1. Real Weddings

Emily & Ben: A Casual Wedding in Davidson, NC

A small, rustic church was a picturesque setting for Emily and Ben's nuptials, which were followed up by an outdoor reception at a historic estate. T

A small, rustic church was a picturesque setting for Emily and Ben's nuptials, which were followed up by an outdoor reception at a historic estate. The Bride Emily Moretz, 27 The Groom Ben Wells, 28 The Date June 4 Emily and Ben saw a lot of each other a few years ago. They waited at the same bus stop, worked out at the same gym, and interned at the same hospital (she as a speech pathologist, he as a physical therapist). “It got to the point of being awkward that we knew of each other in so many contexts but didn’t speak,” she remembers. When Emily finally broke the ice with a simple hi, Ben smiled, said the same, and boarded his bus. Little did Emily know that in a few weeks, he’d ask her out at the very same stop. Two-and-a-half years later, on a trip to Vermont, Emily joked about a surprise proposal. A perfectly calm Ben shrugged off the idea, joking that he’d keep her guessing. Imagine Emily’s (literal!) disbelief when, a few hours later, he kissed her under the stars and whispered the question in her ear. “I regret it so much now,” she says, “but I laughed and told him to shut up!” After a few moments, Emily realized Ben had taken her completely by surprise -- and she happily accepted.

The four-flavor, four-tier cake was covered in white rolled fondant, cut limes, the Emily and Ben’s monogram, pink and apricot roses, and cymbidium orchids. Each layer was wrapped with a turquoise and lime green ribbon.
Emily carried white and green hydrangeas, lady’s mantle, and cymbidium orchids.
Emily had seven bridesmaids, including college roommates, sorority sisters, and childhood friends. They wore strapless silk dupioni dresses in Adriatic blue by Watters & Watters. “I wish I had one for myself!” she says.
Emily had a hard time finding the perfect gown: She waited until four months before the wedding to buy it! “I wanted something elegant, simple, and sort of vintage-looking,” she says. “And since our day would be outdoorsy and the church was small, I didn’t want anything poufy or sparkly.” She finally had something custom-made to fit the bill -- an ivory gown with an empire waist and trumpet skirt. The bride completed the look with a lace-trimmed cathedral-length veil.
The small, rustic church where Emily and Ben married was established in 1753.
The First Dance