Jonathan + Lee: Rehearsal Dinner, The Champions Room, The Greenbrier Golf Club, White Sulphur Springs, WV

I've said it before, but I'll say it again, I love Rehearsal Dinners because they set the tone for the weekend. It feels like it's the first time everyone has finally stepped back, taken a breath, and is ready to enjoy the wedding festivities. With all the last minute preparations complete, it's time to relax and celebrate the upcoming marriage of two lovely people in love and ready to embark on an incredible journey together.

Lee is one of the loveliest and fun-loving people I know and after meeting Jonathan, I know exactly why they chose each other. They are a perfect match and their happiness is contagious. 

A treat for the flower girl...

This makes me miss the mountains... So pretty West Virginia.

I LOVED the center pieces for the rehearsal dinner. One of Jonathan's favorite events of the year is the Masters, so they had a Masters themed rehearsal dinner in the appropriately named, Champions Room.

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Rehearsal Dinner Details

Much more to come on the wedding, but I wanted to share a few detail photos from Katie and Thomas' incredibly delicious rehearsal dinner at Bloomsbury Bistro. One word. YUM.

Kortney + Kelly

Rehearsal dinners have a special atmosphere to them that weddings can never reproduce. Anticipation. What will the bride's dress look like? What is the color of the bridesmaid dresses? What are the music selections? Who will cry first? Who will laugh first? Who's going to break it down on the dance floor? And then there's the other element of the rehearsal dinner, which sometimes makes it into the wedding, but the funniest ones are usually given prior to the big day - the roasting of the soon-to-be newlyweds.

Kortney and Kelly's "roast" was a loving tease at them when they first started dating. Both were in love, but both were also afraid to be the first to say it - easily understood, it's scary putting your heart on the line. So they eased into it by whispering "elephant shoe" to each other. Why elephant shoe? Because when you mouth those two little words, it looks like your saying three big words, "I love you." Genius. And so began their love affair and now marriage. The family got in on the act and incorporated an "Elephant Shoe" themed rehearsal dinner. 

Thanks Kortney and Kelly for letting me be a part of your delicious pig-pickin' rehearsal dinner!

Adorable couples. Elephant shoe.