Southern Charm and Rustic Elegance Set a Romantic Backdrop for this Wedding at a Historic Venue in Hiram, Georgia

Michelle and Antonio’s charming southern wedding exuded rustic elegance and was a carefree affair, overflowing with love, laughter, and joy!

Michelle and Antonio were first introduced through a mutual friend.

Since Michelle and Antonio are both passionate foodies, Antonio coordinated with their favorite restaurant to plan the perfect proposal. As the dessert was set on their table, dry ice billowed around the glass and Michelle immediately started to dig in without noticing the ring sitting on top.

Antonio grabbed my hand and read a handwritten letter asking me to be his wife.
– Michelle

The Cotton Gin in Hiram, Georgia provided Michelle and Antonio with a warm romantic backdrop, beaming with southern and rustic charm, creating an elegant, yet laid-back atmosphere. Their ceremony space was light, with rustic and modern touches and an exposed brick wall, while their reception space was cozy and romantic, featuring twinkling lights hung between warm wooden beams and elegant chandeliers. Each space was beautifully decorated with autumnal-colored florals, adding additional romance and warmth to the celebration.

The entire day was filled with laughter, joy, and love simply because the day was so carefree.
– Michelle

See the charming details of their rustic southern wedding below!

Couple: Michelle & Antonio
Occupations: Realtor | Master Barber
Wedding date: Our wedding was on November 12, 2023. We chose this date to signify us as individuals 1, 1 or 11, 12 for the number of years we’ve been together, equaling 23 which is a number that represents happiness, growth, and making good things happen.
Wedding location: Hiram, Georgia

Quick Facts:

Gifts for bridesmaids and groomsmen: I gifted personalized sleeping shirts to the bridesmaids and matron of honor. A fun fact is that all my bridesmaids are married so, I added their wedding dates on the left cuff of the sleeve. I chose these women not only because we’re family, but because I wanted to lean upon their experiences as wives. Antonio gifted personalized cufflinks and socks to the groomsmen. Every man needs cufflinks and cool socks so that was a no-brainer.
Gifts for one another: We gifted fragrances to each other to reminisce on the first gifts we gave one another early on in our relationship.
Ceremony entrance song: The bridal party’s entrance song was “I’m Sure It’s You (The Wedding Song)” by Sheila. I was ushered down the aisle to “Her” by Isaac Carree.
First dance song: We shared our first dance to “Sure Thing” by Miguel. It truly personifies our respect, friendship, and love for one another. We also had a last dance to “From This Moment On” by Shania Twain featuring Bryan White. This song epitomizes our new journey as husband and wife “never apart”.

How did you meet?

We met through a mutual friend.

Tell us about the proposal.

Antonio and I are foodies, so it was only right that he proposed at one of our favorite steakhouses in Atlanta. Unknown to me, the chef prepared a special dessert with dry ice surrounding the beautifully crafted dessert in a martini glass. Greedily, I started to spoon out the dessert and the ring was sitting on top. Antonio grabbed my hand and read a handwritten letter asking me to be his wife.

Wedding Style:

Our wedding style was simple with Southern appeal at the forefront of our minds. I went to one dress shop and tried on several dresses, but I knew my dress when I tried it on. The shopping experience was like being in a fairytale. I sashayed around the room in each dress. It was a happy moment in my wedding journey. Antonio found his suit online. Per his account, it was a seamless rental process. He just answered a questionnaire about height, weight, etc.; the suit arrived and fit handsomely.

The Cotton Gin is uniquely adorned with rustic elements steeped with historic water features setting the stage for a romantic backdrop for our special day.
– Michelle

The soaring ceilings adorned with twinkling lights, and elegant chandeliers casting a warm glow on an unforgettable celebration.
– Michelle

Did you incorporate any culture into your wedding?

We incorporated a Unity Sand ceremony and Jumping the Broom. We adore these traditions because we’re big on family becoming one as a unit and honoring the customs of our ancestors, sweeping away our past lives, and leaping into a new future together in unity and unconditional love.

What is the best memory from your wedding?

Our best memory was seeing everyone’s smiling faces. We received so much love and support on our special day, and family and friends still gush over our wedding.

What is the best wedding advice you can give to engaged couples?

Our advice to engaged couples is to attend pre-martial counseling and to be present, and honest during the sessions. We were completely vested and sincere during this process and we implemented the teachings in our marriage.