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A native of Washington, N.C., Cameron Buckman, like any proper Southern belle, loves all things monogrammed. The curlier, the better.

When her boyfriend of two years, Frank Schmitz, dropped to one knee by the famous “Forrest Gump” bench in one of his native Savannah’s mesmerizing squares, he presented Cameron with none other than a monogrammed box. “This jewelry is very special because it has your new monogram,” he said. Inside was an engagement ring. And, of course, she said yes.

“Savannah is such a romantic city, so it was perfect,” Cameron says. “It was Valentine’s Day and our two-year anniversary. It was most definitely a surprise! But it was also the perfect timing.”

Cameron, a third-grade teacher, was introduced to Frank, who owns a dental lab business, on a double blind date – but he wasn’t her date! “Let’s just say that I didn’t go for my original date, but for his friend,” Cameron says. “We found that we had a lot in common, and it was love at first sight.”

Just as the location for the proposal had been romantic and special, Cameron and Frank chose a venue for the ceremony that also held personal meaning for the couple. They were married in the church that Cameron’s great-great-grandfather built, First United Methodist Church.

Burned during the Civil War and reconstructed afterwards, the church represented not only history but also childhood and family for Cameron, who grew up going to First United Methodist.

“I always knew I wanted to be married in that church,” Cameron says. “Always. It’s always been a big part of my life. It was definitely meaningful to us, having that family background. My husband fell in love with my church as much as I did because it’s so beautiful.”

Family history worked its way into the wedding in other ways as well. After Cameron found the perfect dress, she fretted over finding an equally perfect veil. “I had probably tried on hundreds of dresses, and I fell in love with mine because it was unique and also traditional,” she says. Finding a veil to match her unique gown posed a challenge.

On a whim, Cameron’s mother retrieved her own wedding veil from 1976, beautifully adorned with hand-crocheted flowers. It matched her dress perfectly. “It was kind of eerie and strange,” Cameron says, “but we knew it was the one.”

Cameron was accompanied on her wedding day by a host of bridesmaids – 18, to be exact. Half were honorary and wore yellow gowns, while the other bridesmaids wore blue. Frank was accompanied by 16 of his closest friends as groomsmen. “I absolutely wouldn’t have changed a thing,” Cameron says. “I loved being surrounded by all my friends and family.”

The huge wedding party set the tone for the (literally) huge wedding party to follow at the Washington Yacht and Country Club. “The day was really special, but it was also a time of celebration and a big party,” Cameron says. “I wanted it to be traditional, but fun and an adventure for everyone else.”

No reception is truly a party without great dancing, and with a big band providing the musical entertainment, there was no shortage of it. “I loved everything about my wedding! But the dancing was maybe my favorite part,” Cameron says. “We had the usual first dance, but we also did a fun swing-dance using the band.”

Lindsey Lee Photography captured each special moment on Cameron and Frank’s big day. “It was truly a pleasure to work with Lindsay Lee Photography,” Cameron says. “She was a very professional, punctual, and creative photographer and helped us achieve the most unique photographs for our special day. The photographs were romantic, artistic and original, and captured the emotions of everyone involved.”

After a weeklong honeymoon in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, Cameron and Frank returned to Savannah. Since the wedding, Frank opened a new business, and Cameron continues to teach third grade. “We’re doing very well!” she says.

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Photography
Lindsey Lee Photography
704-791-4839
www.lindseyleephotography.com

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