This Wedding in the Bride’s Hometown of Atlanta Was Inspired by The Age of Innocence

When it came to the bride’s wedding wardrobe, her rehearsal dinner dress was the first look that she locked in. “I knew I wanted to be super comfortable and in something totally different from what I was wearing the next night,” Sara explains. “When I found this vintage Valentino dress with tags still attached in the depths of the internet I knew I had to have it, and it truly feels like something I will rewear for years. I paired the look with magenta satin Louboutins and amethyst earrings gifted by my most special aunt and uncle.”

For the ceremony, Sara wore a custom Hill House Bridal gown. “Designing my wedding dress was an absolute dream!” Sara says. “I knew pretty much what I wanted before going into everything, and it makes me so happy that everyone says the dress was so ‘me.’” The gown was an homage to Sara’s love of Audrey Hepburn—particularly the iconic dress from Funny Face—with subtle nods to her own ballet background. She designed the gown alongside the Hill House team in New York, many of whom she has been collaborating with for years, making the process particularly special.

“Emily Irving, our head of design, was instrumental in the ruching of the chest and fabric sourcing; and Michael Challita, a long-time collaborator, perfected and executed the vision,” Sara says. The gown was made almost entirely of an Italian stretch tulle that provided the perfect amount of body and lightness. Ruched layers of tulle created a cap-sleeved turtleneck layered over a satin bodice, with tulle covered buttons cascading down the back. The dress was drop waist and had a separate crinoline underneath to create the ballgown silhouette. Since she was set on a turtleneck, the team worked to modernize the silhouette to keep it fresh. She loved that it ultimately felt like a deconstructed gown, which comes through in the raw-edge ruffle detail on the sleeves and the custom veil cut from the same material. Her “something borrowed” were the Charlotte Olympia heels worn by Nell Diamond at her 2014 wedding, while her “something blue” was a pair of sapphire and diamond earrings gifted by Alexander.

“My second look started with a John Galliano necklace I found with Nell at the beginning of my engagement at Marché aux Puces outside of Paris,” Sara explains. “Michael and I adapted the neckline of a fabulous Rodarte sequin dress to sit perfectly with the necklace, and for an extra flair, I wore a tulle Rodarte bolero. I have always been obsessed with Rodarte, so I was just thrilled to wear them!” She accessorized the look with aqua satin Aquazzura sandals and a diamond tennis bracelet.

Her third look was the trickiest to find. “I explored so many vintage options and actually had a brocade mini ready to go, but I knew it wasn’t quite right,” Sara explains. “The week before my wedding, this Alessandra Rich set came on Net-a-Porter, and I ordered it on the spot! It fit like a glove, no alterations, such a sign! I frequently scour The RealReal for Charlotte Olympia shoes as she is my absolute favorite, and I was delighted to find her watermelon design in the perfect matching palette.”

Finally, the look Sara wore at her bridesmaid’s luncheon was a tribute to her mother. There, she wore her aunt’s bridesmaid dress from her parents’ wedding in 1990—paired with cream Valentino heels and the pearl and diamond earrings her mother wore on her wedding day. Known for always wearing a bow, Sara accessorized her ponytail with a pink satin ribbon from a wedding gift she received that morning. “As fate would have it, it matched the luncheon’s tablecloths perfectly,” she says.

Meanwhile, Alexander, whose style the bride describes as “classic prep” wore a mix of H. Stockton and Brooks Brothers for the events. “He loved his change into a white jacket and blue cummerbund and bowtie for the reception!” Sara adds.

Getting the ceremony right was one of the most important elements for the bride. “Growing up in a traditional Episcopal church, I absolutely love the pomp and circumstance,” she says. “The ceremony began with strings, the interlude ending with Max Richter’s ‘Autumn 3’ in honor of my aunt and mother who were instrumental in the entire wedding process. The choir, clergy, and bridal party then processed into ‘Praise My Soul the King of Heaven,’ my favorite hymn. During the ceremony we had additional tributes in our music selection which I spent weeks on! I have been joking about what my Spotify Wrapped will look like at the end of this year.”

To honor her late grandmother, Sara and her mother reimagined the church exit, creating a floral archway that passed by her resting place. The florals—lilies, orchids, hydrangeas, and garden roses—filled the space with color. Sara and her bridesmaids carried Gloriosa lilies, while the men’s boutonnieres featured green hellebores, a tribute to longtime neighbors who gifted Sara’s family dozens of hellebore plants for their garden.

“The ceremony actually began with a little mishap from my dad,” Sara says. “He accidentally said that ‘my mother and I’ were giving me away. It ended up setting the tone for the whole evening. Formal and deeply special, but sprinkled with the kind of funny, imperfect moments that made everything feel so perfectly ‘us.’”

As the newlyweds exited the church, bells chimed and guests tossed rose petals while Sara and Alexander drove off in a friend’s pale blue 1967 Mercedes 250 SE convertible. “Hilariously, the car didn’t start on the first try, but I don’t think anyone noticed other than me and the family that loaned me the car—we locked eyes in fear!”

Once at the Capital City Country Club, guests were greeted with a jazz quartet, cocktails, and an hors d’oeuvres table featuring a raw bar, southern favorites, and artichoke swans. The solarium was transformed into a lush garden with orchids, palms, and moss-covered dragonflies suspended from the ceiling. “A member of Britt’s talented team crafted these in their studio,” Sara says. “I believe one was over eight feet!” Then, Sara and Alexander’s first dance—to Harry Connick Jr.’s “It Had to Be You”—was an apt ode to their on-again-off-again relationship over the years.

Following dinner, the couple cut their wedding cake adorned with bluebirds and lilies, surrounded by towers of fruit—lemons, grapes, blueberries, and cherry tomatoes. As the night continued, Sara and her bridesmaids revived their beloved “Proud Mary” dance tradition on stage, while guests indulged in cigars and Virginia Slims in silver bowls on the terrace.

For the after-party, Sara changed once more, into a hot pink metallic tweed set by Alessandra Rich with Charlotte Olympia watermelon heels. Servers passed chinoiserie trays chock-full of costume jewelry—pearls, tiaras, and gemstone rings—as the band led guests into the Green Room to Stevie Wonder’s “Sir Duke.” Chicken biscuits—Alexander’s favorite—and espresso martinis kept the crowd dancing late into the night.