Southern Wedding at The Greenbrier

By Southern Living
Photo: Kate Headley

Catherine and Greg chose to host a Southern wedding with a twist in West Virginia.

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Their Story

Photo: Cooper Carras Photography

One of Catherine and Greg’s first dates was during a vast East Coast power outage, and the two spent the evening stargazing in Times Square. “It was one of the most special nights of my life,” recalls Catherine. Five years later, the two were on vacation in St. Bart’s with friends, and they swam from a boat to a remote beach where Greg surprised her with a proposal. “I couldn’t believe he swam all that way with the ring between his fingers,” says Catherine. The couple chose to host a Southern wedding with a twist at “America’s Resort”: West Virginia’s Greenbrier Hotel.

 

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Photographer: Cooper Carras Photography, coopercarras.com or 800/980-0889
 

 

 

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The Wedding Venue

Photo: Cooper Carras Photography

The Greenbrier resort has been welcoming guests since 1778.

 

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The Venue: The Greenbrier, greenbrier.com
Planner: Lauren Sells Walker

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The Girls

Photo: Cooper Carras Photography

On the morning of the wedding, Catherine invited her female guests to don white and join her on the croquet lawn.

 

 

 

 

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The Guys

Photo: Cooper Carras Photography

Greg spent the morning of the wedding shooting sporting clays with friends and family.

 

 

 

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Words of Wisdom

Photo: Cooper Carras Photography

“You get so involved during planning and think that everything must go perfectly or the day will be ruined,” says Catherine. “But you just have to do as much as you can and realize that things might go wrong, but still appreciate what has brought you to this special moment.”

 

 

 

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Best Advice You Were Given

Photo: Cooper Carras Photography

A friend of Catherine’s warned her that the wedding day would pass quickly, and she advised her to take mental snapshots throughout the day. “After spending so long planning and putting my heart and soul into every detail, it was hard to imagine how that could be,” she recalls.

 

 

 

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Special Touches

Photo: Cooper Carras Photography

Catherine’s twin sister, Aaron, gave her a handkerchief embroidered with a line from their late mother’s favorite musical, Gypsy.

 

 

 

 

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The Wedding Cake

Photo: Cooper Carras Photography

The pastry chef at The Greenbrier prepared the three-tiered cake with raspberry filling.

 

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Cake & Catering: The Greenbrier, greenbrier.com

 

 

 

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Wedding Favors

Photo: Cooper Carras Photography

Guests were given packages containing small tokens representing the bride’s home state of Kentucky and the groom’s home state of Rhode Island.

 

 

 

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The Wedding Party

Photo: Cooper Carras Photography

Catherine’s Royal Duchesse satin Amsale gown featured a crumb-catcher neckline.

 

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Wedding Gown & Veil: Amsale, amsale.com
Shoes: Stuart Weitzman, stuartweitzman.com 
Groom’s attire: Hugo Boss, hugoboss.com
Bridesmaids’ dresses: J.Crew, jcrew.com
Groomsmen’s ties: Brooks Brothers, brooksbrothers.com
Flowers: Gillespie’s Flowers & Productions, Inc., gillespiesflowers.com or 304/536-1881

 

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The View

Photo: Cooper Carras Photography

The Allegheny Mountains provided a striking backdrop for the weekend’s wedding festivities.

 

 

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Victorian Writing Room

Photo: Cooper Carras Photography

Catherine and Greg posed in the Victorian Writing Room, which was decorated by design legend Dorothy Draper.

 

 

 

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Southern Living Wedding Planner and Keepsake

Photo: Kate Headley

Check out our hot-off-the-press Southern Living Wedding Planner and Keepsake book for brides to be.

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