Y’all, the calendar on my desk still says it’s October 2011. I’m pretty sure the only reason it doesn’t say it’s September 2011 is because our former intern, Melissa used to change it for me every month. With the release of V4 at the end of October, I’m not surprised I forgot to change it. Who needs a calendar when there’s a glossy magazine sitting on your desk?

Of all the features we’ve done over the years, Camille + Mark’s Real Wedding is one of my favorites. Intimate (only 19 people including the bride and groom), but beautifully designed and full of detail, their wedding inspired by Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette continues to pull at my heart strings. The detail that the couple and I agree is a favorite? The invitations. I can’t get over all the small elements like the twine-tied key, printed handkerchief, calligraphy and texture!

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. I first met Camille at church. Or should I say, I first saw Camille at church. She was asked to speak briefly during a church service. She talked about herself and her son, Drew. I was so impressed. She was beautiful. She was poised and dignified. She was all-around impressive. I was hooked! I had to meet her. I made sure we met. Everyone I knew was so excited for me, everyone had great things to say about her.
Describe the proposal: We wanted to get married in early summer. I guess I gave away my intentions too early, but I still wanted to give her some kind of surprise. So once I picked up the ring I arranged for our whole family (her parents, my parents, my sister in Atlanta, and my sister from Oklahoma) to meet us for a special dinner. I asked her to marry me at my house, told her we were going out to dinner (just the two of us) and then met everyone for a private dinner.
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Serence, chic and jovial.
Groom’s favorite detail of the wedding: Having the kids be our bridesmaid and groomsboys.
Briefly describe your wedding flowers: The flowers incorporated the wedding colors while having a hand-picked feel. My bouquet had peonies, garden roses with a mix of other pretty, lush flowers in the color scheme for an organic, handpicked feel. It was then wrapped in thick teal velvet ribbon.
Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We said traditional vows. We were afraid we’d get too emotional if we wrote our own. The kids were our bridal party. We started out with Mark and his kids on one side and Drew and I on the other. After the vows, we did a unity sand ceremony where each of us had our own jar of sand. Drew and I had white sand to represent our family and Mark and his kids had beige. The kids went first and poured the sand into a crystal decanter. Then Mark and I went. When we were finished we stood before our family with Emily next to me and Drew next to Mark and William, to signify our coming together as one family. This was by far the most touching moment of our wedding day.

Photographer: Gina Zeidler // Designer: Amy Osaba // Venue: Old Edwards Inn & Spa // Florist: Amy Osaba // Wedding Cake Baker: Old Edwards Inn & Spa // Caterer: Madison’s at Old Edwards Inn & Spa // Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew // Bride’s Dress: J.Crew // Hair Stylist: Old Edwards Inn & Spa, Makeup Artist: Old Edwards Inn & Spa // Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka // Bride’s Jewelry: Earrings by Nicole Miller // Groom’s Fashion: Tom James // Groomsmen Fashion: suits from J. Crew, shoes from Jack Purcell via J. Crew, bowties by Xoelle // Paper Goods: Erica Loesing of Amy Osaba // Calligraphy: I Love You Much // Rentals: Farm tables from Something Borrowed Vintage // Linens: antiques // Ceremony Décor: Ring bearer bowl by Paloma’s Nest // Reception Décor: Cake stand by Sweet and Saucy Shop // Lighting: Old Edwards Inn & Spa // Other: Welcome bags by Wedding Chicks

Love this wedding? Check out these past posts:
Emily’s visit to the Old Edwards Inn
Towne + Andy’s ribbon-adorned wedding here and here

It’s Wednesday, which means it’s time for another Emily Plans a Wedding post! Yeehaw! :)

I thought I’d use the next two posts to chat about one of my favorite topics: flowers! Today I’ll introduce you to our florist and share some of my favorite personal flower inspiration, and then next time we’ll talk ceremony and reception florals.

First, I’ll come right out and say it: I like some unusual flowers. Oh yes, I love garden roses and peonies as much as the next gal (oh, do I ever love them!). I also adore ranunculus, sweet peas, dahlias, gardenias, and pretty much every other fluffy or ruffly flower known to (wo)man. However, I also have a sweet spot for mock orange blooms. Clematis and dogwood flowers are two of my very favorites. Poppies, camellias, hellebores, and azaleas will also, fingers crossed, be making an appearance at our wedding. Lastly, I can’t get enough of mixing fruit and berries with florals — some of my favorites are crab and lady apples, blackberries, and figs.

Two of my favorite bouquets: on the left, an anemone, ranunculus, garden rose, and peony bouquet by MG Floral (photo by Melissa Schollaert – see more here!), and on the right, an anemone, rose, sweet pea, and jasmine vine bouquet by KLF Floral (photo by Stephanie Williams)

Working with a florist who could source and comfortably incorporate all of these interesting materials was super important to me. Our florist was one of the first vendors we booked (even before photographer, I think!), and we couldn’t be happier with our choice. We found Elisabeth of Blush Floral Design through a recommendation from my planner friend, Candice of Jubilee Events. Elisabeth and I chatted over the phone about my style and some of my ideas, and I could immediately feel that she understood me. After our call, she sent me over some samples of her work which she felt matched what I’d been describing, and she was spot on! Her work is soft and sculptural and a little bit wild, but still refined — just like I like it! Here’s a peek:

All bouquets are by Elisabeth and from her blog. Photo credits: Charlotte Jenks Lewis, Katie Slater, Charlotte Jenks Lewis, and JAG Studios

Of course, I have plenty of inspiration of my own that’s been building in my Pinterest boards (in fact, Elisabeth probably thought I was a little cuckoo when she opened up that email!). Want a peek?

Credits: Poppy and cabbage rose bouquet by Lindy Floral (photo by Ryan Ray via Wedding Chicks); mock orange and garden rose bouquet by La Fleuriste (photo by Lori Paladino via Grey Likes Weddings); white sweet pea bouquet by Salt Harbor Designs (photo by Millie Holloman); dogwood, tulip, peony, and lilac bouquet by Michelle Rago (from Martha Stewart Weddings); dahlia, garden rose, jasmine, and sweet pea bouquet by The Green Vase (from Martha Stewart Weddings); ranunculus, dusty miller, anemone, snow hydrangea, and silk daisy bouquet by Mindy Rice (photo by Elizabeth Messina via Style Me Pretty); garden rose, rose, ranunculus, and dusty miller bouquet by Quatre Coeur (photo by Elisabeth Millay)

LOVE! I’m still trying to decide if I should go all white for my bouquet (with some soft green lambs ear for texture) or mix it up a bit with the palest pinks and peaches. Either way, I plan to tie some sort of pale blue wide ribbon or bow around the stems.

For the gents, I’m also undecided. I might just forgo boutonnieres altogether, as I’m not a fan of most designs. Plus, I feel like they start looking kind of sad after the first hug! If we do go with bouts, I think we’ll do a simple small white flower (like a ranunculus or mini garden rose) paired with lambs ear. I also love blackberries in boutonnieres, but worry they might smoosh.

Credits: Blackberry boutonnieres by The Green Vase (photo by Jen Huang); mini garden rose boutonniere by Shea Hopely (photo by Brooke Images via Southern Weddings); lambs ear boutonniere by European Flower Shop (photo by J-Anderson Photography); white boutonnieres by Holly Flora (photo by Steve Steinhardt via Style Me Pretty)

To finish, I thought I’d give you a few of my tips for those of you still looking for the perfect florist:

1. Ask those you trust for recommendations. They could be from a vendor you’ve already booked whose style you love (they’re at weddings every weekend, and they remember the good stuff and the nice people!). They could also be from a curated online vendor resource, like our Blue Ribbon Directory!

2. Don’t try to change them. Just like you wouldn’t hope to fundamentally change your mate, don’t expect a vendor to stray far from her preferred style. If you don’t like the style of the arrangements or bouquets in their portfolio, you probably won’t like what they produce for your wedding. If you’re unsure, ask them to send over some examples of past work that they think fits with your style, like Elisabeth did for us (make sure you have an initial conversation first, of course!).

3. Be realistic about your budget. Many florists post a minimum on their website. If your budget does not come close, don’t expect them to make an exception just for you. If you are pretty close to their minimum, though, it doesn’t hurt to ask (respectfully, of course). We’re going to come in below Elisabeth’s minimum, but she agreed to work with us anyway. Yahoo!

Check back next time for my ceremony and reception floral inspiration! And please, help me out with a question I’ve been pondering: should I go all white for my bouquet, or mix it up with a little bit of color? Let me know what you think in the comments!

In case you missed a post…
The main characters
Where we’re getting married
I go dress shopping
We choose a photographer
I ponder bridesmaid style
Mini food!
The music
We’re renting a tent!

Melissa Schollaert and Brooke Images are fabulous members of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

As a bride who is currently wrestling with the whole question of the “first look,” this Southern Spotting spoke very strongly to me.

Josh, the groom, knowing that his bride Katie was going to be anxious on the morning of their wedding, worked with the ladies of Ritzy Bee to pull off an elegant surprise breakfast for just the two of them. Goodness, if that’s not romantic, y’all, I don’t know what is!!

It’s also the perfect solution for couples who want to keep with tradition and not see each other in their wedding day finery until they meet at the ceremony, but who also know that nerves are going to be a larger-than-normal issue.

I’ve always been pretty opposed to first looks for myself, and since John is pretty traditional, assumed we wouldn’t be doing one. However, he already feels he’s going to be extremely anxious that morning, and I know seeing his best friend would calm him down :) We’re also trying to weigh the benefits of taking portraits before the ceremony so we can get the most out of our time with Tanja! I’m sure I’ll write about this more in a future post, but tell me: Are you and your groom doing a first look? And would you consider a surprise breakfast instead?

Huge thanks to Bryan Johnson for sharing these lovely images! You can read a bit more about the morning on his blog.

Hello, belles! Today’s Southern Spotting is right up all y’all’s monogram-loving alley. Isn’t this monogrammed flower girl sash darling? We’re not having any little ones in our wedding party, but if we were, I would find it difficult to resist such an adorable idea!

A few words from Paige, the bride:

“As a bride (and now newlywed) and, more importantly, a Southern bride, incorporating monograms in unique ways is paramount. So when my mom suggested this idea, I immediately and excitedly agreed. Of course as a Southern bride, etiquette is of utmost importance; therefore, great debate over exactly which initials to use ensued. Should it be the bride’s because the flower girl is part of her wedding party, or the bride and groom’s, as it’s the celebration of their union? Ultimately, we chose the “P” and “B” to signify Paige and Brent. Fortunately, my dear groom’s first name and my maiden name both start with “B”, providing some grace in the midst of dissenting opinions. In looking back on our wedding, it truly is the details and stories like these that made the day.

The monogramming on the silk dupioni dress/sash was done at Monograms Plus in Vestavia Hills, Alabama. The dress is Lula Kate from Bella Bridesmaids in Homewood, Alabama.”

Big thanks to Daniel Taylor Photography for sending this fun find our way!

Tell me: Will you (or did you) have flower girls in your wedding?

Hi, y’all! This month’s Southern Bride of the Month is Elizabeth, who is a Southern girl through and through! She’s planning a classic Southern wedding with a vintage twist in Georgia. I hope you enjoy getting to know her and her fiance, Joe, and be sure to read through to the end and then offer up your advice!

Hi! What’s your name?
Elizabeth Ashley Jeffcoat

What’s your fiancé’s name?
Joseph Emerson Johnson

Engagement photo by The Reason

What do y’all do for a living?
Joe is a senior marketing analyst, and I’m an intensive care registered nurse.

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story.
The older Southern boy with bright blue eyes, polo button downs, and a perfect frat swoop had always caught my eye, but since he was a year older than me, I could only wish. Joe and I both played basketball and always knew of one another, but he was the starting varsity lead scorer, and my JV status didn’t really compare.

However, my junior year, Joe and I both had weight training during the same period, and began developing a relationship past his perfect hair and eyes! Not only was Joe everything I could imagine in a man, he also has such an amazing family. Before Joe and I started talking, I had already said yes to go to prom with one of my good guy friends, who also happened to be best friends with Joe. However, that didn’t stop Joe, who managed to figure out what we were doing after prom and asked my best friend, now maid of honor, if he could also come to her house! I am so lucky to have found my soul mate so early in my life; God truly blessed me with this man and his family.

Now tell us alllll about the proposal.
First off, I am the world’s worst person to try and surprise. Almost every attempt Joe or my Momma have ever made to surprise me, I’ve figured out! But this time, Joe and Momma had been scheming for a month or so about our perfect day.

On December 12, 2010, I woke up really early for work. My Momma also works at my hospital in the same unit, and she was with me that day, but she didn’t let on at all, even when she had to leave in the middle of the day to let Joe into my car!

I finally ended my stressful day around 7pm, and began the freezing journey to my car. When I first saw my car, I saw something hanging from the seat, and I freaked out, thinking someone had broken in! I called Joe, but didn’t get an answer. It was so cold, I decided to just go look in. When I made it to the window, I saw a piece of paper with an address and “Go Here” written on it (in Joe’s unmistakable writing). I put the address into my Garmin and began following the route. Well, somewhere along the first mile, I hit a detour button, and it started taking me somewhere else! I called Joe again, but he still didn’t answer! When I “reached my destination” and it was a gas station in a not-so-good section of Atlanta, I really hoped something was wrong and reprogrammed the Garmin. I finally reached the right address – the W Hotel in Buckhead – but after 45 minutes, when it should have taken me 10! I found out later that Joe was getting so nervous that he broke my ring box in half from opening and closing it so much!

When I pulled up to the valet, he opened my door and said “Elizabeth, we have been waiting for you,” and led me to the front desk where he handed me a key, led me up the elevator, and then to our door! When I opened the door, all I could see were rose petals and old ticket stubs lining the floor. As I walked into the first room, Joe had set out all of the old cards and keepsakes I had given him over the last five years. When I rounded the corner, Joseph was there with the (deformed) ring box, down on one knee, proposing. All I said was, “Of course!” I wish I could remember all the sweet things he said, but it was so overwhelming! After we got to spend some time together, both of our families and two of my best friends met us to celebrate at the hotel bar!

Anna K Photography

When’s the big day?
March 24, 2012

Where might you two be tying the knot?
Our ceremony will be at Duluth First United Methodist Church and our reception will be right around the corner at Sugarloaf Country Club.

How did you pick your ceremony and reception venues? What do you love most about each space?
Joe’s family has been members of Duluth First United Methodist Church since Joe and his brothers were little. The church is not only absolutely gorgeous, with huge stained glass windows and a bright red front door, but the traditions and occasions his family has shared there make this location so special. We are also happy that our YoungLife leader from high school will be marrying us!

Our reception venue, Sugarloaf Country Club, was the easiest decision we made. Joe and I have grown up there sharing numerous holidays, family birthdays, and Wednesday night suppers.

Sugarloaf Country Club

Who or what has been most inspiring in the wedding planning process?
My Momma is not only my best friend, but has come up with the best, most unique ideas for our wedding. As a surprise to me, she decided to make a cuff bracelet for me to wear on our wedding day that incorporates my “something new, something old, something borrowed, and something blue.” For months she has been collecting vintage and new cream and white beads, and each bead is then attached by hand. It is a masterpiece that I will forever cherish!

Dramatic hydrangea inspiration (design by Caplan Miller and photo by Brian Fitzsimmons)

Has your vision for your wedding changed or evolved over the course of your engagement? If so, how?
My overall vision has remained constant: I’ve always wanted a very vintage, Southern, swanky yet formal combination. We will have a yummy grilled cheese station, hydrangeas everywhere, lace doilies mixed with lots of vintage crystal, long dresses, and black tie attire. Over time, however, things have shifted as we got more realistic about which aspects are most important to us and which DIY projects I would actually be able to complete.

Another grilled cheese station by The Reason! See more here!

Have you picked your dress yet? How’d that go? What will you be wearing on the big day?
Yes, my dress was checked off the list very early on! It was the very first dress I tried on, a Vera Wang. My Momma and I both were shocked, thinking there was NO way the very first dress could be the one. So, we decided to keep all of our reservations just to make sure. We tromped all over boutiques, including Bridals by Lori and Priscilla of Boston, and finally surrendered to the first gown, since not one other dress compared.

Some of Elizabeth’s hair inspiration! (on left unknown and on right by Hair and Makeup by Steph)

Also, last January I was so lucky to win a custom getaway gown by Chaviano Couture right here on the Southern Weddings blog! Annette has already started taking apart my Momma’s wedding dress to incorporate her lace into my gown. I am beyond excited about seeing the final product; Annette is so talented and passionate about her designs! This is a piece I hope to pass down to my children.

Annette’s sketch!

My eight amazing bridesmaids will be in black Allure gowns – simple and classic. (See them here!)

Do you have a favorite Etsy store you’d love to tell us about?
I purchased my wedding sash from Little White Dresser. I also had custom silhouettes made by KO Two Wedding Creations. Her design is a spitting image of us and she worked with me to create a logo I love.

What has been the best part of wedding planning?
There is nothing better than being able to spend extra time with my eight bridesmaids, seeing the generosity of all our family and friends that have hosted showers for us, table time with my almost-in-laws, watching the look in my Momma’s eyes as I try on my wedding dress, and looking outside at my Dad sawing away on his workbench for more of my DIY projects. These special moments would never be possible without Joe picking me to be his wife!

Atlanta welcome bags (photo by Melissa Schollaert) and ruffled chair decor (photo by Phyllis Lane)

What has been the biggest challenge so far in wedding planning?
THE GUEST LIST! Joe and I have had such a challenging time cutting our numbers. The only time my stress level rises is when dealing with our color-coded excel spreadsheet to cut more numbers! We are happy with our final count, but hoping the whole “15% won’t come” thing is accurate!

What are you most looking forward to on your wedding day?
I am most looking forward to getting ready with my best friends, and then having my Momma fasten that last button on my dress. I get chills thinking of that moment! Sticking to Southern tradition, the first time Joe sees me will be as I walk down the aisle. That second is something I hope to forever remember. I can’t wait to see the look on that man’s face!

Photo by Dixie Pixel via Ruffled

Any advice you’d like to pass along to fellow brides?
Start your guest list first thing, as your venue and budget depend on it!

Now it’s your turn to ask for advice – is there anything you’d like to poll the SW readers on?
Pictures are SO important to Joe and me. Does anyone have any advice on how to balance getting the most pictures, but not missing out on your own wedding?

Thank you so much for playing along, Elizabeth! Readers, if you love Elizabeth’s style and would like to see more of it, you can check out her Pinterest board right here! If you’d like to apply to be a Southern Bride of the Month, check out this post for all the details! If you’ve already emailed me, you’re still in the running for future months!

Meet a few more Southern Brides of the Month:
Alissa, planning a destination wedding in sunny Rosemary Beach
Kelly, planning a Savannah wedding with a heartfelt favor
Megan, planning an at-home wedding with fabulous paper details