Photo: Amber Gress1/36We had our friend Winfield create the invitations, menus, and signage. He is brilliant and did such an amazing job.
Photo: Amber Gress2/36This is the first thing you see upon reaching the end of an unassuming road with no cell service or signs directing you. The Foxfire Mountain House feels as if it’s from another world.
Photo: Amber Gress3/36The living room at the Foxfire has an abundance of velvet furniture, perfectly soft lighting, a cozy stone fireplace, and a crackling record player.
Photo: Amber Gress4/36My Yolan Cris wedding gown. It fit me perfectly. The high neck had a Victorian feel, but the low back gives it a bohemian twist.
Photo: Amber Gress5/36My Mociun engagement rings and our bands.
Photo: Amber Gress6/36My father’s side of the family is Greek, and my parents were married in the Greek church. While Justin and I aren’t religious, we wanted to incorporate some Greek traditions into our ceremony.
The Stefana symbolizes the joining of the two souls and the creation of a new household, in which the bride and groom are charged to rule wisely and with full responsibility to each other. This is the same Stefana my parents wore at their own wedding.
Photo: Amber Gress7/36I had this vintage Levi's jacket embroidered to read Till Death Do Us Part with our wedding date on the bottom hem. My shoes were pink suede Loeffler Randals with thick 5-inch heels.
Photo: Amber Gress8/36My bouquet was created by Farmhand Flowers.
Photo: Amber Gress9/36I was so incredibly moved when my flower girl, Winter, saw me in my wedding dress and held out her arms to me. For months we had been explaining to her that only she and I got to wear special white dresses.
I didn’t even care about wrinkling my dress, I went ahead and picked her up, I’d carry that baby to the end of the world if she wanted me to.
Photo: Amber Gress10/36Justin's Ted Baker London suit.
Photo: Amber Gress11/36Justin lacing up his Ted Baker London shoes.
Photo: Amber Gress12/36This was right before we saw each other for the first time on our wedding day.
Photo: Amber Gress13/36This photo feels like the calm before the storm.
Photo: Amber Gress14/36Tim and Eliza were nice enough to let me pick out rugs from the inn’s many rooms. We used the vintage runners instead of flowers to create the aisle and had two beautiful urns at the end so we knew when to stop walking.
Photo: Amber Gress15/36I loved my veil from Hushed Commotion. Ever since I was little I wanted to wear a full veil—veils are so moody and dramatic.
Photo: Amber Gress16/36Winter made it halfway down the aisle in my sister’s arms, but once she locked eyes with her mom she broke out in the largest grin and ran the rest of the way.
Photo: Amber Gress17/36My father is one of my best friends; he is the most phenomenal man I know. Having him walk me down the aisle was incredibly emotional.
Photo: Amber Gress18/36My dad and I were both crying by the time we made it to the end.
Photo: Amber Gress19/36Nick, Justin’s Koumbaro (otherwise known as best man), placed the Stefana on our heads. He is the reason Justin and I are together, and it was so meaningful that he was there to help us carry out these beautiful traditions.
Photo: Amber Gress20/36Placing the rings on our fingers.
Photo: Amber Gress21/36First kiss as husband and wife. I went for seconds.
Photo: Amber Gress22/36Somebody was supposed to take the Stefana off our heads, but we were all so wrapped up we completely forgot and walked all the way back from the aisle with it still on. When we got to the end, we looked at each other and started laughing. We did not remember a single thing from our rehearsal.
Photo: Amber Gress23/36I wanted it to feel magical under the tent. I had dreamt of lush greens, sparkling lights, and tables that creaked because they were overflowing with food.
Photo: Amber Gress24/36We held hands almost all evening. It’s so easy to loose track of one another when there are that many loved ones around. Holding hands kept us connected and grounded the entire night.
Photo: Amber Gress25/36The little gazebo by the lily pond was the perfect place to catch a breath during cocktail hour.
Photo: Amber Gress26/36The macramé table runners were my favorite touch.
Photo: Amber Gress27/36The oak tables were complemented by the natural ceramic plates.
Photo: Amber Gress28/36My mother and father made the most beautiful speech full of the best advice we could have asked for. This is one of my favorite photographs from the wedding because you can see the love and admiration we have for my parents.
Photo: Amber Gress29/36We’ve been dancing together since 2010 but we still could have used a little practice. Regardless of our moves, we were so calm and happy swaying to “Strangers” by The Kinks.
Photo: Amber Gress30/36We ate so well that night.
Photo: Amber Gress31/36My friend and phenomenal baker, Brittany, founded the company Taartwork. She created three cakes for us, and they tasted even better than they looked. There was not a single piece left by the end of the night.
Photo: Amber Gress32/36We got to dance our way to cake under an archway of sparklers.
Photo: Amber Gress33/36The cake cutting!
Photo: Amber Gress34/36The quote “If music be the food of love, play on” lit up the gazebo and lily pond.
Photo: Amber Gress35/36I’ve been dancing in a circle with these girls since middle school and our moves have not changed a bit.
Photo: Amber Gress36/36This kiss, at the end of the night, with all of our loved ones behind us.
