The couple in today's real wedding, like so many others, had to downsize their guest list due to Covid-19 restrictions, but it didn't stop them from having one of the prettiest weddings we've ever seen! Featuring bright, multicoloured florals, and vivid blue and orange décor details, Aly and Erik's colourful wedding in South Carolina matched luxurious supplier creations with smart DIYs, including a supremely cool glass-bottle table plan. Dana Cubbage Weddings was kind enough to share the gorgeous imagery from their big day with us, so let's get ready to swoon!
Aly tells us that she and Erik have known each other since they were teenagers! "We met in 10th grade biology class," she explains. "We joined the same lab group. I was quiet and he was the class clown (but super sweet!) He copied all of my labs! After that year, we lost touch. We reconnected seven years later via Facebook. I liked some of his posts so he thought that meant I liked him. He reached out he asked if I remembered him, and I answered, 'Of course, how could I forget?' At that time, I wasn’t looking to be in a relationship. After a few weeks of texting back and forth, Erik asked me on quite a few dates, which I continued to decline."
But Aly soon came around to the idea of a date with Erik, she tells us. "I realised I really enjoyed talking to him and I couldn’t fight my feelings any longer. When we finally hung out, I couldn’t believe how much he changed. He was no longer the baby-faced jokester I remembered, but a hard-working, mature man. He still had the same heart, but he had matured into the man of my dreams. After a few long nights and deep conversations, we both realised pretty early on that this was it. All of our core values aligned and we became inseparable! Anyone who knows me well, knows I am extremely indecisive. It’s hard to put into words, but with Erik, I just knew."
Years later, Erik popped the question during a trip to Jamaica. "He booked a private dinner on the beach," Aly remembers. "It was so special having the beach to ourselves and enjoying this moment, just the two of us."
The couple tell us that their top priority for their big day was having, "a special day with family and friends and giving our guests a memorable time! It was really important to us that everyone enjoy themselves, from the food, to the entertainment, to the entire ambiance!"
Aly and Erik tell us that having a small guest list due to Covid ended up making their day incredibly special. "We were really able to enjoy our wedding and the guests that came," Aly says.
The inclusion of an outdoor bar housed in a 1952 Chevrolet truck was such a cool choice! "It went perfectly with our vintage vibe and looked so beautiful outside of our venue," Aly says. "We loved that it helped create an open feel at our venue space. Guests could enjoy the barn, but they also were able to walk outside to the bar and experience the beautiful trees at Boone Hall, or take a walk to the back of the venue and sit on the dock and enjoy the view."
Aly describes the look and feel of their big day as, "vintage boho with Fall colors!"
As this couple are partial to a bit of DIY, they made sure to include some homemade details in their wedding. Aly tells us, "Some of the things we made were the neon sign holder, the invitations, the escort display (table plan), the candle sticks (these were made by my Dad) and the welcome sign. We put a lot of time and effort into these projects prior to our wedding and it was so special seeing our vision come to life on our wedding day."
The couple came up with the loveliest way to pay tribute to Erik's late father, Eddie. Aly explains, "One of Erik’s favourite memories with his Dad is riding motorcycles together. We brought his Dad’s treasured, custom-built motorcycle to our wedding and placed it outside of our wedding venue to honor him. Erik made a metal sign that said, 'This seat is reserved for Eddie Korianski' and we decorated the area with lanterns and candles."
Aly's advice to engaged couples is to "make a list of your must-haves for your wedding and create a plan to make it happen. I think it’s also important to be flexible and realistic. As much as everyone wants their dream wedding, your wedding is only one night of your life. Make sure it's something you can afford. When you think creatively, I really think you can make the wedding of your dreams happen!"
How gorgeous is the couple's painted glass-bottle table plan!?
This couple had to be very hands-on in planning their wedding, as theirs was a dry hire venue. "We had to bring every single thing in, which adds up really quickly!" Aly says. "We made a list of vendors that were most important to us and split our budget based on that. I advise splurging on the photographer - just trust me! Also, no matter how organised you think you are, get a wedding planner, especially if you are using a venue where you need to bring everything in!"
The couple's honeymoon was unfortunately cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions, but they tell us that they're hoping to head off on a cruise very soon.
Thanks so much to Aly and Erik for sharing their colourful wedding with us, and to Dana Cubbage Weddings for providing the beautiful imagery! There are lots more photographs in the gallery below, so be sure to click through for a closer look.
