This wedding will undoubtedly steal your heart like it did mine. Sarah and Cedric have a romance that has spanned the globe and we really took that idea to heart when planning the details of their big day. These two started their love story in France — Sarah was teaching for the summer before heading back to the States and met a sweet Frenchmen <<enter Cedric>>. Their romance blossomed and many travels and international moves later they were engaged and ready to plan a proper Southern wedding in Sarah’s home state of North Carolina. Sarah and Cedric selected the antebelleum style Belmont Estate in Reidsville, NC as the backdrop for their big day and we quickly got to work planning their big day!
Sarah wanted to embrace the fall setting with a color palette of deep wine red, metallic gold, blush, and cream. The Farmer’s Wife created beautiful floral designs that really helped drive our color vision and balance the elegance of the estate with the natural, organic feel Sarah loves in flowers.
A first look is one of my favorite moments of the wedding day, but is not always the right fit for every couple. Sarah and Cedric choose to do a first touch so they could say hello and calm some nerves without taking away from the first time they would see each other at the ceremony. So sweet!
We decided to forgo the traditional flower girl and ring bearer roles and opted for flag bearers instead. Sarah’s adorable niece and nephew were the perfect duo for the job!
The grand front steps to Belmont are the perfect setting for a wedding ceremony. It was very important to Sarah and Cedric that their ceremony be as bilingual as possible so their mix of guests from the States and France could all understand and appreciate every word. Readings were said in both languages and the minister read their vows to them in English while Sarah and Cedric repeated them in French. It was so personal and touching.
Southern elegance at it’s finest!
I still swoon for this adorable amour cake topper! It was the perfect accent to the delicately iced cake. For our table design, we went for a balance of classic elegance and understated fall touches. The natural floral designs and warm pops of wine in the napkins and blooms were the perfect accent!
You cannot have a travel inspired wedding and not incorporate a globe or map! I translated their wanderlust into a glove for a guest book and this beautiful map with mini flag escort cards to guide guests to their seats. The map was my gift to Sarah and Cedric and now hangs in their apartment as a reminder to their wedding day.
Sarah and Cedric’s love for travel and their worldwide romance really drove our design for the day from the Love Knows No Borders cocktail napkins (with gold foil!) to their gold metallic Madame and Monsieur chair signs to their Oui koozies.
The best part of the night was by far the send off. We offered guests a mix of French and American flags to wave as Sarah and Cedric departed for their honeymoon. While we were finalizing the last few details before sending the newlyweds through a tunnel of their nearest and dearest, the guests began an impromptu sing along of the French national anthem followed by The Star Spangled Banner. It was so fun and sweet and definitely one of my top ten wedding memories.
Sarah and Cedric, thank you for sharing your day with the LPW team and I! So glad to call you both as well as your families life long friends. XOXO
Featured on Style Me Pretty | Planning + Event Design: Leigh Pearce Weddings | Photography: Boonetown Story | Venue + Catering: The Belmont Estate | Floral Design: The Farmers Wife | Rentals: Partymakers | DJ: Complete Music | Bridal gown: Justin Alexander | Bridesmaid Dresses: Bill Levkoff | Cake: Delicious Bakery | Hair + Makeup: Carla White
