Southern Bride 2021

Southern
Bride
2021
FREE!
Bride
Southern 1

Southern
Bride
PUBLISHED BY
Houston Publications, Inc.
1210 Washington Street
P.O. Box 1910
Perry, GA 31069
Phone: 478-987-1823
www.hhjonline.com
Houston Home Journal
Cheri Adams cadams@hhjnews.com
PUBLISHER
Advertising
Lori Kovarovic lorik@hhjnews.com
ADVERTISING MANAGER
Nathan Mathis nmathis@hhjnews.com
Staff Writers
Kendra Norman Holmes kholmes@hhjnews.com
MANAGING EDITOR
Amira Bevill abevill@hhjnews.com
Tyler Meister tylerm@hhjnews.com
Creative
Kayley Trischan production@hhjnews.com
ADVERTISING DESIGN
Ashley Eberhardt ashleywe@georgiaprinters.com
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Contents
MY ONE AND ONLY...
6
STAYING SAFE DURING
A WEDDING DAY
16
FOR THOSE WHO WAIT
22
2021 COVER BRIDE
CONTESTANTS
30
February 2021
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February 2021
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My one
and
only…
By: Kendra Norman Holmes
HHJ Managing Editor
Unlike many new brides, when Caroline Stanley was a little
girl, she never had fairytale daydreams about who her future
“Prince Charming” might be. As a teen, she wasn’t one who
wondered what her future wedding would be like. Instead, she
grew up just knowing, somehow, that everything in her life would
work according to God’s plan.
Many know Stanley as the successful pageant queen that she is
today, but they may not know her back-story. Although pageantry
is a big part of her life, it was never her aspiration. Looking back,
however, Stanley realizes that in order for many of the important
things in her life to have happened, she had to walk the path
that would lead her to them—and that path included being a
beauty queen.
“Competing in pageants didn’t begin with me,” Stanley
acknowledged. “My mom started competing as a teenager. She
eventually went to Miss Georgia, and she was first runner-up
for that.”
Although she found success on the stage, Brandi Rowland—
Stanley’s mom—never planned to groom her children for the same.
However, a frightening incident in the life of her firstborn child
made her change her mind.
“I had severe anxiety as a child,” shared Stanley, who is the
eldest of five. “It got to the point where one day, in ninth
grade, as I was giving a presentation, I passed out in front
of the entire class. Mom had to come pick me up, and when
February 2021
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we got settled in the car, she said, ‘I’ve signed you up for
a pageant.’”
Stanley’s biggest fear was speaking in front of a crowd of people.
She’d just fainted while talking to a classroom of her peers. To
find out that her mom’s solution was to place her on a stage in
front of three hundred strangers did not bring her any comfort
or excitement. To Stanley, it sounded like the worst idea ever. But
somehow, it worked.
“She signed me up for the Miss Dogwood Pageant, in the teen
division. Honestly, I was livid. I thought that there was no way
that I’d be able to compete. I saw myself
passing out in front of three or four
hundred people on stage.”
Stanley explained that the Miss
Dogwood Pageant has an interview
phase, and contestants are required to
answer impromptu questions by judges.
The questions were answered, not just
in front of the judges but on the stage in
front of hundreds of onlookers.
“I thought that was something that I’d
never be able to do,” Stanley admitted.
“Mom encouraged me, and we worked
together for months to get me prepared.
I really thought that it was impossible
for a person with my severe anxiety to
handle it, but I went in there—my first
pageant ever—and I got perfect scores
in everything. I won every single phase of the competition and
was named Teen Miss Dogwood. It turned out to be just what
I needed.”
Stanley’s confidence grew. She returned to compete for the regular
Miss Dogwood title and won that one as well. Interestingly enough,
the night that Stanley won Miss Dogwood was exactly 20 years
after the date that her mother had been crowned for winning the
same title.
She didn’t stop there. At the age of 17, Stanley won the title
of Miss Georgia Peach, becoming the youngest person to
ever win that one. It’s another title that she and her mother
share. Rowley had won the Miss Georgia Peach Pageant 21
years before her daughter. Winning Miss Georgia Peach
afforded Stanley the opportunity to speak on the House and
Senate floors. Next, she stepped up to compete on the level of the
Miss America organization and made an impressive finish as first
runner-up to Betty Cantrell in the Miss Warner Robins Pageant.
“It turns out that pageants not only helped me gain great
opportunities, but they really helped me to gain confidence and
break that anxiety that I’d suffered for so long,” Stanley pointed
out. “I went on to start coaching other girls and helping them
prepare for pageants.”
And that was the spot on her life’s
journey where she and her husband,
Chris, crossed paths. Stanley shared
that she took a seasonal job at Sharing
Elegance Formalwear in Hendersonville,
Georgia, and her primary responsibility
was to help girls that were shopping for
prom or pageant wear. Because she was
well versed in pageants, Stanley’s mom
would help out at the store too.
Chris lived nearby, and the shop’s owner,
Grace Vinson, knew him well. Formal
gowns can be cumbersome to carry,
and Vinson had asked Chris to come to
the store whenever he could to help the
customers carry their potential purchases
to the dressing rooms.
“It was my first season helping at the shop,” Stanley said, laughing
as she recalled this part of her love story. “We were working one
day, and Chris walked in while I was having a conversation with
my mom. My back was to the door, and my mom was facing the
door. All of a sudden, my mom reached into her bra, pulled out
a tube of lip gloss and whispered, ‘Here. Put some of this on and
go introduce yourself.’ I didn’t know what in the world she was
talking about, but I turned around, and there he was, standing
in the doorway. I just remember thinking to myself, ‘That is one
beautiful man!’”
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Although the physical attraction was immediate, it would be awhile
before the future married couple would become anything more
than friends. A year passed before their friendship blossomed into
courtship. For three years, they dated, and largely due to COVID,
their big wedding day wouldn’t take place until two years later. But
Stanley said she knew from the moment she agreed to go on their
first date she would one day become Mrs. Chris Stanley.
“I didn’t date at all. Chris is my one and only. He was my first
boyfriend ever. He’s the only guy I’ve ever dated. Yes, I’m very
picky, and yes, I date to marry. I’m not ashamed of that. I didn’t
want to start dating until I was ready to get married, so I would not
have started dating him unless I truly felt
like he was marriage material and that he
would be my husband. So immediately,
when I started dating him, I knew.”
The official engagement came with
Chris on bended knee and with family
surrounding them. As a football and
head soccer coach for a school in
Crawford County, it only made sense
that the future groom would plan to pop
the question during a sporting event.
The date was November 12, 2017.
“Chris and I went up to Atlanta to watch
the Falcons play the Carolina Panthers,”
shared Stanley. “His uncle had a suite
in the Mercedes Benz Stadium, and his
family met us there.”
With Atlanta winning the game, it turned out not to be such
a great day for Carolina … but it was an unforgettable one
for Caroline.
“He asked me to marry him right before the game!” she gushed.
After the proposal, wedding preparation shifted into full gear, but
the unforeseen pandemic completely changed the initial plans.
“Originally, we wanted to keep things very casual. We were going
to get married on the beach,” Stanley expressed. “My family stays so
busy that I can’t tell you how long it’s been since we’ve had a family
vacation. So I thought, let’s all rent out a huge beach house, and
then have the wedding the day before we leave to come back home.
But then COVID hit, and two weeks before the wedding, we had to
cancel everything.”
Stanley admitted that it was disappointing at first, but she soon
realigned her focus and began making a new plan. Eventually,
everything fell perfectly into place.
“It turned out better than I ever could have imagined. We got
married on October 4, 2020 at an absolutely beautiful venue in
Byron called Rosa’ Laevigata. It’s a huge southern style mansion
that was completely renovated,” Stanley
described. “It’s the most gorgeous house
I’ve ever seen.”
The theme of the Stanleys’ wedding
revolved around a song by Craig Morgan
called, “That’s What I Love About
Sunday.” The lyrics of the song speak to
the importance of family, and as Stanley
reviewed her love story, she said that it
was the perfect song.
“Everything that happened with us was
somehow a family affair,” she noted with
a laugh. “My mom was a contestant in
the Miss Georgia Peach Pageant. My dad
served on the panel of judges for that
pageant, and he still has the pamphlet
that contains all of the contestants’
names. My mom’s name is circled in his
pamphlet because that day, when she walked across the stage, my
dad circled it and said she was going to be his wife one day. So
not only did my mom and dad meet in circumstances regarding
pageants, but so did Chris and I. It was because I was helping
pageant shoppers that we met.”
Their wedding day was all about family too. Stanley described
everybody who played a key role in their special day as either being
family or like family.
“Our florist and decorator was a longtime family friend. Her
name is Mrs. Pam Spillers, and her husband, Mr. Larry Spillers,
February 2021
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@
Dress You Up
Formals
11 years of
experience in
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Suit Rentals
Build a Tux
Program
officiated our ceremony. Our wedding director was Ms. Kristy Glisson, another friend.
Our caterer is my brother’s football trainer, Coach Mark Taylor, who has started a
business called Coach’s Kitchen. The food he prepared was incredible—I mean, he
threw down with our food!” she said through laughter before continuing.
“Our DJ was one of my dad’s friends named Darin Curtis. My photographer has been
a good friend of my family for years. He did my first pageant headshot. His name is
Mitch Green, and he’s with Southern Edge Photography. Alexa Bennett, one of my best
friends, took some pictures for us as well. My videographer was Dustin Cole of Ball
Street Videos. He just opened up a new studio in Perry and he’s amazing.”
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One of the questions Cole asked Stanley as he was capturing their wedding day on
video was what she loved most about her husband. She repeated what she shared
with him.
“There are a lot of attributes; he’s really good-looking, but Chris is so much more than
that. He sees the good in everybody, and I adore that about him,” she said. “He doesn’t
look for flaws in people, people have to show them. Also, my dad always told me that
it doesn’t matter how well a guy treats you, look at how he treats his mother, because
at the end of the day, that’s how he’s going to treat you. Chris adores his mother. He
respects her. He loves her so hard and so intensely. That says something incredible
about him.”
Like most young married couples, the Stanleys have already begun planning their
future. “We would love to either buy or build a house in the Perry area in the next
couple of years. And after I graduate from Middle Georgia State, I plan to get a job, and
then a little later, we plan to start a family. If I were in control, that’s how it would go,
but what my life has already taught me is that a lot of times, God laughs at our plans
and throws in curveballs, so in the end, we want whatever His will is for our lives.”
We disinfect
after each
appointment.
Appointments
Required
Ph: 478-283-8402
401 Belmont Dr. Suite D
Warner Robins, Georgia 31088
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February 2021
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Inventory Your Belongings in 10 Minutes
Have you ever moved? During the awesome (sarcasm) packing stage, have you ever
said to yourself, “Wow, I forgot we had that!” Now think about this. If something
were to happen to your home and the belongings inside of it were destroyed, could
you list every item you own? If you don’t think you could do it on a regular day, you
probably won’t be able to do it under extreme stress after a natural disaster or fire
strikes.
That’s why having a home inventory on file (or even saved in your email) is so
important.
It takes less than 10 minutes to inventory your belongings. Some avoid taking an
inventory because they think you have to list out every item you own, accompanied
by serial numbers, purchase costs, how much the item is worth today, pictures, and
so on. Guess what? Taking inventory of your home can be so much easier than that
because creating a video version of your belongings is more than acceptable!
So, what should be included in your home inventory video? Follow these simple steps!
1. Narration. You might feel silly talking over your video, but it’s so helpful. While
you’re recording, be sure to describe what we’re looking at. Maybe it’s something that’s
been in your family for four generations – say that in the video! The more detailed
you are during your video shoot, the better.
2. All of your stuff. This might seem obvious, but you need to capture everything
you own. Sounds overwhelming, but if you take it a room at a time, you’ll be done in
no time. Feel free to break up the videos and create one for each room if that’s easier.
Don’t forget places like your garage, attic or shed, if you have them.
3. (Some) serial numbers. For bigger ticket items, like electronics, point the camera
at the make, model and serial numbers and narrate that information over the video as
you record. This will help ensure you’re reimbursed for the same product (or for one
of equal value).
Where do I save my home inventory video(s)?
Save the video in your email (and in someone else’s email) so you can access it if your
computer is destroyed. It’s also a good idea to send it to your insurance agent to save
on file.
Don’t want to create a video? Or, do you already have a home inventory spreadsheet?
Lists and photos are still a completely acceptable way to inventory your belongings.
But it’s worth taking a look at your inventory to make sure you don’t need to create a
new one, or at least add to the one you already have.
12 Southern
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The Dream Starts Here
Voted the BEST 7 years in a row!
621 South Houston Lake Road | Warner Robins, GA 31088 478-971-1200 | satterfieldanddempsey.com
February 2021
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Bride 13

Daisy Patch
Flowers
Full Service Florist
CERTIFIED WEDDING & EVENT
PLANNING SPECIALISTS
Call Today for FREE
Consultation!
(478) 987-2872
1131 Macon Road, Perry GA 31069
Visit us on Facebook
www.daisypatchflowers.net
Let Use Light
Up Your
Future!
Southern Lighting has been serving middle
Georgia since May, 1987. They have more
than 2500 light fixtures and ceiling fans
on display. There is also a nice selection of
framed mirrors, pictures, lamps and floor
lamps. So whether you are looking for
one special light or a house full including
recessed down lighting, smoke detectors or
doorbells, Southern Lighting can help with
all your lighting needs.
If you’re building a new home or remodeling
an existing one, you have already discovered
how many decisions there are to make
regarding your lighting and lighting
fixtures. Please check out their web site
Southernlightingga.com or visit their store
at 2508 Moody Road, Warner Robins, GA
31088.
Open MON. - FRI. 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
478.929.0624
2508 Moody Rd.
Warner Robins
GA 31088
There are several skilled professional lighting consultants who are trained to help you make your selection of lighting fixtures. Their goal is to
continue to offer thousands of quality lighting products and cutting edge customer service at highly competitive prices. For more information
about Southern Lighting, you are invited to visit their Showroom Monday thought Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Please check out their website Southernlightingga.com or visit their store at 2508 Moody Road, Warner Robins , GA 31088.
14 Southern
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Tre Bella Hair Salon
Shampoo / Blowout
Formal
Get Ready For Your Special Day With Us
SERVICES
Treatments
All Color Services
Full Body Waxing
Our Beauty Team
Tiffany
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Call Us For Bookings
478-287-4092
Check out our NEW location!
1137 Macon Road, Perry
@TREBELLAGA
@TREBELLA1137
Selecting the right wedding venue is essential
in providing your wedding day is as perfect
as it deserves to be. Houston Lake Country
Club provides confidence in ensuring your
wedding day is seamless. Known for its elegant
Dining Room and Terrace with a STUNNING
lake view and magical sunsets, Houston Lake
Country Club offers a variety of picture-perfect
wedding packages to tailor weddings of every
size. From the rehearsal dinner to the farewell
brunch, Houston Lake’s award-winning staff
will exceed the expectations of you and your
guests by presenting the highest quality of food,
presentation, and service from beginning to end.
With an onsite Special Event Coordinator,
Houston Lake can assist you in creating a stressfree
and memorable wedding ceremony and
reception for you and your guests. Brides may
enjoy light refreshments and hors d’oeuvres while
getting ready for your special day in a private
room surrounded by your closest friends and
family. Grooms and groomsmen may also enjoy a
relaxing round of golf before the big day. Please
contact us to organize a tour of our facility and
schedule a consultation to discuss the details and
possibilities of hosting your reception at Houston
Lake. Let Houston Lake Country Club help you
create the wedding and reception of your dreams.
February 2021
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love. Everyday, bonds are made that hold us together. People still
want to have their weddings.
Luckily, there are safe ways to go about gathering with friends
and family.
STAYING SAFE
DURING A
WEDDING DAY
Weddings are absolutely incredible. Our culture often defines
them as the happiest day of a person’s life. They’re all
beautiful in their own rights, whether they are on the beach, in
a place of worship, the mountains, or even a backyard. Weddings
are a day of joy for everyone taking vows, and everyone watching.
However, there’s no denying that weddings also come with a bit
of duality to them. For every beautiful moment that comes with
the ceremony and reception, there is, at the very least, a twinge of
stress that comes with putting it together. For everything that goes
right, there is at least one person involved in the production that
has to think of every way that it can go wrong. Usually, everything
ends up fine.
Now, though, we have a brand new portion of planning that up
until about a year ago, wasn’t a rational thought on any wedding
planner’s mind: a pandemic. In November or December of 2019,
the biggest concern on the big day was making sure that everyone
remembered their lines and hoping the seating chart worked out
OK. Now, we are forced, with every gathering we have, to think
about the life and safety of our loved ones. In February and March
of 2020, many people postponed their weddings to the next year
in the hopes that the looming doom would pass. Now, a year later,
we find ourselves nearly in the same boat, maybe even with a few
holes in the hull.
That being said, there’s still hope. There’s ALWAYS hope. We
have vaccines that are being doled out methodically, albeit slow.
Every day, the world moves closer to gaining a form of herd
immunity, so that we can return to something a bit more normal,
where COVID-19 is no longer a daily concern. We may need a
booster shot every now and then, but we’ll be able to gather with
our families. Human ingenuity is at it’s finest.
However, life stops for nothing. Not even pandemics. Babies are
still being born, we all still have birthdays, and people still fall in
16 Southern
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By: Tyler Meister
HHJ Staff Writer​
www.hhjonline.com
Penny Stapleton, owner and operator of The Daisy Patch in Perry,
has been in the wedding industry for 48 years, across the country.
She’s a certified event planner, a florist, a specialist in wholesale
and retail, and has done work in special event planning as well.
She’s even done work for events for the president and celebrities
in Atlanta. Stapleton took a moment from her busy schedule to
share with us all a few tips on how to conduct weddings in these
tumultuous times.
Her first tip? “Follow CDC guidelines.”
Above all things, adhere to CDC guidelines. It almost seems
repetitive to mention; however, it remains important to follow these
rules for the health and safety of everyone. Remember, just because
you may not have symptoms, doesn’t mean you can’t get others
sick. Before going to the wedding, maybe consider quarantining. If
that’s not possible (and even if it is, you should probably do this),
frequently wash your hands, wear a mask anytime you go in public
and refrain from touching your face. Stay six feet apart from other
people as best as you can. You may even consider keeping gloves,
sanitizer wipes and hand sanitizer in your vehicle or by your front
door. At the wedding, stay vigilant about making sure everyone is
staying safe. Make sure everyone is wearing their mask above the
nose, and that everyone gets at least a pump of hand sanitizer. Also,
it may be interesting to have a designated “temperature checker”
added to the wedding party, to make sure no one’s running a fever
as they enter the door. Stapleton also recommends one-use items.
In the bathrooms, use paper towels that are single-use towels rather
than a shared towel for drying hands.
When it comes time to eat, Stapleton recommends considering
private plates for dinner rather than buffet-style cuisine. That way,
no one is sharing air or utensils. Also, seat families together. It’s
likely that one of the only times everyone will have their masks
off is when their eating; however, if the people at the table are the
same people they live with, it’s more likely they won’t pass anything
they may have come in contact with to another person.
Also, during planning, remember that the CDC has guidelines on
how many people should be gathering in one space. Remember
to choose a location that accommodates not only those people,
but also the space it would require for people to maintain a safe
distance apart.
The other part to all this? Well, according to Stapleton, we should
all “definitely, make it fun so that your guests aren’t stressed out
over concerns for their safety while they’re trying to share their joy
with you.”
Since it’s important that everyone has a mask on, one way of doing
this is to supply them with monogrammed masks with something
like the bride and groom’s initials, or the date of the wedding.
It’s important that everyone has clean hands, so give them
labeled containers of hand sanitizer; something nice that will

remind them of the wedding when they see
it later.
Another hard topic that every wedding must
broach is that some people are more likely
to get sick than others. Mothers and fathers
could be immunodeficient, grandparents
are at a higher risk of getting sick with worse
symptoms, simply because they’re older.
Sometimes, even with precautions taken, it
may be unwise for some of our loved ones
to attend in person. That, however, doesn’t
mean they can’t be there. Video chatting is
a great alternative. If a large wedding was
the consideration pre-COVID, but it now
has to be downscaled for safety purposes,
brides and grooms could still live stream
their wedding for the audience of people
that can’t be there in person.
What all this simply means is that life
doesn’t have to stop. If postponement
is a consideration, that’s a valid choice.
However, for those that don’t want to halt
their weddings, these are some great tips
to follow.
It’s your day. It’s the happiest day
of your life. Make sure it’s also a
safe one.
Bonnie “Michelle”
SMith, eSq.
Don’t
Forget
the PrenuP!
Call To Schedule Your
Prenuptial Contract
Appointment!
(478) 953-3661
Doing What iS
Right anD FaiR
alWayS MatteRS. even
When no one iS looking.
P.o. Box 8633
Warner roBins, ga 31095
bonniemichellesmith.com
February 2021
Southern
Bride 17

Our gorgeous wedding and event venue is located in
the heart of historic, downtown Macon. The
beautiful architecture that makes our space unique
was constructed in 1918 by Dr. W.G. Lee from
Wilkinson County, Georgia.
Opening as a two-story horse and mule shop, our
building was later converted into an automobile
dealership and repair shop. Our renovation of the
building began in 2018, preserving as much of its
historic architecture as possible.
Opening in October of 2020 as Fall Line Station,
the building's exposed brick, railroad trusses,
wooden beams and ironwork perfectly accentuate
the beauty of our industrial-chic event space.
Our total capacity is 400 guests with separate
ceremony and reception spaces to easily customize
the venue to the size of your special day.
Don't miss our ad on the inside cover!
WWW.FALLLINESTATION.COM
11@
567 PLUM STREET, MACON, GEORGIA 31201
KAYLEE@FALLLINEBREWINGCO.COM
478-832-3324
www.hhjonline.com

Every event rental includes 200 folding wood ceremony chairs, 200 cross-back reception
chairs, 20 round tables with white linens, 15 cocktail tables and an assortment of banquet
tables with black linens. We also offer several rental services and items including AV
equipment, lighting packages, wedding arch and farmhouse tables to complete your vision.
Along with 600 square feet of private beer garden space, renter's also receive access to our
bridal suites. The suites are stocked with complementary craft beer from our very own Fall
Line Brewing Co., as well as soda, orange juice and champagne. Our all-inclusive venue is
the perfect backdrop for wedding day preparation, pictures and festivities.
We look forward to hosting your event, be it a wedding, reception, corporate event,
birthday party, shower, or fundraiser!
Photos courtesy of A shah Photography, And So We Go Productions, Inc., and C. Hope Photography.
19

Let us be paart of your faamily story!
AF REALTY GROUP
760 Commerce Street | Perry, Georgia 31069
ph: 478-224-1919 | fax: 478-224-3131
www.afrealtygroup.com
20 Southern
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Congratulations on your new title of Mr & Mrs!
At AF Realty Group we would love the opportunity to help
make your home buying experience as special and exciting as
your wedding day!
Now that you have celebrated this very special time in
your life most couples find themselves trying to budget
and purchase their first home sweet home. We would
love to be part of this special time and provide you with
some tips to get you started!
A Realtor® can help guide you through the home
buying process.
Discuss lending options with your Realtor® and have
them give you recommendations for a lender.
Discuss your currently monthly housing budget with
your spouse. Consider your current monthly rent and
expenses.
Work with your lender based on your budget to
determine what price range of homes your Realtor®
can assist you with.
Call us today to set up a consultation appointment!
February 2021
Southern
Bride 21

For those
who wait
By: Amira Bevill
HHJ Staff Writer
They say that great things come to those who wait. Peyton and
Joseph “Joey” Stewart are splendid examples of how a couple
can reap the beautiful and worthwhile benefits of patience.
Not many can hold the bragging rights to falling in love with their
high school sweetheart, but for Peyton and Joey, that’s exactly what
they did. Though only in their mid-twenties, Peyton and Joey’s love
story began over 10 years ago. Peyton had just started attending
Northside High School in Warner Robins as a freshman in 2010
where Joey was already a sophomore. Catching each other’s eye at
band camp before school even started, the two embarked on their
journey of finding a best friend in the other.
Peyton’s parents had strict rules of no dating before turning 16 years
old. She respected their wishes and instead focused on building a
beautiful friendship with Joey. However, nothing could hold the
two back from flirting back and forth and hanging out.
“We just kind of waited and talked and became really good friends.
We knew it was going to be more than friends, but we were both
playing by the rules,” Peyton explained. “The date that we count as
our anniversary is the day of our first away football game because
he asked me to be his bus buddy and hang out. It was so precious.
He had all of these snacks prepared so that we could hang out and
have good snacks to eat. It was really cute.”
Joey’s thoughtfulness and their discipline for patience set the
precedent for the rest of their relationship. Peyton detailed
their first date to be a month after her 16th birthday that was in
February. Joey took the time to carefully plan out their plans of
dinner, movies, and putt-putt. While they enjoyed dinner, Joey had
some things up his sleeve and coordinated a few friends with code
words throughout the evening to draw out a prom-posal on the
windows of the car.
“I had no idea that was even going to happen or be a thing for our
first date. I thought we were just doing dinner and a movie,” Peyton
laughed. “He just really made it above and beyond kind of special,
so I knew he was pretty special. It didn’t take long for me to really
like him.”
The pair did everything together, and one was hardly seen without
the other. But being a grade above Peyton, Joey left for Georgia
State University in Atlanta to pursue criminal justice come Peyton’s
senior year in 2013. Before leaving, she attended a beach trip to
Tybee Island with Joey’s family where he gave her a promise ring.
“We weren’t ready for getting married, yet. But it was a sign that
we were both really serious about each other and kind of had that
extra symbol to hold onto each other while we’re separated for a
bit,” reminisced Peyton.
She admitted that the distance was difficult and helped them really
appreciate the time that they would have spent together. Georgia
State University ended up being her college of choice to do pre-med
while his interests shifted to film and video. As in all relationships,
they hit some rough patches, but they persevered and ultimately
came out stronger in the end.
22 Southern
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“We got through so many big life moments together and challenges
with family and friends. Anything that life could throw at us, it
kind of did. I think we knew we were going to make it. I always
joked for like the last six years or so that he couldn’t really get rid
of me.”
Flash forward to two years ago, Peyton recalled just how Joey took
the next step of their relationship by pulling out the sentimental
stops to propose. “It was my birthday two years ago and he picked
me up from my parents’ house and I knew we were going to hang
out, but I wasn’t thinking about him proposing or anything. But
he had this excuse that his sister was having car trouble at school
so we had to pick her up and give her a ride home so that they
could get her car home.” She laughed at how he had explained
the well-thought out excuse that caused her to just go along for the
ride to Northside High School. “Then we got to the school and
we kind of got out of the car to find her, I guess. So I just thought
we were going for a walk. We were walking kind of like by the bus
ramp, then he kissed me there. And I was like, ‘Awe somebody is
being sentimental,’ because that’s where we had our first kiss way
back in the day and promptly got yelled at by a teacher. So I was
just thinking he wanted to be a little sentimental and then he was
getting down on one knee.”
She remembered being so shocked and how Joey took advantage of
the moment to propose. He lined up his mother and sister to sneak
pictures of the moment.
Peyton said, “It was really cute because it was where we had our first
kiss and the place where we grew up and became boyfriend and
girlfriend, and now fiancés.”
The couple was ecstatic to jump into the beginning stages of
planning their wedding. Attending a bridal show in Macon, they
met a manager for Farley Estates and immediately fell in love
with the venue and proceeded to book their December 27, 2020
wedding date.
Making the decision to plan for two years allowed the couple to
enjoy the process and make things personal and perfect for them.
They researched all of their vendors and ended up booking Drift
Away Photography, Wild + Lavender (videographer), Jessica Owens
(hair stylist), Rachel Harris Artistry (makeup) and John Vandiver
(DJ). They were able to go over their expectations with the
photographer and videographer to come up with the most efficient
timeline to make the most out of the day.
Being a sucker for details, not having the stress of a quick
wedding allowed the couple to personally make some very special
decorations with their friends and family. Peyton explained how
she had ordered foam flowers from Ling’s Moments to embellish
lanterns and even used them to create her own bouquets. They also
added even more personal touches by decorating each table with a
different movie or TV show they enjoyed watching together over
the course of their relationship.
“You can tell I love the details about everything and knowing that
each thing has a special meaning was really fun.”
Peyton was also even able to customize her dress into one that
perfectly fit her vision. Combining components of several different
dresses, she customized her dream dress by changing the color to a
beautiful, soft blush, added Chantilly lace underneath the top layer
to bring out the original sparkle and added sleeves with the same
lace to match.
A dress completely unique to her, Peyton proudly exclaimed,
“Nobody else is going to have it. It’s perfect. It was really cool that
I got to make it my own.”
Saving their wedding date for 2020 did pose different challenges,
however. With never-ending concerns of the pandemic, the couple
feared that all of their carefully planned details might not come
to fruition. Working alongside The Farley Estate’s owner, Renee,
and their wedding director, Victoria, the group navigated through
all of the potential problems, addressing the necessity of social
distancing, providing proper hygiene, and mapping out the flow of
foot traffic of the guests.
“Honestly,” Peyton began, “they handled everything for us that we
could think of and they kept us on schedule. Once we all started to get
there and we all started to get ready, everything went so smooth. We
had plenty of help and I was just calm and I enjoyed the day. It was really,
really wonderful.”
Peyton fondly recalled watching everyone having such a
wonderful time and explained how it warmed her heart.
She mentioned how it was a little different than how
February 2021
Southern
Bride 23

Historic
Lilly Schoolhouse
Circa 1912
she dreamed her wedding to be, but everything about it made it so much more
special. One of the most special moments she had was having a first “not” look
with Joey.
“I liked the idea of a first look, but I knew I wanted to save the surprise. So we did
a first “not” look where we met with our photographer and videographer outside the
porch on our venue around the corner. We were holding hands and giving each other
pep talks,” she laughed. “I think those pictures are going to be really special. I did a first
look with my dad and held it together pretty well for that. But when I knew he (Joey)
was there around the corner, I was kind of losing it a little bit. So we still got to have
that special alone time together, and then had that special moment of him seeing me
for the first time at the altar. He definitely started to tear up; it was so sweet looking. I
was teasing afterward that if he didn’t tear up we would have to do it again,” she said
giggling. “I was trying to get a little bit of a glimpse to see people, but then I was like, ‘No
I just want to look at him.’ You really do get tunnel vision.”
Having a love story as beautiful as the new Mr. and Mrs. Stewart is so rare and should be
cherished. Peyton expressed how thankful she is for their love and the journey they began
over a decade ago. “Knowing at the end of the day, because we both built that foundation
as friends, we get to be best friends first and we always get to be there for each other. He
will always feel like my safe place.”
Miss Kitty, Lilly
Schoolhouse Resident Cat
and Official Hostess.
Write her a letter at
P.O. Box 99, Lilly, GA 31051
OR email her at
misskitty@lillyschoolhouse.com
Visit our website for more info and to
purchase sheet music of “There’s Always
Tomorrow” by Johnny Marks
www.lillyschoolhouse.com
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February 2021
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Southern
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February 2021
Southern
Bride 29

2021
Cover Bride
Contestants
Bride and Groom:
Connor and Kayla Bookout
Ceremony date:
December 12, 2020
Venue:
Rosa’ Laevigata
Photographer:
Trevor Bennett
Bride and Groom:
Sam and Emily Bowlin Scott
Ceremony date:
October 11, 2020
Venue:
The Farm at High Shoals
Photographer:
Ally Marie White Photography
Bride and Groom:
Chris and Erica Bowling
Ceremony date:
October 17, 2020
Venue:
The Jewell House
Photographer:
Chase Lanier
Bride and Groom:
Connor and Madyson Bradshaw
Ceremony date:
March 14, 2020
Venue:
Hummingbird Hill Farms
Photographer:
Kayla Greene
(Southern Style Photography)
Bride and Groom:
Jens and Elizabeth Brakenhoff
Ceremony date:
October 17, 2020
Venue:
Chamlee Memorial
Baptist Church
Photographer:
Drift Away Photography
Bride and Groom:
Garrett and Hannah Kate Brown
Ceremony date:
March 14, 2020
Venue:
First Baptist Church of Perry
(ceremony) and Southern Bridle
Farms (reception)
Photographer:
Samantha Medlin
Bride and Groom:
Dustin and Heather Noelle
Coyle-Wainwright
Ceremony date:
December 12, 2020
Venue:
Hummingbird Hill Farms
Photographer:
Ashley Riley
(Ashley Zoltak Photography)
30 Southern
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Bride and Groom:
Tyler Andrew and Alessandra Sue
Cromer
Ceremony date:
December 5, 2020
Venue:
The Burress Family Home
Photographer:
Sugar Snapz Photography
Bride and Groom:
Dylan and Randi Lea Ford
Ceremony date:
November 21, 2020
Venue:
Oakleaf Cottage
Photographer:
Shelby Robinson
(Thistlewood Photography)
Bride and Groom:
Adam and Courtney Fritts
Ceremony date:
October 25, 2020
Venue:
Hummingbird Hill Farms
Photographer:
Julie Schandolph Photography
Bride and Groom:
Patrick and Halle Hoyt
Ceremony date:
October 10, 2020
Venue:
Aultman Acres
Photographer:
Southern Style Photography
Bride and Groom:
Josh and Alexandra Irvin
Ceremony date:
May 23, 2020
Venue:
The Retreat of Southern
Bridle Farms
Photographer:
Christina Elmore
Bride and Groom:
Gary Scott Irwin Jr. and
Christine “Cricket” Ann Irwin
Ceremony date:
June 27, 2020
Venue:
Ashburn Hill Plantation
Photographer:
Thomas Rakes
Bride and Groom:
Joshua and Kathryn Marcum
Ceremony date:
October 3, 2020
Venue:
Hudson Valley Farm
Photographer:
Anissa Esterello
(Anissa Esterello Photography)
Bride and Groom:
Sean and Kristie Ann McCann
Ceremony date:
June 27, 2020
Venue:
Hampton Hill Estate
on Lake Lanier
Photographer:
Candice Emerson
(C. Hope Photography)
February 2021
Southern
Bride 31

Bride and Groom:
Hunter and Haley BriAnn Nelms
Ceremony date:
November 7, 2020
Venue:
The Estate At Stone Creek
Photographer:
Kayla Green
(Southern Style Photography)
Bride and Groom:
Alec and Tori O’Rear Garcia
Ceremony date:
November 14, 2020
Venue:
Magnolia Mule Barn
Photographer:
Stephanie Gore Photography
Bride and Groom:
Eric and Taylor Payne Lord
Ceremony date:
December 19, 2020
Venue:
Hummingbird Hill Farms
Photographer:
Southern Style Photography
Bride and Groom:
Adrian and Stephanie Peters
Ceremony date:
September 20, 2020
Venue:
On the lakefront
in our backyard
Photographer:
Tiara McKnight
(Photography by Tiara)
Bride and Groom:
Zachary and Morgan Phelps
Ceremony date:
March 14, 2020
Venue:
Shirley Hills Baptist Church
Photographer:
Alicia G.
Bride and Groom:
Derek and Savanna Pollard
Ceremony date:
December 12, 2020
Venue:
The Wedding Barn at L’Horne
Photographer:
Kayla Greene
(Southern Style Photography)
Bride and Groom:
Gregory and Callie Rackley Carr
Ceremony date:
October 17, 2020
Venue:
Admirals Place
Photographer:
Joy+Everette
Bride and Groom:
Harry and Hayley Ritchie Hinson
Ceremony date:
July 4, 2020
Venue:
Hummingbird Hill Farms
Photographer:
Two Chics Photography
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Bride and Groom:
Nick and Cassy Roberts
Ceremony date:
December 19, 2020
Venue:
The Grand Magnolia House
Photographer:
Ashley Riley
(Ashley Zoltak Photography)
Bride and Groom:
Luke Allen and Lia Angelica
Smith
Ceremony date:
December 12, 2020
Venue:
Flat Creek Public Fishing Area
Photographer:
Allison Brantley Photography
Bride and Groom:
Chris and Caroline Stanley
Ceremony date:
October 4, 2020
Venue:
Rosa’ Laevigata
Photographer:
Mitch Green
(Southern Edge Photography)
Bride and Groom:
Joseph III and Peyton Olivia
Stewart
Ceremony date:
December 27, 2020
Venue:
The Farley Estate
Photographer:
Cayla Nichole Payne
(Drift Away Photography)
Bride and Groom:
Jordan and Landon Taylor Harris
Ceremony date:
November 1, 2020
Venue:
Tryphena’s Garden
Photographer:
Hal Clower
(C & V Photography)
Bride and Groom:
Kolby and Miranda Thigpen
Land
Ceremony date:
December 12, 2020
Venue:
Politician Richard Ray’s home
Photographer:
Chris Chinchilla
Bride and Groom:
Joseph and Ryane Westbrook
Ceremony date:
November 28, 2020
Venue:
Mystic Acres Barn
Photographer:
Thistle + Wood
Bride and Groom:
Jake and Ashley Wright Burnam
Ceremony date:
August 8, 2020
Venue:
Parents’ backyard
Photographer:
Shaina Stillwell
February 2021
Southern
Bride 33

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February 2021
Southern
Bride 35