Key words all around.
For the ceremony: intimate, woodsy, winter, vintage, understated/simple. It's a planned elopement with just the two of us + our best friend, so that's about as cohesive as it gets. Here's how it all comes together, if you're curious:
Dress (in ivory, not "cameo" which is the blush color pictured)
Groomswear (kilt) in his clan's colors. (He's pretty far removed from the Scottish ancestry, but still bears the last name, and also kilts are awesome and you never need a good excuse to wear one.)
For the reception: southern classy, crawfish/low country boil, barbecue, low-key, traditional, minimal florals. The reception is more about our families than us. The "southern classy" vibe is a reference to my side of the family, the "low country boil," to his. How it comes together:
Centerpieces - No picture yet, but picture this lantern+lemon filled with a little bit of spanish moss and fairy lights
Bonfire, luck permitting
On the advice of Wedditors, I've decided to just embrace the oxymorons and contradictions inherent in my ceremony key words. "classy crawfish boil," etc. TBH, that's the truest way to represent the joining of our families. His side is a bunch of "Cajun Crackers." We're Southern Landowners going back to the 17th century. So I'm very proud of the way I've managed to draw it all together, and I couldn't have done it with out this sub. Crawfish as a nod to his side of the family (and also my deep personal love for the mudbugs, try not to find a metaphor there). The venue (which is my grandparents' permanent residence) and dress code as a nod to my side. BBQ and s'mores over a bonfire as a unifying food. Completely southern, crossing class and culture boundaries, 100% delicious and fun.
I'm quite pleased with myself. Thank you for the opportunity to brag about how brilliant I am. FH doesn't seem to appreciate it.
