1. Real Weddings

Beth & Justin: An Outdoor Wedding in Vicksburg, MS

A love for music provided the backdrop to Beth's childhood, and brought she and Justin together -- of course their wedding would prove to be a hit! T

A love for music provided the backdrop to Beth's childhood, and brought she and Justin together -- of course their wedding would prove to be a hit! The Bride Elizabeth Young (known by all as Beth), 24, a cosmetologist The Groom Samuel Justin Rhodes (he goes by Justin), 26, a pharmacist The Date October 4 Justin's band, Max Cherry, provided him with a bit of spending money and a fun diversion while he finished up pharmacy school at Ole Miss, and it just so happened that they were quite popular in Monroe, Louisiana, where Beth was an undergrad at the university. The two flirted from afar for months, until Justin finally formally introduced himself to Beth. Soon after, she and her friends headed into Mississippi to see Max Cherry. Justin was telling me all about how awesome it was opening up for [soul singer] Percy Sledge the day before, but what he didn't know was that my father played drums for Percy Sledge before I was born! Beth says. The coincidence deepened her attraction to him, and the two soon began dating. The more they learned they had in common, the closer they became. And if both Justin and my dad being musicians wasn't enough, both he and my mother are pharmacists! Beth laughs. I never really set out to marry someone just like my parents, but I did! After two years of long-distance dating, Beth thought Justin was picking her up for another fun weekend away together in Dallas, one of their favorite getaways. She was right about the fun, but wrong about the destination. The couple headed east to Vicksburg, where Justin had made dinner reservation at Cedar Grove, a Civil War-era plantation home that now operates as a bed and breakfast. After dinner, the couple walked around the gardens, then Justin led Beth up to the balcony on the third floor to take in the view-and ask her to be his wife. The couple decided then and there that Cedar Grove would be the perfect place to hold their fall wedding a year later.

The Couple
For her nine bridesmaids, Beth chose coppery brown iridescent taffeta dresses by Lazaro that also included a side-tying sash in golden maize.
The reception, held in an adjoining part of the mansion's grounds, commenced immediately following the ceremony. Centerpieces of lilies and St. John's berries filled hollowed-out pumpkins, and smaller miniature pumpkins surrounding them had been carved out and held tea lights. Lanterns hanging from the trees added to the warm glow.
Beth and Justin exchanged their vows in an outdoor ceremony at dusk in the gardens at Cedar Grove, the same gardens they strolled on the day they became engaged. In fact, since the couple chose to take all of their photos prior to the ceremony, their photographer arranged for Beth and Justin to first see each other that day on the very balcony where Justin proposed. It was very special for him to see me there with my dress on, looking like the bride I'd always dreamed about, Beth says. It gave us time to talk, laugh, and cry together before the wedding. The bride walked down an aisle of yellow rose petals with lanterns, pumpkins, and gourds on either side, and the couple were wed beneath a brick arbor that had been decorated with curly willow, grape vine, leaves, and berries. As the newlyweds headed back up the aisle, guests threw fall leaves in celebration.
Beth walked down the aisle in an ivory duchesse satin strapless A-line gown with a rum colored sash and a chapel train. Embroidered flowers and leaves in autumnal hues cascaded down the tails of the sash.
Beth adorned her ivory satin heels by Dyeables with a pair of antique brooches that she found to give them a vintage look.
Beth's nosegay-style bouquet was resplendent with fall colored flowers, including mango calla lilies, red gerbera daisies, St. John's berries, champagne roses, and alstroemeria. Her maids carried bouquets of rust orange lilies and St. John's berries wrapped in brown satin ribbon, and the berries popped up yet again on all of the men's boutonnieres.
The Favors
For Justin's cake, the baker created a chocolate cake in the shape of a guitar, which was surrounded by cupcakes decorated with musical notes and symbols.
The wedding cake consisted of a four-tier buttercream, strawberry, and spice-filled cake adorned with fall leaves, berries, and fresh flowers between each tier.