There is something so soft and beautiful about pastel hues in the winter months and today’s real couple incorporated a light pink palette perfectly into their Charlotte-area nuptials. Bride Chelsea is the owner and florist behind Blooming Branch Creative and when it came time to marry her love, Alex, she—naturally—had a pretty strong vision. The couple created a winter wedding that was neither rustic nor classic southern and personally sourced much of the decor including hundreds of vintage votives adding to the romance of 10 Catawba. Chelsea enlisted the help of Jimmy Blooms to implement her vision and the florals are—of course—fabulous with just the right amount of dusty, pink roses and textured accents. Lucky for us Cheyenne Schultz Photography was behind the lens capturing this winter inspiration in her signature timeless style.

What made the wedding special and unique?

With the fact that there are weddings every day in every part of the world, I always feel like having a truly unique wedding is a difficult achievement, but we had fun pulling our design together and creating a winter wedding that was neither rustic nor classic southern – as I feel those are frequently the two styles that I see in the Charlotte area. As a small business owner of Blooming Branch Creative – a floral and wedding design company – I have seen my share of weddings and didn’t struggle very much with identifying the particular elements that are reflective of my personal style. We sourced glassware from every thrift store in the metro area (we had over 350 votives lit in the space!), decorated an old mantel from my childhood home, and sourced every piece of china for our sweetheart table. Everything we did was planned and executed together, so it perfectly reflected our personal taste individually and as a couple. Our wedding was a true labor of love and while it was a ton of work being so hands on, I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way!

Tell us about the gown and where/how you found it!

My wedding day look was completely custom, and it was truly fun to piece together something that was so reflective of my personal style. I always knew I wanted a simple, fit-and-flare gown, but I looked for a while to find a removable overskirt that gave me a sleek silhouette, but without the bulk of a full skirt. I ultimately pieced my entire dress together because I couldn’t find a single style that checked every box. My Stella York fit and flare dupioni silk gown was altered to include the slits on the sides of the bodice to give an interesting element (and some very subtle sex appeal) to an otherwise simple dress. I found the tulle overskirt at a different bridal salon, and knew immediately I wanted to add lace. We had some trial and error with that alteration (and only a few tears in the process!), but I ultimately ended up choosing a lace that looked almost exactly like the vintage trim on my Mom’s wedding veil, which made it that much more special. Ever the deal hunter, I sourced my wedding day shoes and headpiece from Zulily, and found a custom jewelry designer in Israel to cast my blooming branch earrings, a tribute to their significance in my life and our wedding design.

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?

Alex and I are not people to do anything without intention or meaning, so our wedding was special because there were so many elements that represented us and what our marriage means to us. One of our favorite elements were the branches that were suspended over several of the tables with hanging tealight terrariums. I’ve always loved the aesthetic quality of winter branches and how they mirror the seasons in the same way that our lives ebb and flow, so they were symbolic in that sense, and to us they represented the commitment that we have for one another in all seasons of life. Plus, we sourced them from my parents’ property in the mountains, which was equally meaningful. My other favorite element was the giant greenery hoops that were suspended over the head tables. I created these on the Wednesday before our wedding alongside my Dad and Uncle, who had way too much fun playing florist for the day. It’s a memory with them that I’ll always cherish. There were so many other elements that we made together or held meaning for us personally, and we loved sharing those particular details with our friends and family.

What was the most memorable part of the day?

Hands down, our favorite part of the day was our first look. We never thought we’d want to do one, but with a winter wedding, we ultimately had no choice with such an early sunset time. We were both emotional, and I was so thankful for a few moments alone with Alex prior to everything to calm nerves and reconnect. I also remember standing in the small vestibule with our parents and wedding party, waiting to be announced in to the reception and feeling so overwhelmed with joy. It was the moment I felt like everything had finally come together and we could just relax and celebrate, and being mushed into that tiny room with everyone we loved most was pretty much a perfect moment.

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

Alex and I ironically met at a singles/young professionals event hosted by his church. I attended with a friend, begrudgingly, and neither Alex nor I wanted to be there. When we were grouped together by the area of the city we lived in by the color on our nametags, we immediately hit it off and spent the rest of the evening together. After that time, Alex and I stayed in touch and hung out, but I still considered him a friend and nothing more. Eventually, my friends teased me that we needed to date, but I wasn’t so sure. We consider our first official “date” a trip to the movies to see the MOST unromantic movie ever – The Revenant. From there, he took me salsa dancing, taco eating, wine rooming and to cooking class. I was impressed by his widespread interests, creativity in planning, punctuality, consistency, ability to communicate, and most importantly, how comfortable he made me feel. We started dating, he met my parents a few short weeks later, and the rest is history. We got engaged during a private picnic at The Duke Mansion in Charlotte, under the most beautiful oak tree. He gave me a card that outlined his feelings and hopes for our future together (which is awesome because I never would have remembered what he’d said), and we celebrated with my family afterward. Planning our wedding together and being married has had its challenges of course, but Alex and I are truly partners and I’m beyond blessed to have him by my side.

Photography: Cheyenne Schultz Photography // Design and Decor: Blooming Branch Creative // Coordination: Magnificent Moments Weddings // Florals: Jimmy Blooms // Ceremony Venue: Covenant United Methodist Church Gastonia // Reception Venue:  10 Catawba // Make Up: Cali Stott Artistry // Dress: Stella York // Overskirt: Allure Bridal // Bridesmaid Dresses: Adrianna Papell // Grooms Attire: SuitSupply // Groomsmen Attire: The Black Tux // Film Scans: PhotoVision // Officiant: Chris Payne // DJ: Raise the Roof Charlotte // Catering: Family Catering Service // Ring Box: The Mrs. Box