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New Needtobreathe Drummer Marries in the Smoky Mountains

Samantha + Randy 
November 18, 2012
Asheville, North Carolina

Do you remember Samantha and Randy’s adorable engagement session about Evaluating your Wedding Photographer?  Well, today I have I have their western North Carolina mountain wedding and Samantha’s hindsight advice!

Samantha and Randy started dating Nov. 18, 2002, in high school, so it was only fitting when Randy proposed earlier in 2012 that they’d get married 10 years later to the day of the first day they held hands. It’s been a whirlwind for Samantha and Randy. This summer, he joined the popular band, Needtobreathe, and has finished one nationwide tour and is currently touring in Europe with them. Be sure to scroll down for the best wedding cake ever and for  Samantha’s hindsight advice!
North Carolina Bride at the Crest Center Reception at the Crest Pavilion in North Carolina black and white portrait of north carolina bride and groom red and purple wildflower bouquet North Carolina wedding at the Crest pavilion Western North Carolina wedding ceremony rustic red and purple wildflower bouquet split chocolate and white wedding cake twinkle light reception at the Crest Center Pavillion engagement photo guest book Need to Breath Band Members mint to be wedding favor Sparkler get away

Why a Mountain Wedding?

This is my home! I have always lived in the beautiful mountains of western North Carolina and I wanted my mountain to be a part of my big day. I always wanted an outdoor wedding and I had always dreams that it would be late spring/early summer. So much for that idea since we made the wedding date our 10 year anniversary as boyfriend and girlfriend (c.e. Nov. 18, 2002). I sacrificed the time of year but was not about to let go of the outdoor ceremony. Thank goodness the weather was nice (a little chilly but bearable).

Where did you find your inspiration?

Randy was a big part of planning the wedding. We looked at so many outdoor sites. Gardens, Lakes, Fields, etc… The Crest Pavilion was on the list only because the high school I teach at has their prom there every year. It was not super high on my list for that reason. It already meant something (not wedding) to me. When we visited however, it did nothing but hit a high note for me and Randy. He loved the value and I loved the view! In all honesty, if it weren’t for Randy there would have been no inspiration. I was so scattered with ideas; he was the voice of reason through it all. My one inspiration, I would have to say was beauty. The mountain view really set the tone, and I wanted all the other parts to fit, not for a theme but for their own elements of beauty. Now that I think back on everything its funny how everything fit together so well yet all the aspects were decided upon without other things in mind. To make sense of that….A few days after he proposed I texted in a picture of a cake I found on Pinterest, his reply: Yes, Please. And so we had our cake picked out (I hope Carrie sent pictures). Then I decided the color, not even considering the time of year. I guess the flowers and decor were somewhat influenced by the color choice.

Ultimately I wanted guests to leave saying that was the most beautiful wedding I’ve ever been to.

What was your favorite moment of the day?

  • Other than the moment I kissed my husband for the first time, I would have to say it was that moment when the wedding director is getting everyone ready and they are starting down the isle and I am standing there with my dad and realize: this is it! I know I was smiling from ear to ear at that moment.

Three things you’re glad you did.

  • Chose a 4:30 ceremony time, any later and my poor bridesmaids would have turned into Popsicles.
  • Made choices based on budget and achieved the wedding of my dreams without going into debt (Randy told me if there was something that I couldn’t live without at the wedding I was responsible for coming up with the money to get it. The cake was one of those things; thank you yard sales)
  • Asked for help! At first I had the idea that I could do it all, Super Bride! After a few pep talks from Randy, reminding me that its OK, to not do everything yourself, I called the bridesmaids and family and friends and asked. Life got so much easier after that.

Three things you wish you had done?

  • Spent more time at the reception talking to people I haven’t seen in a long time. I look at pictures and see people that I only said goodbye to before they headed out.
  • Typed or wrote a “Day Of” agenda. Not just for me but for everyone involved. The vendors knew when to do what, but for everything else, everyone was asking me.
  • Had a video camera set up! There is no video footage of the wedding! I think Randy’s uncle from Florida filmed a snippet of the ceremony on his phone. (We do however have all the audio of the ceremony recorded)

Anything you wish you hadn’t done?

  • I forgot the flower girl’s basket for pedals; Truly that’s the only thing.

Anything you wish you hadn’t worried about?

  • My hair…the one thing I am the most picky about! I was a nervous wreck the whole morning while it was getting put up. The stylist even told me to chill and trust that she knew what she was doing.
  • Whether Randy was going to come through on the things he said he would handle.

How did you choose your vendors?

  • Most choices were made by suggestions from others. The Crest recommended the DJ, a colleague recommended the florist, and the bakery was the only bakery open on the Monday that Randy and I set out to look for one.

What is your very best hindsight advice?

  • Having a plan is a good thing, but don’t sweat it if something doesn’t turn out exactly the way you planned.
  • Ask for help from everyone, you can’t do everything yourself.
  • Trust your man, if he says he will take care of his assigned duties, he will.
  • In the end, you’re married! Enjoy the moments and embrace the mishaps.

My DIY projects were the wedding favors. Me and my best friend stayed up so late one night covering rolls of Mentos with colored paper and tying “Mint to Be” tags around them. Also, we made 13 yarn balls for table centerpiece decorations (yarn, balloons, glue and cornstarch).

Team Wedding

My vendors were great. The Crest Center for site and catering, City Bakery for the cake!, Swannanoa Flower Shop for the flowers, Blazin Sounds Entertainment as the DJ.