Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Joyner.
Hi Kelly, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Our Story: Love Without Boundaries
The Beginning
Willow Cottage Weddings was born on June 26, 2015—the very day marriage equality became legal across America.
That morning, I received a call that would change everything. Two friends who had been together for a decade finally had their marriage license from their home county in south Georgia. But there was a problem: no judge in their area would officiate their wedding, and Bibb County’s judge was completely booked.
“Can you help?” they asked.
As an ordained minister through American Marriage Ministries, I said yes without hesitation. Chrissy Brown at Parish on Cherry generously offered her restaurant’s courtyard, and that afternoon, we held a beautiful wedding ceremony. In that moment, watching my friends finally say “I do,” I realized something crucial: couples everywhere needed officiants who would celebrate all love stories.
And so, Willow Cottage Weddings was launched.
Growing Beyond Expectations
What surprised me most was our reach. Yes, we served the LGBTQIA+ community, but we also attracted allies and like-minded couples who valued inclusivity. One of my first large weddings came from a bride whose two mothers weren’t allowed to walk her down the aisle together at their church—or even appear as a couple during the ceremony. We changed that.
As demand grew, I needed help. That’s when Koryn Young answered the call. Already ordained and officiating prison weddings throughout Georgia, she brought unique experience and compassion to our team. We merged our companies—Willow Cottage Weddings and Macon Experiences—and expanded to offer full wedding planning alongside our officiating services.
Adapting Through Challenge
Then came 2020.
As the world shifted, so did wedding dreams. Couples began craving intimate elopements and micro-weddings over large gatherings. We saw an opportunity and rented a downtown space, creating “Le Petit Mariage”—a tiny wedding chapel for eight guests or fewer. The small wedding wasn’t just a pandemic response; it was a revolution in how couples celebrated their love.
A New Chapter at stARTup Studios
Today, we’ve evolved “The Small Wedding” concept into something even more special. Our new venue, Le Petit Mariage Wedding Studio, sits within stARTup Studios, a working art gallery in the heart of Macon.
The experience begins the moment you enter. Original glassware and pottery line the walls. You might catch Yen-Ting shaping clay at her pottery wheel or Bryan working with molten glass. Notice the metal rails embedded in the floors? They once guided the city’s trolleys into this very building for repairs in the early 1900s.
But keep walking—the magic awaits in the back.
Step into our wedding space and feel your breath catch. Soaring ceilings reach toward the sky while oversized windows flood the room with golden light. History meets artistry meets love in this transformed industrial space. We recently celebrated both our first elopement and first micro-wedding here, and the joy was palpable.
Looking Forward
From that first impromptu ceremony in a restaurant courtyard to our new home among working artists, Le Petit Mariage has always been about one thing: ensuring every couple can celebrate their love story authentically and beautifully.
We’re excited to write the next chapter with you.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
There have been ups and downs certainly. Until two years ago I was still working full time as a paralegal, so there were many times when all of the wedding work fell to Koryn, who promptly picked it up and moved our little company forward. We have struggled through the deaths of our mothers, and other life changing events, but standing side by side and with the support of the men in our lives, we have continued to grow our business. We wouldn’t want it any other way.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Writing a wedding ceremony, decorating the space, and coordinating the event are all forms of art because they transform intention into experience. The ceremony script distills emotions, values, and promises into language that resonates with meaning and rhythm. Decorating the space translates mood into color, texture, and spatial flow, guiding guests’ senses and shaping how moments unfold. Coordination weaves those elements together with timing, logistics, and collaboration, turning plans into a cohesive narrative that feels effortless to attendees. Each facet requires creativity, sensitivity to the couple’s story, and a disciplined craft, making the whole event a living work of art rather than a mere checklist of tasks.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
My advice is get out into the public. We have marched in rallies, including the DC Women’s March in 2017. We have supported Macon Pride. We have a healthy social media presence and working on it daily. We are found on Google. We always represent the company.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.elopetomaconga.com
- Instagram: le_petit_mariage_macon_ga
- Facebook: Le Petit Mariage in Macon, GA
Image Credits
Jessica Whitley
