A mutual love of their dogs and hiking made Tony and Megan swipe right, which led to a date with their pups for a hike in Jemison Park in Mountain Brook, Alabama. Their connection was instant, and so were the sparks! Before long, Megan knew she’d found her person—Tony’s character and heart had her at hello! Says Megan, “I knew Tony was ‘the one’ because I knew that a life without him would be a life I could not imagine.” Her description of how they fit together so perfectly has us feeling the feels!
After getting engaged in one of the sweetest ways (in Jackson Hole, and their families were there!), Megan and Tony set about planning their Greensboro wedding. Together they chose the Phillips Chapel at Canterbury School as the ceremony site and the cool Cadillac Service Garage for the place to celebrate. Meanwhile, Megan set about finding her gown and wound up with her custom Lea-Ann Belter on her first stop of the weekend at Carriage House Weddings!
There are so many lovely details throughout their day that convey their story and personalities, but by far the cutest was their special drink list (complete with miniature portraits!) in honor of their three large dogs. Learn more about their day, and get some excellent planning advice from Megan below:
How did you know Tony was “the one”?
“As my mother pointed out when my family first met him, Tony is so easy and pleasant to be around. He is humble, caring, patient, and kind. His Type B personality perfectly complements my Type-A. He calms my storm if you will. He helps me reason with things out of my control, and he encourages me to put things into perspective when I am overwhelmed. Tony has dealt with many of life’s challenges and the loss of loved ones far sooner than anyone should. I believe these experiences have changed his views on life in terms of what he prioritizes. He values quality time with family, friends, and our dogs. He also places importance on things that he knows are important to me. I knew Tony was ‘the one’ because I knew that a life without him would be a life I could not imagine. I cannot wait for what the future has in store for us as a family!”
wedding dress: custom Lea-Ann Belter gown via Carriage House Weddings | photographer: Alexa Stutts Photography | full vendor list at bottom
How did you guys get engaged?
“Tony knows how important family means to me and how much I love Jackson Hole, Wyoming. He surprised me with his proposal while we were all together there in July 2020. My sister had asked me if I wanted her to take pictures of Tony and me on the property by the pond (my favorite spot), and I refused to go because I was in dinner clothes and didn’t want to ruin my shoes. I agreed to take pictures in the backyard’s landscaped area, and little did I know that Tony would be getting down on one knee! My entire family was in on it because Tony had called everyone individually to ask for their permission. My parents had made dinner reservations for that night to celebrate our engagement, and here I thought we were going out to a nice dinner because it was the one night of our vacation that everyone was going to be there!”
How did you choose your gown?
“I made three appointments one weekend that my mother and sister were able to travel from North Carolina to Alabama to help me find my dress. My first appointment was at Carriage House in Mountain Brook, AL. My consultant, Kelly Michelle, was wonderful. She brought me dresses I would never have picked and opened my eyes to different styles and patterns. I tried on a Lea-Ann Belter gown and fell in love with the floral pattern of the skirt but was concerned I was too “busty” for the top. Kelly Michelle spoke highly of Lea-Ann Belter and said that she could ask if she could design a different top that would be more flattering for my physique. To my surprise, Lea-Ann Belter said she could absolutely make this happen! I was elated and knew that I would feel comfortable, confident, and gorgeous in the most beautiful gown on my wedding day! Needless to say, I canceled my two other appointments for the weekend and got to spend it with my mother and sister shopping and dining in town!”
Tell us about your day!
“We were married in Phillips Chapel at Canterbury School in Greensboro, North Carolina. I attended Canterbury from 2nd – 8th grade and was in the class that was first to graduate in the Chapel (previously graduation had been held in the gym), so it was really special to have the ceremony there. The wedding party rode on a trolley to the reception venue, and guests were transported by bus.
Our style was classic, airy, bright, and whimsical. The reception venue was Cadillac Service Garage in Greensboro, North Carolina. It is exactly what it sounds like – a historic Cadillac service garage. It underwent a complete transformation/renovation to host a myriad of events. It has a rustic modern feel with exposed brick, black and white checkered floors in the “Show Room,” and a loft area with one of its two bars overlooking the dining area and dance floor. The coral, white, and green florals, the floating candles, gold vases, faux moss wall, decorated welcome chalkboard, and a beautiful lounge area, along with the personal details/touches we added, really brought it to life!”
What was your first dance song?
” “Wedding Dress” by Matt Nathanson.”
Where did you go on your honeymoon?
“Costa Rica! We stayed at the Andaz in Papagayo and absolutely loved it! We went kayaking, snorkeling, ziplining, and went on a hanging bridge hike! We also enjoyed a lot of downtime by the pool and beautiful views of the beach.”
Any advice for couples planning their wedding?
“On your wedding day, make sure you have time together as a couple. It’s very easy to get caught up in greeting and mingling with all the guests. I would also suggest taking the time to notice the smallest details of the day. Here you spent maybe a year or more planning for this one day, and maybe you didn’t see certain decor or florals that you had worked so hard on leading up to your wedding. My husband and I made sure we didn’t take too much time with photos after the ceremony so that we could catch the end of the cocktail hour before everyone was seated for dinner. It allowed us to see the intricate details that had all come together for the cocktail hour! We made a special drink list in honor of our three large dogs (who obviously could not attend), and that was really special getting to see it at the bar with their cute little faces next to their drink names.”
wedding dress: custom Lea-Ann Belter gown via Carriage House Weddings | photographer: Alexa Stutts Photography | planner: Events by Summer Joy | ceremony venue: Canterbury Chapel | reception venue: Cadillac Service Garage | florals: Jenny’s Projects Floral Design | hair + makeup: The Beauty Tribe | rentals: The Party Makers and The Prettiest Pieces | chalkboard + escort card artist: Tally Mark Calligraphy | trolley transportation: Royal Limousine | reception band: The New Royals | catering: 1618 On Location | cake: Maxie B’s
