A Romantic Winter Mountain Wedding at Old Edwards Inn
Margaret and Jesse Tullos first noticed each other while walking their dogs. The two neighbors lived at the same apartment complex, but they didn’t formally meet until a couple years later.
“Noticing each other leaving for work one morning,” Margaret recalls, “Jesse got out of his car at the red light. He gave me his business card and said, ‘I would love to take you out sometime, if you are interested give me a call.’ Well after talking to my best friend, I called Jesse a few days later.”
Eventually, the couple found themselves at Nickel and Nickel Vineyard in Napa Valley, California, where Jesse surprised Margaret with a romantic proposal.
“We truly enjoyed seeing our family and friends enjoy all of the special details.”
Wedding Planning with Whitney Bowman Events and Old Edwards Inn
“My mother reached out to Whitney Bowman of Whitney Bowman Events after Jesse had asked my parents for my hand in marriage,” says Margaret. “My mother is a friend of Whitney’s and knew she wanted her to plan our wedding. So happy that Whitney was available and we were off to a fast start.”
Margaret dreamt of a winter wedding in the mountains, and Jesse had attended a wedding in Highlands, North Carolina. After looking at Old Edwards Inn, the couple knew it was exactly what they wanted for their wedding venue.
“Whitney’s lead assistant, Lauren Phillips, was the first to join the team,” Margaret explains. “I honestly do not know how I, or my mother, would have gotten through the contracts and spreadsheets without Lauren – and above that, she is so very lovely.
We had the wonderful pleasure of our first meeting at Old Edwards Inn, and I will admit that I was a little intimidated prior to the meeting because they have such a lovely, elevated image of casual elegance with families that have been a part of the charming town of Highlands, NC for decades. Who were we to think we could be a part of that tradition. OEI made us feel amazing, and like we had been going there for decades.”
The couple fell in love with both, Old Edwards Inn and Highlands. Gabby Stone of Old Edwards Inn joined Whitney and Lauren to become what Margaret refers to as “the dream team,” working tirelessly throughout the wedding planning process. They also drafted an incredible list of talented wedding vendors who ensured every detail of the couple’s wedding was executed to perfection.
A Romantic Winter Mountain Wedding
When the big day arrived, the bride’s dream of a romantic winter mountain wedding was brought to life, starting with the florals designs that graced the church. Her uncle has friends who are members of First Presbyterian Church, Highlands, which served as a beautiful location for the wedding ceremony.
“From the floral clad stair handrail leading up to the Church that ended at the stunning asymmetric arch at the entrance, to the sweet flowing bouquets with blue velvet ribbon that adorned the aisle ending with two large, fabulous arrangements that bookended the alter,” Margaret describes, “we had members of the Church telling us that HPC Highlands had never looked so pretty. FPC, Highlands also has an amazing staff and their organist guided and advised us through the music – from the prelude to the processional, and through to the recessional – but not forgetting the bagpipes and the quartet that played ‘Jesus Loves Me’ for the processional of the flower girl and ring bearers.”
To make the ceremony even more special, the bride’s step-father co-officiated the ceremony, adding a personal touch. There wasn’t a dry eye in the sanctuary.
The ceremony was followed by a cocktail hour that displayed even more eye-catching floral designs. After, guests were ushered to the barn, through another floral arrangement that was casual yet stunning.
“Then,” the bride adds, “on other side of the barn was a series of arrangements that – when viewed together – were a symphony of glorious layers of flowers, from an amazing arched asymmetric entrance to a greenery and floral cascade with candles that lead to the main chandelier, lavished with cascading flowers chosen from exactly what I told Lauren Stovall were my favorites. Stunning is an understatement.”
The Wedding Dream Team
“Perry Vaile was a dream come true photographer,” Margaret states. “From the very beginning, Jesse and I were at ease, as were our wedding attendants, family and guests. She worked amazingly with our videographer, Steven Kopacz of Wild Light Videos, and together you did not even realize they were at the respective events at the wedding. Our photo images and videos are a highlight of our wedding and we look at them as often as we are able.”
“Jesse and I were overwhelmed,” she continues, “thrilled and appreciative of the beauty of our wedding day and all that so many people did to make our dreams come true, and we truly enjoyed seeing our family and friends enjoy all of the special details – that added to the joy of our day. I learned many lessons throughout the wedding planning process, but one that I never thought I would learn is to just go with it. It was the perfect day!”
They newlyweds honeymooned in Italy and now reside in Roswell, outside of Atlanta, Georgia.
WEDDING TALENT
Location: Old Edwards Inn, Highlands, NC; Planning & Event Design: Whitney Bowman Events; Floral Design: Wither and Bloom; Cake: Mrs. Sugar Booger; Wedding Dress: Dany Tabey; Bridal Salon: White Magnolia; Hair & Makeup: Claire Baleste; Groom’s Attire: Ralph Lauren; Invitations: Little Postage House; Cinematography: Wildlight Films; Photography: Perry Vaile Photography