{Bride} Meghan Elizabeth West
{Groom} William Kirk Foley
{Hometowns} Bride: Pontotoc, MS; Groom: New Albany, MS
{Wedding Site} Oak Grove Chapel, New Albany, MS
{Reception Site} Huddleston Family Home, Ecru, MS
{Bride’s Bouquet} Designed by Tracy Proctor: The bride carried a nosegay of hand wired flowers with pale tones of vendella and crème. Della crème roses, cymbidium orchids, anemones, astrantia were used to create the rounded style bouquet.
{Bridesmaid Bouquets} Designed by Tracy Proctor: The bridesmaids carried open style nosegays of fresh garden style flowers. Ingredients included white hydrangea, black centered anemones, textured astrantia, with green alchemilla.
{How did the two of you meet?} Will and I met about a year before we were engaged. My best friend and bridesmaid, Brandy, randomly mentioned one day that she wanted to set me up with this guy from New Albany who had recently purchased a house near my parents’ home in Pontotoc. I was unsure, especially since it would be a blind date. About a week passed and I started getting text messages from Will. After a few more weeks of talking and texting he asked me out on our first date. I was so nervous on the night of the date and actually had my younger sister keep watch out the window for him to pull up in the driveway, and hopefully give me a quick preview of who would soon be knocking on our door. The next thing I knew, she screamed, “He’s here! He’s here.” I finally opened the door and saw a wonderfully tall, handsome man, my future husband.
{What is your proposal story?} March 14th is my birthday and Will is not usually one to make really big plans. It was on a Thursday and we both had to work. I received the most beautiful flowers that day and my heart skipped a beat thinking they were from Will (who never sends flowers, by the way). They were not from Will, but I had no idea how much more of a gift I was soon to receive. Will had planned for a small cookout at his house that night with our families. After work I quickly changed clothes and rushed over to help him prepare the meal. He was rushing around and I was sweeping the dining room floor when he asked if I wanted my present now or later. I said “Now, of course!” He handed me an envelope containing a gift certificate for a manicure from a local spa. This was no big surprise since he would always pick on me about keeping my fingernails properly kept. After reading the sweetest card I looked up and he was down on one knee. He proposed and my world stood still. I had known he was the one and I couldn’t say “Yes” quickly enough. As to the manicure, he knew that I would want my fingernails to be perfect as I showed off the engagement ring to all our friends and family. It was the perfect night. It was low-key. It was us.
{What inspired your wedding and reception locations?} I had always wanted a sweet, simple and intimate ceremony. I had seen pictures of a beautiful white chapel near New Albany and thought it would be the perfect fit. The chapel held 80 of our closest family and friends. I dreamed of having our reception at my parents’ home in Ecru, MS, where I was raised. My parents had since moved into Pontotoc but couldn’t bring themselves to sell our beautiful family home where we had shared so many memories. It was the perfect setting and gave us yet another precious memory.
{What inspired your color scheme/theme/flowers?} I was unsure of what I wanted as my theme. At the suggestion of my wonderful florist we decided on the words “Southern Elegance” as our inspiration for colors and flowers. I could not have described my vision any better, and Tracy made the vision come to life. He laughingly joked that I really was a “Spring bride.”
{How did you pick “the dress?”} Like most brides-to-be, I spent hours digging through magazines and scouring the Internet, searching for pictures of my dream dress. As we began the search I was convinced that I knew exactly what we were looking for. I tried on dress after dress but the moment I saw my dress I knew it was the one. It was perfect, and fittingly not nearly what I had thought I had always wanted. I loved it! The dress was a fitted, ivory lace gown. The strapless bodice had a sweetheart neckline with a deep V back neckline and crystal buttons at center back. The silhouette was very fitted then flared dramatically, ending with a full chapel-length train. Completing the ensemble was a fingertip-length veil of ivory illusion that had coordinating lace motifs at the center back.
{What’s your favorite unique accessory? Is there a story behind it?} My favorite unique accessory included in our big day was my cake topper. It was my great grandmother’s. Both my grandparents and parents had used it in their weddings also. My grandmother passed away 4 years before the wedding but had given it to my father to save for my wedding day. I had never seen the topper before until he brought it to me one day soon after our engagement and told me its special history. I also loved the detailed pillow our ring bearer carried during the ceremony. My mom and sister had traveled to Paris, France, the summer before our wedding and found a precious handkerchief pillow at a small local shop. I knew it was perfect the moment I first saw it.
{What was your favorite part of the wedding planning process?} My favorite part of the wedding planning process was the search for the dress. It was so fun trying on all the different styles of dresses looking for that perfect fit. The event planning process was quite the undertaking and there is absolutely no way it could have come together so perfectly without the help of our family friend and wedding planner, Teresa Chism.
{Besides the actual wedding, what was your favorite moment of the wedding day?} My favorite moment was our “first look.” The day was so exciting, but so rushed, and I couldn’t wait to see the look on Will’s face the first time he saw me in my dress.
{What was your favorite surprise detail/moment about your wedding day?} I had no idea what my wedding cake was going to look like. I had mentioned a few ideas to our cake decorator but ultimately left the design up to him. The cake was absolutely beautiful, and tasted even better. The four-tiered wedding cake was composed of a combination of exaggerated and normal height tiers. The cake was a cream cheese pound cake with white chocolate amaretto Italian meringue buttercream covered in white chocolate fondant. The elegant decoration featured elancon lace piping and a fluted pleated pattern with champagne luster. A large sugar peony graced the side of the cake and a family heirloom topper was featured on top.
{Your favorite picture from the big day?} My favorite picture of our wedding day was a picture taken of Will when he was getting ready and his father was tying his tie. He is smiling so big. You can see the excitement on his face. It captures his spirit perfectly.
{The picture that represents the two of you best?} We were both so happy on our special day. A simple, black and white picture of Will and me relaxing and enjoying our time together is one of my favorites, because I can still feel the happiness and love that we shared on that perfect day.
Photographer: Stephanie Rhea
Event Planner: Teresa Chism
Dress: The White Room in Birmingham, AL
Bride’s Jewelry: My necklace and earrings were my mom’s that she had wore in her wedding.
Hair: Alison Russell at Cut Ups in Pontotoc, MS
Make-up: MAC cosmetic counter Tupelo, MS
Bridesmaid Dresses: Kay’s Kreations Tupelo, MS
Tuxes: Kay’s Kreations Tupelo, MS
Venue: Ceremony: Oak Grove Chapel
Rentals: Event Rental, Pontotoc, MS
Florist: Tracy Proctor
Catering: Special Occasions by Marie Clark
Band: Wishbone Tupelo, MS
Bride’s Cake: Steve Stockton
Groom’s Cake: Special Occasions by Marie Clark
Print Material: Trent’s Photography
{Groom} William Kirk Foley
{Hometowns} Bride: Pontotoc, MS; Groom: New Albany, MS
{Wedding Site} Oak Grove Chapel, New Albany, MS
{Reception Site} Huddleston Family Home, Ecru, MS
{Bride’s Bouquet} Designed by Tracy Proctor: The bride carried a nosegay of hand wired flowers with pale tones of vendella and crème. Della crème roses, cymbidium orchids, anemones, astrantia were used to create the rounded style bouquet.
{Bridesmaid Bouquets} Designed by Tracy Proctor: The bridesmaids carried open style nosegays of fresh garden style flowers. Ingredients included white hydrangea, black centered anemones, textured astrantia, with green alchemilla.
{How did the two of you meet?} Will and I met about a year before we were engaged. My best friend and bridesmaid, Brandy, randomly mentioned one day that she wanted to set me up with this guy from New Albany who had recently purchased a house near my parents’ home in Pontotoc. I was unsure, especially since it would be a blind date. About a week passed and I started getting text messages from Will. After a few more weeks of talking and texting he asked me out on our first date. I was so nervous on the night of the date and actually had my younger sister keep watch out the window for him to pull up in the driveway, and hopefully give me a quick preview of who would soon be knocking on our door. The next thing I knew, she screamed, “He’s here! He’s here.” I finally opened the door and saw a wonderfully tall, handsome man, my future husband.
{What is your proposal story?} March 14th is my birthday and Will is not usually one to make really big plans. It was on a Thursday and we both had to work. I received the most beautiful flowers that day and my heart skipped a beat thinking they were from Will (who never sends flowers, by the way). They were not from Will, but I had no idea how much more of a gift I was soon to receive. Will had planned for a small cookout at his house that night with our families. After work I quickly changed clothes and rushed over to help him prepare the meal. He was rushing around and I was sweeping the dining room floor when he asked if I wanted my present now or later. I said “Now, of course!” He handed me an envelope containing a gift certificate for a manicure from a local spa. This was no big surprise since he would always pick on me about keeping my fingernails properly kept. After reading the sweetest card I looked up and he was down on one knee. He proposed and my world stood still. I had known he was the one and I couldn’t say “Yes” quickly enough. As to the manicure, he knew that I would want my fingernails to be perfect as I showed off the engagement ring to all our friends and family. It was the perfect night. It was low-key. It was us.
{What inspired your wedding and reception locations?} I had always wanted a sweet, simple and intimate ceremony. I had seen pictures of a beautiful white chapel near New Albany and thought it would be the perfect fit. The chapel held 80 of our closest family and friends. I dreamed of having our reception at my parents’ home in Ecru, MS, where I was raised. My parents had since moved into Pontotoc but couldn’t bring themselves to sell our beautiful family home where we had shared so many memories. It was the perfect setting and gave us yet another precious memory.
{What inspired your color scheme/theme/flowers?} I was unsure of what I wanted as my theme. At the suggestion of my wonderful florist we decided on the words “Southern Elegance” as our inspiration for colors and flowers. I could not have described my vision any better, and Tracy made the vision come to life. He laughingly joked that I really was a “Spring bride.”
{How did you pick “the dress?”} Like most brides-to-be, I spent hours digging through magazines and scouring the Internet, searching for pictures of my dream dress. As we began the search I was convinced that I knew exactly what we were looking for. I tried on dress after dress but the moment I saw my dress I knew it was the one. It was perfect, and fittingly not nearly what I had thought I had always wanted. I loved it! The dress was a fitted, ivory lace gown. The strapless bodice had a sweetheart neckline with a deep V back neckline and crystal buttons at center back. The silhouette was very fitted then flared dramatically, ending with a full chapel-length train. Completing the ensemble was a fingertip-length veil of ivory illusion that had coordinating lace motifs at the center back.
{What’s your favorite unique accessory? Is there a story behind it?} My favorite unique accessory included in our big day was my cake topper. It was my great grandmother’s. Both my grandparents and parents had used it in their weddings also. My grandmother passed away 4 years before the wedding but had given it to my father to save for my wedding day. I had never seen the topper before until he brought it to me one day soon after our engagement and told me its special history. I also loved the detailed pillow our ring bearer carried during the ceremony. My mom and sister had traveled to Paris, France, the summer before our wedding and found a precious handkerchief pillow at a small local shop. I knew it was perfect the moment I first saw it.
{What was your favorite part of the wedding planning process?} My favorite part of the wedding planning process was the search for the dress. It was so fun trying on all the different styles of dresses looking for that perfect fit. The event planning process was quite the undertaking and there is absolutely no way it could have come together so perfectly without the help of our family friend and wedding planner, Teresa Chism.
{Besides the actual wedding, what was your favorite moment of the wedding day?} My favorite moment was our “first look.” The day was so exciting, but so rushed, and I couldn’t wait to see the look on Will’s face the first time he saw me in my dress.
{What was your favorite surprise detail/moment about your wedding day?} I had no idea what my wedding cake was going to look like. I had mentioned a few ideas to our cake decorator but ultimately left the design up to him. The cake was absolutely beautiful, and tasted even better. The four-tiered wedding cake was composed of a combination of exaggerated and normal height tiers. The cake was a cream cheese pound cake with white chocolate amaretto Italian meringue buttercream covered in white chocolate fondant. The elegant decoration featured elancon lace piping and a fluted pleated pattern with champagne luster. A large sugar peony graced the side of the cake and a family heirloom topper was featured on top.
{Your favorite picture from the big day?} My favorite picture of our wedding day was a picture taken of Will when he was getting ready and his father was tying his tie. He is smiling so big. You can see the excitement on his face. It captures his spirit perfectly.
{The picture that represents the two of you best?} We were both so happy on our special day. A simple, black and white picture of Will and me relaxing and enjoying our time together is one of my favorites, because I can still feel the happiness and love that we shared on that perfect day.
Photographer: Stephanie Rhea
Event Planner: Teresa Chism
Dress: The White Room in Birmingham, AL
Bride’s Jewelry: My necklace and earrings were my mom’s that she had wore in her wedding.
Hair: Alison Russell at Cut Ups in Pontotoc, MS
Make-up: MAC cosmetic counter Tupelo, MS
Bridesmaid Dresses: Kay’s Kreations Tupelo, MS
Tuxes: Kay’s Kreations Tupelo, MS
Venue: Ceremony: Oak Grove Chapel
Rentals: Event Rental, Pontotoc, MS
Florist: Tracy Proctor
Catering: Special Occasions by Marie Clark
Band: Wishbone Tupelo, MS
Bride’s Cake: Steve Stockton
Groom’s Cake: Special Occasions by Marie Clark
Print Material: Trent’s Photography
Thank you, Meghan and Will, for letting us share your incredibly beautiful wedding day in the first print issue of Inspiration Mississippi Magazine!
{Blog by Mitchell Walters}
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