I was quite open about my envy of European newlyweds and their infinite choice of beautiful and historical places and cathedrals. Take a look at this great list of places in Italy.
But what if I told you that you can realize an old European wedding magic in your own garden? If you live in the south of America, this is true. Barnsley Resort, a beautiful vacation spot with ruins and a stately home in Georgia, is our dream home wedding, and we have the perfect real wedding to inspire you all.
Photographed by Shauna Veasey, Sara and Lee’s celebration in Georgia looked like a destination wedding weekend, with stunning rustic charm and countless parties and outings.
Location and planning
We knew we wanted an organic outdoor ceremony and a place where our friends and families could spend the weekend together. As soon as we found Barnsley, we knew it was perfect for us. It is absolutely beautiful and a unique place! We chose a very simple color palette to complete the gardens of the ruins where we had our ceremony and reception. We didn’t want to take anything from its natural beauty.
Since many of our guests would travel long distances, we wanted to make sure they had plenty to do on weekends, and Barnsley has tons of activities for their guests (golf, hiking, horseback riding, etc.). It really is an oasis in the middle of Georgia.
Photography
Shauna is just awesome! I love his style. It was important to us that our photographer was someone we felt comfortable with, and from the first time we met Shauna, we felt like friends forever.
Favorite moments
There were so many unforgettable moments of the day! Seeing Lee’s face as I walked down the aisle is a moment I will never forget. It was like time had stopped and we were the only two people there.
We decided to have a friend to order our wedding, which I’m so happy we did. It was natural and comforting to have someone who knows us personally to marry us. In addition, writing our own wishes to each other made this moment even more important for us.
The speeches of our friends and family at the rehearsal dinner were all so authentic and memories that we will cherish forever. We decided to give the speeches on the evening of the rehearsal, because it was more devoted to share these stories with a smaller group. My father’s speech on the wedding day was also incredibly special for me. It was obvious that he thought about it a lot and he totally did it!
Also, Lee and I took a moment at the front desk just after dinner to look around the room to look at all of our guests and see how blessed we really are to have friends and family who are so supportive.
Advice For other couples
Relax and enjoy it! The day goes by so fast, so enjoy every moment. Take a moment to observe all your guests in the room and think about how much they are loved. It will probably be the only time all these people will be in the same room. And EAT the cake!
Moon
We went to Sugar Beach in St Lucia for our honeymoon and we had the most incredible time. It was the perfect combination of relaxation and adventure. The staff at the resort was so nice and turned in four to greet us in some way. Lee surprised me the last time we were there with a private chef-inspired dinner on the beach!