 Rachel Carter Photography International wedding. Whimsical. Magical fairy garden. These are some of the phrases that describe Cory and Gerrit’s October wedding! Originally from the United States, Cory visited her sister in Berlin in 2014—and loved it so much she moved to Germany in 2015. In 2016, Cory attended a wedding in Hamburg. The groom was her brother-in-law’s brother – and it so happened that Gerrit was a good friend of the groom. Two worlds collided. For a reason she can't remember, Cory was convinced Gerrit's name was Kenneth and confidently approached to introduce herself. Quickly inseparable, they spent the night dancing, having a few glasses of wine, and talking for hours on the outdoor deck. Though Gerrit was forced to make a Cinderalla-esque exit at 2 am, he got in touch with Cory the very next day via good, ol' Facebook. Though they lived in different cities, and even different countries for a while, they never had any doubts that everything would work out. After three years of long-distance, Cory left Berlin to join Gerrit in Braunschweig in late 2019, where they still live now with Monty, their French Bulldog.
Gerrit knew that Cory is not a fan of being the center of attention—so a public proposal or flash mob was always off the table. So in early 2020, Gerrit proposed on a cozy night in. And of course, she said yes. Now, planning a wedding while living abroad is not the easiest, let alone in the midst of a pandemic! Cory’s mom helped them find a venue. As soon as she and Cory saw Four Oaks, they knew almost immediately it was the perfect place as it fit Cory’s ideal aesthetic – lots of greenery and a slightly rustic, whimsical style.
Cory and Gerrit’s day turned out beautiful! “We wanted lots of greenery and flowers, touches of gold and silver, twinkle lights, and a natural vibe—all of which we achieved at Four Oaks.” They arrived the morning of their wedding to get ready in the farmhouse’s getting-ready suites. The ladies were upstairs in the bridal suite while the guys were downstairs in the groom’s room.
The couple decided to do a first look prior to their ceremony and chose the gazebo as the location for this. Their photographers, Kelsey and Lance from Rachel Carter Photography, used a mix of film and digital photography for Cory and Gerrit’s wedding and we love the dimension it adds to their gallery.
Cory’s dress was from Bridalstory Berlin while Gerrit’s and the groomsmen’s tuxes were from Dapper & Dashing.
Their lovely boutonniere and bouquet were made by Flower From Us. They also added extra pops of florals to the arbor to add more texture to the faux greenery put up by Four Oaks.
Antique gold lanterns decorated with floral arrangements hung on black shepherd's hooks to line the aisle. Reserved farmhouse benches sat on the first row for the couple’s parents.
Since their wedding vision was a “magical fairy garden” they incorporated sage green, eucalyptus, and soft white florals into their wedding party attire.
For the processional, their family and wedding party walked to Vitamin String Quartet’s "Concerning Hobbits". Cory’s father escorted her down the aisle to “Storybook Love” from The Princess Bride.
The ceremony was a sweet celebration of their love and new marriage! 
Guests were dismissed to cocktail hour to enjoy drinks, lawn games, and charcuterie board and shrimp bruschetta appetizers, all while listening to music provided by Tommy Pirone of Pirone Entertainment.
Meanwhile, Cory and Gerrit used the time to get photos taken in the gardens.
Instead of doing a formal introduction into the reception, Cory and Gerrit chose to simply join their guests during cocktail hour. This helped the affair feel more casual and connected, giving them more time to spend with their guests. With their family and friends spread over two continents, they wanted to cherish this rare moment with everyone present together.
 The reception tables were decorated with matte olive green runners, gold geometric centerpieces with greenery, champagne flutes, gold chargers, and sage napkins folded to hold printed menus for the reception. All in all, a soft, inviting, and whimsical tablescape for their beautiful day!
Their florist added pops of fresh flowers and greenery to each centerpiece. Each table also had gold table numbers holding a soft greenery print to tie the look together. Guests found their assigned tables listed on a gold mirror near the reception area. Cory and Gerrit sat at a head table with their immediate family during dinner. The farm table was decorated similarly to the guest tables with greenery and matching place settings.
Transitioning from cocktail hour to the reception, Cory’s mother gave a welcome speech to all their guests.
Their wedding menu featured beef tenderloin and chicken provençal entrees, plus sides of roasted garlic mashed potatoes, green beans with red peppers, roasted fall vegetables, and Four Oaks’ signature salad, a blend of spring mix and arugula dressed in a house honey balsamic vinaigrette and tossed with apples, feta, walnuts, and candied pecans.  As dinner was winding down, the newlyweds spent some time visiting their guests at their tables, making sure to try and say hi to everyone who came out to their wedding. Then it was time for toasts! Cory’s father, Gerrit’s best man, and some of Cory’s siblings all gave speeches and raised their glasses to the couple.
Cory and Gerrit then shared their first dance together in the gazebo under the night sky.
For dessert, The Late Night Baker made a two-tier white wedding cake decorated with florals, a chocolate groom’s cake topped with a miniature model of the couple’s French Bulldog Monty, berry crumb bars, and lavender shortbread cookies. It was quite the display!
Guests spent the remainder of the night eating dessert, dancing to music provided by Pirone Entertainment, chatting near the bar, and making s’mores by the fire, an American classic!
“Even with the hectic nature of weddings, we had a day we’ll remember forever. An amazing venue, beautiful surroundings, family and friends, and plenty of fun.”
Congratulations to Cory and Gerrit! Thank you so much for trusting Four Oaks with your wedding day. We never take that for granted! We hope and pray you enjoy your marriage and the gift that comes from two people committing together and living their lives together as both best friends and husband and wife! Vendors
Venue, Coordination, & Catering: Four Oaks Manor Photography: Rachel Carter Photography Dress: Bridalstory Berlin Cake: The Late Night Baker Hair & Makeup: Meg Danielle Hair & Makeup Co. DJ: Pirone Entertainment Officiant: Reverand Perry of Atlanta Non-denominational Wedding Officiants Flowers: Flowers from Us Tuxes: Dapper & Dashing Bridesmaids Dresses: Jenny Yoo in Eucalyptus and Sage
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