KELLY MCPHERSON & COLIN APPLEWHITE
June 29, 2019 Rancho Santa Fe, California Photographed by Paul Barnett Photography
KELLY MCPHERSON & COLIN APPLEWHITE
While Kelly McPherson was on an annual holiday vacation in Park City, Utah, with her family, she unexpectedly met Colin Applewhite at a local saloon, as he was visiting the destination for the first time with friends from college. “We skied together and said our goodbyes without exchanging numbers or information… all we knew was that we both lived in Atlanta,” shares Kelly. “After we got back, we ran into each other at a gym neither one of us knew we were both members of, and the rest was history!”
Within five to six months of dating, Colin knew he’d found The One. “We were riding in the car and laughing so hard together that neither of us could breathe,” he remembers. “Something about seeing the smile on her face in that moment made me realize that I was completely in love with her and was going to marry her.” When the time was right, he purchased an engagement ring from the same jeweler Kelly’s father had used for her mother’s ring, received his future father-in-law’s blessing, and planned a proposal atop Piazzale Michelangelo overlooking Florence, Italy. “After he proposed and I said yes, we ventured down to a bridge facing the Ponte Vecchio, where my parents were waiting,” remembers Kelly. “It was the greatest surprise ever!”
Desiring an outdoor summer celebration, the pair selected a beautiful resort near the bride’s hometown of San Diego to host the nuptials. To ensure their 200 guests could enjoy the California weather throughout the fête, an impeccable outdoor area was a must for the alfresco ceremony and tented reception. With just nine months to plan their black-tie soirée from a distance, the bride leaned on her mother and wedding planner for help. “I had no idea about the small details that go into wedding planning. I was so thankful that we had our incredible planner who was always one step ahead of us,” she confirms.
Friends and family gathered on the lawn for the ceremony as a string quartet set the tone for the refined occasion. An elegant design scheme featured crisp white flowers, garlands of greenery and classic topiary boxes, as well as ivory rose petals lining the aisle. At the start of the processional, a bagpiper performed traditional Scottish music in order to honor the bride’s heritage. At last, Kelly made her way towards her groom in a stunning V-neck gown as she carried a tasteful bouquet of hydrangeas, roses, and gardenias. “My most memorable moment of the entire day was seeing Kelly walk out into the aisle for the first time,” affirms Colin, who was handsome in a smart black tuxedo contrasting the cream jackets worn by the groomsmen.
Once the couple was pronounced husband and wife, their loved ones enjoyed cocktail hour while the newlyweds took a moment to themselves to take in the beauty of the draped reception tent full of greenery, all-white flowers, and hundreds of candles. “It absolutely blew us away. In fact, it was so spectacular, it brought me to tears,” says the bride. “It was just the two of us in the tent with the band playing a Frank Sinatra song we love, while we got to walk around and explore our dream we had created.” A color palette of black and white was selected for the space, which was surrounded by hedge walls and embellished with boxes of hydrangeas, chandeliers, and antique silver details. “Our theme was timeless classic,” explains Kelly. “We wanted our guests to feel as if they were back in time at an elegant black-tie wedding.”
Though the décor was designed with a specific aesthetic in mind, the pair made sure to incorporate personalized details throughout. As an ode to their Italian proposal, the signature drink of the evening was an Aperol spritz. They also honored High West whiskey, made in Park City, Utah, by having a cigar-and-libation station complete with signs and barrels flown in from the distillery. “We set up an aptly themed antique bar that looked like it came straight out of an 1880s Western saloon,” describes the groom of the unique feature. The wedding was also equipped with two stunning cakes: a beautiful white confection designed to match the bride’s dress and a second groom’s cake detailed with Ole Miss decals as a tribute to the groom’s side of the family. A live band also added to the sophisticated feel of the celebration. “They definitely exceeded my expectations,” adds Colin. “The band included several brass instruments, which I would highly recommend for adding a classic and nostalgic feel to a wedding.”
In the middle of the sit-down dinner service, nature provided an extra-special surprise for the newlyweds: a gorgeous double rainbow. “Our photographer [Paul Barnett] grabbed us and we got some unbelievable pictures. It was magical!” Kelly raves. The rest of the evening was spent dancing with friends and family on a black-and-white checkered dance floor, before ending the night with a romantic sparkler farewell. Neither the bride nor groom wanted the night to end. “There was nothing I would have changed except to make it last several more hours,” smiles Colin. Kelly agrees: “It was the greatest night of our lives and was a true depiction of our personalities and our love for one another.”