Anne Elizabeth and Ethan planned the perfect wedding weekend in Louisville, Kentucky! Their friends and family enjoyed a beautiful May weekend of activities to celebrate their marriage. I love how they personalized their wedding weekend and made it truly unique to them. I’m excited to share more about their stunning Yew Dell Gardens wedding!

Their Love Story

Anne Elizabeth and Ethan first met in the lobby of their apartment building in Charlotte, North Carolina. It all began when Anne Elizabeth noticed that Ethan was wearing a Davidson College t-shirt, which is where they both went to college. Anne Elizabeth struck up a conversation with Ethan, and they immediately bonded over their love of Davidson and the cuteness of Ethan’s puppy, Truman, who was with him. 

They began getting to know each other better when they were studying for their respective board exams. Anne Elizabeth used the apartment’s lounge as her MCAT study area. Ethan shortly followed in her footsteps by setting up at the table right next to her to study for the NC Bar exam. They each spent 14-hour days studying, bonding over coffee runs and take-out dinners. After Anne Elizabeth took the MCAT, she came home to a bottle of  Eagle Rare (her favorite bourbon) in front of her apartment door with a note to join Ethan for celebratory ice cream.

After Anne Elizabeth returned from hiking El Camino, which is a 500-mile hike through France and Spain to Santiago de Compostela, they officially began dating. Throughout their relationship, Anne Elizabeth and Ethan have enjoyed trying new restaurants, attending comedy shows, going on adventures, and playing with their two dogs, Truman and Dolly. 

Ethan proposed at Anne Elizabeth’s family home in the mountains surrounding Asheville, North Carolina. They went to the mountains to celebrate the New Year with friends. After their friends had gone to bed and as they were cleaning up after the celebration, Ethan proposed while it was just the two of them. It was the perfect surprise for Anne Elizabeth! They had talked about getting married after her graduation, but he surprised her by having the ring sooner. They celebrated on New Year’s Day with their closest friends at the mountain house.

Their Yew Dell Gardens Wedding Ceremony

Anne Elizabeth got ready with twelve of her best friends. After her hair and makeup were complete, her mother helped her into her wedding gown. She wore a form-fitted Galia Lahav gown with a dramatic open-back and statement veil. I’m honored to have witnessed the emotional moments Anne Elizabeth and her mom shared throughout the day. It was so special to photograph!

Anne Elizabeth and her father walked down the floral-lined aisle towards the breathtaking ceremony arch. It’s here that the couple exchanged vows. The ring exchange that followed was extra sentimental because Ethan inherited Anne Elizabeth’s grandfather’s wedding band as his own. After they sealed it with a kiss, they headed back down the aisle together as husband and wife as guests tossed rose petals into the aisle. Seeing the genuine smiles across their faces during this moment was a highlight of the day for me!

Their Yew Dell Gardens Wedding Reception

Following their heartwarming ceremony, guests headed towards the cocktail hour tent. This charming clear tent was a great place for guests to mingle and enjoy cocktails before the reception. While they enjoyed the cocktail hour, I snuck away with the couple for more portraits.

Afterward, they made their way to the reception space nearby. The reception was filled with whimsical floral arrangements. Hanging from stands rather than placed on the tables, these romantic, textured arrangements were the focal points of the room. Also, the tables featured unique, colorful china and pressed floral table numbers. It was clear that the couple and Refined Social Events put so much effort into making the wedding reception truly unique and reflective of them.

As the sun faded, Anne Elizabeth changed into her reception dress and paired it with her mother’s veil for a sentimental touch. She rejoined the wedding guests to dance the night away as the band played hit after hit. 

As a wedding favor, the guests enjoyed homemade sweets made by Nancy Hazle that represented the Ohio Buckeyes. These chocolatey sweets were something Anne Elizabeth and Ethan looked forward to sharing with their guests throughout the entire planning process, and they were a huge hit with the guests!

As the night came to a close, Anne Elizabeth and Ethan’s wedding guests gathered for their grand exit. The couple entered the vintage Rolls Royce and set off for the after-party at Hell Or High Water in downtown Louisville. 

Their Wedding Weekend Festivities

Anne Elizabeth and Ethan planned an entire weekend’s worth of celebrations for their friends and family. They mimicked their weekend events (and even their attire selections!) based on the events Anne Elizabeth’s parents had for their own wedding thirty years ago. It was a huge hit among their guests!

The festivities began with a twilight racing celebration at Churchill Downs on Thursday evening. On Friday, guests enjoyed a field day at The Sporting Club at the Farm. It was complete with skeet shooting, archery, and bourbon tastings. When dinnertime hit, the guests enjoyed Martin’s Bar-B-Que and a good old-fashioned hoedown.

Megan Noll Photography offers full wedding weekend coverage as an option for couples. Beginning your photography coverage at the start of the weekend allows you to remember the entire weekend’s worth of fun events for years to come!

After their Yew Dell Gardens wedding on Saturday, Anne Elizabeth and Ethan’s guests enjoyed a farewell brunch on Sunday at The Brown Hotel, which is where all of the guests had stayed for the wedding weekend. It was a fabulous way to end the weekend!

Capturing these heartfelt moments and exciting celebrations for Anne Elizabeth and Ethan was an honor. Wishing them nothing but joy and happiness! 

Looking to see more recent weddings? Check these out! 
Meshewa House Wedding | Catherine + Austin
European Garden Inspired Ault Park Wedding Reception

Thank you to the amazing Yew Dell Gardens wedding vendor team! 

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Yew Dell Botanical Gardens
Planner: Refined Social Events
Hair Stylist: Maddie Wofford of Beheld Beauty
Caterer: Wiltshire Pantry
Florist: By Denizen
Band: Downtown Band
Video: Happy Campers
Dress Shop: The Dress Theory
Dress Designer: Galia Lahav
Tuxes: Joseph A Bank
Invitations: Courtney Ballard
Rentals: Canvas Event Furniture
Transportation: Miller Transportation