Photos // Lindsey Shorter

Kirby and Robby's Savannah wedding was a true southern affair.

Lush florals, surrealist touches, and a parade of fabulous vintage looks: Galliano, Ungaro, and Prada - oh my! 💛

Tell us about your wedding day and surrounding events! Where did it all go down? Did you have any particular inspiration or musts when choosing the location?

The wedding weekend was in Savannah, GA, where I grew up. Thursday night, we held a welcome party at a neighborhood marina, and there was a high tide and full moon - I love the moon and picked the wedding date to align with the October full moon!

Friday morning, my bridesmaids and I had Pilates and a picnic at the historic Savannah Forsyth Park. Pilates was hosted by one of my besties/bridesmaids, fitness instructor Gabby George.

Our Rehearsal Dinner was on Friday at the Ships of the Sea Museum. My MIL has a flower farm in Rhode Island and has brought all the florals, topiaries, place settings, decoupage oysters, etc! It was very beautiful and very special.

Playful place settings from the Rehearsal Dinner.

We held our wedding reception at the Lutheran Church of the Ascension on Wright Square, followed by a party at The Oglethorpe Club. This was the one thing I really had to wrap my head around for the wedding - my parents and my brother both had their reception at the O Club (along with so many other people in Savannah), and it's where I had my debutante party. But I knew I wanted it to be different than what people had seen before. I wanted it to be a completely immersive experience and for guests to feel transported to another world. This is where having a KILLER team makes all the difference.

Kirby getting ready.

How did you and your partner meet? What was the proposal like?

Robby and I met in Oxford, MS, in 2016 while we were both sophomores at Ole Miss.

In the Summer of 2023, Robby's sister was graduating college, and his family had a trip to Italy planned to celebrate. We had a boat day in Capri, and Robby's sisters wanted their dad to take them shopping. I felt too awkward to join in, so Robby and I went back to the boat alone while they “shopped." But then, he completely surprised me when he got down on a knee. (My first answer was actually “Are you fucking serious?”) We circled back around to the dock where the family was waiting to celebrate! The whole “daddy-daughter-shopping” trip was a ruse!!!

"I am a huge vintage lover - I love the sustainable side, but I also really love having pieces not everyone else has and styling/updating them in fun ways."

Describe your Happy Isles dress and/or dresses! When did you know it was the one?

I've known for years I wanted a vintage gown, and it hurt every time Happy Isles posted a gown that I NEEEDED before I was even engaged (ha!) So, pretty much the day I got engaged, my mom was booking flights for her, myself, my grandmother, and my MOH to come to LA. I am a huge vintage lover - I love the sustainable side, but I also really love having pieces not everyone else has and styling/updating them in fun ways. I ended up taking home 5 dresses, and my mom 3. 😉

For my engagement party, I found a cream-pleated 2004 Prada dress that was literally to die for.

Kirby before her engagement party in her Prada dress from HILA.

I also got a white Stavropoulos slip dress from the 70s that was embroidered with birds. I remember seeing that dress on the Happy Isles Instagram long before I was engaged and sending it to my mom. 

Kirby in her 1970s Stavropoulos dress.

For my bridal luncheon, I found a 1990s, no-label, sheer embroidered dress with beading and embellishments that has a matching neck scarf.

Kirby in her 90s embroidered slip dress. Who says the neck scarf is just for the neck?

For my rehearsal dinner, I wore a Fall 2011 John Galliano for Dior magenta silk - arguably the most special dress, historically speaking. This was one I HAD TO HAVE and my mom wasn't going to buy it if it wasn't going to be worn for the wedding, so I ditched a traditional white look Friday night for a more true-to-self epic fashion moment.

Kirby in the THE fashion moment of the weekend. A rich, silk Galliano for Dior moment.

For my wedding gown, I wore an Emmanuel Ungaro, which was so stunning.

"I hate to say CBK is the blueprint; that's so overdone these days, but she really is."

When I made my debut in college and tried on dresses, I always gravitated to sleeker silhouettes and slip-dress styles, and I knew in the back of my mind that's what I wanted for my wedding dress. (I hate to say CBK is the blueprint; that's so overdone these days, but she really is.) Back to the dress, there were two I really liked, but when it came time to decide, there was really no question. The Ungaro was it! 

The Ungaro gown Kirby wore down the aisle.

I also got a set of 5 silk hair flowers from the Happy Isles. I wore 3, and my mom and grandma wore the other 2.

Kirby's grandmother with one of the silk floral hair pins from HILA.

What did your partner wear down the aisle, and did you share outfit pics before the big day?

Robby had a custom black tuxedo he wore for the wedding and then changed into a green dinner jacket with a black satin shawl collar -- all made by Bob Rose in Houston. And his mother hand-needle pointed his cummerbund.

Kirby and Robby after their first look.

How did your guests respond to your outfit/s? Were there any standout reactions?

Honestly, I was too gagged after buying the dress and accidentally showed it to a lot of friends. They were all obsessed, and one bridesmaid cried when she saw the picture!!! And then the ones I didn't show, they know me & my style so well I think they knew to expect a vintage silky gown. So, really, it just kinda felt more like a perfect union where people were like, “Oh ya, duh, she’s wearing that and looks killer.”

Shoes off and champagne in hand!

Where did you shop for accessories, and how did you style your look/s?

After getting engaged, we went to the Italian island of Burano, where lace is handmade (Murano = glass, Burano = lace), and bought a “hankie” that traditionally symbolizes marriage embroidered with a Lily of the Valley. It quickly became one of the main motifs for the wedding, so when I saw Annette Ferdinandsen had a pair of Lily of the Valley earrings made of hand-carved Italian jade & freshwater pearls, that was a no-brainer. It was my only “new” purchase for my wedding look.

Annette Ferdinandsen earrings.

I borrowed a three-strand pearl necklace from my MIL for the wedding for something borrowed, and I wore my mother’s sapphire ring for something blue. I sourced pink Croc Manolo slingbacks from The Real Real for my wedding shoes. (Check out this similar style...) And my veil was custom-made by dressmaker Cate Lyons in Savannah using vintage French lace. (Tish Weinstock inspired my veil for sure!)

A moment for the veil everyone...

I also wore a white wool Gucci by Tom Ford coat for my exit and getaway car. (Sourced by Houston stylist Ellecia Knolle.)

Kirby's going away look. Her Ungaro gown and her Gucci coat.

Styling the looks was honestly the most fun part and fairly simple for me! I had a very clear vision of what I wanted and enough time to plan and source! I bounced everything off of my trusted MOH/ bestie/personal stylist who was a huge help & sounding board. 

"Being around that much EPIC vintage was sickening in the best way. And my sweet grandmother was just happy to be along for the ride."

What was the most memorable aspect of your dress-shopping experience? Is there anything you would like to highlight or share with other brides considering an appointment at Happy Isles?

Literally, just being in the showroom was such a dream for my mom, me, and my MOH. We’ve all been sending HI posts back & forth for years!!!! Goosebumps as I write this. Being around that much EPIC vintage was sickening in the best way. And my sweet grandmother was just happy to be along for the ride.

The one thing I will say is that for other massive vintage girls like me, the allotted 75-minute appointment time might not be enough. This is no fault of the wonderful team; I just wanted to try everything on!!!  It felt like a dream to be in the room and with the dresses I'd seen online so many times.

Fashion is a family affair for the Wheat women.

Okay. Your HI wedding dress is a person. What is their name? Describe their perfect date!

Her name is Scarlett, and her perfect date would be at a sexy, dark cocktail lounge with live music and enticing conversation.

Cozy and lush.

Getting serious for a second. Did you ever feel like you were breaking the mold or challenging expectations while wedding planning? What were some ways you stayed true to yourself during what can be an emotionally complex experience?

Like I mentioned at the beginning, I really wanted the O club to feel different. It is a beautiful club, but so many of our guests have been to black-tie events there and have seen the typical setup.

Major drapery moments.

We turned it all on its head. We moved the food into an area it’s never been before and opened the main buffet room to serve as a sexy lounge with seating and a head table despite there not being a seated dinner. (A roaming buffet-style dinner is the southern norm.)

Surreal touches.

Upstairs, we had a tarot card room that was staged to look like a fortune teller/tarot card reader area and served as a great photo-op. We also had custom cootie-catchers, magic 8 balls, fortune-telling fish, a cigar roller, and other whimsical touches throughout.

Fringe and greenery galore.

We relied heavily on draping, lighting, and florals to transform the space into a new world. After our exit, the upstairs space was flipped to be an after-party with a DJ and props. The vibe was like a surrealist ball (I did it before RHOBH), Saltburn fancy dress, mystical moody October night!!

A dash of whimsey for the end of the night.

They say every wedding has a “wild card” moment. Did anything unexpected happen or surprise you during planning or the day of?

LOL, I had credit card fraud and was on the phone with the bank while my bridesmaids were having their glam done. It ended up being fine, but I was just like, “WTF are the odds…”

Personalized Whataburger inspired late-night bites!

HOT TAKES: Do you have any advice on wedding planning or dress shopping? Please pay it forward to our future brides!

Stay true to yourself. Throughout the entire wedding process, protect your peace!!!!! People will be offering so many (unwarranted) opinions, but don't let them sway you.

Also, once you decide on THE DRESS - delete all other dress pics from your phone. My mom and MOH still had pics of all the other dresses, but when I shopped for my deb dress, I actually ended up second-guessing myself and ordering a second dress because I was so indecisive and couldn't stop looking at the other pictures. Bad idea.

If you had to choose your single best wedding day memory, what would it be?

The church ceremony was so special, and that was when it really started to sink in.

But before that, they put us in the “brides room,” which had a landline phone, so to break the tension, my bridesmaids and I prank called wedding guests and told them they were being kicked out of the hotel, fined for noise complaints and smoking fees, and any other terrible thing we could think of…

Like a painting come to life.

Now that the wedding chapter has come to a close, what are some dreams you have for your future, both personally and as a couple? 

I would love to have a career in vintage fashion. I am very eager to start, but I am still trying to figure out what it would look like. I would love to be able to help with styling and closet consultation, and source vintage items for clients! (Find Kirby’s styling buisness @the.refinery.bykp)

Robby and I bought a home in Houston, where he is from, before the wedding, and we really love our life/friendships here. We look forward to fostering our community/friendships in Houston! We definitely want a family, but not anytime soon.

For now, we are happy traveling, partying, and hanging out with our pets. 🥰

And finally, shoutout your vendors!

Photography: Lindsey Shorter Weddings
Planning: B+W Theory 
Venue: The Oglethorpe Club
Catering: The Oglethorpe Club, Cake by Flirt with Dessert
Floral: August Floral Design by Kim Cheney 
Hair: Sergio Morales from Volume Social Club in Houston 
Makeup: Xandro Canales from Volume Social Club in Houston
Music: Atlanta Groove Factory and DJ César from Versamix Music
Stationary: Charlie Whiskey Design with contributing art from Savannah artist Katherine Sandoz 

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This interview has been edited for length and clarity.