Anna & Tyson graduated from UGA’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Anna works for an agriculture trade association, and Tyson is a large animal veterinarian. Their wedding at the Taylor Grady House was bursting with personalized details, with special meaning behind everything from the date itself to the gifts, favors, flowers, décor, and even the drink ingredients! With the theme of the day being “growing and nurturing love,” Anna & Tyson’s Georgia roots and passion for the agriculture industry inspired so many details – from their Unity Flowers to the peaches & apples favors. They chose the Taylor Grady House, built around 1844, for their venue because of its Southern, agricultural significance and its landmark status in Athens. Both namesakes of the house, Robert Taylor & Henry Grady, were notable Georgians and also leaders in the agriculture industry.
Family history and sentiment abounded with such details as the special heirloom jewelry and embellishments worn by the bride and groom, the cake topper which was originally a part of Tyson’s parents’ wedding, the Unity Table built by Anna’s great grandfather, as well as the ceremony/reception signs and Georgia-shaped guestbook handcrafted by Tyson’s uncle! The crowd cheered as a member of the UGA Redcoat band played the Battle Hymn to introduce the wedding party into the reception. Later in the evening, Hairy Dawg arrived to the party and brought Insomnia cookies! With literally too many special details to mention, Anna & Tyson tied the knot in what was possibly the most personalized wedding I have ever seen or photographed. It was an honor to be a part of their big day and I LOVE the images we captured. A big thank you goes to everyone who helped put this day together.
Venue: Taylor Grady House || Hair: Heather Cox / Blonde Beauty Bar || Makeup: Bombshell Creations || Bride’s Dress: I Do, I Do Bridal Boutique || Bridal Party Dresses: Alfred Sung || Groom’s Bow Tie: Brackish || Rings: Shane Co. || Men’s Wear: Men’s Wearhouse || Band: Moon Dance / East Coast Entertainment || Caterer: Mama’s Boy || Cake: Cecelia Villaveces || Planner: Georgia Grace Weddings || Honey Pot Candles: Bee Natural || Photographer: Claire Diana Photography || Ceremony Painter: Jamie Calkin || Flowers: Hydrangea House Events || Ceremony Music: Bella Musica (Quartet) || Cookies: Insomnia Cookies || Painted / Chalk Signs: Says Shop
OTHER DETAILS I LOVE:
- The family walked down the aisle to “I Will” by the Beatles, a song Anna’s mother sang to her as a baby.
- During their ceremony, Anna & Tyson symbolized their unity by combining flowers from each of their childhood homes, which will be dried and pressed to keep forever.
- For favors, Anna & Tyson encouraged people to leave with Georgia agricultural products from the regions of the state where she & Tyson grew up (apples grown in north Georgia and peaches from south Georgia). They made a sign that read, “She’s his Georgia peach, he’s the apple of her eye, please take one of each.”
- For Anna’s “something old,” she wore her high school graduation “spoon ring” made from her great grandmother’s fine silver.
- Inside Anna’s dress was also a pinned broach that has been in the Strickland/Page family since 1865. It is tradition for each bride to wear the broach on her wedding day.
- Tyson gifted Anna with a halo necklace that has an aquamarine stone (his birthstone) surrounded by diamonds.
- Anna gifted Tyson with a Bobwhite quail bow tie, Georgia’s state game bird, because Tyson is an avid hunter. This also goes with the theme of Bird Dog bourbon being used in the groom’s cocktail.
- Anna’s bridesmaids are all Georgia born, Southern belles. Their gifts were Georgia peach themed bracelets that they wore on the wedding day. This also goes with the theme of Georgia Peach Tea being the bride’s cocktail.
- Anna gifted Tyson with cuff links that were repurposed Georgia coins.
- After Anna & Tyson shared their first dance, Anna surprised Tyson by playing Prince’s “Kiss.” With the couple being huge Prince fans and it being the 1 month anniversary of his passing, it was a fun detail.
- It was a blue moon the night of the wedding.
- The honey pot candles were made by Bee Natural, an Athens based company, especially for the wedding. The wildflowers pressed in the wax are a few of Anna’s favorite flowers.
- Athens-based artist Jamie Calkin live-painted the ceremony.
- Bella Musica string quartet played Gershwin and traditional hymns as guests entered the ceremony, sipping on strawberry lemonade from Mama’s Boy.
- The tables were named after Master’s holes since Tyson’s family attends ever year and loves the event.
- May 21 is Anna’s grandmother’s birthday. She passed away before Anna could meet her.
- Tyson’s wedding band belonged to his grandfather, who passed away two weeks before Tyson’s parents were married.
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