Oh, be still my Southern heart. We love these dreamy images of Paige + Adam’s V4 wedding from Tanja Lippert. Among the equestrian details like the illustrated invitation suite from Inviting Affairs and the location at the Kali Kate Equestrian Center (which played off of Paige’s love of horses), the mixed bridesmaids’ dresses, fun pinwheels and white asters lining the aisle take the cake, too. I’m impressed with how hard Paige + Adam worked to customize their ceremony (read on for more details!) and just adore the photo of the bridal party praying together.

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. Adam and I both spent the summer of 2005 in Spain, he in Granada and I in Santander. We had only been state-side for a few weeks at the end of the summer, when we met at a fraternity party at Texas. We immediately struck up a conversation reminiscing over our summers abroad. We had two classes together that semester and soon became very dedicated study partners. We dated until Adam graduated that same year and moved to New Hampshire to start a career in pharmaceutical sales. We maintained a very difficult long-distance relationship for a year until Adam finally returned to Austin and I graduated one year later in 2008. From then on, we grew closer through our love of Jesus and Longhorn football, not without many trials in between. We have been blessed beyond measure to have made some amazing friends in Austin who have encouraged and challenged us during our time together. Their support continues to minister to our marriage in amazing ways.
Describe the proposal: Adam and I had planned a day trip to Fredericksburg, Texas. Unbeknownst to me, Adam had actually visited the proposal location (Becker Vineyards) earlier that week to make sure everything would be perfectly prepared for us. When we arrived at Becker, we did a tasting and then sat down to have a picnic lunch. As we ate, Adam began quoting scripture from memory and talking about the future. Before I could catch on to his plans, he was down on one knee, and I was speechless. I looked at the ring and the first words out of my mouth were, “Is that real?” Several seconds of shock later, we eventually got to “Yes!” I later found out the best part of the whole plot: Adam’s best friend and older brother were wearing disguises (safari hats, vests, and aviators) and wandering around the vineyard snapping pictures of the whole thing. Somehow I never noticed them!
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Joyful, beautiful, personal
What was the weather like on your big day? Absolutely perfect. We couldn’t believe it. It was one of the many blessings of the day. It was also the date of the super “perigee moon”, meaning it was the largest full moon (closest to earth) in the last twenty years. That was one aspect we didn’t plan!
How many guests attended your wedding? 222
Tell us about finding your wedding dress: As soon as I walked into the bridal salon at Carolina Herrera, I knew I was going to find my dress there. Allison, my consultant was caring, attentive, and gracious. For me, I ended up falling in love with the designer, not necessarily a specific dress. Allison was even able to get a dress straight off the runway model in New York for me to try on. It was a dress I had fallen in love with and never in a million years thought I would have the privilege to wear. I ultimately decided on a different dress, but that experience was still very special to me.
Briefly describe your wedding flowers: They were a spring mix of roses, peonies, and other gorgeous blooms.
Tell us a bit about the wedding ceremony. Our processional was a bit unique. Both Adam and his father walked his mother down the aisle, and I walked half the distance alone and then joined hand-in-hand with both of my parents to cross the rest of the distance to the altar. During the ceremony, we spoke vows to our parents before reciting our own. Our good friend and youth pastor, Andy Baxter officiated. This was so special, in that Andy knew us personally and could speak truthfully about our relationship while delivering a joyful and spiritually-focused message.

Photographer: Tanja Lippert // Videographer: Paul Raila // Coordinator: Lizze Belle Events // Band: Blind Date // String Quartet: Barton Strings // Venue: Kali Kate Equestrian Center // Florist: Petal Pushers // Wedding Cake Baker: Simon Lee Bakery // Caterer: Crave Catering // Bridesmaid Dresses: bridesmaids’ own, Bride’s Dress: Carolina Herrera // Hair Stylist: Zig Zag Salon // Makeup Artist: Mandy Morrison // Bride’s Shoes: Tory Burch // Bride’s engagement and wedding rings: Andy Feist, Premier Diamonds (972-994-9292) // Bride’s Veil: Warren Barron Bridal // Groom’s Fashion: Suit from JoS. A. Bank, bow tie from Tux & Tulle // suspenders from Suspender Store // boots from Lucchese // Groomsmen Fashion: suits from JoS. A. Bank, ties from Tux & Tulle, suspenders from Suspender Store // Paper Goods: Save the dates from Wedding Paper Divas, invitations from Inviting Affairs, calligraphy by Bailey Amon // Rentals and Linens: Premiere // Ceremony/Reception Décor: guestbook fingerprint tree by Bleu de Toi, table numbers by Pertyfultings, burlap table runners by Straight Stitch // burlap welcome banner by Funkyshique, cake-top banner by Ready Go, hammered table number spoons by Wooden Hive, embroidered handkerchiefs by Embroidery by Melissa // Transportation: R&R Limousine and Bus and Transportation Consultants // Sound: Filo // Officiant: Andy Baxter

Want to see more weddings from V4?
Natalia + Levi’s Paris-meets-Plantation wedding here and here
Camille + Mark’s fun and colorful wedding here and here
Natalie + Wade’s Watercolor wedding here and here
Becky + Cameron’s preppy coral and green wedding here and here

Welcome to the next installment of our Southern Hospitality feature! Each month, we pick a Southern city and an expert host. Our host shares their favorite items custom to that city that would be perfect packed into a welcome bag for family and friends at a weekend wedding. There’s nothing like Southern hospitality, especially at a destination wedding!

Y’all don’t even KNOW how I have been waiting for the opportunity to put together a Chapel Hill tote as part of this series! Chapel Hill is where I’ve lived the past four years, it’s where The University of North Carolina is located (half of the office’s alma mater), and it’s where our fine office is based (as those of you who went to the yard sale last week know!). And while I could go on and on about things to do or items to include, March in Chapel Hill is really all about two things… gorgeous weather and UNC basketball.

When we decided we were going to focus on Chapel Hill this month, we knew we had to ask our friend and talented photographer, Meredith Perdue, a UNC alumna, who is now based in Maine but often returns for weddings (got all that?), to serve as our guest expert. We hope that you’ll enjoy her picks, and maybe add a few of your own in the comments!

A. Pecan Pralines from A Southern Season. A Southern Season is Chapel Hill’s go-to gourmet & specialty food store, and these pecan pralines are some of their most popular treats in the store! ($16.95 for 10 oz.)

B. The Social Department T-Shirt. T-shirts are a staple in any college town, but this screen-printed take is a great alternative to the usual collegiate lettering. ($25.00)

C. Elaine O’Neil Note Cards. Elaine O’Neil, a local textile collage artist, creates some of the most whimsical Chapel Hill scenes. Her note cards would serve as an inspiring reminder of Chapel Hill’s charm. ($12.00 per pack)

D. Chapel Hill Toffee. These scrumptious, locally-made sweets are sure to satisfy any guest’s sweet tooth during their stay! ($6.99 for 5 oz. box)

E. Crook’s Corner Grits. Crook’s Corner is one of Chapel Hill’s best known restaurants. It has been featured in numerous publications including the New York Times, Bon Appetit, and Travel + Leisure. Their shrimp & grits is a definite favorite among Crook’s patrons! (5 for 2 lb)

F. Mama Dip’s Family Cookbook. Another Chapel Hill favorite, Mama Dip’s serves some of the area’s best traditional country cuisine. If your guests don’t have time to swing by Mama Dip’s while they’re in town, they’d be able to recreate some of the deliciousness with the help of this cookbook! ($12.58)

G. JHill Design Print. I was beyond thrilled when JHill Design released their Chapel Hill print – it perfectly embodies the darling Southern college town I know and love. ($22 for a small print)

H. Carolina Brewery Pint Glasses. Who wouldn’t want a pint glass to commemorate the great beers that are made right on Franklin Street at Carolina Brewery? ($15.00 for 4-pack)

I. Cheerwine. A strictly-North Carolina favorite for years, this cherry soft drink has slowly been spreading its reach to other states in the region, but the glass bottle cane sugar variety is a rarity that can’t be passed up. ($12.00 for original 24-pack)

J. Cackalacky Spice Sauce. Recently featured in the Bon Appetit, ‘Savor of the South’ issue as an editorial favorite, Cackalacky’s zesty sauces can be used as dressings, dips, and marinades, a perfect accompaniment for a variety of food. ($12.98 for 5 oz. 3-pack)

K. Carolina Popcorn Shoppe. Popcorn might just be the perfect welcome bag snack, and this locally-made popcorn from Carolina Popcorn Shoppe comes in a wide variety of flavors! ($15.00-$30.00 for a tin)

L. Tar Heel Cookie Cutter. Recreate that iconic Tarheel footprint with any of your tasty sweets. ($6.99)

M. Dogwood Bloom from BHLDN. Chapel Hill is known for its many lovely blooms, including the Dogwood. These porcelain blooms from BHLDN would be a perfect reminder of Chapel Hill’s natural beauty. ($10.00)

We paired Meredith’s expert picks with a fun tote design from another Chapel Hill fanatic, the fine folks at Old Try. Simply download the design here and take it to your local screenprinter. Thanks, Micah!

From the Chapel Hill area and have additional suggestions to add to our tote? What did you love about Chapel Hill if you’ve visited before? Have a city in mind for future posts? Comment below and let us know!

Check out past totes:
Nashville
Atlanta
Austin
Richmond
Emerald Coast
Charleston

Meredith Perdue is a fabulous member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

Hi ladies and gents! As most of you know, we rarely feature guest posts on Southern Weddings (except for our lovely Southern Brides of the Month, of course!). That being said, we think you’ll enjoy this one. Courtney, from the popular party planning blog Pizzazzerie, is a Southern girl herself, and she’s planning a Southern wedding in Nashville this June. We asked her to drop by and share some of what’s inspiring her while planning her most personal party to date! — Emily

Hey, y’all! I’m visiting from Pizzazzerie to share some inspiration for my own wedding, which is on June 23 in Nashville, TN! It’s only a few months away (eek!), so I’m knee deep in all things Southern + wedding right now. Growing up in Charleston, SC and Raleigh, NC, I absolutely knew I wanted Southern influences in my wedding. However, being a blogger in the party/wedding realm makes things very hard when narrowing down and focusing in. So does Pinterest. Finally, however, I settled on a Kate Spade + J.Crew preppy look featuring kelly green and black/white stripes. Here’s some of what’s inspiring me:

Both images by JMM Photography, with planning by Yellow Canary Events

What I love about these gorgeous photos is the black and white striped ribbon detailing for paper goodies. This is an absolute must! My other favorite? The bow tie napkin – hello, LOVE! And bow ties are inherently Southern, making these perfect for my place settings.

On the left: from Traditional Home. On the right: photo by Barnaby Draper Studios with design by JL Designs

Along with the touches of black + white stripes, I want a lot of greenery and pure white florals. I’ve been busy collecting several white pillars and “urn” pieces, like those above, to decorate our tables. Moss wreaths will hang from the back of the venue doors. (Our reception is at Cheekwood Botanical Gardens, which guarantees us a lot of green!).

On left: photo by 13:13 Photography via Southern Weddings. On right: photo by Jake McBride for Christian Oth via Martha Stewart Weddings (bouquet by E.G. Geddes)

White peonies bundled together make an absolute gorgeous bouquet, don’t y’all think? Tie on a black + white striped ribbon and you have my wedding bouquet! My bridesmaids will also have white bouquets, just slightly smaller.

On left: photo by Jesse Leake via Style Me Pretty. On right: photo by A Bryan Photo via Southern Weddings

Their darling shoes are black, with a peep toe and have a bow! Swoon! …Now if only I could find the perfect wedding shoes, too.

A Bryan Photo

My ladies will wear cocktail-length Kelly green dresses by Alfred Sung for Dessy. (Note: The SW gals couldn’t resist adding in this image from our past issue. Isn’t it perfect for Courtney??)

Agnes Lopez Photography via Style Me Pretty

At our wedding, we’ll have white chivari chairs with black cushions, but this picture with the striped ribbon has me thinking about incorporating a bit of ribbon detailing into the head table chairs – or my chair & Chris’ chair! Cuteness!

On the left: photo by Kate Headley. On the right: photo by Ryan Ray.

Children are a big part of my life, and I will have three flower girls and one ring bearer with me on the big day. My little ring bearer was actually a part of my surprise proposal, so I’m oh-so-excited to put him in a little black and white striped bow tie for his strut down the aisle at Vanderbilt University’s chapel!

On the left: photo by Jake McBride for Christian Oth Studio. On the right: favor by Amorology Weddings.

Favors are a total must at any event I throw, so my wedding will just kick it up a notch! I can’t decide on one favor, so I’ll likely have several. My Mom has been an inspiration for me in the world of parties and entertaining for years. I can remember sitting up on the kitchen counter and creating gorgeous pressed sugar eggs for Easter with her. For our wedding, she turned the idea into a mini wedding cake that opens up to hold little mints or other confectionery treats. I can’t wait to box up these baby wedding cakes for guests! I also think that black and white cookies will make an appearance somehow — they are my fave, and happen to fit our theme quite perfectly, don’t you think?

So there you have it! What do you think? I hope you love my wedding inspiration, and I can’t wait to have pictures back after the big day!

Thank you so much, Courtney! Belles, be sure to pop over to Pizzazzerie for more party inspiration, and to follow along with Courtney as she plans for the next few months!

I’m so glad y’all enjoyed the first post in our Southern Stems series! (In case you missed it, we discussed camellias.) Today, we’re chatting about an equally Southern bloom – wisteria!

Photo by ET Meyer; overlay by SW

The smell of wisteria is right up there with gardenias as one of the most iconic scents of the South, don’t you think? Wisteria is also a spring bloomer, just like the camellia, and it also has a very short bloom time.

Both photos by Christopher Baker from House Beautiful

The floriography meaning of wisteria is “welcome” or “I cling to you,” both perfect for a wedding!

Photos by Jen Huang via Snippet & Ink

Since wisteria is a climber, and not a traditional stemmed bloom, it’s a little harder to incorporate into wedding plans. We did round up a few suggestions, though. First, of course, it makes a gorgeous backdrop for portraits!

On left: photo by Daniela Fego from Style With Us. On right: Holland Photo Arts. Bottom two by Nancy Ray.

If wisteria isn’t in season on your wedding date, we thought this “wisteria hack” was very clever. Simple Elegance hung lavender stock upside down to mimic the delicate tendrils of wisteria, and we think it makes a great ceremony backdrop!

Adrienne Maples via Style Me Pretty

Wisteria can also provide inspiration for cakes and sweets!

Cake from Martha Stewart Weddings (photo by Lisa Hubbard), sweet wrapper from Style with Us (photo by Daniela Fego)

Finally, we found a sweet wisteria crown for your hair, and a sharp wisteria invitation from Bella Figura.

What’s your favorite Southern Stem?

Nancy Ray Photography is a fabulous member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

Hi belles + beaus! Most of y’all already know Marissa (she does, after all, write about delicious Southern food and fabulous Southern style quite often!), but since she has a new role around these parts, we thought we’d give her a formal introduction. Marissa is our new and wonderful Director of Advertising, which means she’s now spending even more time connecting you with our amazing Blue Ribbon Vendors and awesome main page advertisers. She has also been the Client Concierge for Making Brands Happen for quite some time now, so she knows just how to help our incredible vendors shine! We pulled together this little interview in the hopes you’ll learn something new about our beloved MAK!

Photos by Millie Holloman

EAA: What is your favorite Southern food?
MAK: First and foremost I’d have to say a good ol’ biscuit! Plain or with a little bit of butter, but big and flaky! Last summer I was completely obsessed with fried pickle chips. Of course, there’s always hushpuppies, specifically from Cook-Out. I’d drive far and wide for those little gems!

EAA: What is your favorite Southern city?
MAK: I am completely head over heels for Greenville, South Carolina! I visited a few years back and was smitten. I am also very partial to Rosemary Beach, FL where my family has a beach home – it’s a slice of heaven! BUT in the end, my favorite Southern city award has to go to Franklin, Tennessee. It’s an amazing historic small town not far from Nashville, and it has the most charming homes ever! When I visit my family that lives there I never want to leave. BDK and I even have our dream home picked out!

EAA: If you HAD to live somewhere outside of the South, where would you choose?
MAK: Yikes! Does North Tennessee count? No? Then I’d have to go with Martha’s Vineyard. This girl needs her Jack Rogers!

Photo from Marissa’s wedding day by Sara Kauss! MAK: I love this photo! Thanks, SK! : )

EAA: Why do you love working with the Southern Weddings vendors?
MAK: Clearly I am biased, but we do have the BEST vendors, hands down! I have never worked with a group this kind-hearted or talented. I’m also pretty in love with how completely authentic they are – I value that so much!

EAA: What is your favorite part of your job?
MAK: The people. That may sound a bit cheesy, but I mean it from the bottom of my heart! From the amazing AH-MAZING women I work with everyday to our incredible sponsors – I’m a very lucky girl!

EAA: Tell readers something about working at SW that might surprise them.
MAK: I don’t work in the Chapel Hill office full time! :) I am blessed to be able to travel and live with my husband (who plays minor league baseball) to the city where he is assigned.

Photos by Millie Holloman

MAK: Thanks so much for the great interview, Emily! I am so thrilled to be able to help our sponsors grow their businesses, and connect them with our sweet brides!

EAA: Thank you, my dear! Vendors, in order to properly welcome Marissa, we figured we’d run a fun little promotion: 10% off to the first 10 vendors to email Miss M and wish her welcome!* Now scoot and grab your deal!

*Our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory is excepted from the discount, but you are of course welcome to email Marissa for a BRV application at any time!