This post is a work in Progress, some of the content is being updated throughout the wedding planning process.
Follow Kennedy and Michael as they plan the perfect wedding!
The Planning Process:
Kennedy Wheeler, daughter of Marc and Colleen Wheeler of Wedding Festivals, grew up in the wedding industry. Modeling in the Wedding Festivals fashion shows since she was 3, Kennedy has seen everything the industry has to offer. In addition, Kennedy’s family is involved in producing 45 weddings a year as well as 9 bridal shows in North and South Carolina. She definetly has had a head start in starting the wedding planning process.
Their Story:
Kennedy and Michael met when in high school when their youth pastor asked them both to work in the sound booth at Praise Cathedral Student Ministries. They talked and flirted for months until finally deciding to make it official. Kennedy and Michael have worked in the youth group at their church every since and have enjoyed numerous mission trips to New York City and volunteer opportunities together.
The Proposal:
After nearly 5 years of non stop dating, it was time for Michael to pop the question. He knew he wanted the proposal to be special, so the family planned a trip to NYC, the city where the couple fell in love and first got to know each other on a missions trip.
When planning the proposal, Kennedy’s dad was searching for a good photographer in NYC. Around the same time, Katy Cook Photography of Asheville posted that she would be in New York shooting an engagement shoot and was looking for fun things to do. Kennedy’s dad immediately messaged Katy and invited her to shoot the proposal. Katy Cook Photography was so excited to capture this moment and graciously took the couple around New York afterwards for few photos of in the Big Apple. Check out this engagement day photoshoot: More photos on Katy Cooks blog Photographers Blog
The Gown:
The planning started right away with a visit to Kleinfields in New York trying on several gowns that Kennedy had been following for some time.
While every gown was beautiful, she didn’t say yes to the dress at Klienfields. But we will save the gown planning for later.
Wedding Website:
After the engagment trip, Kennedy and Michael started right on the wedding website. Kennedy searched for wedding website and picked the first one she found, Zola.com. Zola is a very organized and easy way to create a website for your guests. You can add a schedule for upcoming bridal showers and engagement parties, hotel recommendations for out-of-town guests, your wedding registries, and much more! *Link coming soon*
Asking the Wedding Party:
Everything is a proposal! Promposal, Proposal, and now BridesmaidPosal. Yes it’s a thing! Kennedy fell in love with a Pinterest idea and asked The Adorned Fox to help her pop the question to her girls. She found wooden boxes at Michaels and has The Adorned Fox woodburn “Will you be my bridesmaid?” into the inside of the box. Kennedy then bought small gifts and printed out pictures of her and her soon-to-be bridesmaids and placed them in the boxes. The girls reaction were priceless and they loved their pictures, earrings, and chocolate! They all said “yes”!
Wedding Registry:
The Venue: Kennedy’s family had planned to build a new venue on their family land on Hwy 290, Locust Hill Road in Taylors, South Carolina. Lets just hope the venue is finished in time for the wedding!
Wedding Cake: Holly’s Cakes has always had a special place in Kennedy’s heart. Holly surprised Kennedy with an over the top Sweet 16 cake, so Kennedy knew that the cake would be even more over the top for her wedding. 11 layers, nine flavors, and the latest and greatest in cake design and entertainment. Yes, cake entertainment!!! Stay turned!
Wedding Entertainment: Kennedy and her parent’s have had the priveledge of working with so many amazing wedding enterainment pros, but Kennedy and Michael had something specific in mind. Having met and attended a Pentacostal church their whole lives, a praise and worship band was a MUST for their ceremony. Drums and all! Kennedy and her parent’s knew of one wedding professional that could pull this off, Erica Berg Collective. Erica and her husband have been praise and worship leaders for many years and they knew Erica would also have the professionalism of a Wedding Pro so they gave Erica full reign of the entire wedding, predinner hour and reception. Having attended 100’s of weddings, Kennedy’s parent’s added tons of surprises to the wedding itinerary. Stay Tuned!
The Invites and Wedding Marketing
For the Wedding Invitations, Kennedy and Michael wanted something very personal that reflected the true feeling and fun of the Wedding Celebration as well as their personalities. As Marketing Majors, they also wanted something that can be used throughout all the printed and digital promotion of the wedding. Signage, Website, Napkins, everything had to reflect back to the Intivation. The invite needed to include Wedding Day Itineraries, RSVP’s, Layout map of the property, Website info and Social Media. Info The only way to feature this idea was through artist illustrations and Davey Morgan was the man for the job! Check out his work at www.daveymorganillustration.com
Fun Fact! You can personalize your postage stamps!!!
https://www.usps.com/ship/custom-mail-stamps.htm
Photography
Growing up in the Modeling industry as well as sharing a photography hobby with Michael, Kennedy was looking for a specific type of photography that matched her personal style. She found that style with Katy Cook Photography.
Having a seasoned professional photographer was a must for this over the top wedding! In addition to Katy as the lead photographer, she will have a 2nd and 3rd photographer that will handle couples photos with the guests after the wedding and the large amount of decor and details. Check her out at www.katycookphotography.com
Videography
Nothing can replace that wedding video! But it’s not just about documenting the days activities. The joy that you will experience can truly be captured through a cinematic presentation.
Jordan Hawkins with The Knotted Arrow made quite an impression on Michael and Kennedy.
Kennedy knocked out 3 of her wedding professionals at the September Greenville Wedding Festivals, of course growing up watching her parents produce the Wedding Festivals, ALL of her Wedding Pros came from the Wedding Festivals.
More Wedding Planning to come!