Real Wedding: Bailey & Joel

September 14, 2013: Johnson Carriage House & Meadows

Johnson Carriage House & Meadows, with its mural-painted barns and picturesque horse paddocks, was the perfect venue for this gracious Southern bride to welcome the groom’s family from Los Angeles and Chicago. The bride walked down the aisle to a violinist and cellist from Lake Norman Strings. After communion by the bride’s childhood pastor, Byron Wicker, Bailey Holt and Joel Belko recited traditional vows but also wrote their own. “My favorite moment is standing there in the sunshine, surrounded by all our loved ones, listening to him say these beautiful things he had written,” says Bailey.

For their elegant, Old South reception inside the horse barn, interior designer Maggie Elliott designed blue and white runners with heirloom silver centerpieces and pitchers, overflowing with white and coral roses, and sterling trays of butler cards by Inspired Design. Food Junkies catering served the Western wanderers pulled-pork barbecue, fried okra, corn bread, blueberry cobbler, and key lime and pecan pies beside the two-tiered carrot cake by Cake Lady Jill.

The bride and groom danced to “Once in a Lifetime” by Landon Austin before Split Second Sound got everyone on the dance floor. The newlyweds departed by a 1960 Rolls Royce from Royal Rides for their St. Lucia honeymoon of horseback riding on the beach, snorkeling, and beach lounging.