Today’s feature covers the sweet, sentimental, and family-oriented destination wedding of Emily and Alex. The duo wed on Sept. 3rd this year (the ever popular Labor Day Weekend, a perfect time for a destination wedding). The darling Boston-based couple said “I do” on a farm (Hodgin Valley Farm) in Pleasant Garden, North Carolina, the bride’s home state. 
With only five months to plan the festivities, the couple leaned on family and friends for a little (well, a lot) of help. Emily explains, “As we were looking for locations to get married a close friend and an integral part of the wedding planning process, remembered Hodgin Valley Farm and found out that it was available around the time we were planning to get married! We saw pictures and fell in love with the location. My parents made a quick visit to the farm before we settled once and for all. It was gorgeous, accommodating for both the bride and groom’s family to stay for the wedding weekend, and right in the heart of North Carolina.”
The beautiful garden ceremony incorporated the natural palette around them – whites, greens, and lavender. And what ceremony is complete without a horse-drawn carriage, right?!?!
I love this photo, it’s as if they are the only two people in the world…meanwhile many loved ones await their reception arrival nearby.
For the reception, the couple wanted to keep with the theme of the venue and they enlisted more help from friends and family to make it so. “We loved all the personal touches that went into our wedding day. With a lot of help from a close friend of mine we came up with the concept of a rustic chic, romantic/nostalgic wedding on the farm. A lot of hard work went into all the details.”
But the wedding concept and venue wasn’t the only detail loved ones got involved in. The wedding itself was filled with personal details made by friends and family!
The invitations, wedding programs and all the signage around the reception were made by a friend of the bride who has her own business designing and creating prints. 
“My mother made the flower girl and junior bridesmaid dresses (the same fabric used for the sashes on the flower girl dresses were used in the actual wedding invitations). And she made the lavender and queen ann’s lace floral decorations for the reception!”
On the menu was an array of southern food to represent the bride’s heritage while the groom’s mother and family made Brazilian appetizers and desserts to represent their culture. 
“The quilt toppers used on the cake table were made by hand by my great-great grandmother and the cake toppers were made by Alex!” We love that the groom got involved in the DIY of their big day too!
With the help of Etsy artists, family, good friends, and even the groom, this personal wedding had lots of details made with even more of love!
Congratulations Emily and Alex!
Destination Wedding Photographer: Alexa’s Photography
Wedding Vendors: Wedding Dress: Casablanca Bridal, Wedding Venue: Hodgin Valley Farm, Florist: Plants and Answers, Catering & Cake: Iron Hen, Hair & Makeup: Carla White, Bridesmaid Dresses: Ann Taylor Loft, Banana Republic, Mod Cloth, Officiant: Felipe Assis, Bridesmaid Jewelry: Etsy artist Anthology, Shoes: TOMS, Bride’s Facinator: Misunbridal on Etsy, Cake Toppers: Made by the Groom
What a stunning and beautiful wedding. I haven’t words to explain it and Good luck to both if you.
http://www.weddingsmanuelantonio.com
Lovable wedding., Congratulations to the both of you.
Thanks for the feature, Harmony! This post just made some newlyweds very happy :)