Real Wedding: Crystal and Carlton

I have another beautiful and stylish couple for you today... Carlton and Crystal were married on 10-2-10 at ~ Christian World Ministries in Lake Charles, LA. Their reception was held at the Lake Charles Civic Center on the top floor... the Buccaneer Room. The photographer capturing all this elegance is Ashley Wood of Sulphur, LA    Woodlands Photography.  The Wedding Coordinator was Monica Rideaux of Lake Charles, LA

Evident in these lovely pics ... Carlton and Crystal meld family and faith with such style, grace and tenderness. It just seems effortless. Enjoy and read along as Crystal shares about their style, colors, and how she enjoyed her wedding day!

Wedding Style Classy. Elegant. I'm not a flashy person. I'm just me. I love things that are nice, but not stuffy or stiff. 

{click on each image to enlarge}

{So delicate and wonderful ... and seemingly made just for her, I had to ask Crystal about her dress}  *Love*

THE dress I have always admired Spanish-style wedding dresses. When they zipped me in and hooked the veil ... that was it! I started crying and I KNEW this was MY dress. {2010 Concord from Blue by Enzoani - Alecon Lace in Ivory}

Highlights of the Day When I woke up the morning of my wedding, I thought I would be anxious and nervous but I was so peaceful and happy. Sharing a moment with my mom as she looked in my eyes with love and hooked my necklace around my neck... Having all of my bridesmaids, my best friends around me on my special day... Grabbing my Dad's arm as he lead me down the aisle... Kissing my husband!

Wedding Colors I love black and white... but I felt that I needed to add color to our wedding. I decided to go with apple red... deep and beautiful. I knew the color would look wonderful on all of my bridesmaids.

Bouquets These were ostrich burgundy and red feather stick picks, died to match the roses.

Best part of the whole wedding day The best part was joining Carlton in marriage in front of friends and family who genuinely love us and want the best for us. On this day I became Mrs. Carlton Briscoe and also a  full-time step mom. My life changed on October 2, 2010 and it was one of the best days ever!

Advice you're glad you took I was so overwhelmed towards the last few weeks before the wedding. Several people told me to take in every moment of our wedding day, to soak it in and embrace it. And I am so happy I did! If I had worried about other unimportant factors, I would have missed the little things that made my wedding day so special.

The dessert table My husband enjoys sweets, so what better way to honor him than to give him his very own table fun of the desserts he loves. Variety of cookies - Chocolate cake with chocolate dipped strawberries, Traditional white cake with Pineapple filling and another traditional white cake with strawberry filling. The cake was a four tier classic round cake with bavarian cream filling and almond flavored icing.

{I love the tenderness in these photos... *sigh*}

Advice you wished you took I really tried to listen to all of the advice I received. I had several aunts and friends who shared their knowledge on love and marriage. The wedding was truly my vision as well as the ceremony. I tried to incorporate some of my Catholic faith in the ceremony and some of my husband's Baptist traditions as well. I believe the wedding was about us and that was important.

Advice you'd like to give Each and every couple is different as each and every wedding is unique. Make your wedding about you and your spouse!

Gorgeous and inspiring! Thank You Crystal and Carlton for sharing your special day with all of us! We wish you oodles and oodles of joy and happiness and blessings!

This is the Thank You that Crystal and Carlton ordered from MagnetStreet Weddings. The design is from the   Soothing Blue line. And, what a great photo!