For those of you who don’t know, Ivy is a Corner District bride turned venue manager! See their Wedding Gallery for more real wedding photos. Enjoy!

-The Corner District

Bride and groom’s names:

Ivy + John Ferguson

How did you meet your husband?

I was living in Athens, GA at the time with two of my girlfriends. One spring weekend in 2010, my roommates and I were at the apartment complex pool getting some sun and relaxing. We decided to invite some people to come hangout with us. One of my high school friends showed up with two of his friends. One of the guys caught my eye right off the bat, he was so handsome! We were introduced and I immediately knew there was something about him that was different than most.

At the end of the day after my roommate and I made it back to the apartment, I told her, “I am going to marry that guy one day.” Over the next couple of months, we were just friends – even though I had a huge crush on him. At the beginning of the summer he and a friend decided they wanted to move to Destin, Florida. I thought we were going to lose touch and I didn’t want that to happen. A few weeks after he moved, my friend and I decided to go to the beach. My aunt just so happens to own a beach house about 20 min from Destin. John and I spent the entire week together, it was perfect and I didn’t want it to end.

We texted and called constantly over the next few weeks. One day, he called me and told me he was moving back! I was so excited. Once he was back in Georgia, we were inseparable and falling for each other fast. He told me he loved me after only four months of dating, although we both knew it was love way before then.

Tell us the story of how he popped the question:

It was right before Christmas in 2014 and we had been dating for over 4 years. I had asked him a few times about what we should get each other for Christmas and he kept saying, “Oh I am just getting you something small.” I was kind of suspicious that he was going to pop the question, but I didn’t want to get my hopes up. One Saturday while I was at work, John texted and asked if I had any ideas of something fun to do that night. Since it was Christmas, I thought it would be really neat to go to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens and see the Christmas lights. He loved the idea and we headed there as soon as I got off work.

The place was packed when we got there, we had to park a mile away. The walk to the front gate was exhausting because the terrain was mostly uphill. When we finally made it to the front gate, I reached into my purse to get the tickets and realized I had forgotten them in the car. We had to walk all the way back to the car, get the tickets, and then go all the way back to the front gates. Needless to say, we did a lot of walking that night. 

We finally made it into the gardens, grabbed a drink, and started the tour. John and I walked the entire exhibit hand in hand, it was more romantic than I had expected it to be. It sounds cliché, but the love was in the air that night. We were getting close to the end when John asked me what my favorite light display was. It was the main garden area, they had giant globes on the lawn that glowed and danced along with the Christmas music that was playing. We walked back to the main lawn area, took a seat on a bench, and listened to the music for awhile. It was getting really late and after all the walking we had done, I was ready to head home. As we got up to leave, John tugged on my arm and said, “Wait just a second.” I turn around to see the man of my dreams down on his knee! I was so excited that I literally picked him up off the ground to give him a kiss. After we kissed, I said “Yes! Yes! Yes!” Later that night, we realized the date was 12/13/14, which we thought was pretty cool. Best day ever!

What was your wedding date and why did you choose it? 

We wanted to be engaged for at least a year so we could have plenty of time to plan the wedding. We noticed that one of the Saturdays in January was 1/16/16, which is pretty easy to remember.

What was your overall vision for your wedding?

We wanted a romantic, yet rustic feel. I love all things girly, but John on the other hand isn’t a fan. We needed a wedding that incorporated both styles.

What do you feel was the most special component of your wedding?

The most special thing to the both of us was being able to celebrate with all of our friends and family. We had a lot of wedding guests travel from all over the country to be with the us on our very special day.

How involved was your groom in the wedding planning process? 

I ran all of my ideas by John but, like most men, he was pretty much only interested in the cake and food. He also enjoyed picking out his and the groomsmen’s outfits.

Did you have a wedding theme or color pallet, and if so how or why did you choose it?

We had a very neutral color pallet, charcoal grey, cream, and a lot of greenery. We also had antique brass candle sticks along all the tables, they added extra flair.

How important are the typical wedding traditions? Did you plan on doing something outside of the norm to make your wedding more of your own?

We stuck with most of the normal wedding traditions except for one, the first look. I was nervous about walking down the aisle and having all those people stare at me. We decided to do the first look to ease our nerves. It was the best idea ever! Seeing him beforehand made the ceremony that much more enjoyable. I was able to relax and be “in the moment” with all our guests.

Why did you choose your wedding venue?

As soon as we walked into The Corner District, we knew it was the venue for us. It was the perfect mix of romantic and rustic, perfect for both our styles. The original hardwood floors, exposed brick walls, and antique chandeliers give TCD such a unique and warm atmosphere. We love the venue!

hillary leah photography