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  Real Wedding: Sharon and Francis, Bristol, Tennessee

  Sharon and Francis

  Sharon and Francis were leading typically time-crunched lives when they met in Manhattan, but a few emails, phone messages, and a batch of Sharon's chocolate-chunk cookies brought the two together.

  Next: Invitations

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  Real Wedding: Sharon and Francis, Bristol, Tennessee

  Invitations

  Sharon, a graphic designer, chose shades of pink, gray, and white and a modern motif of patterns inspired by Japanese textiles for the wedding stationery she designed.

  Next: Bridal Party

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  Real Wedding: Sharon and Francis, Bristol, Tennessee

  Bridal Party

  Sharon asked each of her five bridesmaids to pick a dress to her liking in a shade of coral or pink.

  Next: Groomsmen

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  Real Wedding: Sharon and Francis, Bristol, Tennessee

  Groomsmen

  Francis is flanked by his groomsmen, who are family or friends from his childhood and university days; Francis's brother Tom wears a kilt in the family tartan.

  Next: The Groom's Family

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  Real Wedding: Sharon and Francis, Bristol, Tennessee

  The Groom's Family

  The newlyweds take a photo with Francis's family, including brother Tom and his wife, Sue, and his parents, Robin and Marian.

  Next: Bouquet

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  Real Wedding: Sharon and Francis, Bristol, Tennessee

  Bouquet

  Sharon's hand-tied cascade bouquet mixes pale-pink peonies, sweetpeas, azaleas, white mock orange, bell-shaped campanula, clematis, and garden roses; it's secured with a sash of vintage kimono silk.

  Next: The Happy Couple

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  Real Wedding: Sharon and Francis, Bristol, Tennessee

  The Happy Couple

  Glassine flowers and tissue dots shower the newlyweds as they emerge from the church. The confetti was distributed in envelopes before the ceremony.

  Next: After the Ceremony

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  Real Wedding: Sharon and Francis, Bristol, Tennessee

  After the Ceremony

  Sharon and Francis share a special moment before the reception.

  Next: The Reception

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  Real Wedding: Sharon and Francis, Bristol, Tennessee

  The Reception

  The couple crosses the lawn to join their guests on the porch of the Virginian, a farm turned golf club.

  Next: Porch Decorations

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  Real Wedding: Sharon and Francis, Bristol, Tennessee

  Porch Decorations

  On the porch, white paper accordion lanterns and wooden birdcages are suspended above the tables.

  Next: Cocktail Hour

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  Real Wedding: Sharon and Francis, Bristol, Tennessee

  Cocktail Hour

  Two cocktails honor the heritages of bride and groom -- Pimm's Cup, a British favorite, and Tennessee Tea, which Sharon created using Jack Daniels, Triple Sec, Coke, sweet-and-sour mix, and lemonade.

  Next: Table Arrangements

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  Real Wedding: Sharon and Francis, Bristol, Tennessee

  Table Arrangements

  Free-form centerpieces set in low wooden trays combine peonies, viburnum, dogwood, green parrot tulips, spirea, sweetpeas, double lilacs, maidenhair fern, and fiddleheads.

  Next: Father-and-Daughter Dance

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  Real Wedding: Sharon and Francis, Bristol, Tennessee

  Father-and-Daughter Dance

  The bride dances with her dad.

  Next: Special Wishes

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  Real Wedding: Sharon and Francis, Bristol, Tennessee

  Special Wishes

  Note cards with guests' messages to the newlyweds are dropped into a beribboned fishbowl set among others bearing water plants and river stones.

  Next: Favors

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  Real Wedding: Sharon and Francis, Bristol, Tennessee

  Favors

  Taped to the lid of a favor box is a recipe for the chocolate-chunk cookies, nestled inside, that helped Sharon win Francis's heart. Labels run through a sticker machine wrap the pink boxes.

  Next: The Wedding Cake

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  Real Wedding: Sharon and Francis, Bristol, Tennessee

  The Wedding Cake

  The bride and groom cut the almond cake with buttercream frosting.

  Next: Just Married

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  Real Wedding: Sharon and Francis, Bristol, Tennessee

  Just Married

  The couple prepare to depart in a vintage convertible festooned with pale-gray ribbon.

  Next: Sources

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  Real Wedding: Sharon and Francis, Bristol, Tennessee

  Sources

  Ceremony Location: First Presbyterian Church, Bristol, Tennessee
  Reception Venue: The Virginian Golf Club, Bristol, Virginia
  Flowers: Livia Cetti for the Green Vase
  Wedding Gown: Rochas
  Custom Headpiece: Ellen Christine
  Hair: Rick Burleson of Grow Salon
  Bride's Shoes: Rickard Shah
  Stationery: Sharon Slaughter for Yours, etc.
  Calligraphy: Maybelle Imasa-Stukuls
  Printing: Manifesto Letterpress
  Car Rental: Rumbles

  Next: More Real Weddings

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