STACY AND MICKEY - Sophie Magazine →

It wasn’t quite love at first sight when Mickey and I met each other at East Carolina University. In fact, it took about a year before we realized that we might like each other more than just friends. As we began spending more time together we slowly became inseparable. After I graduated and moved to Virginia for work, we would both drive several hours back and forth to see each other. But not long after our relationship became more serious, I started having chronic severe muscle pain. I was eventually diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, had to leave my job and move back in with my parents; yet Mickey stood by my side. He surprised me one summer day by taking me back to the lake where we had our first date years before and he proposed. Mickey’s love brought a new meaning to the statement, “in sickness and in health.”

We knew even before we were engaged that we wanted a winter wedding in the mountains. I wanted a theme of “classic elegance” with colors that included gold, silver and ivory. As soon as we saw the Inn on Biltmore Estate, we knew that we had found the perfect location. The atmosphere matched our theme perfectly and the Biltmore facilitiesreally complemented mychosen colors. It was truly the perfect location!

5 Favorite Moments

1 The wedding guests woke up on the morning of the wedding to a dusting of snow on the ground – perfect for the winter wedding theme.

2 Before the ceremony at the Conservatory, the shuttle drove the guests by the Biltmore house so they could see it lit up at dusk.

3 We prepared a short romantic comedy video for our guests at the reception that shared the story of how we met.

4 Mickey’s Mother and Aunts surprised everyone by performing a perfectly choreographed dance at the reception.

5 After years of planning, just seeing the details of the wedding day finally come together was overwhelmingly rewarding for both of us. All the little details that went into the day like the flowers, table decorations, signs and music selections helped personalize the day and make it everything that we had envisioned.

Bride: Stacy Bennett
Groom: Mickey Hodges
Planner: Mary Bell Events
Photographer: Nick Gillespie at Blue Bend Photography
Makeup: Blush by Wendy Ballance
Hair: Lalena Settlemyre
Stationery/Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas
Entertainment: Donna Germano (Ceremony) 
and Mitch Fortune Entertainment (Reception)
Ceremony: Biltmore Estate Conservatory
Officiate: Fred Werhan
Reception: Inn on Biltmore Estate
Cake: Biltmore Catering
Rentals: China Rental by Biltmore Estate Wedding
Transportation: Shuttle and Land Rover
 provided by Biltmore
Florist: Flower Gallery of Asheville
Bride’s Dress: Custom Design
Groom’s Attire: Brook’s Brothers