While Mattie admits she has been working on a wedding Pinterest board for years, she had some trouble deciding on her gown. “Since I’ve always loved fashion, I thought I’d know exactly what I wanted to wear. But once I started trying on dresses, it wasn’t as easy as I expected,” she says. “I went shopping with my mom, sister, and mother-in-law, and even bought a dress then, but later realized it wasn’t the one.” The bride decided to go into a bridal salon on her own and discovered a drop-waist gown by Jenny Yoo. Mattie remembers that she “instantly connected” with it to wear as her wedding day look. “I added a few meaningful details, too: my mom’s vintage Ralph Lauren earrings, a veil by Pronovias, and my engagement ring that once belonged to Zack’s grandmother,” she shares. As for the groom? “Zack had it a little easier; he wore a custom black Billy Reid suit,” says Mattie.
The bride and groom spent the morning of the big day getting ready with their wedding parties. They decided not to do a first look, and leave the big reveal to when Mattie headed down the aisle. “The ceremony was by the creek, across a little walking bridge from the main house. We had church pews set up to form an aisle that led to a big oak tree covered in the most beautiful flowers,” shares Mattie. The ceremony was a family affair, with Zack’s uncle Lee opening the proceedings with a prayer and Mattie’s uncle John officiating. “We chose him because we’ve always looked up to him and his marriage, and we trusted he would make it special—and he did,” she says. During the ceremony, the couple admits they were nervous with all eyes on them. “We kept looking at each other and squeezing each other’s hands the whole time, and that made us feel steady and present,” says the bride.
After they said “I do,” the newlyweds spent cocktail hour taking photos together and with their families. The couple then spent a private moment together to connect and have a quick bite before diving into the reception. Dinner was held in front of a barn at long tables beneath the glow of string lights. As a nod to the couple’s Southern roots, Cajun favorites like jambalaya and etouffée were served. Then, they all headed indoors for a big dance party. “From the band to the flowers, everything was perfect, and we truly couldn’t imagine a better way to start our lives together,” says the bride.
The couple reflects on how lucky they felt to have their family, friends, and vendor team come together for such a wonderful event: “Looking back, what stands out most is how deeply loved we felt and how fortunate we are to have shared it all with such amazing people.”
