Matney and Ben are a laid-back Southern couple who love their family and homemade dessert. If that’s not a recipe for a pretty wedding, I don’t know what is. Snipes Farm Retreat provided the perfect setting for the ceremony, portraits, and reception of Matney and Ben’s relaxed Southern wedding, all beautifully captured by husband and wife team Rob + Kristen Photography. The light in these images is truly magical, and Matney and Ben’s love shines so brightly. Matney describes herself as an non-fussy bride, and we love how her low-key spirit makes the details of their wedding really stand out.

The Couple: Matney and Ben

The Wedding: Snipes Farm Retreat, Chapel Hill, North Carolina

The Moments: “Our ceremony was my absolute favorite moment of the day. It was truly a family affair – because we had no wedding party, Ben’s parents walked in with him and my parents walked me down the aisle together. My sister-in-law was our officiant, my brother read a poem, Ben’s brother and my sister handed us our rings, and Ben’s sister and her boyfriend played the fiddle and banjo. At one point during our ceremony, Katie, my sister-in-law, asked us to turn and face our guests so we could see all of the people that had come to support us and celebrate our marriage. It was such a special moment and is certainly one that we will treasure for years to come. My favorite reception detail was our cake – homemade by my mom using my grandmother’s pound cake recipe (my all time favorite dessert!).”

The Inspiration: “We wanted our wedding to feel really relaxed and easy and not too formal or fussy. We tried hard to put more effort into the details that guests would remember and not to stress about the little things (I’m hoping that not too many people remember eating off of plastic plates!). Our venue, an old dairy farm, was absolutely beautiful on its own and didn’t require too much extra decor or attention. We brought in a ton of potted plants and flowers to add color and chose simple, classic table settings. We also chose good ol’ North Carolina barbeque that was sure to be a people pleaser! We also chose not to have a wedding party – no bridesmaids or groomsman, ring bearers or flower girls. It was just the two of us which felt so special and intimate. It also meant a little extra room in the budget for my dream dress!”

The Couple Recommends: “All of our vendors were exceptional and went above and beyond. They each made our wedding day feel so seamless and easy! I would highly recommend Rob + Kristen – they were so great to work with and I felt like they shared our vision for our wedding photos. Their turn around time for the photos was quick and the pictures were beautiful.”

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Rob + Kristen Photography
Venue – Snipes Farm Retreat
Floral Design – Lizzie Fowler
Officiant – Rev. Katie Henry Murad
Catering – The Pig
Makeup Artist – Courtney White
Hair Styling – Parlor Dry Bar
Rentals – American Party Rentals

Junebug loves a sweet Southern affair that ends with a sparkler send off! For more Southern wedding inspiration, check out Elizabeth and James’ vintage Southern garden wedding.