Austin and Rachel were married on a gray winter day in Como, Mississippi, and the whole weekend still felt warm. Their ceremony was in the brick-walled courtyard at 211 Main Hall & Gardens, strung with lights and centered on a wooden hexagon arbor topped with flowers.
Rachel got ready at the Como Courtyard guesthouse. She wore a fitted, off-the-shoulder lace gown with sheer puffed sleeves and a long veil, with a small photo locket tied to the wrap of her bouquet. The bridesmaids wore mixed shades of sage and olive green, the flowers were white, yellow, and rust roses with pampas grass and wheat, and Austin and his groomsmen wore black suits with champagne vests and ties.
Before the ceremony, they found a quiet spot outside to read their vows to each other privately. Rachel told Austin, "I knew from the moment that I met you that you were something special and I wanted you to be mine forever." Austin told her, "Rachel, when I first saw you, you took my breath away," and thanked her for bringing him closer to Jesus while they were living in Nashville.
In the courtyard, Rachel's dad walked her down the aisle and gave her away, and a young ring bearer pulled a baby down the aisle in a wooden wagon. Scripture ran all through the ceremony, including a reading of Ephesians 4:2-3 by one of the bridesmaids, before Austin and Rachel exchanged rings and traditional vows. They also took portraits outside the historic Holy Innocents Episcopal Church.
The reception was inside, with exposed brick, mirrors, string lights, and a neon sign that read "The Kellys." The tables had black and rust runners and framed photos of the couple, and a few posters gave a nod to Austin's college baseball days at Lipscomb. The cake was a single white tier with pressed edible flowers and a silver "Mr & Mrs" topper, surrounded by cupcakes, cookies, and mini desserts. By the end of the night, the groomsmen were tossing Austin into the air on the dance floor.
Congratulations, Austin and Rachel. Thank you for letting us tell your story.
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Jim and Dianna Burt