Whitney + Cody – Rustic Elegance

Whitney and Cody’s wedding at The Estate at Cherokee Dock was a breathtaking celebration of timeless elegance and modern romance. With serene lakeside views as the backdrop, the estate was transformed by the creative vision of Kathy, the owner of Romance and Rust. The rich autumn color palette, accented by pampas grass and vibrant blooms, set the tone of warmth and sophistication, seamlessly blending elegance with rustic charm. From the heartfelt ceremony to striking tablescapes and lush florals, every moment was thoughtfully designed to reflect the couple’s love story. We asked the bride, Whitney, to tell us all about their love story and wedding day! Keep reading to hear what she had to say and see the stunning details!

Their love story began when they met through a mutual friend and hit it off instantly. Whitney fell in love with Cody’s passion and drive for bringing all of his dreams to life.

My husband has always been the type to get so excited to give a gift. He cannot keep a secret for long. So, after a 10-day vacation with my mom and sister, I returned, and he couldn’t hold it in any longer. He got down on his knee and popped the question without hesitation. Guess you could say he missed me?

The theme was coined “rustic elegance” and brought to life completely by Romance & Rust along with Ina J Designs.

What details were used to create this vision? I remember walking through Kathy’s workshop (owner of Romance & Rust) and simply pointing to certain items that I was fond of. I liked a lot of jewel tones and gold accents. She was able to bring my vision to life!

You plan for so long, and the suspense and nerves all make the day go by so incredibly fast! I remember waking up on the venue site and getting ready with all my bridesmaids in the bridal suite, followed by first looks and first touch pictures. I’m old fashioned, so we opted for a “first touch” in order to save reactions for when we were walking down the aisle, but we did first looks with bridesmaids and my dad. I remember having all my items something old, new, and borrowed, but was still needing my something blue. My parents had embroidered one of my grandmother’s handkerchief in blue stitching for me to wrap around my bouquet. It was so sentimental since she had passed earlier in the year. I believe firsthand that she was the one who put in a good word to the big guy and helped make the weather on the day of the wedding just perfect! Our ceremony was family only so that we didn’t have to keep the guests waiting at the reception and could get in all the photos. Our first dance song was “Diamonds or Twine” by Ryan Hurd- I’m not entirely sure my husband was expecting it, but we weren’t strangers to dancing to Ryan Hurd songs in the kitchen, so it helped ease his nerves having to dance in front of everyone. The rest of the evening was packed with food, dancing, family, friends, and laughter. To say it was a blur is an understatement. I remember the wedding coordinator and teams started to blow out candles and gather decor off tables, to which I said, “Oh no! Is it over already?”

I couldn’t rave more about Kathy (Romance & Rust) if I tried! She has such a warm and inviting personality and puts you right at ease when trying to explain your wedding vision. Obviously, there’s so much hard work and behind-the-scenes stuff that she takes off of the bride’s plate. She’s such a blessing to get to work with and have in your corner on your best day! 20/10, would definitely recommend if you’re lucky to book with her!

Jon (Music Tree Entertainment) was so personable! I loved how he really worked the crowd and made jokes throughout the chaotic dismissing tables for dinner, as well as the bouquet and garter toss. He’s very knowledgeable about the different musical genres and was able to play music that appealed to the wide range of guests in attendance.