What happens on your wedding day when you are a traditionalist from the south and your fiancé is a straight laced east coastie? Your two halves marry together to create one stunningly stylish and easy going event! This southern comfort meets east coast chic wedding day as both the fun southern traditions, like burying the burbon, as well as a clean and crisp style that we have come to associate with our coastal friends on the east side of the States.
Keep scrolling to see more of this beautiful day that Ashley Cox Photography captured so beautifully and don’t forget to stop by the full gallery to find even more delightful south+east mashups!
Two Ideas in One Day
I had always had a pretty clear vision for my wedding and thank goodness my fiancé was accommodating! Growing up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Rick definitely mentioned a waterfront ceremony, tents, docks and crabs a time or two. However, the Virginia countryside was always in my heart. For our wedding day, I wanted to feel lost (in the best kind of way) in the rolling hills with the Blue Ridge Mountains as our backdrop.
Clear Skies Thanks To A Southern Tradition
Panorama Farms just outside of Charlottesville was the ultimate rustic, secluded spot filled with natural beauty. I fell in love with the old barn and the sweeping, open landscape. The day of our wedding we had all kinds of weather, but just in time for the ceremony, the clouds parted and the sun came out to shine on our vows.
One of my favorite moments was digging up the bourbon which is a tradition I highly recommend to all brides, superstitious or not. There’s something hilarious about seeing your mom and your best friend swig from the same bottle!
Tradition Explained: Bury The Burbon
Southern folklore says that if you bury a bottle of bourbon at the site where the bride and groom are to be married, then it won’t rain on their wedding day. According to many believers, this must be done exactly one month before the wedding, the bottle must be completely full and it must be buried upside down in order for it to keep the rain away. Thanks Southern Weddings for giving us the scoop!
Busted Bustle But Not Bummed
After we were officially married we took pictures in the hay fields, toasted with Rosé and Spicy Moscow mules and started the walk down the long dirt road to the barn. I managed to completely break the bustle of my couture wedding gown, dragging it through the gravel and hayfields, but thankfully I had a team of experts on hand to fix it up for dancing.
Inside the barn we were delighted by cascading florals and twinkling lights. We danced, dined and toasted to our love and our loved ones who came out to celebrate. In the end we were married and off to the greatest adventure of all..the next 50+ years of life as The Mielkes.
