Elegant, Southern Garden Romance in New Albany, Indiana: The Real Wedding of Rachel Bowden and Cody Foster

When deciding to go to college and run track and field, Rachel and Cody had no idea they would eventually meet their future spouse on the team, but once they did, Cody and Rachel were inseparable. After dating for a while and even moving to North Carolina together, Cody proposed to Rachel at the top of Stone Mountain in North Carolina!
 

Take a look at that breathtaking gown Rachel is wearing. However, it isn't exactly what Rachel had planned on getting. "My dress is almost exactly opposite of what I was looking for. I wanted V-neck or scoop neck, A-line, and lots of detail, beading and lace," Rachel shares. "I tried on many like this and then after I wasn’t vibing with the dresses I was trying on I decided to try on something that was on one of the mannequin and very different from what I thought I wanted. This was the dress I chose." We love the fit and flare look as well as the peek-a-boo corset detail on the back of the dress!
 

"Ultimately we wanted a romantic, classic and timeless wedding! We were inspired by our ornate venue and our pastel colors that hinted to the Bridgerton influence," Rachel raves. Along with elegance, Rachel wanted to incorporate pieces of the southern charm since she grew up just outside of Louisville, Kentucky. Rachel also wanted to make sure she had plenty of color in their wedding palette. She even used WeddingDay Magazine to find inspo for her wedding!
 

As all couples do, Rachel and Cody added some fun touches to their wedding day to make their celebration special to them. First, they had a Rolls Royce they used for their newlywed photos. The car included a "just married" placard on the back. Their signature drinks were full of southern charm with lavender lemonade and vodka as well as Woodford Reserve in peach sweet tea. Rachel and Cody also had croquet for their guests to enjoy during the reception!
 

 

What We Love

It was important to Rachel and Cody to make sure they used local vendors as Rachel grew up in the New Albany area. Rachel explains, "I wanted mainly local vendors so that’s where I started. I looked at local places and chose based on reviews, reputation and pricing." They also made sure to include many small businesses—some even within just a few miles of their venue. What they couldn't find locally, Rachel and Cody found on Facebook Marketplace, thrifted it or D.I.Y.'ed it.
 

 

Advice from the Couple

"Our biggest piece of advice is 'do what you want and stay true to yourself'. The whole process can be overwhelming and it’s easy to get sidetracked or caught up in what other people think. You don’t need an unlimited budget to have the wedding of your dreams. If you get a venue that speaks for itself, the less decorating you have to do. Plus there are so many options for wedding decoration re-sell that I would encourage all brides to explore. Not only does this option help with cost but it's eco friendly as well," Rachel and Cody advise. "Get the videographer. We didn’t and I regret it! Make a list of photos and/or moments you wanted captured so that you don’t look back and regret it. Don’t shy away from color!"
 

 

 

are you a bride or groom-to-be?

We'd love to plan with you on weddingday-online.com. Let's get started!

 

are you a wedding extraordinaire?

Join WeddingDay Magazine in inspiring brides by partnering with us! See how here.