Savannah and Matt’s story began long before their wedding day. They first met in middle school in Tupelo, Mississippi, where mutual friends kept them in the same orbit – and Savannah admits she already had a bit of a crush. After losing touch when Matt changed schools, their paths crossed again years later at Ole Miss. A Sigma Chi date party in the spring of 2018 gave them the chance to reconnect, and this time, the timing was right.
Seven years later, their wedding at Castle Hill in Oxford, Mississippi, brought together the people, memories, and family histories that had shaped their relationship. Soft blush tones, abundant florals, grand chandeliers, and an airy palette transformed the stately venue into a celebration that felt romantic and feminine without losing its timelessness.
But beneath the beauty were deeply personal details – tributes to family members they had lost, handmade pieces created by generations of Savannah’s family, and intentional reminders of the faith at the center of their marriage.
“Love is unwavering, even when life is not perfect or things do not go as planned.”
A Love Story Years in the Making
“We first met in middle school at Tupelo Christian Preparatory School in Tupelo, Mississippi,” Savannah shares. “We shared a lot of mutual friends and spent time together fairly often – I’ll admit, I always had a tiny crush on him!”
When Matt finished high school elsewhere, the two lost touch until college brought them together again at Ole Miss.
“During his freshman year and my sophomore year, we randomly ran into each other, and he invited me to his Sigma Chi parents’ date party in April of 2018,” Savannah says. “I already knew his parents from our TCPS days, and spending time with them reminded me of what a fun, close-knit family they were. After that night, Matt was always in the back of my mind as someone I could see myself with.”
Their relationship eventually required years of patience. After college, Savannah’s graduate program and externship took her first to Hattiesburg and then Birmingham while Matt worked in New Albany.
“It was not always easy, but we made the effort to stay connected and make the most of the time we had together on weekends,” Matt says. “I think those years made us appreciate finally getting to build our everyday life together even more.”
“Love isn’t just about big moments or milestones. It’s about choosing each other through the normal, busy, hard, or boring parts too.”
A Soft, Romantic Celebration at Castle Hill
Savannah’s love of pink became the starting point for the wedding design, with Ellen Thomas Event Design creating a romantic palette of blush tones and delicate florals against Castle Hill’s stately Southern backdrop.
Lush floral installations by Deedra Stone Designs brought softness to the grand setting, while chandeliers, refined rentals, and layers of pale pink created an ethereal atmosphere. The result felt almost fairytale-like – elegant and polished, but still warm and distinctly personal.
Savannah also loved having the opportunity to return to her own creative roots during the planning process.
“My favorite part was getting to be creative again,” she says. “I have always loved art and design, so getting to use that side of myself and bring all of our ideas to life was so much fun. I even got to paint a few things that we used throughout the wedding, which made it feel even more personal and special.”
And not every detail took itself too seriously. Later in the celebration, guests were surprised with late-night pizza served in custom pizza boxes – a playful ending to an otherwise elegant evening.
Honoring Family Through the Details
Some of the wedding’s most meaningful elements were those guests might not have immediately noticed.
Savannah’s younger sister, Anne Raegan Sanders, was once a patient at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. In honor of her journey, Savannah and Matt made a donation to St. Jude in honor of their wedding guests and included decorated St. Jude sugar cookies and explanatory cards in their welcome boxes.
Those boxes also held hand-painted “Julie Shells,” created by Matt’s aunt Jennifer Byars in memory of his mother, Julie Betts Morris, who passed away in 2024. The shells were intended to be used for prayer or left somewhere for another person to discover – carrying forward Julie’s legacy of faith and love.
Matt found another way to keep his mother especially close.
“One of the most meaningful to me was having Savannah’s wedding band made with diamonds from my mom’s wedding ring,” he shares. “She passed away not long after Savannah and I got engaged, so having her diamonds in Savannah’s wedding band was a really special way to keep a piece of her with us.”
Savannah’s grandmother, Mississippi artist Anne Robin Luckett, also created handcrafted clay bride and groom dolls for the rehearsal dinner groom’s cake. Their miniature clothing incorporated fabric from the wedding dresses of Savannah’s grandmother, mother, and aunts – including her late aunt, Whitney Luckett Watkins.
“Knowing that a piece of her was there that night meant the world to me,” Savannah says.
A Ceremony Centered on Faith
For all the beautiful design surrounding them, Savannah and Matt agree that the ceremony was the heart of their wedding.
“We really wanted our ceremony to be centered around our faith,” Savannah says. “We wanted the wedding day to be about the commitment we were making to each other, and getting to make our vows in front of our closest friends and family was very important.”
For Matt, it was the moment Savannah appeared that stayed with him most.
“Watching Savannah walk down the aisle was the most important and special moment for me. Having all of our closest friends and family together in one place was also very important to us.”
Flowers, Stolen and Otherwise
There is also one floral tradition from their relationship that thankfully didn’t make its way into the wedding design.
“In college, Matt had a habit of picking flowers for me whenever we were out walking, driving, etc. – even if they happened to be growing in someone else’s yard, a flower bed at Taco Bell, or on the Ole Miss campus,” Savannah remembers. “If I were lucky, he’d even get down on one knee to present them to me.”
It became such a running joke that Matt’s mother would occasionally order Savannah legitimate bouquets and put his name on them.
“Thankfully, now that we are married, Matt has gotten pretty good at real flower deliveries – but more importantly, leaving other people’s flower beds alone!”
On Marriage & Choosing One Another
After seven years together – including four spent living apart – Savannah and Matt know something about the quieter work of building a relationship.
“The best thing I have learned from Matt is his unwavering positivity,” Savannah says. “His ability to see the good in every situation not only amazes me, but it is contagious and so calming.”
Matt credits Savannah with teaching him the importance of communication, thoughtfulness, and slowing down rather than always rushing toward whatever comes next.
Their advice for couples planning a wedding follows much the same philosophy: don’t become so consumed with the destination that you miss the season you’re currently living.
“Marriage is so wonderful, but the season of being engaged is so short and exciting,” Savannah says. “Slow down as much as you can and appreciate engagement while you’re in it. Think about all of the people in your life who are loving, supporting, and celebrating you as you prepare to get married, and don’t take that season or those people for granted.”
Matt’s version is considerably more succinct: “Communicate, make time for each other, and listen to your wife!”
Coordination & Design: Ellen Thomas Event Design
Photography: Eric & Jamie Photo
Videography: Abundant Film Co
Floral: Deedra Stone Designs
Venue & Catering: Castle Hill
Invitations & Printing: Flourish Paper
Rentals: White Door
Cake: The Flour Garden
Hair: Mary Payne Taylor
Makeup: Amanda Kent Beauty
Entertainment: Funky Town
Ceremony Music: The Earthy Tones
Getaway Car: Their Moving Trunk
Publisher at The White Wren and Bajan Wed, Award Winning Photography + Videographer at Live View Studios, Dad, 80s music lover, crunchy health advocate
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