A Vintage Southern Wedding at a Private Residence in Gainesville, Florida

Jessica Dexter (32, a psychiatric nurse practitioner at North Carolina Elderly Psychiatric Services) and Gregory Stone (38, a senior account executive at Gartner) met at a mutual friend’s christmas party. The couple went on their first date one week later. After about two years of long-distance dating between San Diego, California and Virginia Beach, Virginia, and more than three years of dating total, Greg proposed. “After dinner he asked me what I wanted to do. I responded, “I don’t know. What do you want to do?” says Jessica. “Then he walked over with the ring, kneeled down, and stated, “I want to marry you.” He gave her a custom rose gold ring designed by Charles Knoll in San Diego, California. They were wed one year later at Greg’s parent’s home in Gainesville, Florida. “Greg and I really wanted to have a wedding that was deeply personal and reflected what was most important to us, which is our southern roots and family,” says Jessica. The couple incorporated this notion and their prairie location directly into the wedding. “To unify the whole theme, we incorporated a 500 year-old oak tree as our backdrop in the ceremony, as a metaphor in our vows, and as a symbol on all our stationery,” says Jessica. Her and Greg celebrated their wedding with 150 family members and friends. To ensure the day’s atmosphere was relaxed for their guests, Jessica and Greg asked them to wear southern attire. They were also given cocktails prior to the ceremony “to get the celebration going from the start,” says Jessica.