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Four Oaks Manor Blog

Tara & Joseph

7/7/2020

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bride in simple lace dress with lavender hair and flower crown standing with groom in charcoal suit
Tiffany Holmes Photography
After three years together, Tara and Joseph Ainsworth walked down the aisle on March 7, 2020.

Tara and Joseph met back in high school and worked at the same hardware store, though they considered themselves just friends at the time. “About halfway through college, we reconnected over coffee and started dating a month or two later. We now claim this as our first date even though at the time we didn't realize it was.”
According to Tara, Joseph did a great job making the proposal a surprise. “I had no idea he was going to ask. He was planning to move for a job in Georgia and so we went out for a nice dinner (what I thought was a going-away dinner) at Tommy Bahamas on Lido Key. Afterward, we went for a walk on the beach and Joseph kept talking about me moving up to Georgia in July. Then he asked if I wanted to move up as his fiancée and got down on one knee to ask me to marry him.”
unplugged ceremony chalkboard sign along path to outdoor ceremony area
simple lace wedding dress hanging from roof of smoke house
closeup shot of lace wedding dress with floral laced train
detail photo with couple's rings on turf with vintage pocket watch
The couple married on a cool, early Spring day. They spent the early afternoon in Four Oaks’ getting-ready suites, prepping for the night-to-come and spending the quiet moments with close friends and family.
bride with lace dress and flower crown smiling at mom while getting ready
bride in lace dress posing while walking down farmhouse steps
mother kissing bride's cheek in getting ready space
bride with sisters and mom in Four Oaks Manor's bridal bedroom
bride sitting with mom and sisters on farmhouse bed
Tara decided to have a first look with her dad on the front porch of the farmhouse. Tara stood behind her dad while her mom stood back watching the special moment. Needless to say, with her lace, fitted dress, and whimsical flower crown, Tara looked gorgeous. And not to mention her soft lavender hair! We were hoping she’d keep the color in her hair for her wedding, and we’re so glad she did! As a hairdresser, she knows how to rock purple!
bride poses behind father on farmhouse front porch for first look
father turns around on front porch for first look with bride
mother of bride looks on at first kiss between bride and father
bride holding sunflower bouquet posing with parents
parents kissing bride's cheeks on farmhouse porch
​Meanwhile, Joseph’s mom helped with finishing touches on her son’s suit. While in the gardens, she helped pin his boutonniere.
mother of the groom pinning yellow boutonniere on son's suit jacket
mother in navy lace dress with pearl necklace smiling at son
​They kept the wedding attire and decor simple, with sunflowers, baby’s’ breath, and hints of Southern charm. Tara’s bouquet was full of sunflowers and tied together perfectly with Joseph’s boutonniere.
bride with sunflower bouquet posing in forest during March wedding
groom with yellow flower boutonniere posing outside
bride with baby's breath flower crown and simple lace dress
groom posing with hands in pockets by outdoor ceremony area
bride posing by outdoor ceremony area looking down at bouquet of sunflowers
groom in suit walking with hands in pockets through Four Oaks' gardens
Although they chose to go without a bridal party, the Ainsworths still had those closest to them to celebrate alongside them.
Tara smiling with friend near Four Oaks' outdoor ceremony space
groom posing with friend near outdoor ceremony area
groom laughing and posing with friend with hug from behind
bride posing with sister in pink jacket by outdoor altar
Soon, guests began to arrive. As they walked up the winding pathway, they were greeted by a rustic white chalkboard sign and the guestbook table. On a rustic white desk topped with burlap and lace runners, Tara and Joseph placed their guestbook for guests to sign, full of stunning engagement photos. Accompanying the guestbook was a birdcage for cards, an ash grey lantern, and lambs ear greenery all around.
white chalkboard welcome sign with flower and leaf designs
white bird cage with cards chalkboard sign surrounded by lambs ear greenery
ash grey lantern on white desk with chalkboard sign and lambs ear greenery
white rustic desk with burlap and lace runners as guestbook table
guestbook page filled with couple's engagement photo
guestbook on rustic guestbook table with engagement photo of couple
​When the time for the ceremony came, Joseph walked his mother down the aisle. As The Story of My Life by the Piano Guys played over the speakers, Tara walked down the aisle with her father, a radiant smile on her face, and the look on Joseph’s face says it all.
The altar was decorated with white chiffon and gorgeous sunflower arrangements by Laurens Floral Art at each post. Guests looked on as Tara and Joseph shared the vows they wrote to each other.
choose a seat not a side chalkboard sign by outdoor ceremony space
man with arm around woman's shoulder as they watch wedding ceremony
couple at white altar with guests looking on during march ceremony
bride saying vows during March ceremony at altar decorated with white chiffon and sunflowers
groom saying custom vows during outdoor spring wedding
After saying ‘I do’ and sharing their first kiss as husband and wife, the newlyweds walked down the aisle with hands up in celebration and smiles on their faces. While the guests left the ceremony area for appetizers, Tara and Joseph celebrated with a kiss under the gazebo and with post-ceremony photos.
newlyweds walking down aisle after ceremony
couple holds hands up in celebration together after wedding ceremony
husband and wife share kiss under lit gazebo
groom and bride smiling at each other under gazebo
groom sitting on farmhouse porch railing and hugging bride
husband holding wife from behind on Four Oaks' grounds
groom sitting on railing and hugging wife who looks back toward camera
​In the meantime, the guests entertained themselves with appetizers and games of giant Jenga and Mr. and Mrs. cornhole.
wedding guests playing giant jenga
wedding guest tossing bean bag during cornhole
guests playing mr and mrs cornhole at outdoor wedding
The reception was intimate and was such a fun set up with vintage books alongside baby’s breath arrangements, plus burlap and lace runners. To add to the fun, Tara and Joseph’s sweetheart table had a runner made up of pages from a vintage copy of Hamlet.
centerpiece with vintage books and baby's breath arrangement on lace and burlap runners
vintage books stacked as table centerpiece
table decor with vintage books, flower arrangements, wood chargers with china
wood chair with Mr. sign at head table
table runner made from pages of vintage copy of Hamlet
wood chair with Mrs. wood sign and flower crown
​Tara and Joseph joined their guests for the reception under the lights. To stay warm in the cooling night, Tara adorned an amazing faux fur coat.
wedding guests at outdoor reception under hanging lights
tara and joseph walking down red porch steps after announcement of the new couple
joseph pulls out chair at sweetheart table for Tara
bride wearing faux fur jacket and sitting with groom at reception sweetheart table
After dinner, Tara and Joseph shared their first dance in the carriage house to Train’s song Marry Me. Tara then danced with her dad and Joseph followed with a dance with his mom.
newlyweds dance in carriage house under string lights
bride dancing with father during special dances
groom dances and laughs with mother in Four Oaks Manor's carriage house
The cake cutting followed the special dances. Joseph’s sister made them a stunning naked cake covered in sunflowers, cotton, and sprigs of greenery, keeping with the wedding aesthetic.
newlyweds cutting rustic southern naked wedding cake
rustic naked cake with sunflowers, gold cake topper, and cotton
sunflowers and cotton decorations on rustic cake
Avid coffee drinkers, Tara and Joseph wanted to send their guests away with favors they could enjoy. Each guest went home with a bag of coffee grounds from one of their favorite local coffee shops in Athens, Jittery Joe’s.
all you need is love and coffee chalkboard sign
wedding favors bag filled with coffee grounds from local coffee shop in athens
newlyweds holding white china coffee mugs
couples holding ivory china coffee mugs
couple laughing and holding vintage china coffee mugs
Before the night ended, Tara tossed a bouquet toward all her girlfriends.
Tara tossing bouquet to girl friends behind her
girl with tossed bouquet laughing
bride with friend who caught sunflower bouquet
​To close out the night, Tara and Joseph walked out to a sparkler grand exit. Before they left, they also made sure to take a photo with all their guests.
Tara and Joseph smiling while guests hold sparklers
Couple smiling while guests look on during sparkler grand exit
Tara and Joseph holding sparklers in celebration during grand exit
Tara and Joseph pose with all their wedding guests at night
​“Our wedding day experience was a dream come true! It was such a beautiful day, and Ellen (and Four Oaks) took care of everything with such ease that it made everything stress-free, and we just enjoyed the moment and our families. It was such a blessing!”

Catching up with them a few months later, we asked Tara what she enjoys most about being married to Joseph. “The best part of being married is getting to spend so much time with my best friend. We make each other laugh all the time which I love.” She also joked that Joseph is a much better cook than her. We can appreciate some good cooking!

married couple posing together at night surrounded by bushes
newlyweds surrounded by bushes smiling at each other
Congratulations to Tara and Joseph! They were such a lovely, sweet couple to work with, and we wish them all the best in their marriage.

Floral Design: Laurens Floral Art
Photography: Tiffany Holmes

Want to see more weddings from Four Oaks? Visit our Real Weddings page on our blog!

Interested in having your wedding at Four Oaks Manor? Tour with us and see if we're the venue for you!
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