Kate Woodburn and Doug Browne do not remember exactly when they first met, but they do remember falling in love in college. Although they were dating long distance following their time at university, Doug knew he wanted to marry Kate and popped the question on a visit to their alma mater. “While we walked all over the campus, he steered the conversation towards memories of our time at Vanderbilt. When we reached the middle of one of the beautiful quads on campus, he got down on one knee and asked me to spend forever with him!” the bride remembers.

Since the couple did not have an initial vision for their special day, they relied heavily on their wedding planner for advice on the location and vendors, ultimately selecting a sophisticated country club as their venue. Extravagant florals were a key feature of both the ceremony and reception design. The palette incorporated pink, white, ivory, and neutral tones, but Kate wanted her bridesmaids to wear eggplant-hued gowns to reflect one of her favorite blooms: the Queen of Night tulip. “My dad and brother were living in the Netherlands at the time so it seemed appropriate that this tulip inspiration guided the color scheme,” she shares. The couple exchanged vows in front of an elegant flower wall backdrop, and matching blooms adorned each guest table during the reception.

The confections were very special to the couple. Growing up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the bride’s favorite cake was a pineapple-filled treat from a local bakery. Their cake designer was able to create a wonderful combination of flavors to best recreate the dessert. “Having that cake, or something close to it, had been part of my wedding plans ever since I was a little girl,” describes the bride. In true Southern tradition, they also had a "Death by Chocolate" groom’s cake. The slices were deliciously paired with ice cream from the couple’s favorite local parlor. Guests also received gift bags with Doug’s grandmother’s homemade caramel, a family tradition for celebrations.

From customizing to indulging the details of her nuptials, Kate gives great thanks to her planner for perfecting each desired detail. She was also grateful for being able to spend quality time with loved ones. "Our focus was on creating an entire weekend experience with our family and friends," shares the bride. "Though the weekend was busy, it was perfect!"