By When you have a love of lavender — and all shades of purple — it’s bound to be evident on your big day. It certainly was for bride Katherine Caldwell. She incorporated her favorite color into many aspects of her wedding, from her floral choices to the attendants’ attire to the table linens.
Andrew and Katherine first met at Crossfit Fringe in Columbia, where he was a coach. Through working out together the two gradually became friends. A romance then blossomed, and on May 31, 2018, Andrew proposed while they were hanging out with a few close friends around the fire pit at his best man’s house. Andrew popped the question with a custom ring designed by Buchroeders. Its main diamond held special significance — it was from Katherine’s mother’s ring.
The couple married on Sept. 28, 2019, on the front lawn of The Club at Old Hawthorne, under a beautiful wooden arbor built by a friend of one of the bridesmaids.
A dear family friend of the Caldwells, Dr. Jerry Cupp, officiated. The couple wrote their own vows for the non-traditional ceremony.
The bride wore a Lazaro “Emma” gown from famed bridal store Kleinfeld Bridal. She and her mom took a special trip to the NYC store to pick it out. The ivory sparkle floral printed tulle gown was a ball gown style with draped cap sleeves. Katherine’s shoes were strappy silver Jimmy Choos. She wore her hair in loose waves, partially pulled back and accented with a delicate embellished headband. Simple sparkly drop earrings and a cathedral-length veil with lace around the edges completed the look.
She carried a gorgeous bouquet of lush purple, pink and coral flowers, and requested that succulents be included, so she and Andrew could take them home and grow them as wedding keepsakes. Her bouquet was wrapped in fabric from her grandmother’s wedding dress.
The bridesmaids wore floor-length dresses in different styles of their own choosing in whatever shade of purple they preferred. They carried bouquets that coordinated with the bride’s.
The groom wore a custom black tuxedo from Hassis Men’s Shop in Philadelphia, PA, with a black tie and a succulent boutonniere. His pocket square was made from the bride’s grandmother’s wedding dress, and his silver cufflinks were engraved with the couples’ first names. His groomsmen wore gray suits with purple ties and succulent boutonnieres.
Following the ceremony, guests walked over to a reception tent, featuring scores of twinkling string lights. A “concoction caravan,” aka a bar on wheels, served the couple’s signature drinks. After dinner, the newlyweds cut a traditional white cake with white pearl frosting dots and raspberry filling.
The newlyweds will always be grateful to Katherine’s parents for everything they did to make the day magical. The bride’s Mom is Jeri Doty, of Columbia and her Dad is Bill Caldwell, also of Columbia. The groom’s Mom is Sue Tenipor of Lincoln, Nebraska. His Dad is Harry Arnold of Newton, Kansas, and his stepmom is Sandy Arnold also of Newton.
The couple resides in Drexel Hill, PA, where Katherine is a physical medicine & rehabilitation resident at the University of Pennsylvania. She kept her maiden name because she’s working toward becoming “Dr. Caldwell” like her father — something she’s always dreamed of. Andrew is a veteran service officer for the Department of Veterans Affairs. They plan a honeymoon for their first-year anniversary.
Bridal gown: Kleinfeld Bridal, NYC
Hair styling: Wendy Howe of Elle & Co.
Photography: SilverBox Photography
Tuxedos: Bingham’s
Florist: Kent’s Floral
DJ or Band: DJ Franco, Showme Sound
Cake(s): Edith Hall
Rings: Buchroeders Jewelers
Wedding coordinator: Anne of AnnaBelle Events
Videography: Bussen Productions
