Paige + Trevor's Pineville Wedding

From the Bride: There really is no place like home — especially when home is the Bluegrass State.

Trevor and I discussed destination weddings, but we ultimately decided nothing would be more magical than an Eastern Kentucky wedding at my favorite fairytale spot, Laurel Cove Amphitheater, where we could share the Kentucky spirit with our friends and family — from mountain views, a classic southern menu, equestrian details, and even a Kentucky football entrance.

The sun greeted us over the mountains as we climbed Chained Rock before sunrise for our first look. Trevor was handsome in his suit with the fog rolling in behind him — one of my favorite moments from the day. The calm faded into a colorful Bridgerton-themed bridal breakfast provided by my aunt, with tables lined in blue and white china, painted champagne bottles, and little lace parasols. But the cutest pieces in my memory box were the personalized Lady Whistledown papers that sat on each place setting.

For my ceremony look, I wore my Mamaw's family birthstone ring and my mother's wedding pearls. We sewed my dad's favorite shirt into the hem of my dress to memorialize and keep him close. We wrapped a monogrammed sash, made by my dear friend Marissa, around my bouquet that included a picture of my father and a little gold "J" in honor of my cousin, Jenna. Carrying little pieces of family was a beautiful reminder that they were still with me on our big day.

We buried the bourbon exactly one month before our ceremony because who wants rain on their wedding day? Like a scene of a romantic comedy, we marked the spot with our initials in a heart carved onto a nearby tree. Luckily that old southern tradition held true and we had a beautiful day for our mostly outdoor event.

After the ceremony, guests headed to The Lodge for an appetizer hour with a cigar bar on the veranda while Trevor and I took photos with a classic 1958 Chevy Bel Air. Guests left funny stories, advice, and well wishes on our After The Tone audio guestbook.

The reception was a delightful blur as our DJ kept the party rolling all the way out the door for our bubble exit. We capped our night at the Bell Theater with an after party for our closest friends. We danced our first dance to "The Way She Loves Me" by Cody Johnson. It was all the magic I had ever dreamed of.

Bride’s Advice: My biggest piece of advice for any bride is that it is OK to break tradition. I, for example, wasn't given away. My dad passed away a few years ago. While it was difficult to make that walk by myself, there wasn't a person that I felt could truly replace my dad in that moment.

Katelyn DaughertySeptember 18, 2023