Hi, y’all! April’s Southern Bride of the Month is Elizabeth. She’s our second Southern Bride of the Month getting married in the Emerald Coast of Florida (meet Alissa here!), and I loved getting to know her and her fiance Mike through their interview!

Hi! What’s your name?
Elizabeth de Shazo

What’s your fiancé’s name?
Michael Brown

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story.
I grew up in the Deep South in Birmingham, AL and graduated from the University of Alabama. Mike grew up in Emmaus, PA and is a Yale grad. Needless to say, I’ve taught him a thing or two about football! We met in DC in August 2008 at a mutual friend’s house party. Mike was the first guy to arrive. I was one of 4-5 girls in the kitchen – I knew the first time I saw his smile that this was someone I wanted to know. I could just tell he was a good person and it felt like home.

A Bryan Photo

Now tell us alllll about the proposal.
Mike and I went home to Birmingham for a friend’s wedding in June. The night before, he took me to my favorite restaurant, Highlands Bar and Grill (Frank Stitt). I ran into an old friend in the ladies room who asked if we would get engaged soon. Little did I know after enjoying the most savory, French inspired Southern meal, Mike started talking about his love for me and asked me to be his wife. The proposal was so Mike – simple and sweet! This all happened after we ordered dessert and by the time it came I was so excited/shocked that I couldn’t eat! Later on after our engagement, the restaurant sent us the menu from June 17th and we had it framed with pictures from that evening.

When’s the big day?
May 12, 2012

Where might you two be tying the knot?
We will be marrying at Point Washington United Methodist Church in Santa Rosa Beach, FL with the reception following at Watercolor Inn & Resort.

Point Washington United Methodist Church (photo by Jacqueline Ward)

How did you pick your ceremony and reception venues? What do you love most about each space?
All of my favorite childhood memories were spent during the summers on the Gulf Coast. My mother is a member of Point Washington UMC. It is the most intimate, sweet little white chapel. I knew I wanted to have the ceremony in a church and it is perfect. Mike and I visited several reception venues; however, Watercolor Inn & Resort offered a beautiful Inn Green space off of the beach. We liked the ability to have both an outdoor space with a big tent and indoor AC for the Northerners. AC was a big concern for those people!

The Watercolor Inn Green, tented for a wedding (Paul Johnson Photography)

Were you totally that girl who planned her wedding from age 5, or not so much?
I had friends who made wedding inspirational books in college – I was never that obsessed, but I was definitely focused on finding the right person in due time. I’ve always enjoyed wedding magazines like Southern Weddings and Martha Stewart Weddings. It was fun to think about and imagine! I found my wedding dress in a magazine about a year before I got engaged.

Who or what has been most helpful in the wedding planning process?
PINTEREST!! I joke that I may be one of the last of my Southern friends to marry but I’ve been able to plan my wedding with Pinterest which has been amazing! I’m a very visual person so being able to create boards to organize my thoughts and ideas has been very helpful. Pinterest assisted me in clearly sharing that vision with all of our vendors.

One of the wedding ideas Elizabeth collected on – yep – Pinterest (Paul Johnson via Southern Weddings)

Has your vision for your wedding changed or evolved over the course of your engagement? If so, how?
Not necessarily. I envisioned a very vintage, elegant wedding from the start. I wanted the Watercolor Inn Green to feel like a garden by the ocean. Most importantly, I wanted it to be a day focused on our love and to celebrate our family and friendships.

Which part of your wedding are you most invested in?
We definitely invested more in serving quality food and beverage. Mike and I both love seafood and as part of the cocktail hour we will be having a raw bar with oysters, gulf shrimp and blue crab claws.

Pink astilbes are one of the flowers that Elizabeth loves, and we can see why! (JAC Photography and Lane Dittoe)

Have you picked your dress yet? How’d that go? What will you be wearing on the big day?
I went to several shops in the DC area but never had a “say yes” moment. In August I made a last minute call to Kleinfeld and got an appointment without knowing it would be the same weekend of Hurricane Irene. I ended up going to NYC via Amtrak, finding my dress and returning in the same day! I discovered the Monique L’Huillier dress I admired in a magazine was discontinued but Kleinfeld miraculously had it in the back! I knew it was the one immediately after putting it on. It was the only dress I tried on at the store!

Who is your favorite vendor you’ve booked so far?
We’ve worked with some great vendors so far. A Bryan Photo did our engagement photos and we couldn’t be more pleased with his impressive work!! Mike and I were especially excited when we did our cake tasting with Confections on the Coast. Rhonda has an amazing portfolio of cakes and is designing ours to mimic my dress. We are doing 4 different flavors – vanilla, chocolate, strawberry and key lime (1 for each tier). The sketch is beautiful and I can’t wait to see it in person!

Elizabeth and Mike are having a cake inspired by china and lace – love these inspiration images she rounded up! (Both from Martha Stewart Weddings)

What do you love most about Southern weddings?
I think all Southern weddings have a special focus on family and friends. Before meeting my fiancé, I didn’t realize that most Northern weddings are a sit down dinner. I appreciate the majority of Southern weddings I’ve attended are “strolling” so that you can spend time with those you enjoy most and dance as much as you want!

Do you have a favorite Etsy store you’d love to tell us about?
I would highly recommend checking out the HeidiDevlin store. She makes the most beautiful pillows! I purchased a customized one for our reception lounge. I think it will be a very special touch to the big day! I also purchased a great burlap banner from the funkyshique store.

A burlap banner from funkyshique!

What are you most looking forward to on your wedding day?
Seeing Mike for the first time when the church doors open!

Any plans for a honeymoon? Where do you want to go and what will you do?
We will be spending two weeks in Hawaii. After a long flight we’ll land and stay
in Oahu for 2 days. Then we travel to Maui for several days then Kauai. I can’t
wait to explore the islands, hike, and snorkel (my favorite)!

Any advice you’d like to pass along to fellow brides?
Stay calm and delegate tasks nicely to your groom when necessary. Enjoy this exciting time together!

Now it’s your turn to ask for advice – is there anything you’d like to poll the SW readers on?
For those that are married, do you have advice on how to take advantage of time during the wedding day? I’m scared it will all go by so fast and I’ll regret not doing something. Also how did you stay relaxed the day of?

Thank you so much for playing along, Elizabeth! Readers, 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!

I adore hearing from readers who found their vendors through our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory, so if you’re in that camp, give me a holler in the comments section! Or you can just email me your happy story, if you’d prefer :) I hope with this new crop of vendors we’re introducing, even more of you will find a perfect addition to your wedding day!

2BSquared Designs specializes in decidedly different wedding and reception stationery, each uniquely inspired.

Ashton Events is based in Florida and is founded on transparency and warm personalities – love that!

The Barn at Twin Oaks Ranch is a rustic, special occasion barn on 35 acres of gorgeous farm land in Arkansas.

Blueberry Fusion is a Wilmington, NC, based videography team dedicated to a delivering a singular customer service experience and films richly authentic to their couples.

Creative Films KC is based in Missouri and believes each wedding is different – and looks forward to finding those differences and sharing them in film form.

I love Designs in Paper’s goal when crafting an invitation suite – to make your guests say, “We HAVE to go to this wedding!”

Greer G Photography is based in New Orleans, and she is passionate about telling love stories with a classic and timeless approach. I know y’all are always looking for Louisiana vendors, so I’m particularly happy to introduce you to Greer!

Jessica Sloane Event Styling & Design is based in Tennessee and has a keen eye for design and styling that sets her apart from other wedding planners.

Mike Varel is a videographer in Texas who loves authentic, real moments that tell the stories of his couples and let their personalities shine.

To check out all of our Blue Ribbon Vendors, just click over to the full directory! You can search by category or state to find your perfect match.

Vendors, if you’re interested in getting involved, just fill out this form and Marissa will be in touch! Brides, did you particularly love a Southern vendor from your wedding day? Leave a comment below or email Emily, because we’d love to hear about them!

In the Southern Weddings office, we often go to Emily for special writing tasks. Her handwriting is lovely and none of us can come close to it (though Sierra has a fun scripty handwriting that I adore, too). I’m a bit jealous, especially when I see pretty signage like the ones that decorate Callie + Paul’s wedding. The fun cursive is the perfect addition to their colorful palette and springy flowers. I’m just crazy for the way the simple signs bring the wedding design to life and effortlessly tie together the whole shindig. We’re delivering big virtual hugs to Kelly Hornberger for sharing this with us!

Y’all. How adorable is this ring bearer with his yellow seersucker tie??

The ring bearer pillows that my aunt made were our favorite detail of the wedding. She made them to look like our invitations and she used buttons from my great-grandmother’s black house dress. It was so special. Additionally, we loved all of the painted signs and fabric banners, the black and white dance floor, the buttons that guests wore and that my dad married us.

What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? I got a bit overwhelmed with all of the possibilities. What kind of food should we serve? Band or DJ? Which creative details should we include? I was trying to be creative in every way, and there are just so many creative possibilities across the board! My fiancé and wedding planner helped me make firm decisions and move forward.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Check blogs for ideas (but don’t get bogged down with all the possibilities!), enlist the help of friends and family (they want to help!), and have fun.

Our wedding cake was red velvet and carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. We also had a dessert bar with pumpkin pies, apple pies and snickers pie.

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. Paul and I met over a year ago at a Rice football game. We had heard about each other through our close mutual friends, the Hornbergers. I had been working for Kelly and had heard a lot of Paul recently and was very interested in meeting him. We met at halftime, hit it off immediately and talked the rest of the game. I thought to myself, “Life with him would be so fun!” I went home and told my friends and family how I had just met the most amazing man! He asked me on a date a few weeks later, and within weeks I knew I wanted to marry him.
Describe the proposal. I was in Napa Valley at a photographer’s workshop with Kelly. On the last day, the girls had me wake up SUPER early because they said another photographer was going to take pictures of us for the new website. When I opened the front door of the car, there was the “I like you” pillow I had made for Paul with an envelope that had my name on it. I knew right then that it was the day! Inside the envelope was a map and note from Paul telling us where to go. We drove up to the Napa general store and there was Paul! We went for a hike and Paul proposed at the top of Mt. St. Helena. I cried jumped for joy. We had a beautiful walk down the mountain, lunch at a nice restaurant overlooking a valley of vineyards, then a fun photo shoot with Kelly and Claire!
In what month did you get married? November
How many guests attended your wedding? 320
Tell us about finding your wedding dress: I went shopping with my mom and a few of my bridesmaids. I absolutely LOVED the first dress I tried on, but then was torn between it and another less expensive dress. I had to make a decision by the end of the day because there was a trunk sale that day. Right before the salon closed, my dad came in, saw me in the first dress and said, “That’s it! That’s the one. Paul will love you in that dress.” Decision made!
What range did your wedding budget fall into? $25,000-$50,000
What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? The band, the Smilebooth and the catering.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? The most special moment was during the ceremony when my dad read what Paul and I wrote about why and how we fell in love with each other.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? Living on mission together for Christ and having lots of adventures! We’re also looking forward to starting a family a few years down the road.

Photographer: Kelly Hornberger Photography // Videographer: POP Video Houston // Planner: Paula Santagata // Venue: Private residence // Florist: Paula Santagata // Wedding Cake Baker: Bella Cibo // Caterer: The Grotto // Rentals: Swift & Company // Linens: Swift & Company // Paper Products: Invitations and thank you notes by Rifle Paper Co., save the dates, programs and sign-in poster by Tricia Lowenfield Design // Bride’s Dress: Watters // Bride’s Hair Accessories/Veil: Twigs & Honey // Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade // Bridesmaids’ Dresses: bridesmaid’s own

You might also like:
Paige + Adam’s colorful Texas wedding from V4 here and here.
Kate + JoJo’s sherbet-colored outdoor wedding here and here.
Towne + Andy’s multicolored Savannah wedding here and here.

Hi everyone! My name is Anna, and y’all don’t know me because I work behind the scenes as an intern here at Southern Weddings, but I’m excited to be on the blog today! I love Southern traditions as much as y’all, so I was happy to oblige when Emily asked me to share a bit about the Old South Ball.

For those of you who might not be familiar with it, the Old South Ball is Kappa Alpha fraternity’s formal, complete with Southern Belle dresses, hoopskirts and the like. Since my boyfriend is a KA at UNC-Chapel Hill, I have been fortunate enough to attend this event every year that I’ve been in college.

Old South is really the ultimate Southern experience. KA is based around the traditional Southern ideals of courtesy, chivalry, and gentlemanly conduct, and I must say that the guys that I know in KA are true Southern gentlemen! Combine this with large Southern Belle dresses and historic Southern cities, and you have Old South!

Digital Forsyth

The above photo is from an Old South Ball at Wake Forest that took place in 1964. Not much has changed since then…besides the hairstyles!

The Old South tradition began in 1939 at Mercer University after the release of the movie “Gone with the Wind.” The brothers of the Kappa Alpha fraternity decided that they wanted to have a “Dixie Ball” as a way to celebrate their Southern roots. This later became Old South and spread to other chapters across the country.

UNC’s chapter typically hosts Old South in cities such as Charleston, SC, Savannah, GA and Richmond, VA. If you live in any of these areas, you may have been fortunate enough to witness our lovely attire as we paraded around town (it is definitely a site to see!). It’s typical for passersby to yell, “Hey, look over here!” and snap a quick photo. Another common response we get from onlookers is, “Is this a wedding party?” My response to that? I would hope not! That would be some shindig!

This year, we traveled to Savannah, Georgia. Once we got all dolled up in our giant dresses, we piled into the back of multiple horse-drawn carriages, and took a historic tour of Savannah. (Just a word of caution if you ever find yourself in a hoopskirt – be careful sitting down, as the hoopskirt has a tendency to fly up! Needless to say, it was difficult getting into those carriages.)

You may be wondering where we find all of these fabulous dresses, since you can’t exactly stroll into your local department store and pick one up. My dresses (I have two, and have worn them alternate years for the last four) actually came from EBay and Etsy. However, most girls rent their dresses from local costume shops.

Old South weekend isn’t just for hoopskirts and big dresses, though – we do have a formal dinner later that night where we get to wear normal clothes! (Thank goodness!)

During the formal dinner, a KA rose is chosen. The KA rose is typically a senior, and is traditionally a girlfriend of one of the fraternity brothers. Once the KA rose is announced, she is serenaded by the guys who most recently joined the fraternity with the KA rose song. This year, I was the KA Rose! (Thanks to all the guys in KA, y’all are so sweet!)

Did you and your fiancé ever attend an Old South together? Is your beau a KA alumnus? Or, were you ever a KA Rose? Let us know, we would love to hear about your experiences with this Oh-so-Southern tradition!

All images are my own personal images, except where otherwise noted.

With love, Anna

I seem to be going all summery for my last few inspiration boards, don’t I? I assure you, I’m not trying to hurry spring along – I’m loving the mid-70s temps we’ve been having, and am most certainly not ready to leave them behind for the humid 90s we’ll have in just a few weeks!

Despite all this, I’m pretty happy with this inspiration board and color palette based around key lime pie. By the way, I think key lime pie is a candidate for a future Southern Delicacy post, don’t you?

P.S. Have an idea for a Southern Inspiration Board? Let me know in the comments and I’ll whip one up for you!

Details:

Key lime pie photo unknown; bar set-up with limes photo by Kate Headley; bride and groom portrait by Elizabeth Messina; Key West photo by Divine Light via Southern Weddings; green and white boutonniere photo by Aaron Delesie from a wedding designed by Lisa Vorce; mojitos with yellow and white striped straws photo by Adam Barnes via Style Me Pretty; shoe check photo by Kate Headley; lime sorbet from Whisk

P.S. Still deciding on your color palette and theme? Check out these options:
Blueberry Gingham
Lemon Squeeze
Merlot + Champagne Vineyard