A Family Affair
Weddings are all about becoming a new family together, and for Jonnie Petree Thomas, that meant not just the new family she was creating with her husband Josh, but also the bringing together of both their families. For Jonnie, family is one of the most important things in life, and making sure her own immediate family was included in all aspects of the wedding was a top priority. It all started the day Josh proposed.
“We had planned to go on a cruise with our families, and at the last minute it turned out my grandparents weren’t going to be able to come with us,” Jonnie says. “Josh found out and knew they would want to be there when we got engaged, so he proposed instead at a family dinner on December 16, 2021. It meant so much to me that everyone was there and got to be a part of the excitement.”
Jonnie didn’t waste any time on planning for the wedding. The day after the engagement Jonnie and Josh and their families were off for a Christmas cruise. By the time the car crossed over the state line into Georgia, Jonnie had decided Legacy Stables and Events was where she’d have her wedding. “I was scouring social media and websites, and it was the rustic look of Grace Barn that really made me fall in love with the place,” Jonnie says.
The Benefits of Legacy Stables and Events
Once home from the cruise, Jonnie and her mother scheduled a tour of Legacy Stables and Events, and seeing everything in person made Jonnie all the more sure she’d made the right decision.
Three things influenced her choice on her wedding location:
- The overall aesthetic of the venue.
“I knew I loved the rustic look I’d seen online in pictures, but once I saw it in person I just fell in love with the place,” Jonnie says. Not only did the rustic décor of the Grace Barn appeal to Jonnie, she was excited about many other features of the venue. The fact that the barn doors opened made it so guests could get a view of the outdoors, while remaining seated in the heated stallway. “It allowed us to have an outdoor feel to our wedding even in the cold of January,” Jonnie says. - The available buildings, including the bridal suite and groom’s quarters
The bridal party was made up of 21 people, 10 bridesmaids and 11 groomsmen. Jonnie fell in love with the Legacy House, because she knew it allowed plenty of space for all of her friends to be with her on her wedding day, getting dressed and doing hair and make-up. And the groom’s party had their own separate place to hang out in Robert’s Quarters, where flat-screen TVs, a pool table and a foosball table give the men plenty to keep them occupied while the women get ready. - Convenience to friends and families
Jonnie and Josh had friends and family coming from all over the state of North Carolina. Jonnie graduated from high school in Hendersonville, NC, before going to college at Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC. Now working in Winston-Salem, Legacy Stables and Event’s location provided a centralized place for everyone to gather. The same was true for both families, as Josh’s family was from Lexington, where Jonnie’s dad now works.
Legacy Stables and Events checked all the boxes, making it the perfect venue for Jonnie and Josh’s big day..
A Fairytale Wedding
On January 21, 2023, Jonnie and Josh said “I do” in front of the open doors of the Grace barn, with the beautiful landscape creating an idyllic setting behind them.
The whole thing came together thanks to help from a lot of people, in particular the team at Legacy Stables and Events. “Sondra and Caitlynn were so helpful throughout the whole planning process and on the day of the event,” Jonnie says. “They were able to answer all of my questions about how things would go or what I needed to do, and helped out with working with vendors, including the caterer and the florist.”
The menu was created by Twisted Pine, the exclusive in-house caterer for Legacy Stables and Events headed up by Chef Adam Andrews. And Jonnie worked with Ronda Hicks for the floral designs for the wedding. I have a rustic, boho style so I wanted flower arrangements with a real organic feel, which went well with the look of Grace Barn,” Jonnie says. The centerpieces on the tables were all different heights, overflowing with flowers, helping give the whole place a distinct style that matched the couple’s personalities.
Just like Jonnie and Josh made sure to include their family in the engagement, the couple had plans to include their mothers in the service in a unique way. At the point of the ceremony where rings are given to the bride and groom, the mothers were standing their with the rings and the minister made special remarks about how the two women were such important people in the lives of Jonnie and Josh, helping them grow into the wonderful young adults about to set out on their own path together. “Our moms are so important to us, and it meant a lot to me to have them be a part of our ceremony in this way,” Jonnie says.
Josh and Jonnie’s wedding showcases just how beautiful Legacy Stables and Events is for weddings, any time of year. Whether the flowers are bursting out in the spring or the bright-blue winter sky serves as a backdrop, our estate is the perfect setting for your special occasion. Schedule a visit today to learn more about how we can help you plan your perfect event.
Photo Credit: @MorganLongPhoto
