Shopping for a gown can be one of the best experiences during wedding planning, or one of the worst. There are, of course, many factors that play into how your experience pans out, but the bridal salon you choose obviously plays a huge role. That is just one reason why we’re so thrilled to introduce y’all — and especially our Alabama brides — to one very special boutique.

I adore the story of White Dresses Boutique, so here it is from the horse’s mouth:

In the 1930s, a petite woman named Madie Ella Leonard opened a fine dress store in a tiny Alabama town. Convinced that mixing the fashions of the Big Apple with service drenched in Southern charm would create a shopping destination people would have to revisit, Madie purchased her first few lines of inventory and stocked the shelves with finery that would make any Southern lady swoon. Though met with a lot of people who told her tiny Alabama couldn’t handle couture, Madie went on to operate one of the most influential dress shops in Alabama – dressing Southern women for over 40 years.

Madie, who is now 108, passed her love of fashion down to her nieces – who she treated like the daughters she never had. With the same love of couture and desire to bring something new and innovative to the bridal market in Huntsville, Madie’s nieces, along with their mom, opened White Dresses. White Dresses blends couture bridal gowns with service drowned in Southern charm to create a bridal shopping experience unlike any other. The boutique offers Southern brides a carefully curated selection of exclusive couture gowns along with a personal experience that ensures each bride has the attention needed to select the perfect white dress for her special day.

White Dresses carries bridal gown designers that aren’t found in any other Southern bridal boutique. A few of their gorgeous lines include Marchesa, Hayley Paige, Sareh Nouri, Elihav Sasson, Stephanie Allin, Anne Maier-Ulla Maija, Jesus Peiro, and Rosa Clará. They also carry Elihav Sasson, and are the only salon in the United States to do so! We adore their clean, romantic, fashion-forward style!

White Dresses is located in Huntsville, Alabama, and you can learn much more about them on their website. I’d also encourage you to check out their Blue Ribbon Vendor listing — their interview is so fun! Last but certainly not least, keep an eye on their trunk show schedule. In March, they are welcoming Blush by JLM Couture and Intuzuri to town!

How was your wedding dress shopping experience? How many salons did you visit? Let us know in the comments!

This month, in honor of all things love, we’ll be sharing a valentine a week from an SW gal. Marissa is up today, and this is her love letter to the South, which she’s just left to follow her husband’s baseball career to Arizona.

Have you caught the love letter bug? Check out More Love Letters, an organization after our own hearts. Their goal? To turn your best love letter into a lamp to light the path of someone who needs to read it. Find out more here.

Happy Valentine’s Day, dear gals! Love is always worth celebrating, don’t you think? Love for our significant others, yep, but also love for our families, our friends, the weddings we get to plan, traditions we get to pass down, biscuits… the list goes on and on.

We’re so thankful that all of y’all remind us every day why we do what we do, and that you put what we believe into action.

New friends, you can always find a Sweet Tea Society badge to add to your own blog or page right here. If you believe what we believe, then you are already a member!

We have been pleased as punch to see how our little “Society” has taken off since founding it less than a year ago. We are proud to be championing things that matter, and so excited to see others get excited about doing so, too. Our site traffic has actually tripled since this time last year (like kudzu!), which we think has a lot to do with this renewed focus.

On that note, we are also excited to announce we’re rolling out a new media kit today with some delightful new options! Lovely vendors, be sure to email Marissa or fill out this form to get your paws on this beauty ASAP. Just a little peek…

To conclude, here’s a glimpse at the Valentine’s Week goings-on in the Southern Weddings office. (Yes, we take a week to celebrate.)

Lara (did you see her new site??) gifted the gals with these teensy potted plants with adorable markers – love!

And one of our sweet interns, Jessica, brought us these darling boxes filled with (heart-shaped!!) biscuits, jam, and confetti!

Have a wonderful day, friends! We’ll be back with Marissa’s love letter soon.

Good gracious, y’all, where do I even start? Lynae + Brenton’s reception is truly a feast for your sparkle-lovin’ eyes. Though the details are amazing and numerous, one skim through their interview will tell you that each one was a purposeful representation of their personalities and fun-loving spirits. If the gold glitter linens don’t make you want to hop through your computer screen, maybe their sweets bar will do the trick, or their rock candy-covered cake. If sweets aren’t your thing, L + B made sure the night was one to remember from the dance floor. Balloons filled the space so guests could volley them as they partied, and Lynae + all 14 of her bridesmaids made sure to close the night with a choreographed dance to a Beyonce hit. Now don’t all of you want to be friends with this couple?

Our reception felt like a grand party. The outpouring of love and celebration was overwhelming. It set the tone for a fun and exciting time. There was an ample supply of food, dancing, and merriment to go around. Our reception was an ode to all our favorite things. We really tried to incorporate personal touches with the entire vibe of the room. We had balloons, candy, and lots of sequins and sparkle.

What is the one thing that made your wedding different from anyone else’s wedding? I think our love story is what made it unique. We both have very strong personalities and idiosyncrasies that separate us not only as individuals, but as a couple. I think being able to highlight and celebrate those eccentricities is what will set our wedding apart. People can always duplicate the design, but no one will quite have our personal panache.

Our centerpieces were each assorted and distinctive. Some featured single blossoms and others featured full floral arrangements in vases decorated in fruit slices or birdcages. My favorite centerpieces were floral paper poms adorned atop pedestals. I thought it was a fun, non-traditional twist. It looked like giant tiers of cotton-candy!

Describe some of the decorations or décor elements you used: Brenton loves Izze sodas so it was essential to include them in décor in some way. I love the Denver Broncos so we had glitter Broncos as center pieces for the head table. Our engagement pictures featured 36” balloons, so we incorporated our love for balloons into our reception for some continuity. We had our guests leave thumb prints inside a poster board with a hot air balloon outline as our guest book. Guests could leave their ink thumb prints and then write us love notes and words of encouragement beside it. We also had balloons sprinkled around the dance floor for people to volley around while they were grooving the night away.

Tell us a bit about your first dance. Even though Brenton and I have been together for seven years, it truly feels like a lifetime — but in a meaningful way. I don’t remember many milestones without him by my side so we chose a song with lyrics that celebrated that sentiment. We won dance classes from a bridal show in January so we had been practicing in the early part of the year. It’s too bad we didn’t attend a refresher course or brush up on our moves prior to hitting the floor because we completely free-styled the entire dance. We sang, laughed, and harmonized the melodies of Brian McKnight’s “Love of My Life” in front of an entire ballroom of people. And that’s when it hit us — we chose the longest first dance song ever! It was so long that we actually started laughing to ourselves on the floor and making up our own moves. It was a priceless moment!

Describe your wedding cake: After months of wedding prep and classifying cake and all it’s derivatives as a “no-no food,” I was really excited about our cake confection. We decided to go with a square, four-tiered cake that had flavored layers for everyone. We decorated the cake in rock candy arranged in ombre hues and topped it with a sequin cake topper.

What were some of the highlights? The biggest highlight was that my entourage of bridesmaids and I performed a choreographed dance to Beyonce’s “Love On Top.” It was imperative for me that our reception feel like us and there’s nothing more true to form for me than dancing to Beyonce with my girlfriends. It was special to me that all my bridesmaids came together to support a personal interest of mine — even though a lot of my bridesmaids were apprehensive about dancing in public. That performance was epic and the expression on my husband’s face was priceless.

Groom’s favorite detail of the wedding: Our candy bar will always stand-out to me. It was purely amazing.
Who was one of the most special guests at your wedding? We were grateful that 6 of our grandparents attended our wedding. At our age, it really meant a lot that our grandparents were in good health and good spirits to witness our moment. Having them in their late 70s and 80s is something we don’t take for granted.
What kind of food did you serve during the cocktail hour, dinner and dessert? During cocktail hour we had a cheese display and passed hors d’oeuvres. Dinner was a buffet featuring a custom menu that we designed with inspirations from all our favorite foods. We wanted all of our guests to have options so we had a variety of sides and proteins to choose from including chicken, salmon and vegetarian protein. Brenton adores breakfast food so we also included French toast, vegetarian strada, and breakfast blintzes. The breakfast bar was a huge hit!
Did you toss the garter or bouquet? We love professional football so the bride surprised the groom with a Denver Broncos garter. Considering we had an oversized Tennessee Titans helmet in the room, it only felt natural to throw a dash of home in as well.
Did you take a honeymoon?  We enjoyed adventures in Maui for a week following our nuptials.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? Our biggest aspiration is to get back into life as we know it. Also, we both have blogs that we’re inspired by and passionate about that have been neglected while planning the wedding and our new life together. They are in much need of a refresh.
What advice would you give to someone planning his or her wedding? Your wedding is just a day. Your marriage is for a lifetime. Many people view the wedding as the end of a planning process rather than the beginning of a new life chapter. Whenever you encounter wedding stress, acknowledge that at the end of the day what matters most is your marriage and the eternal commitment you are making to your spouse. It helps to put wedding planning stress in perspective because you appreciate that ultimately no matter what happens that day, you have the rest of your life to celebrate your love together.
Best advice or most memorable comment someone made to you during the wedding celebration. During the homily, our officiant cautioned, “Don’t get caught up in gender roles in your marriage. Get caught up in serving your spouse any way you can with all your energy.” That really stuck out to us because we’re pretty non-traditional couple. We never had to stress over who was going to fit into what role and why when planning our marriage because we both committed to just doing the best we can and loving each other unconditionally. That’s all you can ever really ask for.

Amber Housley and Brocade Designs are delightful members of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

Lynae + Brenton, can we be friends? We are just gaga over their bright and bold taste, and we’re giving a huge hand to Amber Housley for bringing their vision together. For L +B, with family coming in from far and wide, their wedding was an opportunity to show everyone how unique their love is and to showcase their favorite things. They said “I do” at the church where they first met (and where Brenton was initially blown off by Lynae!) and followed the vows with a reception at the Hilton, chosen because it had the largest ballroom available for their 450+ guests!

We want to squeeze Kristyn Hogan every time we see this wedding in V5 and we know that Lynae + Brenton feel the same way. When it came to finding a photographer, no other would do after they met at Lynae’s sister’s wedding (who was also featured on Southern Weddings!). Be sure to check out Jennifer + Armand’s wedding here and here after you drop from excitement over these photos.

How adorable are these save the dates? Lynae + Brenton used giant balloons as a theme and decided to carry it over to their wedding for continuity (and the best photos ever).

Describe your bridesmaids’ dresses. I had 14 bridesmaids with various complexions and body shapes so I wanted a dress option that made everyone feel their personal best. I searched for dresses that met a few requirements. I wanted a one-shoulder option to flatter my bridesmaids with a fuller bust. In my opinion, a one-shoulder was an impeccable way to provide coverage but still keep it youthful. In addition, I had my heart set on an A-line skirt to flatter my bridesmaids who are more pear-shaped. I also wanted something that was belted to highlight my petite bridesmaids so they felt feminine and fun. The Alfred Sung dress met all of my wishes and came in a stellar color. It was a homerun for everyone.
What did the groomsmen wear? The groomsmen wore a subtle pen-striped blue suit with a striped nautical-inspired tire. It was important that the suit be modern but also classic. We opted to go with a two-button suit option with a slimmer cut but traditional lapel. The ties were designed to complement the bridesmaids’ dresses while still making the groomsmen feel masculine and dashing.

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. I curate a personal fashion blog on Tumblr and first discovered the dress on my Tumblr timeline. As soon as I saw it, I knew it was “the one” because it had my favorite thing: a smidgen of sparkle! After being inspired, I clicked around the web to discover the designer and boutique that carried it, and booked an appointment to try it on the same day. Because I’m shorter in stature (5’3”), it was important for me to find a dress that had sequin details that didn’t overpower and distract from me. I chose the dress because it complimented my frame nicely and allowed my face to be the focal point. I felt like I wore my wedding dress — my dress didn’t wear me.

We chose flowers with rich colors and plenty of texture. I wanted lots of options that were multi-dimensional and appealing from every angle. My bouquet was stunning! It was a perfect reflection of my penchant for all things colorful and fun. And it was wrapped in sequins that just set it over the top.

Our wedding ceremony was our chance to really share our love story with those closest to us. A lot of our guests may have known us individually or briefly as a couple but our vows, homily, and musical selections gave us the opportunity to be more in depth about what makes our love so special. It was extraordinary to explain in our vows what brought us to this pivotal moment after seven years and how we promise to keep our marriage together for a lifetime. I think it gave people insight into how much we care about each other and want to see each other happy and fulfilled in our marriage.

Who participated in your ceremony? We had a total of 28 bridesmaids and groomsmen who stood by us during our big day. It was striking to see an entire entourage of people stand by us on the biggest moment of our lives to date and affirm “these two people together are a wonderful idea.” It meant a lot to have all their prayers, laughs, and tears surround us. We also performed a sand ceremony that gave us an opportunity to greet our grandparents, parents, and siblings. It was truly a special moment.
Did you write your own vows? We wrote our own vows that reflected us individually and as a couple. Our biggest standouts were remembering times past dating. We’ve experienced several life transitions, first jobs, totaled cars, and lost pets together. To be able to revisit those milestones and laugh at those memories was really extraordinary.

Below: Best photo ever.

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. (From the groom) We met our junior year of high school. I was in Nashville and Lynae came into town with her high school drama club to perform at the local church. Following the performance, I approached her and tried to introduce myself. She proceeded to blow me off completely. Now I was really frustrated, and I swore off Lynae Turner and any other one I might meet in the future. Cut to freshman year in college and we were reunited again, much to our protest and distain. Lynae was roommates with my neighbor from Nashville, so we kept crossing paths. Eventually I started to warm up to the idea of having Lynae around, and as the weeks went by she became one of the crew. One day while we were watching the VMA’s, Lynae sat next to me. For some reason every time I looked over, she’d scooted her chair closer to me. I’m not one to turn down an unexpected gift, so I put my arm around her and just kind of sat there. The next thing I know, she’s asking if I want to go to Taco Bell. I hate Taco Bell, but again, it was an unexpected gift. So I drove her there and we started talking the next day. By my birthday we were officially dating.
Describe the proposal: (From the groom) Lynae and I had talked about our engagement for months before I popped the question, but I was still determined to surprise her. The morning I wanted to do it, I picked up her ring and called Lynae’s mom and sister to set the plan (my parents were out of town). Our church was having a revival that night, so all three of us told Lynae we would see her there in the evening.​ The best way to get Lynae distracted is to bring up clothes. While we were at the revival, Jennifer told Lynae to stop by her apartment afterward because she had some clothes that didn’t fit her anymore. Lynae was so excited she didn’t even notice her mom and I left early, already on the way to her sister’s place. We got there and parked our cars around the corner so she wouldn’t see we were there, went in the apartment and cued up Jennifer’s computer to play our favorite song (Eric Benet’s “The Last Time”). By the time Lynae got there, her mom and I were each in one of the bedroom closets. When she walked up the stairs, Jennifer hit play on the song and told Lynae the clothes were in the closet. Lynae still wasn’t thinking about anything but the clothes. When she opened the door, I was on one knee with the ring, and her mom popped out of the other closet just in time to fan off Lynae, who fell to the floor! After another minute of screaming and crying, I brought up the fact that she STILL hadn’t said yes, and she finally agreed to be eternally stuck with me. Six months later, Lynae asked Jennifer when she was going to get those clothes she was promised.
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Vibrant, sentimental, and sparkly
What was the weather like on your big day? It actually rained the entire morning leading to the ceremony, but we were very fortunate that the rain broke immediately after the ceremony allowing us to enjoy the rest of the evening and take pictures outdoors.
How many guests attended your wedding? 700 attended the ceremony. About 478 attended the reception.

Amber Housley and Brocade Designs are delightful members of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!