That bouquet! And just wait for the reception flowers! But I’m getting ahead of myself… Molly and Jeremy wanted a wedding that was rustic and warm, and once you see these photos by Cassidy Carson, I think you’ll agree that they succeeded.

Says the bride, “I loved our venue because it allowed us to have the ceremony and reception in one venue. The ceremony and cocktail hour were held downstairs, and the reception was held upstairs. Because we had a lot of out of town guests, this made it especially easy on those who didn’t know their way around Dallas.”

I asked Molly what her favorite part of the day was: “Absolutely, hands down seeing Jeremy for the first time as I was coming down the aisle. I know that’s cliche, but truly, I’ve been dreaming of that moment for the past 22 years. I remember feeling so calm, so peaceful, before the curtains opened and I got to see Jeremy. As my favorite hymn ‘Before the Throne of God Above’ was playing, the curtains opened, and there he was! As cheesy as it sounds, I honestly felt like we were the only ones in the room. Just by the look on his face, I’ve never felt so loved and so cherished in all my life.”

DIY details included burlap chargers on the head table, tea-stained vintage linen napkins, and navy striped straws wrapped with little “cheers” flags.

The wedding cake was strawberry with buttercream frosting, and the groom’s cake was Oreo with chocolate peanut butter frosting. There were also mini pie pops and Auburn University cookies.

“My husband and I both went to school in Auburn, Alabama. I didn’t do a college-themed wedding, but I did want to bring the South to our big day. Nothing showy, gaudy, or flashy. I wanted simple, rustic, natural and warm. I wanted our guests to feel welcomed. To go along with this inspiration, I used boocoodles of flowers, burlap, navy gingham, mason jars and twine to decorate. We also had a southern-inspired menu that didn’t disappoint!”

SEE THE FULL GALLERY FOR EVEN MORE FLORAL INSPIRATION FROM THIS DALLAS WEDDING.

 

Why did you choose this location for your wedding?  I chose 333 First Avenue primarily because I felt it fit the theme of the wedding. When I imagined my wedding, I wanted it to look rustic, southern, and romantic. I loved the white-washed walls and timber framing throughout the venue. I loved that I had a clean slate to work with, which allowed me to fill the space and decorate it just the way I wanted. I also chose 333 First Avenue because my older sister got married there. We’re hoping that our other sister (we’re a family of three girls) gets married there, too! Kind of goes with the “333″ theme, right?

Did you include any traditions in your wedding?  Of course I did the “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.” I also included a tradition from my mom’s side of the family, and I used it as my “something old.” Whenever a girl gets married on my mom’s side of the family, the grandmother puts a sixpence in her shoe for good luck, health, wealth, and other blessings!

What was the best advice you received as a bride?  The best advice I received as a bride was to plan for the marriage, not the wedding. As much fun as planning a wedding is, and as important as that day is, it is only one day – your marriage is for the rest of your life.

What advice do you have for other brides?  Honestly, I would give the same advice I received! Plan for the marriage, not the wedding. But another piece of advice I would give a bride is to accept the help of others. One person simply cannot plan a wedding on her own. When a bride tries to take full control of her wedding and feels the need to have a tight grip on every little detail, she’s bound to lose her mind. Pick your battles! Decide what you want to plan and take care of, and delegate other tasks and decisions to other people.

Photography: Cassidy Carson / Venue: 333 First Avenue in Dallas, Texas / Dress: Casablanca / Shoes: RSVP / Earrings: J.Crew / Suit: Michael Kors / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Floral Designer: Bows & Arrows / Rentals: Shag-Carpet, Celebration Event Rentals / Catering: Two Sisters Catering / Cake: Christie McCabe, Daily Dose of Sweet / Stationery: Paper Source, Covenant Printing, Emily Edwards

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