glassware.

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A Touch of Taxidermy

Whitney Neal Photography

A buck and bear head sourced from Actors Theater of Louisville greeted guests upon entering the reception space.

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Art From the Attic

Whitney Neal Photography

Still-life and landscape artwork borrowed from a local theater hung on walls to create an eccentric ambience. The room was set up to resemble grandma’s attic, or as the bride’s mother puts it, “Miss Havisham’s parlor in Great Expectations.”

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Banjos and Bourbon

Whitney Neal Photography

To boost the informal country quirks, a local bluegrass trio, Fresh Cut Grass, played while guests enjoyed appetizers and sipped on a selection of bourbons from a tasting station.

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Serve Yourself

Whitney Neal Photography

Locally sourced foods from Wiltshire Pantry were served in hammered copper bowls and hand-painted china. Calligraphed cards identified each food item on the buffet table.

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Family-Style Buffet

Whitney Neal Photography

Friends and relatives gathered round the table after helping themselves to favorite Southern comforts like grilled hanger steak, creamy grits, braised greens, and brown-butter-roasted winter squash.

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The Centerpieces

Whitney Neal Photography

A mix of tables from Essential Details were covered in white linens and topped with brass candles, fruit, and floral centerpieces of garden roses, poppies, fringe tulips, protea, scabiosa, carnations, sweet peas, privet berries, hyacinth, and geranium leaves.

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The Guest Book

Whitney Neal Photography

Get More Guest Book Ideas From Real Weddings

Loved ones left heartfelt notes in a leather-bound album bought on the Etsy shop Crearting.

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The First Dance

Whitney Neal Photography

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Sidney and Dane swayed under the string lights and greenery to John Lennon’s “Real Love.”

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The Cake

Whitney Neal Photography

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Fresh flowers decorated the four-tiered vanilla cake created by Sweet Surrender.

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For Next Year’s Tree

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As the night came to an end, revelers were given ornaments printed with the couple’s favorite Bible verse: “From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.”

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Sources

Whitney Neal Photography

Photography: Whitney Neal

Location: Christ Church Cathedral; The Pointe

Event Planning and Floral Design: Jaclyn Journey

Catering: Wiltshire Pantry

Videography: Molly Roberson

Officiant: Jady Koch

Stationery: Hound Dog Press

Calligraphy: Rachel Fisher

Cake: Sweet Surrender

Music: Fresh Cut Grass Bluegrass Band

Rentals: Lancaster Court China Rentals; Essential Details; La Tavola Fine Linen; All Occasions Event Rental; Ballou’s Rental; Actor Theater

Hair: Hali B & Co

Makeup: Kristie Hicks

Transportation: R&R Limo

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Sidney and Dane’s Vintage-Inspired Kentucky Wedding

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The Couple

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The Stationery

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His Threads

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Bespoke Ensemble

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The Bouquet

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A Royal Headpiece

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Heirloom Jewelry

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Charming Country Girls

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All Aglow

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The First Look

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The Church

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A Bold Entrance

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Flags From Afar

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Personalized Processional

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The Blessing Service

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The Festivities

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A Touch of Taxidermy

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Art From the Attic

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Banjos and Bourbon

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Serve Yourself

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Family-Style Buffet

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The Centerpieces

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The Guest Book

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The First Dance

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The Cake

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For Next Year’s Tree