May 12, 2012
Ceremony: All Saints™ Episcopal Church, Atlanta
Reception: Georgian Terrace Hotel, Atlanta
Images: Arden Ward Arden Photography
A chance encounter, a dance, and a love of music brought Sarah Benton and Brent Walker together that Fall evening and they have been dancing together ever since.
Here’s their wedding story:
The Back Story
It was November 2008. Sarah and her friends went to see the popular New Orleans band, Dirty Dozen Brass Band which is always more like a party than a concert. Brent and his friends were there too. The two groups happened to meet and before long, Sarah and Brent were dancing. They talked about their mutual love of live music and Brent asked Sarah to go to a Black Crowes concert. Their next date was the following night and the couple has been together ever since.
The Proposal
Brent and Sarah had been dating for over two years and they had discussed their future together. Brent was planning a proposal for the weekend of July 4th and while Sarah was expecting his proposal, she had no idea when it might come. Since the couple had plans for the 4th, Sarah hoped the moment would happen over the holiday weekend. Little did she know that Brent had picked up the ring and had decided that he did not want to wait to ask her to be his wife. She was absolutely surprised when Brent popped the question on July 1st with a bottle of Champagne and a sweet and intimate proposal at home. The couple celebrated at Little Savannah restaurant in Forest Park and soon got down to the details of planning their Spring 2012 wedding.
Wedding Plans
The couple decided to plan their wedding in Atlanta since Brent is from Georgia and Sarah had gone to school there. Not only did they have a lot of friends and family living nearby, the couple felt it would be an easy wedding destination for friends and family since many had to travel to get there. The landmark Georgian Terrace in Midtown Atlanta was a favorite of Sarah’s; she loved the architecture and had imagined their wedding photos on the hotel’s iconic stairways and balconies.
The wedding gown was one of Sarah’s biggest wedding nightmares but ended up being a great wedding story with a fairytale ending. Sarah found the gown of her dreams, a lovely traditional Watters gown with a lace bodice, V-neckline, gathered waistband and billowing full skirt. When the dream gown arrived, it was too short and had to be re-ordered. As the wedding grew near, she worried that the gown may not arrive so she had another gown custom made by a designer but still had her heart set on the original gown. With just days to go before her wedding, the original gown still had not arrived. Sarah was beginning to panic (as any bride would) when she learned that her gown was stuck in China and would never make it to the USA in time for the wedding day. Sarah was not going to let that happen. She had a direct connection to Fed-Ex President Fred Smith and reached out for help in getting the gown in time for her wedding. After some back and forth, the gown finally made it, just in time for the wedding. Sarah wore her dream gown for the ceremony and changed into the sleek strapless gown for the reception. Never say never to a resourceful and determined bride! Brent wore a classic black tuxedo with a white tie and vest.
Bridesmaid gowns by designer Monique Lhullier were all in the same shade of blue but Sarah had the attendants select a style they preferred so each had a dress that suited their own shape and personality. They carried a simple garden bouquet in pale green, lavender, blue, and white.
A trolley transported them all from the ceremony at All Saints™ Episcopal to the hotel where the couple had a lovely seated dinner planned for them. A fantastic seven-tier wedding cake was adorned with their “W” monogram, turquoise blue band, and fresh pale pink peonies.
Because music and dancing had been such a part of their relationship, the couple wanted a fantastic band for the reception. The Platinum Band, one of the Southeast’s premier dance bands kept the couple’s guests on the dance floor all evening. One of Sarah’s favorite moments was when guests donned sunglasses for the band’s rendition of the Corey Hart song, Sunglasses at Night. The couple departed for their honeymoon in Paris in the glow of sparklers, love, and well wishes from friends and family.
Sarah and Brent are at home and happy in Birmingham enjoying items from their Bromberg’s gift registry.
Sarah & Brent’s Bromberg’s Wedding Registry includes:
Formal China: Haviland Valencay and Royal Crown Derby Olde Avesbury
Casual China: Juliska Berry and Thread and Juliska Pewter
Formal Crystal: Waterford Lismore
Sterling Flatware: Reed & Barton Francis 1st
Congratulations to Sarah and Brent! Our very best wishes to you for a lifetime of love and happiness together.
