A. Savannah Bee Company Honey. Savannah Bee Company is a small company based in Savannah who produce the finest, most natural honey products available. ($9.00 for gift pouch with honey and lip balm)

B. Low Country Luxe Candles. Their Signature Scents Soy Candle Collection features scents like Spanish Moss, Savannah and Living in High Cotton. ($35.00 for an 8oz candle)

C. Bath Fizzies. Homemade and handcrafted natural bath products in downtown Savannah! ($3.00 per fizzie)

D. Green Cardigan. This green cardigan with pearl buttons would be a wonderful gift for the members of your bridal party, especially if the wedding takes place around St. Patrick’s Day, as Savannah has one of the largest parades in the United States! (Cardigan can be purchased at BleuBelle Boutique)

E. Paula Deen’s Southern Cooking Bible. A staple for any Southern kitchen. ($29.99 for a signed copy at the Paula Deen Store)

F. Pecan Pralines. Delicious pralines from Savannah Candy Kitchen. (around $17.95 a lb)

G. Gift Certificate to Leopold’s Ice Cream. The best ice cream in Savannah – a perfect snack for a hot summer day! (Price varies)

H. Key lime Coolers. Byrd Cookie Company has been a Savannah tradition since 1924, providing tasty Southern-style treats for every occasion. ($9.95 per tin)

I. Savannah Note Cards. This card set features some original pen and ink drawings of the fountains at Forsyth Park, Lafayette Square, Columbia square and Bonvaventure Cemetery. ($12.00 set of 8 cards and envelopes)

J. Girl Scout Cookies. Savannah is the birthplace of Juliette Gordon Low, the founder of the Girls Scouts of the USA. Each year, about 65,000 visitors travel to the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace in Savannah. (Price varies)

K. Visit Savannah Visitor Guide. This guide provides great information on attractions, restaurants and activities for visitors. (Free, and available to view online)

L. Trolley Tour of Savannah. Taking a trolley tour of Savannah is a wonderful way to be able to see the sights and learn about this historic city. You should also take a night-time ghost tour to hear some of the stories behind America’s Most Haunted City. ($51.00 for deluxe package which includes regular tour, haunted tour and Davenport Museum Ticket)

M. A copy of “The Book”. Based in Savannah, the successful NY Times Bestselling book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil has brought hundreds of thousands of tourists to the area to in order to visit the sights made famous by this book. ($15.00 soft back)

We paired our expert’s picks with this classic design from Emily of emma j design. Want a tote of your own? Simply download the PDF here and take it to your local screenprinter. Thanks, Emily!

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

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

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

A. Tupelo Honey Cookbook. Tupelo Honey is one of the most popular restaurants in town and this cookbook features all their favorite recipes for good ole’ southern cuisine. ($34.94)

B. Gift certificate to 12 Bones. They arguably have the best BBQ in town and maybe in the Southeast. President Obama has stopped by twice to sample their tasty treats. The blueberry chipotle sauce is a must try! (price varies)

C. Locally grown honey from Sweet Betty Bee’s farm. Need I say any more? ($72.00 per case of 24 1.5 oz. jars)

D. Go Local gear. Asheville supports a strong climate of buying local and staying local. Go local, love Asheville t-shirts are the perfect way to embrace Asheville’s culture. (price varies)

E. Biltmore Estate tickets and a bottle of their wonderful wine! Explore George Vanderbilt’s extraordinary home, beautiful gardens, and Antler Hill Village & Winery while you are in Asheville! (price varies)

F. Gaelic Ale Mustard from Crooked Condiments. A smooth, thick mustard with a touch of heat and a touch of sweet featuring Asheville’s very own Highland Gaelic Ale. ($3.95 for 4 oz.)

G. Beer! Asheville has earned the title of “Beer City USA” for three years in a row. With fourteen breweries located in the region, beer is the perfect gift to include in your guest tote. The first brewery in Asheville was Highland Brewery. Try their Gaelic Ale or one of their many seasonal beers. Or, if you love beer so much that you want to experience all that Asheville has to offer, try the Asheville Brews Cruise. (price varies)

H. Apple. Western North Carolina is home to a large crop of apple growers. Enjoy one of our delicious varieties of apples in your welcome bag. (price varies)

I. French Broad Chocolates. Who doesn’t love chocolate? French Broad Chocolates quickly became one of the hottest downtown spots pairing a love for chocolate and their lounge. They are world famous for the truffles! (price varies)

J. Asheville area notecards by local artist, Jeff Pittman. Write individual notes to each of your guests or give each of them a set to include in their welcome gift. ($25.00 for pack of 10)

We paired our experts’ picks with this cool design from Mink Letterpress. Want a tote of your own? Simply download the PDF here and take it to your local screenprinter. Thanks, Nicole!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A. Bar of Sweeteeth Chocolate. Local chocolatier, Johnny Battles, whips up small-batch chocolate bars that are to die for! Charlotte’s absolute favorite is the “Sea is for Caramel” bar. The wrapper has adorable little drawings to boot. ($5.00 for 1 bar)

B. Sweetgrass Palmetto Rose. The Sweetgrass baskets have been a part of Charleston/Mt. Pleasant culture for more than 300 years! Throwing in a palmetto rose would be a cute touch! ($10.00 for 6)

C. Copy of Charleston Magazine. I can’t think of a better introduction to this beautiful and vibrant town. Charlotte subscribes to this mag and reads it cover to cover every month. There is an extensive calendar of events at the back of the mag that your guests can use as a guideline for their weekend. ($7.95 for 1 magazine)

D. Copy of Charleston Art Mag. It’s the best guide to Charleston’s creative scene, including information about Charlotte’s favorite aspect of town: The French Quarter Art Galleries. (free)

E. South Carolina Magnet. A South Carolina or Charleston specific magnet would be a cute souvenir to throw in your hospitality tote. You could even look into printing custom magnets or stickers. (price varies)

F. Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka. Crafted in a small still on Wadamalaw Island (say it with me now: wah-dah-maw-law), Firefly tastes like sweet tea but has a big kick! Charlotte and her husband keep a bottle in the fridge during the summer for when unexpected visitors pop by. They serve it over ice with a splash of water and lemon. ($20.00 for 1 liter, but can purchase airplane bottles for sampling)

G. Charleston Tea Plantation Loose Tea. Charlotte’s personal favorite is the peach. This would be especially perfect for the couple that marries at the tea plantation! ($9.95 for 1.6 oz. of tea)

H. Carolina Plantation Stone Ground Grits. Need I say more? It’s the South, y’all! Attach a personalized recipe card to add a touch of personalization. ($6.00 for a 1 lb bag)

I. Benne Wafers from Olde Colony Bakery. No hospitality tote would be complete without Benne Wafers. Benne, which means sesame, was brought from East Africa and planted extensively throughout the South. These sweet and salty wafers have been unique to the Low Country since colonial times. They are delicious and buttery! ($3.50 for a 5 oz. bag)

J. Custom Map from Studio R. I love it when a hospitality tote includes a menu of events or recommendations of places to eat and drink chosen by the bride and groom. Why not come up with your own map of things to do and places to see as well as an itinerary of where to be and when? Charlotte’s friend, Rachael Blessinger can help you come up with a one-of-a-kind illustration. (prices vary)

K. Tickets for a Bicycle Taxi Ride. Why not coordinate 1 free Rickshaw Ride for your guests with one of the local pedicab companies? Design your own “pedicab pass!” ($5.00 for 15 minutes, not including tip)

You can check out even more of Charlotte’s favorite things here!

We paired these expert picks with a tote design by Sarah Reed of Dodeline Design. Is this not just adorable? You can download it here to take to your local screen printer for a tote of your own. Thank you, Sarah!

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

Dodeline Design is a member of our fabulous Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

Check out past totes:
Nashville
Atlanta
Austin
Richmond
Emerald Coast

In February, my boyfriend Michael and I were so lucky to get away for the weekend to the Red Horse Inn, a AAA Four Diamond bed and breakfast sitting on nearly 200 acres in Landrum, SC. To give you an idea of where that is (since we are located four hours away in Chapel Hill and were unfamiliar with the area!), Landrum is in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, in the South Carolina Upstate. The Red Horse Inn is less than an hour south of Asheville, NC, and less than an hour north of Greenville and Spartanburg, SC. I don’t know about y’all, but for me, there is a point in the winter when a getaway is absolutely necessary. We were fortunate enough to go around Valentine’s Day, knocking two birds out with one stone!

The estate is tucked away on a long gravel drive surrounded by trees and ponds. When we pulled up to the front of the picturesque main inn and started to get out of the car, we were immediately greeted by Mary and Roger, the owners. They were so friendly that it was like visiting old friends or relatives! They gave us a little information and handed over the key to our private cottage, The Grainary. They also explained that they wouldn’t be bothering us unless we needed something. Housekeeping was optional, and breakfast was already in the cottage. Their goal is to give you the maximum amount of privacy, and facilitate a romantic, relaxing stay.

The Inn itself has six rooms. Each suite is decorated in a different style, and has a fireplace, kitchen closet and whirlpool. Two of the larger rooms open up to patios shielded by vine-draped arbors. The Inn also offers packages where guests can choose to make their stay even more romantic with the addition of things like a four-course candlelit dinner served in the privacy of your cottage, or ordering roses, champagne or chocolate-covered strawberries to have when you arrive. We didn’t try either, but I think they’d be perfect for a honeymoon or special anniversary trip!

In addition to the main inn, there are also six Victorian cottages (charming white houses with green tin roofs), that are located about half a mile away, and this is where we stayed. Each cottage has a kitchen, bedroom, bath, living room with a fireplace, and front porch complete with rocking chairs. Our cottage even had a private outdoor hot tub! The cottages have high ceilings and large windows which fill the rooms with blissful natural light.

One thing we couldn’t help but notice right away was how well thought out the details in the cottage were. For example, there was a little basket of washcloths that said something along the lines of, “Use these to wipe the dew off your rockers in the morning.” Isn’t that adorable? As we put our luggage down, we looked out the window to see the sun setting behind the mountains in the distance. It was so peaceful and romantic!

That night we had reservations at Stone Soup. Since Landrum is considered “horse country,” the walls were covered with equestrian photos and gear that celebrated the community. We loved that! The layout was so cozy and really felt like you were fine-dining in a friend’s nice home. Michael had the North Carolina cornmeal crusted trout (which I also tried and was delicious!), with succotash and mixed greens with buttermilk dressing. I had a delicious mixed green salad with cranberries and almonds and the half-chicken.

Saturday was packed full of adventure. We started with breakfast in our cottage at our leisure, then went on a self-guided driving tour of bridges in the area. Our favorite was Poinsett Bridge, the oldest bridge in South Carolina, built in 1820. Next, we drove up to Caesar’s Head State Park, which is deemed one of the best panoramic views in the Blue Ridge Mountains, at 3,266 ft. On this particular morning, it was raining and quite foggy. Therefore, when we finally reached the lookout, we couldn’t see even ten feet in front of us! We’ll definitely have to try again on a different day.

We then went to Victoria Valley Vineyard, a forty-seven acre site, styled after a French “chateau.” We had paninis from the deli on the terrace, experienced our first wine tasting (we pretended like we knew what we were doing!) and lastly, went on a tour of the vineyard and learned how the wine was made. From the vineyard, we went to The DuPont Forest and hiked around three waterfalls. The highest was appropriately named High Falls, a 150-foot cascade. While we would have loved to hike even more, we didn’t want to be late for our dinner reservation!

That night, we had dinner at Zenzera, a Tuscan-themed restaurant with live music. The restaurant is located in downtown Landrum, nestled among a strand of unique shops and antique stores. We had a separate map of all the antique stores in the area, but we just didn’t have the time to fit shopping in. Michael ordered the Pesto Fettuccine Alfredo, and I got the Shrimp & Grits. The dish was very different than the Shrimp & Grits I’ve had before – it was served in a big bowl with shrimp, grits, peppers, mushrooms, spinach and white cheddar all mixed together, almost like a thick soup. It was tasty!

Overall, we had such a wonderful visit. If the Red Horse Inn was this enjoyable in the winter, I can only imagine how beautiful it would be in the summer or fall! It was obvious that Mary and Roger developed their property with couples in mind, and we think they succeeded. Judging from the countless comments we read in their guest books (dating back to 1995!), I’d say we aren’t the only ones! If you’re a Southern bride not looking for the typical tropical honeymoon, this could be a good option for you. It’s peaceful, romantic and not too far away from city centers like Asheville.

We are so thankful for the Southern hospitality shown to us on our trip! Photos are courtesy of the Red Horse Inn, except for the last four which are my personal photos.

P.S. Take a trip over to The Honey List to get the scoop on even more lovely properties!

P.P.S. Brides, did you have a fabulous honeymoon? Email Marissa and let us know! Properties, want to get involved? Shoot Marissa an email, and let’s chat!

A. Personalized Aqua Ball Cap. These are on the pricier side, so consider including them just in your bridal party’s totes. ($24.00)

B. Neon Rubber Sunglasses. Customize with your own text! ($1.22)

C. La Fresh Sunscreen SPF30 Travel Wipes. ($9.99 for 30 count)

D. Salt Water Taffy from Panama City Beach. If you’re feeling really clever, pick out flavors that match your wedding colors. ($7.00 for 7 oz)

E. Florida Citrus. A tangerine, clementine, or orange is the perfect refreshing treat. (price varies)

F. Gift certificate for coffee at Modica Market. Modica is the adorable grocer on the town square in Seaside, which some may recognize from The Truman Show! (price varies)

G. Paper Parasol. These are perfect for strolling along the beach, or shading the sun at an outdoor ceremony! ($6.95)

H. Old Navy Classic Flip-Flops. ($2.50 each if you buy 2 or more!)

I. Gummy Alligators Candy. ($6.98 for 12 packs of 2.25 oz bags)

J. Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Cheddar Crackers. ($31.97 for 72 count)

K. Bike Rental Pass from Sunny Days Bikes & Kayaks. ($20.00 for single speed beach cruiser)

L. Custom Beach Wedding Stickers ($5.00 for 24 count)

We paired Victoria’s expert picks with a custom tote design from another Florida resident, Emily Ley, who grew up in Pensacola! Want one? Simply download the overlay here and take it to your local screen-printer. Thank you for the fun, bright design, Emily!

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

Check out past totes:
Nashville
Atlanta
Austin
Richmond

Carillon Weddings is a Southern Weddings sponsor!

1. Location, location, location – Be sure that you go out of the house somewhere for this discussion. For one thing, it keeps you from fighting about anything you might disagree on. You have to be polite and cooperative if you’re in public. Mostly though, going out to eat somewhere gives the dinner and conversation a sense of lightheartedness. Get dressed up, get a babysitter (if applicable), put on your favorite dress, wear his favorite perfume. It’s much easier to talk about your family budget if you look great, feel desirable, and are having fun. Also, be sure you pick a location that is conducive to enjoying yourselves and having an intimate conversation. For some, this might be a quiet booth at a sports bar and for others this might be a swanky hotel bar. Chris and I just went out to a quaint sushi restaurant on the beach for ours this year. Candle light on the table made even discussions about difficult subjects seem romantic.

2. Focus on certain topics – State of the Unions given by presidents are clearly organized, focused, and precise. State of the Unions given by married couples should be the same. This isn’t the time to drag every small issue in your marriage out of the closet. (That’s what holidays are for…just kidding…kind of…) This conversation should be focused on the big picture, not the nitty gritty. Topics that should definitely be discussed include:

a. Make a financial plan for the coming year. Include what you each prioritize for the coming year, goals you want to achieve, and a plan for how to reach those goals. If you have a major event coming up in the new year, such as a wedding or the birth of a baby, this is a good time to talk about how you’ll prepare for those things financially.

b. As uncomfortable as it sounds, you need to talk about how happy each of you were in the past year with your marriage. And then – this is equally, if not more important – you need to talk about why you felt that way. This doesn’t have to be an emotional or dramatic conversation, either. If you have trouble starting this part, ask your partner to score on a scale of one to ten how happy they were with your relationship last year. Then, talk about why they gave it that score. When you’ve talked about their view, give your own score and tell why. The point of this discussion isn’t to change each other’s mind or to point blame about anything. The point is to see where you are each starting the new year. You can’t move forward if you don’t know where the starting line is.

No matter where you are, what you’re wearing, or what topics you decide to talk about, the overarching rule of State of the Union dinners is to listen. Listen to what your partner says. At our State of the Union dinner with my husband this year, he said that he needed more from me. It was hard to hear and I wanted to immediately snap back with a list of the times that I had needed more from him, too. But this dinner isn’t about pointing fingers or hurting each other’s feelings. It’s about really hearing the needs of your partner and voicing your own needs, and then it’s about making a plan to move forward and meet those needs. So, when my husband said he needed more from me, we spent a little bit talking about exactly what he needed from me. Was it more time? More chores? More effort? Turns out, he just needed more attention from me. He felt like I was giving it all to the kids and he was being left out. I would have never known he felt like that if I hadn’t stopped to really hear him. Now, that’s something that I can focus on changing in the new year.

I think for many married couples, we wait until there is a problem before talking about the state of our relationship, but that is being reactive in your marriage and not proactive. This year, as you kick off 2012 with resolutions of more time at the gym and more organized filing cabinets at work, be sure that you set some good resolutions to help move your marriage forward, too. Knowing the state of your union before the new year begins is the first step towards making this the best year yet!

Love all things Katie? Past columns for Southern Weddings:
Change is the Name of the (Newlywed) Game
My Wedding Registry Changed My Life
Working it Out With the In-Laws
Managing Your Money
Come on Baby, Light My Fire
On Moving

All photos by Oh, Darling! Photography. See more on their blog here!

Oh, Darling! is a fabulous member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

The fabulously talented Joni from Chocolate Butterbean designed this Southern beauty for us, and that’s me modeling one on the right! (Thanks to my brother for the photo!) Belles, if you aren’t familiar yet with Joni’s work, you MUST drop what you’re doing and head to her site this instant. She whips up the most wonderful (and Southern!) custom invitation suites and wooden signs. Anyone who owns a copy of V4 has seen her handiwork in action Joni made our Beau Bar sign!

Now for the good part: here’s how you can get your hands on one!

Starting today, with the purchase of five or more magazines, you will receive this limited edition “Sweet as a Peach” Southern Weddings tote bag FREE with your box of magazines! No telling how fast they’ll go, so this offer is only available while supplies last!

A. Petites Bouchées Macarons. French macarons made locally in Richmond by Veronica Perez. Can be made to coordinate with your wedding colors! (priced per order)

B. Popptags. These quirky, letterpress gift tags are made by my friend, Anya in Richmond. Anya also takes custom orders and could personalize a tag for your wedding using your logo, monogram, etc. ($9.95 for 3 or priced per custom order)

C. A Bottle of Virginia Wine. A bottle of wine would be lovely paired with a custom wine tag from Popptags (above). Wine can be purchased locally in bulk from Once Upon a Vine. (price varies)

D. Carriage House Cheese Straws. No self respecting Southerner would ever entertain without cheese straws! These are made here in Richmond. ($6.95 for 6 oz bag)

E. Blanchard’s Coffee. Roasted in Richmond. (price varies)

F. A Ticket for a Trolley Tour. Richmond was one of the first cities in the country to travel by electric street car, and this year, the trolley is making its return to Richmond. Wouldn’t it be lovely to treat guests to a trolley tour of historic Richmond? (custom pricing)

G. Hub’s Virginia Peanuts. (price varies)

H. Chocolate Cravings. Made here in Richmond, it’s truly some of the best chocolate you’ll ever taste! Wouldn’t it be fun to work with the owner to concoct a signature flavor for your wedding? (price varies)

I. Route 11 Chips. Made in Virginia and a staple locally. ($35.00 for a case of 30 2 oz bags)

J. Richmond Gungho Guide. The definitive pocket guide to Richmond produced locally by Kelly Brown. (free)

K. A Copy of Virginia Living Magazine. ($4.95)

L. Lavender Fields Farm Roobios Loose Tea. Perfect for pairing with Lavender Fields honey! ($6.00 for 2 oz bag of tea, $7.50 for 8 oz jar of honey)

M. RVA Playing Cards from Quirk Gallery. 52 reasons to love Richmond from 52 Richmond insiders. ($9.95 for pack)

N. Virginia is For Lovers Pencils. ($49.90 for 100)

We paired Courtney’s expert picks with a custom tote design from another Richmond native, Lauren of Lauren O’Neill Design, who designed this adorable Richmond is for Lovers tote for us! Want one? Simply download the overlay here and take it to your local screen-printer. Thank you for the fun design, Lauren!

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

Check out past totes:
Nashville
Atlanta
Austin

Y’all have been such a hoot to get to know with our Sit a Spell Series! We’d love to bond a little more, so over the next few weeks, each of us will be giving you a look into our dream wedding — what our inspiration is, what we’d want to wear, and the great Southern traditions we’d love to include. Next up? Sierra’s Southern wedding!

It’s started: My friends are already asking me what type of wedding I want to have. And man, that is a good question! I feel like working for a wedding magazine and blog, you start to like many different things things you would never have considered before. You’re exposed to so much that you could really go in a few different directions for your own wedding. Oh yes, and those friends? They’ve also begun teasing that they’re not inviting me to their weddings because they won’t be as nice as those featured on SW (I’m sure they’re only joking about the invite!)

When putting together these boards, I told Emily that I wish I could wait until after the V4 real wedding posts went out on the blog, because they were ALL I could think about for my inspiration! (I particularly loved Katie + Max, Camille + Mark and Jodi + Kurt’s!).

Now I just need to find a dapper Southern gentleman! Any suggestions?

Image credit from left to right and top to bottom: Braedon Flynn, Clary Photo, Jill Thomas, Vue Photography, Spindle Photography, Leila Peterson via Wedding Chicks, 1313 Photography

Tell us the basics. Where do you want to get married and when? How many people would you invite? I would like to get married near the beach but not on the beach (that way, family and friends could head over and have some fun during the wedding weekend – no sunburns, please). Current possibilities are Charleston, Savannah or Wilmington. I would guess 100-150 people and in the spring or early summer.

What’s your design inspiration and color palette? I based my color palette off a combo I saw somewhere that included tan, a soft yellow, peach, coral and light blue. My dream wedding would be light, fun and crafty. In the office a year or so ago, we went around and defined what we thought each person’s wedding style would be for a branding exercise. The girls said they pictured something natural for me, and I agree. I don’t want anything too over the top.

What details and traditions would you include in your ceremony? Ideally, I would love for my wedding ceremony to be in a church or on the grounds of a plantation with a beautiful altar setup. The men would certainly be wearing bow ties. There would be a bluegrass band, Southern-inspired programs, and I just loved the monogrammed handkerchief idea in V4!

What dress would you wear? I am completely devastated that Priscilla of Boston is closing because I wanted to wear a Priscilla of Boston gown. They seem to be perfect for Southern brides not too crazy and very classic. Would it be absurd for me to buy one about three years in advance? Generally, I like dresses with a little bit of lace and/or beading, but with an overall elegant aesthetic. I don’t want to have a dress that wears me, you know?

A. Whole Foods Gift Card for lunch at the store. Whole Foods started in Austin, and their flagship store located downtown is the perfect place for guests to grab a bite to eat!

B. El Milagro Tortilla Chips. They’re made right here in Austin! ($1.95)

C. Guero’s Salsa. Guero’s Taco Bar is an Austin favorite for great food and live music. Their famous salsa makes the perfect addition to any Austin bag! ($2.69)

D. Tito’s Vodka Mini Bottle (50 ml). Tito’s Vodka is made right here and is a staple at all local bars and restaurants. ($7.59)

E. Austin Nuts Deluxe Nut Mix in the Texas Container. Austin Nuts is known for their unique dry roasting process and has a wide variety of delicious options! ($22.99)

F. Austin TX Button. An Austin button or magnet would be an easy add to a city-themed tote. ($1.00)

G. University of Texas H2Orange Water Bottles. A portion of all sales of this water go to scholarship programs at The University of Texas. ($12.99 for a pack of 12)

H. Texas Bluebonnet Seeds. Visitors to Austin can take a little piece of Texas with them! The bluebonnet is the Texas state flower, and a wonderful and lasting gift. ($1.44)

I. Sweet Leaf Tea. Sweet Leaf Tea is brewed right here in Austin, where the company began!
($19.44 for 12-pack)

J. Tiff’s Treats Two Cookie Box. This cookie delivery service started in Austin and is a favorite of locals and visitors! ($3.00)

K. Keep Austin Weird Tie Dye T-shirt. The Keep Austin Weird campaign supports local businesses and has become an Austin staple. ($19.99)

L. Tickets to Antone’s Nightclub. The first club that opened on famous 6th street in Austin still hosts a variety of live music acts. ($10.00)

M. Kerby Lane Pancake Mix. Kerby Lane Café is one of Austin’s most popular restaurants. Open 24-hours, they serve breakfast around the clock and are famous for their pancakes! ($4.99)

N. LiveStrong Wristbands. Austin is home to Lance Armstrong and his Livestrong foundation. All proceeds from the sales of this bracelet go to support Livestrong programs and services for cancer survivors. ($1.00)

O. Legends of Texas Barbecue Cookbook. No trip to Texas is complete without a little education in Bar-B-Q! This is one of our favorite cookbooks on the subject. ($12.97)

P. Longhorns from Lammes Candy Co. Local candy company Lammes makes these appropriately named Longhorns, a local favorite. ($29.65 for 12 oz. box)

Q. Salt Lick Original Bar-B-Q Sauce 12oz jar. Sauce from one of Austin’s most famous Bar-B-Q restaurants! ($19.95 case of 3 bottles dry rub and sauce)

The girls at Caplan Miller joined forces with the talented Lauren Cunningham of The Creative Parasol, who designed this adorable Austin tote for us! Simply download the overlay here and take it to your local screen-printer. Thank you, Lauren!

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

Check out past totes:
Nashville
Atlanta

Welcome to the second installment of our Southern Hospitality feature! Each month, we pick a Southern city and an expert host. Our host shares their favorite items custom to that city that would be perfect packed into a welcome bag for family and friends at a weekend wedding. Just one more perk of attending a destination wedding!

This month, we’re featuring a city near and dear to my heart: Atlanta! Much of my extended family lives in the area, and there is a huge Georgia (UGA) vs. Georgia Tech rivalry among my relatives… my grandparents are such super fans, they own a bulldog. (Can anyone else relate?!)

This month’s expert was our good friend Carlee Sizemore of High Cotton Event Design, who I had the pleasure of working with at a V4 shoot in Charleston this summer. Below are Carlee’s picks for an Atlanta tote bag we know you’ll love them!

A. Atlanta letterpress postcard. Include a postcard stamp so guests can easily pop them in the mail from their hotel! ($3.50 each)

B. Tickets to the Georgia Aquarium, the largest aquarium in the world. (varies)

C. Atlanta Coasters featuring famous Peachtree landmarks. ($8 each or 4 for $29.99)

D. Georgia Cutting Board. We love the state-specific designs! ($40)

E. Sublime Donuts, a true Georgia treasure with flavors like chocolate banana fritter (available Elvis style), chocolate wildberry and Nutella (varies)

F. Atlanta Kitchens: Recipes from Atlanta’s Best Restaurants. For the foodies. ($21.90)

G. Gift Certificate to The Varsity, which boasts of being “the world’s largest drive-in”! (varies)

H. Tickets to the World of Coca-Cola tour. Only appropriate when visiting the birthplace of Coke! ($16.00)

I. A copy of Gone with the Wind. This classic by Margaret Mitchell is partially set in Atlanta. ($9.49)

J. SweetWater Brewery tickets a glimpse inside one of Atlanta’s favorite homegrown brewing establishments. (Tours are free, but $8 gets you a souvenir SweetWater pint glass and six tickets for 5.5oz samples of SweetWater’s brews)

K. Emily G’s Jam of Love ($8.00). An Atlanta favorite, featured in the V3 wedding of Ali + Matt (see here + here!).

Carlee joined forces with her talented friend Joni of Chocolate Butterbean to create THE cutest Atlanta peach tote. Simply download the overlay here and take it to your local screen-printer.

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

Check out past totes:
Nashville

From the Nashville area and have additional suggestions to add to our Nashville tote? What did you love about Nashville if you’ve visited before?

Have a city in mind for future posts? Let us know!

Hello, ladies + gents! Now that we have our super-fab team photos back from the amazing Millie Holloman, we thought we’d do some proper introductions! Some of us you’ve already met, some of us you may be meeting for the first time but after this little Sit a Spell series, we hope you’ll feel like you know us even better! First we had Nicole, and now it’s Sierra’s turn! Her graphics skills are astounding, and her personality is even sweeter. I’m thrilled for you to meet Sierra! Emily

Happy Friday, y’all! Having been at Southern Weddings for 10 months, I thought it was high time to introduce myself, seeing as I’m more often found behind the scenes! Curious about what I do all day? I’m the girl behind most of the SW imagery – from column headers, to sidebar buttons, to giveaway graphics. I’m also heading up layout and page design for our next issue, Southern Weddings V4. (I cannot WAIT to share what I’ve been working on all summer!) But let’s get started, shall we?

1. If I could do it again, I’d do it the same. Growing up, my family moved around multiple times, and strangely enough, it’s been in a pattern – North (MA), South (TN), North (or Midwest OH), and South (NC). While I gave my parents a good amount of grief (sorry Mom and Dad!) about making me leave my friends and all that was familiar, looking back, I appreciate the change. If it wasn’t for moving, I would not have met all the people I know and love today. I would not be working on this amazing publication and, most importantly, I might never have broken out of my shell.

2. I was named after a mountain range. Can you say the same? Ever since I can remember, I haven’t really liked my name. I still don’t. I’ve heard of or met 5-10 girls named Sierra in my entire life. My parents, who both have ordinary names, wanted to name my brother and me something unique that had to do with the outdoors. No surprise, then, that I am part of a major Scouting family: my father and brother are both Eagle Scouts, my dad is a freelance photographer for the National Boy Scouts, and my brother is a ranger at Philmont Scout Ranch in NM (we’re actually visiting him next week!).

3. In a previous life I was a competitive figure skater. Yep, I had the nice skates, the velvet leotards and a spiffy rolling backpack. And until middle school, I spent many hours of my life at the rink. (I’m still a good skater when I go with friends about once a year.) My favorite routine was to the Mulan soundtrack!

4. I’m a country music fan. I like other genres of music (I really enjoy reggae), but – let me know if any of you feel the same – I like that country music ties me to my roots. It’s something that I’m proud of. Ever since I was in a stroller, my parents took me to see my grandparents when they were at Fan Fair (now the CMA Music Festival) or when they (my grandparents) were touring as part of the Camping Dancers, a square dancing group that traveled around in RVs and performed at different places. Really!

5. I can’t cook, but I love to eat. Although both of my grandmothers are known for being wonderful Southern cooks, somehow that trailed off with my mom and me. (For example, my mom said she is pretty good at boiling water.) What I’ve learned to cook so far? Strawberry drizzle cake, pecan pie, pumpkin cookies and deviled eggs. Like I said, though, I love to eat! My dad makes the best grits, and I don’t eat them without adding cheese, crispy bacon, scrambled eggs, butter and a touch of salt and pepper in there. My friends from Ohio make fun of grits (so did Emily at our office meeting!). Those Northerners just don’t understand!

6. I have worked in the frozen dessert industry for almost eight years. At age 15, I worked at a pizza place that served gelato. In middle and high school, I worked at TCBY (frozen yogurt). And in college, the jobs naturally led me to be the campus manager of Smitty’s Homemade Ice Cream. I even roped my boyfriend into the business! I recommend White Chocolate Mousse from TCBY or Carolina Blue Chip from Smitty’s.

7. My car has 365,000 miles on it. When I say my car, I actually mean my family’s car a ’91 Jeep Cherokee that we’ve all driven at some point (Emily can relate). Though I love the Jeep, it’s had its incidents. For example, in high school, the driver’s door fell off one day before school started. I just put it back on, locked it and went to class before the late bell! It’s been around so long that it’s like a member of our family!

8. You won’t find me without a cardigan. No matter what season it is, you will probably find me wearing one (like now as I’m writing this post in the middle of the summer). I don’t know how I acquired such a collection –- probably from visiting J.Crew outlets but the only colors I am missing are red, black, navy, orange and off white. When my hair is in a low bun (called my “wedding bun” by friends), add a pair of glasses, and you might mistake me for your grandma.

9. I started as the mail girl here at Southern Weddings. One fateful day, Lara emailed me and asked if I would forward a posting to UNC students about a month-long position, starting that week, to help get V3 orders out the door. Before sending it to 400+ people, I emailed back offering to do it myself! I started the next day, mailed hundreds of magazines and wrote personal notes until my hand fell off, but 10 months later, I’m still here! (And taking care of much more than the mail.) My recent tasks have even included modeling!

10. In ten years, I want to be happily married and in the process of starting a family. I also hope to own my own business. (I just need to determine what type of business that would be!) For now though, I continue falling more in love with the wedding industry each and every day. I am lucky to be able to interact with such talented vendors, such stunning and personable brides and such energetic and loyal readers. Y’all make me smile!

Read more about me here!

Do we have something in common? Introduce yourself in the comments below!

Here at Southern Weddings, we take pride in our collection of real Southern weddings. There are currently 60+ real weddings in our gallery collection, and we are always adding more 2-3 a week! If you’re planning a wedding, looking for ideas, or just fascinated by gorgeous photography and color combos, you’ll soon be hooked on our galleries (that is, if you aren’t already). Because we know you’ll love them, we wanted to give them a proper introduction on the blog, and give y’all some quick tips on how to use them most effectively!

One nice feature of the galleries is that you’re able to sort them by location and color. Only want pink weddings in Louisiana? You got it! Additionally, each week, we choose a gallery of the week to highlight favorite weddings and details from our archives. Catch what the featured gallery of the week is in our weekly round-ups or at the top of the real weddings page. This week’s is Kiley + Tim’s blue and pink beach wedding from Paul Johnson. Could their pinwheels be any cuter?

Ready for a little up-close gallery tour? Katie + Charlie’s is a great example. The location and color are always at the top of the page, beneath the title. If you find a wedding you love, you can go directly to the original post to read the interview and full intro and see comments from editors and other brides by clicking “View the Original Post and tell us what you think.” To move through the photos in the gallery, click the right side of the large photo to go to the next photo, or the left side of the large photo to go to the previous photo. You can also click through using the thumbnails, the smaller photos that scroll across the bottom.

The best thing about the galleries is how easy they are to share with friends! Share your favorite galleries on Facebook and Twitter by clicking the links below the gallery photos.

What are you waiting for? Get browsing, y’all!

The day has come! Southern Weddings V3, our third issue, which debuted in October 2010, is officially sold out!! For eight months we shipped copies to 45+ states and 30+ countries around the world, and now we’re left with a box or two in our office closet for posterity. Hey, we warned y’all! Thank you SO MUCH for the generous, overwhelming support you guys made this happen, which gets nothing short of a yippee-kay-yai-yay from us! Thank you, dear readers!

Our second issue, V2, is still available, which should help tide you over until V4 comes out in September. Purchase here!

For those of you who were not able to get a copy in time, you can still get some V3 goodness! Over the next few weeks we’ll be posting our favorite spreads on the blog for some good ol’ reminiscing.

Remember, you can also always head on over to our beautiful editorial galleries which are filled to the brim with beauties from V3. And my, they are beauties!

MOST exciting, though? With V3 completely out the door, we’re focusing even harder on our next issue, Southern Weddings V4. It’s dropping in September, and we. are. SO EXCITED!! Believe me, y’all will want IN on this action. This issue is truly going to be bigger and better than ever!

So how can you get involved? There are a few ways. Print real weddings submissions are due July 15 (we’ve already got 7 weddings from around the Southeast, and are looking for 5-7 more!). See the full details here on how and what to submit, then email Emily.

Most importantly, you’ll want in on a gorgeous ad in this next glossy! Email Whitney for a copy of our media kit. The ad deadline is also July 15, so get in touch quick to reserve your spot! We guarantee you’ll be glad you did.

Behind the scenes photo from the V4 shoot with Joey + Jessica.

We cannot WAIT to share the best moments of V3 with you as we get ready for V4′s release. There will be another behind-the-scenes shoot post in two weeks, and we’ll open preorders for V4 in August, so get excited!!

The SW ladies were ready for the big day, too, flowered sundresses and all! We also helpfully told readers what currency we were accepting (including biscuits, naturally), and set out delicious Sugarland cupcakes (complete with cupcake flags from Emily!), cookies, sweet tea, and Cheerwine.

And then the readers arrived! We had SUCH a great time meeting y’all HUGE thanks to everyone who came out! A partial list of our new (and old!) friends (apologies if we missed someone!): Annemie of Megapixie Photography (who posted her own recap here!), Sarah from A Southern Season, Becca from Rebecca Rose Events, Megan (whose wedding we just featured here + here!), Jamie from Viva L’Event, Marletha from In Season Events, Deidra from Memorable Milestones, Barbara from An Elegant Affair, Alanna from Parties by Bash, Samantha from Bliss by Sam, and Nancy of Nancy Ray Photography.

With the help of these generous ladies and more, we raised $1,489 for Stop Hunger Now and Southern tornado victims! WAHOO!!

For those of you who couldn’t make it out, we hope you enjoyed this little photo tour! We had a blast and are definitely open to hosting more events this summer for local ladies, so tell us how would you like to hang with the Southern Weddings gals? Cupcake party? Cake decorating class? Outdoor barbeque? Brunch at Fosters? Let us know, and we’ll make it happen!

Photos by our intern, Emily.

There’s plenty of Cheerwine, Sugarland cupcakes (with adorable flags from our very own Miss Emily Ayer!), sweet tea and lots of amaaaaazing yard sale goodness left, so come on down!  Full post with lots of reader pics coming next week.  For now, check us out on Facebook and Twitter for behind-the-scenes pics and lots of fun!  Emily N, Emily A, Whitney and Marissa in that cute crawdaddys dress pictured below.

Happy weekend, belles and beaus!