Savannah and Josiah’s spring wedding at White Laurel Estate in Dawsonville, Georgia, was a perfect mix of modern elegance and heartfelt simplicity. With a timeless black-and-white color palette against the natural beauty of the Georgia landscape, their day was filled with personal touches that reflected their journey as a couple. From an intimate first look to a meaningful Christian ceremony and a lively reception, their wedding celebrated love, family, and the joy of being together.
Location: Dawsonville, Georgia, USA
Style: Modern, minimalistic, relaxed
Time of planning: 8 months
Number of guests: 107
Setting: Barn
Season: Spring
The couple’s love story began in a modern way, as they met through a dating app. What was supposed to be a quick ice cream date turned into a night of endless conversation. Over the next year, their relationship blossomed as they embarked on numerous trips, hikes, and restaurant dates, engaging in sports and sharing long, meaningful conversations over a glass of wine.
Josiah’s proposal was a delightful surprise that unfolded during the couple’s hike in the North Georgia mountains. As Savannah was capturing the breathtaking view from the mountaintop, Josiah tied a bandana around his dog, Reece, that said: “Will you marry my Dad?”
Vision & Photography
The couple’s wedding vision stemmed from a desire to make the planning process as stress-free as possible and make more time for each other and their loved ones. Relying on a safe yet timeless color scheme allowed them to look sharp while not worrying about color coordination. Valuing serenity and candid emotions, Savannah and Josiah stayed true to themselves by avoiding anything over the top, focusing on becoming one and dedicating the rest of their lives to each other.
"We both love a sleek and modern look in most areas of our lives, so it felt natural to keep the same theme for our wedding."
Savannah and Josiah chose Hellen CO as their wedding photographer, relying on her professionalism, artistic vision, and the gift of easily capturing sincere emotions and intimate moments. Her candid and refined-looking imagery perfectly fit the two loving hearts who wished to be the day’s primary focus. Savannah and John’s wedding pictures were the perfect time capsule of their celebration and became a precious keepsake for the rest of their lives. The careful balance between colorful and monochrome shots seamlessly highlighted the wedding palette.
Fashion & Getting Ready
Savannah and Josiah spent the morning getting ready with their groomsmen and bridesmaids. They both aimed for a modern and elevated look without over-complication.
Savannah wore a long, off-shoulder dress with altered sleeves, a long sheer veil, and classic white stiletto heels. Her hair was put together, and the two wavy locks framed her face, complimented by natural makeup with an accent on the bride’s eyes. Elegant statement jewelry was a true highlight, adding chic to the look. The minimalistic all-white bridal bouquet with pops of green complimented the spring season of the wedding.
"I felt the most myself in this dress! My favorite feature is altered sleeves, that allowed, me to go strapless and dance the night away without having to change into a second look."
The groom wore a timeless black suit and classic lacquer shoes. The black buttons on his white shirt added sophistication to the look, while the Fossil watch was a true statement piece.
Josiah showed off some of his personality for the reception by changing into an ivory jacket and suede loafers, standing out from his groomsmen.
First Look
Before the ceremony, Savannah and Josiah shared an intimate first look at the green territory outside the wedding venue. Perfect warm weather with a light, fresh spring breeze created a romantic and cheerful atmosphere for this part of the day. The couple walked around, taking pictures, holding hands, and kissing, filled with anticipation of the following parts of the wedding.
"Our most memorable moment was our first look, followed by our vows."
Vows & Bridal Party
Savannah and Josiah exchanged their vows in a lovely and intimate setting: a romantic, modern, rustic pavilion. Long white drapes flowed from the ceiling to the corners, creating a picturesque atmosphere. The groom and the bride shed tears of joy and love during the event, as the touching personal promises evoked many emotions.
"We decided to write down our own vows and share them privately before the ceremony"
After exchanging the vows privately, Savannah and Josiah joined their bridesmaids and groomsmen for a short bridal party. The guests cheered on the couple, and the whole group headed to the venue for the ceremony.
Ceremony
The ceremony was held in an open white barn overlooking the venue’s green gardens. A big wooden cross was placed in the center of the aisle and decorated with white flowers, looking minimalistic and natural. To honor their faith, Savannah and Josiah had a traditional ceremony officiated by their pastor from our church in Atlanta. It was incredibly personal and beautiful to be wed by the pastor they knew and had a great relationship with. Sleek black gowns of the bridesmaids and groomsmen elevated the scene and added a modern charm to it.
"Our faith is very important to us, and we wanted to keep God at the center of our ceremony since we believe, as Christians, that with marriage, we are entering a covenant with not only each other but, more importantly, with God."
As the newlyweds made their exit, they were greeted with cheers and a shower of white flower petals, adding a lovely touch to the celebration.
Cocktail Hour
The cocktail hour occurred outside in the garden while the barn setting was prepared for the reception dinner. Everyone chatted and enjoyed drinks from the circular tables covered with long white drapes. The sun shined bright, and the people’s joyous mood made the time pass in the blink of an eye.
Reception Decor
The reception took place in the same venue but with utterly different decor. The vintage wooden furniture, the white tablecloth, and the black napkins created a cozy yet elegant look, complimenting the natural charm of the white paneled walls.
The floral decorations for the reception were minimalistic, featuring greenery and small white flowers. White candles in the long glass candleholders added elegance and finished the look.
Dinner & Afterparty
The dinner was filled with numerous heartfelt speeches from all the beloved guests and family. In the warm glow of flickering candles and cozy fairy lights, the words of appreciation, support, and affirmation felt incredibly emotional.
"Our first dance song was one we heard for the first time in the car on the way home from getting engaged. The music made us both weep the first time we heard it"
The black and white checkered dance floor was the main feature of the reception party. The newlyweds performed their first dance to a song of great personal significance for the couple.
After honoring this beautiful tradition in a deeply personal way, Savannah and Josiah surprised everyone with Jeni’s Ice Cream instead of the wedding cake. It was a fun nod to the beginning of their love story, their first date.
As the night fell, everyone joined the dance floor to dance the night away. The funky checkered floor was a true highlight of the night. Savannah and Josiah’s wedding day went seamlessly, exceeding their expectations. The happy couple got many compliments for their seamless and personalized celebration.
"We skipped the traditional cake in favor of Jeni’s ice cream, where we had our first date"
Advice from the couple:
• Do not sweat the small things! We received so many compliments on how smoothly our wedding went. I still can’t believe not a single thing went wrong! It’s probably because we kept things simple.
• You will always feel like you can do more, especially with social media constantly showing you beautiful and intricate weddings. Focus on yourself and the guests instead, and everyone will have just as much fun without the live portrait painter or helicopter send-off, I promise!
PHOTOGRAPHER Helen CO | VENUE White Laurel Estate | MUAH Jolie Artistry | DRESS Mikaella Bridal | DRESS SHOP The White Magnolia | BRIDAL SHOES Pelinosandals | BRIDESMAIDS SHOES Anthropologie | SUIT & ACCESSORIES Steve Madden | WATCH Fossil | FLORALS & RENTALS Miss Milly’s | COORDINATION Alice Affair | CATERING Tam’s Backstage | DESSERT Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams| TRANSPORTATION Atlantic Limo | GUEST BOOK Artifact Uprising | WEDDING CHART & WEDDING SIGN Dream Of Wedding | SIGNS SplendidMoment | STATIONERY Groom’s sister
