People underestimate the amount of work that goes into invitations and save the dates when you do it yourself. Designing and assembling invites was EXHAUSTING! It took us about a week to finish, even with my family’s help one day.

Describe your wedding flowers: My bouquet contained billy balls, yellow ranunculus, dusty miller, white hydrangeas, coral roses, yellow and white peony, and succulents. The bridesmaid’s bouquets contained white and green hydrangeas, white tulip, yellow calla lilies, hypericum berries, dusty miller, billy balls, and yellow ranunculus. The groomsmen had yellow ranunculus and billy balls, and the groom had a billy ball, dusty miller and jade plant. The arrangements had most of these flowers along with gerbera daisies, spider mums, yellow tulips, bells of Ireland, yellow lilies, and assorted roses.

How much do you love Madelynne’s face when she saw Corey’s wedding gift to her? Happy girl :) We each had two most memorable moments from the wedding day. Corey says the first look, where he cried like a baby seeing me, and he also loved standing in the back of the church, looking through the window to watch the church fill up with all the people we love. My first was when we exchanged gifts. He wrapped my gift in a Toms shoebox so I thought he was giving me Toms; when I opened the box and there was a Tiffany box in there. I died! My second was when the doors opened to the church as I was about to walk down the aisle; it was the biggest rush of excitement. It wasn’t until that moment that it hit me we were actually getting married!

Love that red lipstick!

Let’s talk about Madelynne’s wedding gown for a minute. I found it within weeks of getting engaged at a local consignment store. My mother and I decided to breeze in there one day with zero expectations. There was a Carolina Herrera gown about 75% off that had never been worn, fit almost perfect, and was the most stunning silhouette. There were tears, but I was very nervous to buy it since the wedding was so far away. I put it on hold, checked out David’s Bridal, and drove back to school the next day. I called my mom while I was on the road (drowning in my own thoughts) and told her to go buy that thing! I made one slight modification to the neckline, changing it into a sweetheart, which made it absolutely perfect.

I love the above photo so much! So much anticipation. Good job, Stephen DeVries :)

Did you write your own vows?We chose to do traditional vows, just like our generations before us had. My grandmother and late grandfather got married in the very same church in the 1950s!
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? We had 1 Corinthians 13 Verses 4-7 and Colossians 3: 12-17, my two favorites.
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding. We used traditional music for the ceremony, including “Edelweiss” for the grandparent’s processional , “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” for the wedding processional, “Trumpet Voluntary’ for the bride’s processional, and “Wedding March” for the recessional. Our first dance was to “Let it Be Me” by Ray LaMontagne.

My mother made all of the paper flowers hanging at the reception, the chevron table linens, the pew flowers, the send-off shakers (with the help of her teacher friends!), the bridal party’s earrings, the gift card box, and the C+M logo. She worked so very hard and it made the wedding so much more special. My husband and I designed the programs, RSVP cards, invites, reception signage, and save the dates. We also spray-painted a ton of things to fit our color scheme!

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? The food was the most Southern part! We had BBQ pork and chicken, baked beans, mac and cheese, potato salad, cheese biscuits, lemonade, and sweet tea. Other Southern aspects were the inclusion of a groom’s cake, the whole bridal party wearing pearls, giving handkerchiefs to all the grandmothers and mothers (I held one too), having everything in downtown Birmingham, and having koozies as our favor, since those are an SEC tailgate staple.

The wedding cake was lemon with lemon buttercream and had the zig zag motif from our invitations on the third tier. The groom’s cake was alternating tiers of chocolate and strawberry with vanilla buttercream. His cake had an argyle pattern on the third tier that matched his socks.

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. We met trying to get into the cutthroat architecture program at Auburn University. We bonded over late nights, sitting by each other in class, iPod sharing, riding Tiger Transit (Auburn’s public transit system for students), and eating Zaxby’s and Momma G’s. We were in the ‘friend zone’ for about 6 months until I dropped the bomb on him on my birthday in 2007 that I was hopelessly in love with him. We never looked back!
Describe the proposal. I came to Auburn one weekend to visit him since I was doing an off-campus thesis. He had gotten the ring earlier that week and had NO idea how to propose. A light bulb went off in his head that he would make a faux wedding blog with a proposal at the end. Anyone that knows me can vouch for the fact that I am 100% obsessed with wedding blogs! He had to hack into my Gmail and subscribe me to the blog so I’d click on it when I did my nightly blog browsing. Appropriately, I was watching The Bachelor and browsing my blogs on my phone when he got up and ran into his bedroom to grab the ring. I got excited when I got to this post where the girl had my name and my favorite wedding colors. By the time I realized what was going on, he was in front of me on one knee. Needless to say I was totally shocked. It was so perfect, just the two of us together, which is exactly how I had always wanted it.
In what month did you get married? April 14, 2012 on a perfect sunny day.
How many guests attended your wedding? About 225.
Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? Absolutely yes! It was a wonderful decision for us. We got out all our emotions and nerves when it was just the two of us. I’m so glad we did a first look because when I walked down the aisle, I was so distracted by all my sweet friends and family smiling at me that I didn’t even look at him until I got to the end of the aisle!
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: The groom’s favorite detail was the family wedding portrait display at the reception. My favorite details were the bouquets and the reception site/décor.
What range did your wedding budget fall into? On the low end of the $25,000-$50,000 range.
What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? Definitely the photography. Stephen DeVries absolutely blew us away. He truly captured the essence of our day. We were also really happy with the live musician. Odie was fantastic and fun.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding?
1. The more you plan the day out, the smoother it will go (think lists!)
2. It was worth every penny – I am GLAD we didn’t elope
3. It helps tremendously to have someone around who’s been married in the recent past (aka: my sister and matron of honor)
4. Be selfish – ask for help –you will be happy you did!
5. First look is great – you can get out all your emotions without everyone watching.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? We are living and working in Atlanta, taking it one day at a time! We have a Boston Terrier puppy coming in August – a gift of my husband’s sweet family, and we can’t wait! We ultimately want to end up in Nashville and I would LOVE to work in the wedding industry! We want kids in maybe 4 or 5 years.

Stephen DeVries is a fabulous member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

Adorable!!

Now tell me: Who out there is monogramming her flower girl(s), and where are you putting said monogram? Spill, please!

Credits:

Crab boil photo by Melissa Schollaert via Southern Weddings, sweet tea drinks photo by Lauren Brooks via Style Me Pretty, strawberry shortcake wedding cake photo by Cyn Kain via Southern Weddings, rustic bar photo by Carly Bish via Ever Ours, bright bridesmaid dress photo by Nancy Ray via SMP, rustic sign photo by Melissa Schollaert via Southern Weddings, wooden tables photo by Jill Thomas, bluegrass band photo by Belathee via Design*Sponge

P.S. Does this sound like your idea of a good time? Then I think you’ll like these posts:
A wedding with some awesome Southern food
A low country boil rehearsal dinner
A casual + rustic wedding

Melissa Schollaert, Cyn Kain, and Nancy Ray are fabulous members of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

Eric Barry

But if the worst were to happen – let’s say Irene’s sister showed up as an uninvited guest, and we were actually forced to cancel or postpone our reception – I know it would be a great relief to have purchased wedding insurance. We did this for my sister’s (outdoor) wedding, and we’ll likely do it for mine, too.

In the grand scheme of most wedding budgets, $75-$200 (the cost of the average WedSafe policy) is, truthfully, a drop in the bucket. And because the things that wedding insurance insures you against – postponement due to severe weather, accidents, or sudden illnesses as well as financial loss due to unforeseen glitches like a no-show vendor, lost photographs, or a damaged wedding gown – can be extremely expensive, I imagine wedding insurance would begin to look like even more of a bargain if something were to go wrong.

Lisa Rigby

WedSafe also offers wedding liability insurance, which is required by many venues, and protects you if you’re held liable for property damage or bodily injury, as well as alcohol-related incidents. Many caterers will have insurance that will cover you in most cases, but if you’re having an at-home reception or a reception at a nontraditional location, wedding liability insurance could be exactly what you need.

We feel comfortable recommending WedSafe to you because they’ve been in business, and specializing in weddings, since 1999. Their instant pricing is also hassle-free and super easy to obtain – no need to create a log-in, provide personal information, etc. We love that! If you think wedding insurance might be the right choice for you, I’d encourage you to read more on their site and look into getting a free quote!

We don’t do this perfectly all the time no, ma’am! But we try harder every day to make this who we are and where our heart is, and we would be honored if you’d join us! Feel free to snag a badge if you’d like to become a member of the Sweet Tea Society, and keep an eye out for a few new blog features we’ve got in the works!

Won’t you join us?

P.S. Kudos to Brooke from Curious & Company, who designed and illustrated our badges and the top of our manifesto! Nicole did an amazing job laying the rest of it out!

Graduation means they’re ready for new adventures, of course! We are super proud of Anna, who is heading South to Charleston to work at Charleston Weddings for the summer. We are OVERJOYED that Nicole will be in the Southern Weddings office full time from now on, continuing to bring you the best wedding goodness the South has to offer!

Finally, we are incredibly proud of Sierra, who is moving to one of her favorite Southern cities – Nashville! She’ll be starting a new job as a bonafide graphic designer, and we just can’t wait to see where it takes her! (We’re also placing bets on how soon her first Taylor Swift sighting will be.) We asked her to write up a little something about her time at Southern Weddings, and this is what she said:

My conclusion after writing this post was simply this golly, I am SUCH a lucky gal!! In just two years, I gained more experience than I EVER thought possible in one job. I was able to travel – for photo shoots, to work at weddings, and to review a Honey List destination. I was able to be involved in a brand that is SO me and SO fun! (80% of my clothes are even SW colors!) I was able to learn about a smaller company, one who values their readers immensely. I designed hundreds of graphics and image boards, wrote posts, shipped hundreds (perhaps thousands) of magazines, and was so involved with the making of V4, a fabulous publication that I still pick up every few weeks and reread.

From our Paper, Cotton, and Flour photo shoot

Besides the professional experience I’ve gained, being a part of the SW family was something I’ll always take with me. I remember when I first started working at SW, I would be shaking at the weekly office meetings I was so nervous, but all along I was encouraged to be myself, contribute my opinions fully, and be a confident, strong woman. And boy, did we have fun over the last few years! From tying bow ties and steaming wedding gowns with Nicole, to chocolate tasting contests, throwing poms and paper airplanes and watching The Bachelor/Bachelorette with Emily, to running around DC and having Lara and Marissa do my makeup for our SW staff shoot, to memories of working with Katharine and Whitney, I have had SO many good times! I want to thank Lara, Emily, Nicole and Marissa for being the best coworkers imaginable, to Lara for making it a possibility to even work at SW and to Nicole for being literally my “twin” and good, good friend throughout college. While I am sad to be leaving such a fabulous magazine, and I will miss you all tremendously, I know this not a real goodbye, and I am excited to be living up more Southern goodness over yonder in Nashville! As we like to say around here, may your tea always be sweet!

We love that Sierra, yes indeed we do. We couldn’t resist the opportunity to write her a few notes ourselves, interspersed with photos from her goodbye party earlier this week.

Sierra,

Biggest congratulations on graduating!! It’s been amazing to know you over the past two years and to see you work tirelessly on countless projects. I look up to you so much! I’ll always remember the first time we met, the awkward conversations we had when were first getting to know each other, and the long drives to photo shoots and weddings when you schooled me on country music. I know that the future is going to be incredibly rewarding for you and I can’t wait to hear about it!

xoxo, Nic

Dear sweet Sierra,

You are so incredibly talented, and I am so excited for you! I wish you all the best on your adventure in Nashville, but I am going to miss not being able to hear you on our calls, and your fabulous style! I know that you have amazing things ahead of you, and I cannot wait to come visit you in Nashvegas!

So much love,
Marissa

Sierra! I am SO excited for you to take over Nashville! Everyone you meet will be so blessed by your humor and heart and dedication. Over the last years, you have truly blown us all away and helped us take things to the next level in a million ways. We wouldn’t be where we are without you! Personally, I will also miss your kindness and thoughtful conversation. You are a treasure, Sierra. Things won’t be the same around here without you. But, the great thing is that I know your sweet parents will expect lots of visits… and we will too! Don’t be a stranger. You will always be a part of the SW family! Love, Lara

Dear Sierra,

I will always be thankful to you for introducing me to country music! And I know that as long as the Bachelor/Bachelorette is on air, we will have a reason to get together and discuss :) I know you’re going to do amazing things in Nashville and beyond, and I can’t wait to watch!

Much love,
Emily

You can see more from our yummy goodbye party right here! We would love for you to leave well wishes for all of our ladies in the comment section, as well as Nashville tips for Sierra! :)

Before we were married, Chris used to give me the most thoughtful presents. Nothing too expensive (we were broke college kids), but always something that took his time and attention. One time in the mail, he sent me an index card that he had taped a bunch of pretzels to that spelled out, “I love you.” I still have that, almost ten years later. Another time, he sent me on a scavenger hunt throughout our hometown for no reason at all. At each stop there was a rose with my next clue. At the twelfth stop (that’s a dozen roses, for all you English majors out there…) he was waiting with a homemade picnic dinner. All because it was a Tuesday and he loved me.

When you get married, you sort of go into business together. You manage your household and your finances, your careers and your heath, your family and obligations. So, I understand the giving of practical presents. Your business has a need, so why not use Christmas or a birthday as a time to meet it? But just like there is a line between your business and home life, there should be a line between your practical needs and your relationship needs in your marriage, and gift-giving, in my opinion, should always fall in the relationship category.

Gifts tell people that you are thinking about them, that they are important to you, that you are proud of them, happy for them, celebrating with them. Vacuum cleaners, while certainly a gift someone would use, don’t really send that message. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t ever give a practical gift. One year, Chris and I were really struggling for money and we both really wanted a new grill. We both love to grill, and our old one was about to fall apart. We decided that we would get a new grill as our present to each other that Christmas, and it was a gift that we both still enjoy together, years later. But in addition to giving that grill, Chris and I also exchanged gifts under $20 each. These gifts had to express something we loved about the other person. He gave me two books I had really wanted to read, and he said he loved watching me read because he knew how happy it made me. Before then, I wasn’t entirely sure Chris even KNEW I read books, and come to find out, it was one of his favorite things about me.

Another trick to gift-giving when you are married is to make sure that the random, just-because-it’s-Tuesday gifts keep coming. In the first year of our marriage, Chris and I used to leave each other little gifts all the time, for absolutely no reason. But as the years went by, that slowly stopped. I was thinking about it a few months ago, and I couldn’t remember the last time I’d bought a card for him or picked up a little treat for no reason at all. With two little kids, a lot of our attention goes to making sure they have everything they need, but I think that it then becomes really easy to overlook the needs of our spouse. And a need we all have is to know that we are loved and thought about.

Now, any time I’m at the drug store or grocery store, I pick up a little something in the check out aisle, just for Chris – his favorite candy bar or a magazine I know he likes or a card. One of his favorites is when I splurge and bring him home the really good, expensive ice cream when I go grocery shopping. None of those things costs too much and I’m already out when I decide to bring him something, so it doesn’t even mean I have to DO anything extra, really. It’s just picking up a little something to tell him that I was thinking about him, even while I was at the grocery store.

Just as in your everyday life you have to learn how to balance home and work, you have to learn how to do that in gift-giving when you’re married, too. There can be a time and a place for practical gifts, but they should never take the place of a thoughtful, unique, personalized gift that tells someone how much they mean to you. Gift-giving, when done correctly, can be one of those little things that make a marriage feel fresh and new and passionate, no matter how long you’ve been married.

P.S. All of these photos are from Josh McCullock, one of our fabulous Blue Ribbon Vendors! See more from this wedding on his blog here!

I had just the query, one that came in from a lovely mother of the bride (oh, how we love that mothers read our blog, too!). Here it is:

Hello, Emily,

I read your post about not inviting people to showers who are not invited to weddings, which agrees with my personal opinion and everything else I find on the same topic, but I want to ask the same question again with my own twist, as I am not completely sure if this principle applies in every situation.

My daughter is newly engaged to a boy who grew up in the small town to which we moved about four years ago. His parents grew up here, as well. The moment their engagement was made public, several women at our mutual church volunteered to be shower hostesses, which is a part of the local generous Southern tradition.

Between the couple, they have over 80 family members who will be invited to the wedding. This includes siblings, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. They want to limit the wedding to that group and a dozen or so close friends, most of whom will be members of the wedding party.

Should my daughter decline the offers of these women to host a shower, since they will not be invited to the wedding? The groom’s mother feels that the appropriate solution is to have a 300 – 400 person guest list, including people neither the bride nor groom really know, but this is not only outside the limits of our financial ability, it is also not what the bride and groom want for their special day.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts on this matter!

Mother-of-the-Bride

A perfectly Southern table setting, courtesy of Katie Rivers

I think the dilemma of the “church shower” is both very common and uniquely Southern (i.e. I had never heard of this predicament before I moved South, but have since heard of it several times!). A strong church family is such a wonderful thing to have in your life, but it can make things like shower and wedding guest list planning complicated. Hence, why most Southerners don’t bat an eyelash upon hearing about a 400, 500, or 600 person guest list!

However, a monster guest list is not the solution for every bride, and does not sound like the solution in this case. So, if inviting the church ladies to the wedding and allowing them to host a shower is not the answer, what is?

I think the first step is to make it clear to the would-be hostesses that the couple is planning a small wedding and that a traditional shower might not be the most appropriate choice (while you’re at it, get the MOG on board, too, so she can help spread the word discreetly!).

If they still insist on hosting an event, I actually think that’s just fine, and a lovely gesture. I’m sure it’s one borne out of genuine love for the bride and groom! However, I would guide them towards calling it something besides a “bridal shower” perhaps a “luncheon in honor of the bride” or a “meet the bride breakfast.” I would also insist on no gifts, and make sure that that’s clearly printed in the invitation. That way, the focus will be on surrounding the bride with love and support, and the risk for hurt feelings should be greatly minimized!

Ladies, I would LOVE to hear what y’all think – is this a situation you’ve run up against? What would you do if you were faced with this situation? Would you allow a traditional shower to be held, take a middle road like I’ve suggested, or insist on none at all? I would LOVE to hear your thoughts!

P.S. Have a etiquette query of your own? Feel free to shoot me an email!

P.P.S. Past etiquette conundrums:
Tipping wedding vendors
Wedding rings for men
Formal invitations – necessary?
Clapping at the recessional

Kelsey (on the left) just so happens to be one of our Southern Bride Bloggers, and when her friend Meredith sent in her monogram-themed shower, we just knew y’all would love it.

From Meredith:

“If I had to pick one thing that Kelsey loves, other than her fiance Brandon of course, it would have to be monograms! So, when the rest of her bridesmaids and I began planning her bridal shower, we thought it would be so perfect to throw her a monogram themed bridal shower. Kelsey loves collecting monogrammed items and we knew it would be really fun to help start her new collection of monogrammed pieces with her new married monogram!

We worked with a seller on Etsy to design an invitation that tied in the feminine pink and gray color scheme with the monogram that I designed for the event. We also included an insert card detailing Kelsey’s monogram preferences so that everything would be just right, and tied everything with a silver bow.”

“On the day of the shower, a monogram K wreath made out of tissue paper flowers, in the script from the event’s monogram, greeted guests at the front door.”

“Guests were led to their tables via escort cards that hung from ribbon with clothespins on a silver mirror. At their place setting, guests found a place card favor box of pink candy tied with a tag that had their own personal monogram on it. Monogramming each place setting was a fun way to tie in the monogram theme!”

“The china on the tables was collected from members of my family and was different at each table. We created the lush low centerpieces using hydrangea, roses, and other pink and white flowers. Each centerpiece had a ribbon band with the shower monogram placed in the center. Table numbers were painted pink and inserted into the middle of each floral arrangement.” The rentals were sourced from Party Reflections in Raleigh!

“We served a lunch with lots of delicious food, including cucumber tea sandwiches and homemade pimento cheese sandwiches, quiche, strawberry spinach salad, and miniature ham biscuits. The menu was written on a chalkboard nearby. A dessert bar was placed under a board with a sign that said “Love is Sweet” surrounded by pictures of Kelsey and Brandon throughout their years together. The desserts were wonderful, including cake balls, lemon raspberry mason jar desserts, French macarons, red velvet cupcakes and a custom monogrammed cake from Sweet Memories Bakery.”

“Sweet tea and strawberry lemonade were served in large mason jar dispensers, with gray and white paper straws to drink from, of course! We also had a super fun Bellini Bar, where guests could create their own Bellini by selecting one of 6 different fruit purees or juices and then mixing in prosecco. Drink flags with the shower monogram were perfect for stirring it all together.”

We played a number of games throughout the event and they went over really well. When guests first arrived, they had the chance to play a “What’s in your purse?” game, and the person with the most points won a prize. This turned out to be a wonderful icebreaker, and it was fun to play while everyone got a drink and mingled!

“To keep everyone involved while gifts were being opened, we played gift bingo! Each person created their own bingo card by filling in the spaces with items that they thought Kelsey might receive, for example: sheets, silverware, cake stand, towels, serving spoon, etc. As Kelsey opened her gifts, people crossed off their spaces and the first person to get five in a row won!

Lastly, we played a game similar to the newlywed game, where Kelsey had to answer 20 questions that her fiance Brandon had already answered. We had to guess how many she would actually get correct. Before we played this game, Brandon showed up, so he was able to see Kelsey try to guess all of the answers he had given!”

Thank you so much for sending over all of these details, Meredith! Belles, I hope you enjoyed this peek at such a thoughtful (and Southern!) bridal shower! Best wishes to Kelsey and Brandon, and best of luck finishing up your wedding plans! We can’t wait to see the photos!

P.S. More bridal shower inspiration:
A honey bee bridal shower
A Southern tea bridal shower
Southern Etiquette: Who’s invited to the shower?

Enter today’s Southern Spotting: Yep, that’s a tractor. And yep, this adorable couple escaped on it at the end of their wedding.

They even decked the tractor out with cans and a bow how cute is that?? Congratulations to Emily and John (such good names, no?), and big thanks to Sara of Whitebox Weddings for sending these images our way!

P.S. More Southern Spottings:
A cheeky bar
A fabric invitation suite
A surprise breakfast

Whitebox Weddings is a fabulous member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

Clockwise from top: 509 Photo (submitted by Katherine Miller Events) Peach Blossom Photography, Scott Hopkins Photography, and Amanda Watson

MARISSA
What I called my Mom growing up: Mama, Mommy… and Mother if I was giving her ‘tude. Hopefully not too often, though! :)
Thing I most admire about my Mom: Her positivity. Even though I sometimes tell her she has rose-colored glasses, I am so grateful she has taught me to be a glass half full kind of girl.
Quality my Mom has that I most hope to emulate: Motherlyness (if that’s a word), or being a great mom. My Mom taught my sister and I so much growing up, and someday I hope to be a loving, creative, and fun mom to my own children.
I’ll know I’m turning into my mother when I speak really loud and tell a story with WAY too many details. Wait.. I’m pretty sure I do this already : )
Favorite memory of my Mom: When we went on a vacation and put shampoo in the hotel’s hot tub. The next morning there was a man actually sweeping the giant knee-high bubbles out of the pool area. Apparently the shampoo went crazy in the night!
My favorite thing to do with my Mom now: Get pedicures together.
Favorite food/dish my Mom makes: My Mom makes THE most amazing pumpkin cake. It’s seriously to die for. That, and made-from-scratch cinnamon rolls. Yum!

From top: Natalie Franke, Renee Sprink, and Nancy Ray

EMILY
What I called my Mom growing up: Mommy or Mom
Thing I most admire about my Mom: Her warmth. She can put anyone at ease, and is a fabulous hostess!
Quality my Mom has that I most hope to emulate: Unconditional love for her children. Growing up, I was completely secure in the knowledge that there was nothing I or anyone else could do that would make my parents stop loving me. What a gift!
I’ll know I’m turning into my mother when I start making friends in the grocery checkout line.
When I was growing up my favorite thing to do with my Mom was sneaking into church balconies during wedding ceremonies at our church (see my SW bio!).
My favorite thing to do with my Mom now: We both enjoy cruising around a beautiful neighborhood and ogling the houses.
Favorite food/dish my Mom makes: I know this sounds gross, but it’s a dish called beef nuggets :) I insist on having it made for my birthday every year!

Clockwise from top: Whitebox Weddings, Landon Jacob, submitted by Desiree Dawn Events, and Stephen DeVries

SIERRA
What I called my Mom growing up: Mom, or her first name
Best advice my Mom ever gave me: Be thoughtful. She loves to pick up flowers, gifts or food when visiting others, pays attention to your feelings and tries to brighten up your day.
Thing I most admire about my Mom: She’s hardworking and driven, and would do anything for her children.
Quality my Mom has that I most hope to emulate: Her strength. She didn’t shed a tear when my favorite cat died!
I’ll know I’m turning into my mother when I start telling similar jokes (my boyfriend usually calls me out on this).
Favorite memory of my Mom: I can think of silly and serious examples, but I’ll go with silly. When my brother and I were much younger, we were riding in the car with her while she was talking on the phone with my dad. Something he said made her angry, and she threw her cell phone as hard as she could on the dashboard, and it bounced all the way into the back seat where my brother caught. We couldn’t help but all start laughing.
When I was growing up my favorite thing to do with my Mom was go to the beach for a girls’ weekend!
My favorite thing to do with my Mom now: Still the beach (don’t think that will ever go out of style!) or get pedicures.
Favorite food/dish my Mom makes: almond chicken

Dixie Pixel, Photography by Shea (submitted by M. Elizabeth Events), and Christie Meresse

NICOLE
What I called my Mom growing up: I called her Mommy growing up. Now I call her Momma.
Thing I most admire about my Mom: Her courage.
Quality my Mom has that I most hope to emulate: Her young-at-heart mentality. I’m positive that she dances in the car as much as I do.
I’ll know I’m turning into my mother when I search for a new recipe to try for dinner on Pinterest and realize I’ve only pinned desserts.
Favorite memory of my Mom: My mom owned a tailoring shop when I was little, so we often made trips to the fabric store. The ladies who worked there would always give me a bag of fabric scraps to take home and afterward, my mom and I would go through the bag together and think up fun ways to used them.
When I was growing up my favorite thing to do with my Mom was start a new craft project.
My favorite thing to do with my Mom now: Start more craft projects!
Favorite food/dish my Mom makes: Everything. Seriously.

Clockwise from top: 5 Rings Photo, White-Klump Photography, Elisa B Photography, and Scobey Photography

LARA
What I called my Mom growing up: Ma. (M-ah) I remember hollering this through the house! Ma! Ma!
Best advice my Mom ever gave me: Just do it. This was in reference to acting on my dreams, not cleaning my room : ) Just dive in and do it instead of thinking and worrying about it. My mom knows how to make things happen!
Thing I most admire about my Mom: She is the most giving woman I know. She has sacrificed so much for our family – from caring for my little brother when he was in the hospital for months, putting our house back together after multiple hurricanes, driving us cross-country a billion times to move into dorms and new apartments, listening when we cried about life, physically caring for us when we were ill, making us laugh, cooking us amazing dinners… oh, I could go on and on!
Quality my Mom has that I most hope to emulate: Being a devoted mother. Nothing came before us.
I’ll know I’m turning into my mother when I sing silly songs to my child :)
Favorite memory of my Mom: Every dinner she ever cooked. Meals were family time, and I’m so grateful for that.
When I was growing up my favorite thing to do with my Mom was take road trips to Peach Park in Clanton, Alabama. My brother and I loved it!
My favorite thing to do with my Mom now: Watch her dance around with Grace.
Favorite food/dish my Mom makes: Southern food! Green beans, black-eyed peas, corn bread, sweet potatoes, okra, and chicken!

And to end, a sweet photo of Lara’s family – four generations together.

Emily March

Wishing all of our mother of the bride and mother of the groom readers (we know you’re out there!) a very happy Mother’s Day!!

xo,
Lara, Emily, Marissa, Nicole, and Sierra

5 Rings Photo, Amanda Watson, Christie Meresse, Desiree Dawn Events, Dixie Pixel, Elisa B Photography, Katherine Miller Events, Landon Jacob, M. Elizabeth Events, Nancy Ray, Natalie Franke, Peach Blossom Photography, Renee Sprink, Scobey Photography, Scott Hopkins Photography, Stephen DeVries, and Whitebox Weddings are all fabulous members of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory! Emily March, Landon Jacob, Natalie Franke, and White-Klump Photography are all fabulous Southern Weddings sponsors!

For our eco-conscious belles, Appy Couple offers a number of green benefits: it includes an RSVP function, and makes printing out complex direction cards a thing of the past.

For our stylish belles (and who among you is not stylish??), Appy Couple offers 100+ designs to choose from, in so many colors and combinations that you’re sure to find something that matches your wedding aesthetic.

Concerned about less tech-savvy guests? Don’t be! In addition to being on iPhone and Android, your app will be on the web in the form of a partner wedding website perfect for guests who don’t have smartphones. And don’t worry about privacy, either guests can only see events they’re invited to.

Possibly the coolest feature? Guests can upload pictures within the app! How fun would that gallery be to scroll through on your honeymoon?!

Best news of the day: For a limited time, Appy Couple is offering our lovely readers the opportunity to get Appy Couple free! Use code SWSP1 at appycouple.com after you choose your design. They’re in invitation-only beta right now, and would love your feedback.

Y’all, I already have a wedding website, but I think I know what I’m going to be doing this weekend. Tell me: Which is your favorite design? Mine has got to be the “Nautical Summer,” even if it’s not the perfect fit for the wedding I’m planning. I’m just about dying over the cuteness!!

Bluebonnet image by Athena Pelton, overlay by SW

Beautiful! I’m sure the heart of every Texan reading this post is swelling with pride, because the bluebonnets are truly a treasure of the Lone Star State. They’re also, of course, it’s state flower.

Clockwise from top: Chase A. Fountain via the Dallas News, via Aggie Horticulture, CarolWatson on flickr, and Carla Stewart

Bluebonnets are a wildlower, and they grow over the winter, generally blooming in the last week of March or the first week of April. Because the seeds are encased in a hard outer “shell” that must be worn down by wind and rain, it’s said that the worse the winter, the prettier the bluebonnets. That’s a nice reward, don’t you think? According to Texans, the best bluebonnet spotting area is the triangle formed by Austin, San Antonio, and San Angelo.

Because of the short, unpredictable growing season, it’s risky to include bluebonnets in your plans for things like bouquets or centerpieces. If you do, make sure you have a backup bloom in mind! Grape hyacinth or muscari is a more widely-available spring flower with a similar look. Here’s a little inspiration for those of you getting married in the bluebonnet sweet spot:

From top: first two by Arielle Doneson, middle three by McGowan Images via Style Me Pretty, and last two by Melissa Schollaert via Southern Weddings

Keep in mind that we know not all of these images are of bluebonnets (though most are!), but we figured the shape and hue of the blooms would give you a good approximation of what bluebonnets might look like if you chose to use them!

Even if you’re getting married in, say, September, working with your photographer to shoot your engagement photos during bluebonnet season is a great way to work some Texas pride into your wedding! They do make a beautiful backdrop…

Amanda Marie Portraits

One last fun fact about bluebonnets? They have five leaves, which are said to represent the five points of the Texas Lone Star :)

What’s your favorite Southern stem? Any Texans out there want to share some Texas pride or up close and personal bluebonnet encounters in the comments?

P.S. Don’t miss our posts on camellias and wisteria!

Melissa Schollaert is a fabulous member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

Both by Jose Villa

Since CL is out of my budget, internet searches for something similar brought me to the Nina site, and I quickly fell in love with a shoe called the Paladin. It had a fairly low heel (2.5 inches), was classic and ladylike, and featured a bow. I was in love! I was also devastated to find that when I went back to the Nina site a week later to make my purchase, the Paladin was nowhere to be found!! A call to customer service was not fruitful.

The wedding gods were shining on me, though, because when I tweeted my predicament, the Nordstrom Wedding gals came to my aid, directing me toward 6pm.com. How sweet is that, y’all?! That they would direct me away from their site and toward another just to assist a bride in need? Major kudos to them.

And yes, there was the Paladin, not only in stock and in my size, but 58% off Nina’s price!! My wedding heels cost $37, but I couldn’t love them more if they were $370. Seriously, these beauties make me SO happy. Here they are:

Mi Amore Foto

In case you were wondering, they are insanely comfortable. A 2.5 inch heel is the perfect height, in my opinion!

Okay, enough about shoes, let’s talk jewelry! The top of my gown is fairly involved, so I know I want to keep my jewelry fairly simple. Plus, I wear the same jewelry pretty much every single day: pearl studs, my engagement ring, a thin silver link bracelet, and a Dogeared necklace that was a gift from John for our first Christmas together. If I were to switch it up and wear something chunky or very obvious on our wedding day, the overall effect would be less stunning and more startling, I think. To that end, here’s some of the understated jewelry inspiration I’ve been collecting:

Earrings photo by Cooper Carras, kiss photo by Meg Smith, necklace photo by Charlotte Jenks Lewis via 100 Layer Cake, and up do photo by Heather Kincaid via Style Me Pretty

Short drop or simple cluster earrings and a simple necklace, and that’s it. I might add a bracelet if I’m feeling so moved. The earrings I will probably buy new, and the necklace will probably be my Dogeared one. UNLESS. See that simple gold and diamond number up there? That would be my dream wedding day gift from John :) With its price tag, it’s highly unlikely to happen, but a gal can dream, right? I just love that it’s a fancier version of the necklace I already treasure so much.

For those with a similar style, I put together a little shopping guide:

A. Kenneth Jay Lane CZ cushion cut studs ($49), B. Tiffany Diamonds by the Yard necklace in 18k gold ($615), C. J.Crew Crystal Starlet earrings ($35), D. J.Crew Pearl Jewel Box earrings ($68), E. Kate Ketzal Glow Drop earrings ($70), F. Nina Annabell earrings ($35), G. Kate Ketzal Adorable cushion cut earrings ($55), H. J.Crew Crystal Galaxy earrings ($55), I. Nina Passion earrings ($45), J. Tiffany Pearls by the Yard bracelet in 18k gold ($425), K. Jennifer hair comb, L. Bario-Neal single diamond bracelet ($750)

Now, what will I be wearing on my head? I don’t think I mentioned it in my dress shopping post, but I fell in love with a veil on my very first dress shopping excursion – the “Phoebe” by Sara Gabriel. I thought the horsehair trim was so unique, but still understated! I’ve never been able to get that veil out of my head, though its price tag has stayed firmly out of my budget, so a few weeks ago, I contacted Annette from Chaviano Couture about making a custom piece that involved my beloved horsehair. My future sister-in-law (who, if you remember, is getting married two months before me) and I are actually going to share the veil, and Annette has been great about incorporating both of our ideas. I won’t say too much more, but I am very excited to capture some gorgeous veil photos with Tanja!

Samm Blake via Style Me Pretty and Domenico Costantini via Martha Stewart Weddings

Since our veil is going to be fairly long, and our reception involves a lot of mingling, I’ll probably remove it post-ceremony, or at least post-reception entrance. I’ve been toying with the idea of adding a simple comb, kind of like the below:

Christian Oth and Jillian Mitchell via 100 Layer Cake

A few weeks ago my friend Nancy saw me pinning hair combs left and right, and kindly offered to lend me the one she wore on her wedding day. Score another one for the “borrowed” list!

And to round out my borrowed offerings, I will be toting this lovely clutch from my friend (and former SW editor!) Katharine. This beauty is from Davie & Chiyo for any of y’all who might like to purchase one for yourself!

Photo by Bryan Johnson from Katharine’s wedding

And that about takes care of that! Tell me, belles: How are you accessorizing on your wedding day? Simple and classic, or colorful and bold? Comment and let me know!

Up next: I’ll share our engagement photos!

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!
We discuss bouquets + boutonnieres
We send out our save the dates
I gather hair and makeup inspiration
We talk cake and sweets
I introduce you to our videographer
We create a registry
We buy a tuxedo
We style a reception

Mi Amore Foto, Jose Villa, and Nancy Ray are fabulous members of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

All photos by Meredith Perdue except for second row, left, and third row photos, which are personal

Also, it smelled amazing in there. John and I still talk about what it smelled like :)

As delightful as our cottage was, we spent most of our time outside, soaking in as much of Palmetto Bluff as we could. The full property stretches to more than 20,000 acres, and the sheer natural beauty is unparalleled. Our cruiser bikes got a work out, as we peddled through countless adorable neighborhoods, all around the village, onto numerous nature trails, and past the Palmetto Bluff tree house. Yes, this place even has a three-story tree house. And yes, we climbed to the top.

We also saw plenty of flora and fauna, including gorgeous live oaks, dripping Spanish moss, egrets and other waterbirds, and more than a few alligators. AND we hit a few balls on Palmetto’s championship croquet course. How fancy are we?!

All photos personal, except for second and third, which are by Meredith Perdue

Of course, we did our fair share of eating, too. We had lunch and breakfast at Buffalos, an adorable cafe in the heart of Wilson Village. We split a grilled chicken cobb salad for lunch, and enjoyed a fruit plate, “the classic” (scrambled eggs, potato hash, sausage, and toast – John), and buttermilk pancakes with vanilla berry compote (me) for breakfast.

Top photo by Meredith, bottom photo by me

We also had a lovely dinner at the Canoe Club, the less-formal of the Inn’s two main restaurants. The atmosphere couldn’t be beat – we were seated on the upper porch, and watched the sun set over the gorgeous May River marshes – and the service was superb. I don’t think I did the best job ordering – I expected my poulet rouge to be fairly similar to a standard chicken, but it was a very unusual consistency – but John loved his meatballs.

All photos personal, except for second two, which are by Meredith Perdue

Of course, we only scratched the surface of the activities available during our short stay. From the spa, to the championship golf course, to kayaking, fishing, watersports, yoga, tennis, fitness classes, horseback riding, hiking, etc., etc., etc., you simply could not run out of things to do if you were to visit for a year. I did want to mention that we made it to the pool, and we found the view from our deck chairs so exquisitely beautiful that we didn’t want to nap for fear of missing a minute of soaking in the view! True story.

Photo by Meredith Perdue

Finally, it goes without saying that the service across the board at the Inn was second to none. Every staff member we came in contact with was gracious, friendly, attentive, and relaxed – exactly what you would hope for, and more. We also enjoyed meeting with Kelli, the Inn at Palmetto Bluff’s wedding guru. I have a hard time picturing a more scenic chapel than the one on the Palmetto village green, and after seeing it in person, I can see why so many wedding photographers list shooting a ceremony at Palmetto on their bucket list! You can find more information about holding your wedding at Palmetto at this link.

No matter where you hold your wedding, I could not recommend the Inn at Palmetto Bluff more highly for a honeymoon destination. In fact, John and I are seriously considering scrapping our France plans in favor of returning to Palmetto for a week – it’s really that amazing!! If y’all have any questions about our experience, don’t hesitate to ask. I would be happy to weigh in!

Big thanks to the Inn at Palmetto Bluff for hosting John and I! For more from our trip, be sure to check out the Honey List!

P.S. Many thanks to my friend Meredith Perdue for sharing her photos, as well! For another take on the Inn, I would highly recommend checking out Meredith’s posts about her experience in South Carolina!

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

Aren’t these photos by Cyn Kain just lovely? Kristy’s second suite was also flower-based, but this time focused on the blue hydrangea.

The gorgeous old trees of the South took center stage in suite number three. This one would be perfect for a backyard bash at the bride’s childhood home!

The last suite Kristy dreamed up was inspired by the iconic Southern fabric, seersucker. I love her artistic interpretation of this familiar material!

Huge thanks to Kristy and the Momental team for putting together these pieces, and to Cyn Kain for photographing them!

Tell me, belles: Have you purchased your wedding invitations yet? Where are they coming from?

Cyn Kain is a fabulous member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

That paper flower boutonniere is one of my favorite details from this shoot! Such a good idea.

Muchas gracias to Cat for sending this shoot our way!

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

Yes, you could wear some comfy sweats the morning of your wedding, and it’s totally fine if you go that route! But we happen to adore the beautiful prints and colors of Plum Pretty Sugar robes, and love how they look in photographs. Also, I love the idea of buying something special for the morning of your wedding, and then being reminded of that beautiful day every time you put it on for years to come.

Photo by 13:13 Photography via Southern Weddings

We’re particularly enamored with Plum Pretty Sugar’s new collection, Castelbel & Trumpet. These lovely pieces were a year in the making, and were created specifically to highlight a woman’s features. With such thoughtful attention to detail, these are truly heirloom designs! You can see all of them right here.

Tell me, ladies: How are you preparing for a joyous, calm wedding morning? Or if you’re already married, what made a difference on the morning of your wedding? Comment and let me know!

Dress: BHLDN // Hat: Louise Green // Gloves: Gaspar Gloves // Ring: Tacori

Dress: Tory Burch // Shoes: Seychelles // Hat: Louise Green // Earrings and Ring: Tacori // Necklace: Skinny by Jessica Elliot

On the left: Dress: Karen Walker // Gloves: Gaspar Gloves // Headband: Ban Do
On the right: Dress: BHLDN // Hat: Louise Green // Shoes: Poetic License // Jewelry: Tacori

Dress: Moschino // Shoes: Seychelles // Gloves: Gaspar Gloves // Hat: Louise Green // Jewelry: Tacori

A huge thank you to the talented vendors that brought this shoot to life!

How much do we adore these colorful bridesmaid dresses? A lot. A whole lot.

Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We did, and here is a snippet from Jon’s vows: “I promise to love you for who you are, but more than that, I promise to love you for who God has in mind for you to become and to spend my life challenging you to get there. I promise to cry with you over loss, and dance with you to celebrate life and I promise to try my best to always make you feel as pretty as you look right now. I promise to love you, really and truly love you, for the rest of my life.”

Who else loves Gabriella’s cute short dress? I went shopping with my mom and tried on a bunch of long dresses. The dresses were beautiful, but I would put them on and feel all stiff and awkward. When the woman brought out a cute, ‘50s-style short dress, I put in on and immediately started dancing. My mom knew that it would be the one we’d bring home that day.

One of my best friends growing up, Erin, spent days making a multicolored Day of the Dead cake. She also made about 100 buttercream cupcakes with quirky mustaches and sombreros to continue the Mexican theme.

How did the two of you meet? Jon and I met when we were studying abroad in Madrid, Spain. Though we both went to the same school in Florida, it took both of us traveling all the way over to Spain to meet.
Describe the proposal. I used to collect snow globes. Since my first job out of college involved me traveling all over the country, this collection started to get ridiculous. I ended up with an insane collection of around 75 snow globes of various sizes. When I moved from Boston to NY, the snow globes did not make the cut and were left in a storage unit I had commandeered in the basement of my apartment building. On a work trip to Boston, Jon secretly collected all 75 snow globes and brought them him on a vacation we had been planning to Tree Bones resort in Big Sur California. Like many fiancés to be, Jon did not sleep on the night before, and in the middle of the night he laid out snow globes of all the cities we had lived in or traveled to together. Each snow globe had a note explaining its place in our love story. On Easter morning, Jon woke me up at sunrise telling me the Easter bunny had come. As I found each snow globe and its note, I began to think this might be a little bigger than a normal Easter gift. The final snow globe I found was a cheesy, but amazing, custom-ordered snow globe with the first photo Jon could find of us together on one side and the most recent photo of us on the other. The placard under the photo read “Anywhere” and it was placed on the ridge overlooking California cliffs and the Pacific. Jon came from around the corner, and said something sweet and sentimental that neither of us can remember for one second because our hearts were beating so hard and we were so nervous. I do remember Jon asking if I would marry him. And I definitely remember saying yes.
In what month did you get married? March
How many guests attended your wedding? 160
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding. Our first dance was to “Breath of Love” by David Mayfield Parade and our last dance was to “Hey Jude” by the Beatles.
Describe your wedding flowers: They were bright, colorful gerbera daisies, carnations, and tissue-paper flowers.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: The colors. It felt very vibrant and lively. It felt like us. We also had a wall made of entirely paper flowers that my amazing girlfriends helped make – it was beautiful.
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? Definitely the barn! It was fun because Jon’s family is from Iowa and my family is Latin so we wanted to create an atmosphere that represented both of us – a Day of the Dead barn wedding.
What range did your wedding budget fall into? $10,000-$25,000
What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? Our photographer and photo booth.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Undoubtedly, our last song, “Hey Jude.” We had an enormous dance circle with all of our family and friends lifting us up in the air and dancing around us. It was pretty epic. Also, when I ripped my dress! Eeek! I was getting really deep in the classic “running man” and put my heel right through the back of my dress. My amazing Aunt Maggie was immediately to the rescue, pulling bobby pins from her hair and pinning the back of the dress up.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Just love it. Dance. And when it rains, dance and laugh. And don’t forget to eat something.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? We are slowly figuring out what we are supposed to do with the rest of our lives. But we get to do that together – which is really exciting.

Photographer: Bee Photographie // Videographer: Bee Photographie // Venue: Family friend’s barn // Florist: Ashton and Christy Mayer // Wedding Cake or Dessert Baker: Erin Gilbert // Salsa Favors: The Jam Stand // Caterer: Chef Scott // Bride’s Hair Accessories: Ashton Mayer // Bride’s Jewelry: Nordstrom // Hair Stylist: Stacey Wick // Makeup Artist: Kristy Alonzo

Top left photo by Michael + Anna Costa, red rose and calla lily bouquet by Elizabeth Messina via Wedding Chicks, middle left photo by Lyndah Wells via Style Me Pretty, middle right and bottom by Ali Harper

Bouquets, check. Moving on!

Gentleman in boutonniere photo by Ali Harper, red rose-lined aisle photo by Elizabeth Messina, red rose boutonniere photo by Michael + Anna Costa, red and pink centerpiece photo by Jenna Marie Photography via Style Me Pretty, simple rose centerpiece photo by Some.Sweet Photography, tall centerpiece photo by Elizabeth Messina via Wedding Chicks, low centerpiece and cake photos by Adam Barnes via Southern Weddings

What do you think, ladies? Would you use red roses in your wedding? Would you use only red roses? Comment and let me know, and stay tuned for another Derby-themed post soon!

P.S. Can’t wait for one more piece of Derby inspiration? Check out a favorite surprise wedding here + here!

Ali Harper and Adam Barnes are fabulous members of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

He helped me feed the kids and we both gave them baths together, and I think that was good for his heart. I cleaned up the dinner mess while he read bedtime books and tucked the kids in bed, making sure bunnies and Mr. Bears were in the appropriate arms before kissing them and turning out the light. And I think that was good for his soul.

By the time he came downstairs, he looked a little better. He opened a beer for us to share while he sat at the kitchen table watching me cook our dinner – his favorite, steaks and potatoes, a last minute change from my carefully planned weekly menu, because he looked like he could use a favorite.

As I moved easily around the kitchen, he told me about his day. About the terrible meeting where he’d let her go, about how hard it is to be the boss, about how he worried what this would do to the morale of the rest of the staff, about how guilty he felt. I really didn’t have to say too much. I knew he just needed someone to talk to, someone who loved him no matter what decisions he had to make. I offered a few words of encouragement, reminded him how proud I was of him for being such a kind person who even has these moments of doubt, but mostly, I was just there with him.

After dinner, we moved to the back deck and sat on our steps, talking about the kids and the upcoming visit from the Easter Bunny. I told him about a book I was reading, and he told me about a new kind of pool pump he thought we should get. We sat outside for an hour before we headed up to bed. Before he fell asleep, he told me he felt better and knew that he would sleep soundly. Before I fell asleep, my mind went back to my to do list, sitting on the kitchen counter, untouched all night. There wasn’t anything on that list that couldn’t wait, I decided, and I, too, slept soundly.

In the eight years that I have been married, I have learned that best laid plans are often set aside for the sake of my marriage. And I’ve learned that when I put other things before the needs of my husband and our relationship, everything just kind of falls apart.

At the core of everything in my life, there is my faith and there is my husband. I have other obligations, other priorities, other responsibilities, of course. But my marriage always comes first. It is the foundation on which everything else is built. I don’t feel bad when I put everything aside to sit and hold my husband’s hand. I don’t feel bad when I we occasionally get a sitter for the kids and have a date night. I don’t feel bad when I cancel other plans because I haven’t had a night at home with Chris in over a week. I don’t feel bad because I know that when my marriage is happy, everything else in my life is better.

We make time for the things that are important in our lives. I encourage you to make time for your marriage. Making your marriage a priority not only builds a solid foundation for your relationship, but it says to your spouse, “You are more important to me than anything else.” Love is strengthened over bathtubs full of kids, shared beers, and back deck conversations, I promise you.

Make your marriage a priority. If you don’t, who will?

See more from this lovely engagement session by Paige Elizabeth in its Facebook Friday album!

Vintage trophy cups, a brilliant red rose bouquet, chilled mint juleps, a merry Sperry tent set next to the racetrack… I’d say this is beautiful inspiration for a Southern wedding!

Credits:

Red rose bouquet photo by Ali Harper, vintage trophy cups photo by Heather Bullard, white hydrangea photo by Adam Barnes via Southern Weddings, tent photo by Jen Fariello via Style Me Pretty, red rose door from flickr, horse garland photo by Desi Baytan via Inspired by This on Lover.ly, red rose boutonniere photo by Ali Harper, elegant picnic lunch spread via Martha Stewart Weddings

P.S. Love the Derby? Stay tuned, because we have more posts coming your way this week! In the meantime, check out last year’s Derby inspiration boards:
Traditional
Whimsical

Ali Harper and Adam Barnes are fabulous members of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

The lovely bride, Carly, let us in on the inspiration behind these special favors:

“Since our Southern roots are deep, we wanted our guests to enjoy a something Southern with their family or friends when they returned home from our wedding. My grandmother always made homemade buttermilk biscuits for anyone who might drop by for a visit. I will always cherish the fun and memories of cooking with grandma, and we hope our guests can carry this tradition on in their families for year to come!”

Our thanks to CWF Photography for sharing these lovely images with us!

Martha Stewart Weddings and Stacy Able via Style Me Pretty

I would also love to set two small boxwood bushes on the steps of the chapel, just like we did for a Southern Weddings shoot last year. Love the addition of white blooms! We’re looking into the option of renting bushes from a home improvement or garden store to help keep costs down.

Katie Stoops via Southern Weddings (floral by Merriment Events) and via Southern Exposures

After the ceremony, it’s on to cocktail hour! This happy event will take place on a wide porch and the lawn in front of it at our reception site (see this post again for a refresher). Here, we’ll have a few high-top tables decked out in beautiful linen from La Tavola. In fact, the linen we’re using from La Tavola is largely the basis for our color scheme. It’s a little pricy, so we’re using it sparingly, but the color is perfection – so much so, that I’ve been carrying my swatch around with me for the past eight months, so that I can whip it out at a moment’s notice to illustrate a point or judge the color of a potential purchase! Yes, I am slightly ridiculous. Prior to making a decision, I requested several samples, and our linen of choice is the one in the bottom right corner – Tuscany Ocean.

In person, it’s a bit lighter than it looks in this photo – the color is actually somewhere more in between what’s shown here and the top left linen.

I’m not positive, but I think this might be it in action:

Jose Villa via Style Me Pretty and Jonathan Canlas via Snippet & Ink

We’re going to keep things nice and simple at cocktail hour (trusting that guests will be so interested in arriving at the reception site, mingling with each other, and eating delicious food that they won’t notice much else!). We’ll put a few votive candles on each high top, and that’s it! No florals here. We’ll also have our guest book and a limited bar to keep guests interested.

Once cocktail hour is finished, we’ll invite guests into our Sperry tent (yay!). As we discussed before, we’ll be having a mix of different seating options – high-top tables, small rounds, and lounge furniture. Our florist will be putting together lovely small arrangements for the high-tops and round tables, as well as low, longer arrangements for the tables in our lounge areas. Here are a few images that are inspiring me:

From top to bottom: Michael + Anna Costa (flowers by Florette), Poppies & Posies, Virgil Bunao via Southern Weddings, Jodi Miller Photography, Lisa Lefkowitz via Snippet & Ink (flowers by Ariella Chezar), Martha Stewart Weddings

Note that these examples aren’t so much about colors, but more about styles and flowers I enjoy.

One project my family and I have been busy as bees with is collecting silver pieces to house the centerpieces. It’s been a group effort, and I’m happy to say we’re just about finished! (If you’d like the back story on how and where we’re finding these pieces, you can check here, here, and here.) I don’t want the reception to have a vintage look overall, so we’re hunting down clean, stream-lined pieces that are in good shape (i.e. no banged up teapots). Here are a few images that are inspiring me:

Thuss + Farrell, Picotte Weddings, Jessica Claire (flowers by Flowerwild), Steve Steinhardt (flowers by Holly Flora via Inspired By This)

Besides the guest areas, we’ll also have at least one bar and several food tables, and probably a favor and dessert area. Our caterer is exceptionally good at food presentation, so I’m not too worried about adding additional decor to the food tables. I will be creating some signage and other little touches, though (but you knew that already, right?). I’m also considering adding some greenery arrangements to these areas, but I haven’t discussed this yet with my florist, so I’m not sure what the pricing would be. Some inspiration:

Top and right by Adrian Tuazon via 100 Layer Cake, left by Lisa Berry (flowers by Blush Floral Design)

And that’s about that! What do you think? What sorts of flowers will you have at your reception? Are you having any decor at your ceremony?

Up next: Accessories! Shoes, veil, jewelry… fun, fun, fun!

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!
We discuss bouquets + boutonnieres
We send out our save the dates
I gather hair and makeup inspiration
We talk cake and sweets
I introduce you to our videographer
We create a registry
We buy a tuxedo