Sabrina & Reid's Summer Celebration at The Old Mill in Rose Valley

It isn't often that I attend my client's weddings, but Sabrina and Reid's wedding at The Old Mill in Rose Valley was one of those unique and rare occasions! Reid's dad is one of my husband's long time work friends which added a layer of meaning to creating their stationery. Sabrina and Reid are a beautiful young couple driven by their passions, have so much fun together, and lots of adventures! It was a pleasure to collaborate with them to create their wedding invitations.

The Old Mill is a gorgeous venue with deep historical roots reaching back to England in the late 17th century. There are many fine architectural details dating from the Arts & Crafts movement in The Mill and other buildings on the property. The Arts & Crafts movement was unique in its focus on the artisanal and handcrafted. We love that their wedding stationery was thoughtful and detail-oriented much like the venue itself.

Sabrina, her mom, and I worked together to create sophisticated invitations that were classic with unique elements. They wanted a suite that was beautiful, simple, and organized. A custom pocket was the perfect way to keep all the enclosures arranged neatly in one place. The subtle pearl jacket coordinated with ivory and gold elements. We used a traditional cursive script to bring everything together.

WELCOMING GUESTS

Welcomes packages are such an important detail for out of town guests. Covering all the bases, Sabrina and Reid wanted to make sure their guests had all the little things needed to make them feel at home as well as set the tone for the weekend festivities. Reid's mom and I worked closely to make sure these came together perfectly!

We created custom water bottle labels and wrapped candy bars in navy bands with a painterly floral motif that coordinated with the enclosed weekend schedule timeline. Welcome items came packaged in craft gable boxes tied with white ribbon and a navy sticker with florals and custom monogram.

The entire day was beautiful! Sabrina's bridesmaids wore light blue and carried bouquets of soft blush and ivory florals. Vows were exchanged streamside with Reid's sister as officiant who was so eloquent, she had us all in tears.

Cocktail hour was held outside and the reception was so much fun with their incredible band that kept the dance floor packed all night. It was an evening to remember!

We asked Sabrina to share a little more about her and Reid's story and thoughts on looking back on her wedding day. Wedding photos by Tom Fuller. Stationery photos by Stone Hill Paperie.

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How did you and Reid meet? 

Reid and I met at Temple University. He transferred from another school the second semester of our freshman year and we met on his first day on campus through a mutual friend that lived in my dorm. We both were a bit hung-up on our ex's, but that sure changes quickly when you find true love!

How did Reid propose?

Reid moved to the Carolinas after we graduated college so we had a long-distance relationship for a few years. I lived in Pennsylvania. Charleston, South Carolina became a spot that we enjoyed traveling to when I would visit him because it was a beach town within a couple hours of his new home.

After Reid moved back "home" to Pennsylvania, we decided to visit Charleston because we hadn't recently had the opportunity since he had moved home. In Charleston, Reid proposed in a beautiful Edison bulb-lit alleyway near our favorite restaurant. Reid was almost hit in the head by a chair during the proposal by a restaurant employee setting up for the evening! Reid swears that I started sobbing and shaking my head yes before he even asked me to marry him.

What surprised you most about planning your wedding? 

I was surprised by the amount of decisions I had to make and how every decision brought more decisions! It was a bit overwhelming at times.

What did you find was your best resource for planning your wedding?  

I found Pinterest to be my resource for basic ideas and then I would change them to better suit my intention. I often found that when I asked others' thoughts, they had a different opinion than I did, which stressed me out more. My sister also got married two months after we did so we found ourselves in constant conversation about wedding plans. It was fun to be making plans at the same time!

What was your inspiration for your wedding day details? 

The Old Mill is very "do-it-yourself" so you could make it as glamorous or as plain as you'd like. The space indoors was slightly rustic, and the outdoors was full of greenery and bamboo. I wanted an elegant twist. I blended the rustic venue with elegance by adding neutral colors throughout.

My bridal party wore light blue and my flowers were neutral with greenery. I accented with gold which was first introduced through my invitations, to perfectly suit my style. Amy was amazing to work with because she paid such close attention to detail and was able to pick up on what I liked and guide me in the proper direction to "set the stage" for our big day. 

What was your favorite thing about your wedding? 

My favorite thing about my wedding was the feeling in the air that day. I felt so much love surrounding us. I also loved how full the dance floor was. We just had so much fun!

Best part of the wedding planning? 

My favorite part of the wedding planning were the details. As a pediatric intensive care unit nurse, details are my livelihood and something I enjoy paying attention to. All of the things that many people may not notice and my family said "stop worrying so much about the little things" to were the best part! The colors, the fonts, the decor etc. were so much fun to coordinate and pick out.

What advice will you give your friends getting married? 

My best advice would be to follow your heart and pick out the things you want, within reason of course. You get one wedding and it should be YOUR wedding. It only has to be perfect to you. It can be hard to dismiss the opinions of others, especially the ones you care most about but chances are they already had their day, and this one is yours.

Where did you honeymoon?

We went on our honeymoon to Bali, Indonesia. We wanted to go somewhere that was exotic, had a different culture, and was somewhere we may not have as much time to travel to in our future. We were able to bathe with elephants, visit many temples, complete a Hindu soul-cleansing ritual, see an active volcano, take a safari ride, and visit rice fields! The trip was absolutely breathtaking!

CREATIVE PARTNERS:

Ceremony and Reception Location (and uplighting):  The Old Mill-Rose Valley | Photographer:  Tom Fuller | Florist:  Marcus Hook Florist | Band:  The FM Band | Invitations, Welcome Boxes, and Programs:  Stone Hill Paperie | Sabrina's Wedding Dress:  Claire's Fashions