Amelia + Claiborne's Intimate Nicholasville Wedding + Engagement

From the Bride: In April of 2020, the day after our invitations had arrived in the mail, we received a phone call that our June 13, 2020 wedding of 300+ was cancelled by our original venue due to COVID-19. We didn’t want to wait much longer to tie the knot but with the concern of the pandemic, we postponed from June to August. The guest list changed every day for a month until we made the difficult decision to downsize to 25 of our immediate family members, keeping safety as our top priority. Our wedding took place on August 15th at St. Luke Catholic Church in Nicholasville, and was live-streamed to our friends and family all over the U.S. Those that were unable to attend found so many creative ways to make our day special. My husband-to-be and I both FaceTimed with the rest of our bridal party (which was downsized) while we were getting ready for the day. From surprise wedding day deliveries and heartfelt notes, to sending in videos that were combined into a presentation of congratulations and well-wishes, we felt their love in every corner of our wedding day. Although we couldn't celebrate with our extended families and large guest list, we made up for it in celebration! We opted for quality food, service, and atmosphere in the Gatsby Room at Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse in Lexington. It will absolutely go down as the best food I’ve ever had at a wedding and definitely the best smell of our day! Our vision for the wedding was always to be classic, timeless and glamorous no matter the scale with gold and ivory, magnolias, orchids and greenery. The art-deco style room was the perfect backdrop for our intimate and elegant celebration of love.

With so many unknowns, it was truly a family effort in piecing together our ever-evolving wedding plans. As a graphic designer, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to create the stationery for our day and the year prior. The save-the-dates, change-the-dates, program magazine, hand sanitizer labels, champagne flute favors, and tags on the Jordan almond favors, were all labors of love that kept me busy during quarantine. I also hand-drew the inspiration for the wedding cake that was so perfectly executed. The Tuxedo Cake was one of my most memorable tastes of the day.

My mother assisted with so many of the details: from hand picking the brass candlesticks to sewing the flower pushes for the Jordan almonds and surprising us with a limo for the evening. It wouldn’t have been possible without her help! My uncle set the diamonds in both of my rings, one of which came from my mother-in-law-to-be, and another from my late grandmother. The day was extraordinary because of the efforts of so many, but the most unexpected contribution of the day was right before the reception: We saw Coach Calipari as we were walking into Jeff Ruby's and he told us we looked beautiful and wished us well… easily one of my UK fanatic husband’s favorite memories of the day!

As for me, my favorite moment of the day was when, after planning our wedding at three different churches, three different reception venues, and four different honeymoons, we FINALLY made it back down the aisle as husband and wife! Flooded with happy tears, a wave of relief washed over me and I was completely overwhelmed with the love between our families as we hugged and piled in the pack of the church. We were so grateful for the celebration we were able to have during one of the most uncertain and difficult years of our lifetimes. It was such a blessing to celebrate with our loved ones by our side and we are thankful for the health and safety of everyone in attendance and watching from home. With such large families and initial expectations, the final product was far from our original vision. But, with so many unique moments, unforgettable experiences, and no shortage of unconditional love, our day was every bit as magical as we’d imagined from the moment we were engaged.

Photography: Emily Wakin Photography | Videography: Beyond The Lens | Location: (Ceremony) Nicholasville (Reception) Lexington | Venue: (Ceremony) St. Luke Catholic Church (Reception) Jeff Ruby | Florals: Judy's Flowers & Gifts | Caterer: Jeff Ruby | Cake: Tinker’s Cake Shop | Music: (Ceremony) Lubitza Braikova and Geoffrey Hershberger of St. Peter Catholic Church | Transportation: Thoroughbred Limousine | Stationery + Paper Goods: Designed by the Bride, Printed by London Impressions | Hair + Makeup: Savannah Pratt | Bride’s Attire: Pronovias from The Ivory Atelier | Groom’s Attire: Custom Joseph Abboud Tuxedo from Men's Warehouse | Credits: (Bridal Portraits) Oak Hill Gardens (Bridesmaids’ Dresses) Kleinfeld Bridal Party (Bridal Alterations) Sew Perfect Studios