An Elevated Backyard Wedding in Georgia - Who knew a backyard wedding could be so chic?

by Jaimie Mackey - Jaimie Mackey was the Brides real weddings editor from 2013 to 2015.

Sherita Starks and Dion Watkins go back—way back, actually. “Dion and I met in Mrs. Early’s fourth grade class in 1987,” Sherita says. “Dion was my first crush!” The two were friends for years and even dated briefly in college, but they finally made it official when Sherita moved to the West Coast to pursue her acting career. Seven years later, they found themselves back in Atlanta and bumped into one another at a local bar. Can you say “fate”?

After almost two (more) years together, Dion wanted to propose to Sherita, and knew just how to do it. “We were home to celebrate Dion’s grandmother’s 100th birthday,” she remembers. “We went for a walk together on the Beltline, and he proposed underneath a gorgeous tree.” The timing was especially fitting since the ring Dion slipped on Sherita’s finger belonged to her grandmother.

With a love story that dates back to childhood, it was no surprise that Sherita and Dion chose the groom’s childhood home as the venue for their May 13, 2017 backyard party. “We wanted something simple and intimate, and Dion’s parents’ home was just the place,” Sherita explains. It also meant they could limit their guest list to 100 people, making sure their families and closest friends really felt the love.

This spring wedding outside of Atlanta will have you looking at your childhood backyard in a whole new light.

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