I always love when photographers submit a full back story on the couple on their couples. It's always so touching to hear how their love stories began. Reese Moore captured Katie & Blake's Military wedding at Magnolia Plantation and not only are you going to enough all the beauitful images but you'll love hearing the heartwarming details of how their relationship started. Katie, a Lieutenant in the Navy, & Blake, a Captain in the Marine Corps, met while on deployment in Cuba. As their friendship grew, both quickly realized the meaningful relationship that was forming.
From Katie: "I received my wedding dress through a charitable organization called Brides Across America that provides designer gowns to military members or the spouses that have recently been deployed. Since Blake and I are both active duty and were both deployed last year we were qualified to receive a dress. I attended the BoA event at a salon called Poffie Girls - my mother and grandmother flew down to attend the event with me. I was given a dress at no charge on the spot - it was a Maggie Sottero gown - fit like a glove and needed no alterations!
The centerpieces and cake were both initials/carving to go with the rustic outdoor theme. My father had a friend custom make the center piece boxes with our initials. DeClare smade that amazing and tasty cake!
My father and Blake are both Marines - so we chose to have a sword arch. It is a tradition to have the sword arch as a way to welcome the bride into the Marine Corps family. At the end of the arch, the 2 Marines block the exit until the bride and groom share a kiss. As they depart they issue the bride a swat on the bottom and welcome her to the family.
Since we are both active duty military... Blake is a Captain in the Marine Corps and I am a Lieutenant in the Navy - we chose to give our ring bearers something special to wear. We had dog tags made for each of them. The had the name, master of bride/groom rings and the branch of service listed.
The man performing the ceremony was Captain Welsh. We were actually legally married that morning and had Capt Welsh speak at our wedding. Blake and I were both deployed to Guantanamo Bay and Capt Welsh was Blake's boss at that time. He and his wife Susan served as role models for us - they welcomed us into their home and were extremely supportive and loving.
The wedding hanky that my MOH gave me - it is an Irish wedding handkerchief that I gave to her on her wedding day in 2007. It is used on the wedding day, it captures your tears/love and then is used to make a bonnet for the babys christening. She gave it back to me for my wedding day. I used it for tears but also sweat... lol, it was so hot!! It's still a secret... buuuut she got pregnant while in CHS for our wedding. So now I get to give it back for her first baby and it will have all the love/tears (and some sweat) from both our weddings :) Kim and I have been friends for 23 years - she and my mom are known to cry easily (not me!) and so it was expected that she couldn't get through her speech - but also so perfect becuase it was more emotional this way!
We chose May 6th even though it was a Tuesday - my parents LeeAnn & Tim anniversary is May 6 1983, his parents Hope & Tim on May 6 1978.
The photo canvas that people signed as our guestbook - was a photo from our engagement. I love the movie the Notebook. Blake took me to Charleston, we went on a carriage ride and stopped in front of the American Cinema (used in the Notebook for their first date!), he had rented the marquee and had the proposal written on it. He also had a photographer there to capture the entire moment!
Photographer // Reese Moore Weddings // Venue: Magnolia Plantation and Gardens // Makeup Artist: Bellelina // Dress Store: Poffie Girls // Hair Stylist: Serendipity Salon & Boutique // Event Planner: B. Gourmet Catering // Florist: Wildflowers Inc. // Caterer: B. Gourmet Catering // Musicians: Classical Charleston // Cake Designer: DeClare Cakes // Equipment Rentals: Eventworks // Dress Designer: Maggie Sottero // Bar: MIX Premier Bartending // Entertainment: Pinnacle Light and Sound
