Lauren and Mike originally planned to get married at Haiku I Do in June of 2020. They had to reschedule for obvious reasons (COVID) and due to concerns over family health, they ultimately ended up delaying their day by almost two years! That meant that by the time they finally got married, it had been a whole THREE YEARS since we had done their engagement session. Crazy enough, we found these two via an Engagement Session Giveaway that we did with Meagan Oliveri and we had so much fun that it was pretty much an unspoken agreement that we would definitely be shooting their wedding.

Preparing for an Asheville Wedding

Lauren and Mike chose Asheville for their wedding not only because we have so many good memories from visiting there, but also because it made the most sense as the middle ground for traveling guests. They fell in love with Haiku I Do as a wedding venue due to the gorgeous property and the “”we can do that” attitude of the staff. While they have a bridal suite on-site, Lauren chose to get ready at the adorable Griffin’s Lair Airbnb in Biltmore Village.

Emotional First Looks

The most anticipated part of the wedding day was definitely the First Looks. Lauren planned one with her dad and one with Mike. I’m not sure which one was more emotional! Despite living together and moving to a new home over the years leading up to the wedding, somehow Mike had never seen the dress! Her dad, on the other hand had been with her when she picked out the dress and was a bit resistant to the whole idea of a first look. But judging based on his reaction, I think he felt the full effects of the moment.

Outdoor Wedding Ceremony at Haiku I Do

Lauren and Mike wrote their own wedding vows and they were some of the most honest and raw vows we’ve ever heard. These two have been through a lot together and their vows reflected those promises to stick together through it all. There was laughter, tears, and most importantly, a high five!

Creative Cocktails at Haiku I Do Wedding Reception

The nice thing about having three years to plan your wedding though is that you have LOTS of time to think through all the little details. One of the coolest things they had at their wedding was a machine that printed their wedding logos on top of specialty cocktails! Mike is actually a bit of a mixologist created their “Tennessee Poppy” (a vodka drink named for the state they currently live in) and the “Blue Ridge Sour” (a whiskey homage not only to the Asheville mountains where they got married, but also to Appalachian State where they met). They created a logo based on both of their last names – Ferracane means “Iron Dog” in Italian and Woodall means “Of the Woods” so they had two wolves in a forest setting as the logo and “The Woodalls” underneath. That logo was then scanned into Drink Ripples machine and would be scanned on top of the drinks using edible ingredients!

A Meaningful Last Dance

Lauren and Mike wanted to “shut it down” as they say, so they didn’t plan an exit. Instead, Haiku I Do’s staff surprised them with a private last dance to with “Rivers and Roads” by the Head and the Heart. They asked everyone to gather around as the newlyweds danced to a song that was very important to them (Mike even had the title embroidered in his wedding suit jacket) during a time when their relationship was long distance. Halfway through the song they asked all their friends to come dance with them. It’s still one of our (and others) favorite moments of the night.

Venue: Haiku I Do Asheville | Florist: Bouqs Co Wedding | Caterer: Luellas BBQ | Wedding Cake: Whole Foods | Dessert: Duck Donuts | DJ: Bright Light Entertainment | Hair and Makeup: Megan Oliveri Artistry | Cocktail Printing: Ripples | Wedding Dress Designer: Theia Bridal | Wedding Dress Purchase Location: Dress Theory Nashville | Party Dress: Untamed Petals | Groom Suit Designer: Alton Lane