We literally Flipped out when we went through all the entries for the {Flipping Out for Flip, iTunes, secret prize} contest. The excitement, the humor, and all the smiling faces of all the SW fans were so cool for us to see! We love ALL of the entries that we received and it was hard for us to narrow down any winners. So with that thought, we said, “Hey, lets share the photos with all our readers and ask for them to vote for the winners.”  Take a look at all the fabulous photos we got and cast your vote.  The top 5 winners will get some amazing prizes including the grand prize of a Flip Minio!

***EDITED TO ADD: So, after posting this we noticed there are 2 #23′s!  Rather than throw all the rest of the numbers, we’ve made them 23A and 23B. So, if you are a #23 fan, feel free to re-vote with your preference.  Nothing like a little excitement in the voting, right!?  : )

See one you liked? Vote for it! Leave a comment letting us know and your vote will be counted. Voting ends next Thursday, February 5th. ONE VOTE PER PERSON. (we can tell if you vote twice, so please follow the rules) Winners will be announced next Friday, February 6th. The top 5 will get those fabulous prizes we have been telling you about like; Flip, iTunes cards and more special prizes.  Have a fabulous weekend!

Southern Weddings is playing Cupid for this Valentines Day! Why? Because we love our readers. Our team is inspired each day by the love stories we encounter. We love that we are able to inturn share those stories with our readers. Like the one’s below. Casey, Desiree and Danielle take it away….

Photography by {Bluebird Photography}.  Check out Casey + David’s {Blog} feature.

What attracted me to my husband was: David has an unbelievable way of making me smile & laugh. I remember the first night I met him he made me feel like I had known him for years. And he is obliviously tall, dark & very handsome!

Photography by {Vision Photographs}. Des + Sam’s {Blog Feature}

Husband Dyer:  I am still in awe of how swiftly and unconventionally God brought us together! What a story we have, and it’s quite amazing to be doing our life’s work now as a team, as one. I am so grateful for the man you are today and I look forward to growing together for as long as we both shall live. May the Lord grant us hearts to love Him, each other and the rest of His world until the end… Loving you always, Wife Dyer

Photography by {Lauren Kinsey Photography}. Check out Danielle + Stuart’s {Blog} feature.

Stuart and I were talking and he was telling me how much he loved me and how happy he was that I came into his life. He then said to me, “Well, I guess there is only one thing left to do”. He then slide out from his seat, got on his knee, opened up a ring box and said to me, “Will you spend the rest of your life with me, will you be my wife, will you marry me?”. As I type this tears are welling up in my eyes. That moment was one of the happiest days of my life. I of course said, “YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”. About two minutes later the waitress comes into the room with a bottle of Champagne and two glasses and tells us congratulations. Happy Valentines Day!

We want to play cupid for you! Please send us a Valentine message for us to place on our SW Blog on Thursday, February 12th and Friday, February 13th. You have till, Friday, February 6th at midnight to send a maximum of 100 character text and one photo to {win at swsmag dot com}. (Photo must be saved with your name as the file name.) We will put all the virtual Valentines together for a smashing post and with a link that you can send your Valentine. So what are you waiting for? Take the time to capture what you would like to say to either your mate, best friend, fiance, pet, blog friend, sister, husband, parent or maybe a secret luva. Remember to included your Valentine’s first name, your name and lets keep the message at a Southern friendly level ; )

We look forward to being your cupid this Valentine’s Day!

xoxo- The Southern Weddings Gals

Only one day left till the end of January and that means the end of our January Advertising deals. We do not want anyone to miss out. So how about it? Begin 2009 with some SW love for your fabulous business! Email us and we will send you a brand spakin’ new media kit. What are you waiting for? Only one more day!

Images above: left to right- {Amy Atlas}, {Jessica Claire}, {Jose Villa}, {Cook Images}, {Preston Bailey}

More from this dazzling {Water Color Inn and Resort} wedding.  Carla Thomas from Water Color planned this terrific wedding with Em Woods.  We had the pleasure of meeting Carla at {Engage!08} and it is great to finally showcase a wedding she has worked on. Check out Water Color’s website.  They have a spectacular set up and are located right on the shore with those famous white sand beaches. Take a look at Beth + Jared enjoying the ocean.  Beth + Jared also enjoyed a very delicious cake by {Wedding Cakes by Tanis}.  To see all the shots from this fall wedding, check out W. Scott Chester’s photo {Blog}.

The weather on our wedding day: Perfect!
What was the design inspiration for your wedding? Nature, Autumn, Warm colors.
Favorite design element of your big day: The hanging orchids on the dance floor, the centerpieces, and the homemade chuppah from my parents.
Tell us about finding your wedding dress: Both Mom’s went with me. It was a fairly easy choice. I wanted something very plain but elegant. I owe a lot of the ease of finding the dress to Impressions in Atlanta. They have an amazing helpful staff.
Describe your wedding flowers: Absolutly amazing. We owe it all to Marja at Nouveau Flowers in Grayton Beach. She planned and had the vision for it all. Unique, colorful, elegant, and different.
Describe your wedding cake: Chocolate and buttercream with fondant.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Probably that it was a destination wedding.
Scariest moment? Walking down the aisle.
Funniest moment? The best man’s speech and the dancing.
Three adjective that describe the day are: Beautiful, tranquil and lovely.
What advice would you give to someone planning their wedding? Best advice or most memorable comment someone made to us during the wedding celebration: make sure to stop and look around. Make sure to keep laughing.

Congratulations to Beth + Jared.  We wish you a lifetime of joy together!  Mazel Tov!

Our wonderful photographer friends, Cristen and Scott from {W. Scott Chester Photography} submitted this Gulf Coast destination wedding to us.  I love the bouquets and the gorgeous setting of the {Water Color Inn & Resort}.  Beth + Jared hired the talented {Nouveau Flowers} (their work has been featured in these other SW weddings - {Courtney + Phillip} and {Brittany + Wilson}, to name a few)  I just love the bouquets they create.  Beth looks stunning in her {Amsale} gown from {Impressions Bridal Salon} in Atlanta. The bridesmaids dresses are also from Impressions. More to come from this fabulous wedding.

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. We initially met in December through friends at a bar. We talked all night then said goodbyes. We ran into each other at a festival in March and reconnected. We went on our first date and immediately fell for each other. We both have said we felt like we knew each other all our lives. It was very easy talking to each other.
Describe the proposal: Six months later…It was at the restaurant Rathbun’s in Atlanta. It was where we had our first date. Completely random and unexpected on a Thursday. The whole restaurant was in on it but me. I was shocked.
What attracted me to my husband was: He is very motivated, extremely hardworking, and the sweetest most thoughtful person. He is always willing to help someone if needed. He has very good relationships with his family. He also has really great arms!
Why do you love your husband? He is everything I’m not good at. He makes me a better person. He is patient with me and a good communicator.
What attracted me to my wife: After speaking to her for the first time, I knew she was a very caring and loving person. She made me laugh and instantly brought a smile to my face. I felt like she was the missing piece of my life and was going to make me a better person.
A date we went on that we’ll always remember: The time we went snorkeling at Hoonymoon Beach on St. Johns.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: The ceremony.
Were there any special family traditions you included in the wedding? My Mom and Dad made the chuppah. They spent a year putting so many details on it. It was a very special present.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? See each other for the first time.

More to come from Beth + Jared!