1. Real Weddings

A Casual Rustic Wedding at Kelly Green in Aly's Beach, Florida

Emily Drury (35, works in sales) and Russ Yeager (39, an entrepreneur) first met online through Match.com in 2011. “ I could just tell she was genuine

Emily Drury (35, works in sales) and Russ Yeager (39, an entrepreneur) first met online through Match.com in 2011. “ I could just tell she was genuine, sweet, and real and not to mention gorgeous!” says Russ. “Unfortunately, she quit responding to me.” Russ tried again two years later when he saw Emily for a second time on the site. This time he was able to get a first date and her phone number. They met for yoga. While Russ fell asleep during the meditation portion of the class, this did not spoil the date. “From the moment we first met it seemed as if we had known each other for years,” he says. “We laughed a lot and she was even more beautiful in person.” After the first date, Russ told his roommate he could see himself marrying Emily, he says. As their religious faith is an important part of the couple’s relationship, Russ proposed after he was baptised in 2014. It was also the one-year anniversary of their first date. He gave Emily a custom cedar box with an engraved bible verse. “There, in the midst of heart shaped pressed rose petals, was a diamond ring,” he says. “I immediately dropped to one knee and asked Emily to spend the rest of her life with me.” After she accepted, the couple continued the baptism and now engagement celebration with their families. The couple was wed five months later in Alys Beach, Florida, in front of 90 members of their friends and family.

Simple White and Gray Invitation Suite
The flower girls wore a white handmade floor-length dress from Etsy. Each paired it with baby’s breath flower crowns.
The couple’s ceremony was decorated with a large wooden cross at the head of the aisle. “It was simple and said that Christ was in the center of our marriage,” says Emily.
The groomsmen and groom wore charcoal gray suits from JoS. A. Bank with white shirts and purple ties. Russ stood out with a white satin tie.
The bridesmaids wore floor-length chiffon dresses from Bella Bridesmaids with different straps.
Emily chose a strapless Romona Keveza wedding dress with blush satin and an ivory lace overlay from Bridals by Lori in Atlanta, Georgia.
Emily carried a bouquet of pale yellow garden roses, yellow hypericum berries, dusty miller and assorted flowers in blush and white arranged by Fishers Flowers.
Emily and Russ wanted their guests to float from the coaches, to the dance floor and reception area with ease and comfort. The couple set up two living room areas around the reception with white couches, chairs and wooden top glass end tables and coffee tables, says Emily.
With a romantic atmosphere in mind, the couple decorated their reception space wood accents, hanging candles in mercury glass holders and string lighting.
Rose Centerpieces in Silver Bulb Vases
The couple chose a two-tier wedding cake from Sweet for Siren with chocolate icing, chocolate covered strawberries and a simple white “Just Married” topper. Other confections were also available for their guests.