ASHLEY & MAXWELL

A Mansion on Forsyth Park wedding in Savannah, GA

Next week, we're releasing our Spring/Summer issue which contains beautiful real weddings from across the Lowcountry, including Ashley & Maxwell's Savannah wedding at Orleans Square and The Mansion on Forsyth Park. But, with St. Patrick's Day this weekend, we thought it was time to share their fabulous celebration! Ashley & Max picked a cheery color palette for their spring wedding that perfectly accented the festivities to come.

PROPOSAL: Ashley & Max, who met online in 2013, have made it a tradition of running at least one RunDisney race a year and in 2015 they were finally able to register for the Wine and Dine Half Marathon – in past years it had sold out in 15 minutes! The day of the race was marred by bad weather which delayed the started and eventually caused the course to shorten. After they crossed the finish line, the couple set out to grab a bite at one of the many kiosks, all of which were packed with hungry participants. They finally ended up halfway around The World Showcase in the American line where they were serving up massive turkey legs. After cleaning up from the delicious (and messy) treat and hiking halfway across the park, Max persuaded Ashley to take a picture in front of the Epcot Ball where he surprised her with a proposal.

THE GOWN: After visiting two local salons with no luck, Ashley’s friend convinced her to plan a trip to New York City to continue the search. With her brother, sister-in-law, and friends in tow, she found her winning Hayley Paige gown at Kleinfeld Bridal. The ivory tulle ball gown featured a draped taffeta bodice, spaghetti strap details, and floral accents — and sparked her vision for her fairytale wedding! She finished off her look with two keepsakes that were close to her heart — her grandmother’s pearl necklace and a garter sewn from Max’s great grandmother’s veil

CEREMONY: With a wedding date just around the corner from Savannah’s famed St. Patrick’s Day celebration, the couple gladly incorporated the Irish-themed holiday into the day’s décor. Colorful arrangements from Harvey Designs and assorted lanterns lined the outdoor aisle as guests were seated in white chairs in the heart of the storied Orleans Square. The fountain, dyed green for the holiday, served as the festive backdrop for their heartfelt ceremony. Hoping to have their ceremony music reflect their personal style, the bridal party walked down the aisle to a string rendition of “Bron Yr Aur” by Led Zeppelin, a cherished favorite of the groom. Instead of your typical unity candle, Ashley & Max (who are both engineers by trade) opted to assemble a unity cross — the perfect activity for two like-minded individuals. Once they were pronounced husband & wife, guests were served the couple’s signature drink, Bourbon Peach Smash (in to-go cups!), as they boarded the trolleys for a mini-tour around the city before heading to the reception.

AESTHETIC + COLOR PALETTE: Selecting a color palette proved to be one of the harder decisions for the Florida-based couple. They originally leaned towards letting the season dictate the scheme but in the end, Ashley’s colorful Hayley Paige design made the biggest influence. They settled on a purple, yellow, pink with shades of blue that was enhanced by the first signs of Spring. Both Ashley & Max are avid readers, so they worked with Posh Petals & Pearls to weave in subtle details of their favorite books (Alice in Wonderland and books by Tolkien) to create a whimsical evening.

CAKE: The cake tasting with Savannah Hall of Cakes was one of Ashley’s favorite parts of the planning process. “We couldn’t pick just one flavor, so we had four flavors in five cakes,” remembers Ashley. Ashley was head-over-heels for the Savannah Blueberry Lemon, so in addition to their normal cake, the Savannah Hall of Cakes teams whipped up a gluten-free version just for the bride. To show off the pretty confections, Max put his engineering skills to the test and built the perfect stand to showcase their cakes and complement their fairytale theme.

SAVANNAH WEDDING VENDORS

Ceremony Venue: Orleans Square, Savannah, GA ll Reception Venue: The Mansion on Forsyth Park ll Photographer: Alison Epps Photography ll Planning & Design: Posh Petals & Pearls ll Florist: Harvey Designs ll Cake: Savannah Hall of Cakes ll Catering & Bar: The Mansion on Forsyth Park ll Gown Designer: Hayley Paige ll Dress Boutique: Kleinfeld Bridal (New York City) ll Bridesmaids' Dresses: Alfred Angelo ll Hair & Makeup: Bride's Side Beauty ll Men's Attire: La Boutique De Bridal & Tuxes (Melbourne, FL) ll Rentals: Savannah Vintage Rentals, Savannah Special Events by Ranco, Advanced A/V Rentals ll Invitations & Signage: Low Country Paper Co. ll Carriage: Savannah Carriage Tours, Old Savannah Tours ll Lighting: JLK Events ll Ceremony Music: New Arts Ensemble ll Entertainment: All About You Entertainment ll Favors: Pralines from River Street Sweets ll Rehearsal Dinner: The Olde Pink House ll Officiant: Paul Kolander ll Trolley: Old Savannah Tours