I always love chatting with brides who choose to get married in the winter, which is just one reason I’m excited to introduce Melissa to y’all! Please join me in making her feel welcome! (Also, be sure to check out her intriguing question at the end — I know I’ll be chiming in!)

Hi! What’s your name?
Melissa Vause (here’s my blog)

What’s your fiancé’s name?
Stephen Feetham

Landon Jacob Productions

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story.
Stephen and I met during his first year as a grad student, and my last year as an undergrad, at USC. He was teaching a lab that I had begrudgingly signed up for in order to graduate. The first day of class, I immediately noticed him, and was so glad I’d signed up for “Weather and Climate.” I had a crush on him the entire semester and made a lame attempt to flirt, but he didn’t seem interested. Being a moral teacher’s assistant, he paid me no special attention, and I earned that “C” fair and square!

Once the semester was over, we continued to talk, and got to know each other a little better over the next year. Finally, we set a time to hang out, and my best friend went with me to a favorite local bar to meet up with Stephen and his friends. Continuing with my impressive flirting skills, I asked him if he wanted to watch season one of Lost. It actually WORKED and we watched every single episode together. On St. Patrick’s Day 2010, we had our first “real” date, and we’ve been together ever since.

Now tell us alllll about the proposal.
Starting around Christmas 2010, Stephen and I joked and flirted with the idea of getting engaged. One particularly hot summer night, he mentioned that we should get a blender to make milkshakes. My response? “No, people put blenders on wedding registries.” Taking the hint, we never got a blender… not even a cheap one. We joked about the blender for months, and talked all the time about how much we wished we had one, but instead, we just held out and made our milkshakes with a spoon.

On December 6th, Stephen came into the room with a giant smile on his face and a cold glass in his hand. He had made me a peanut butter banana milkshake! I looked inside the glass and thought, “This looks rather emulsified.” I squinted my eyes and asked, “How did you make this? Not with a spoon…” He proudly declared that he’d bought a blender, then got down on one knee and asked me to marry him! It was perfect‼

Landon Jacob

When’s the big day?
December 1, 2012

Where might you two be tying the knot?
My home town of Charleston, SC! I may be partial, but this city is hands down the MOST beautiful place to live. It is rich in culture, heritage, and good ol’ Southern hospitality.

How did you pick your ceremony and reception venues? What do you love most about each space?
Stephen and I love downtown strolls together, and I think we chose venues that encompass all things historically beautiful. The ceremony will be held at St. Luke’s Chapel in the heart of the downtown area, and the reception will be held alongside the Cooper River, at the newly renovated Harborside East. It’s stunning inside and out and has the BEST view of the peninsula you could ever imagine. Harborside East is also right under the famous Cooper River bridge, which houses the nation’s third largest 10k, a race Stephen and I have run together with my family for the past three years.

Beautiful Charleston, as captured by Virgil Bunao and Joey + Jessica

Who or what has been most inspiring in the wedding planning process?
Pinterest and SW Mag, of course!! I am such a frugal McDougal; I refuse to pay for anything I can do myself. Those two places and Green Bride Guide have inspired lots of crafts and projects. Stephen and I pride ourselves on being a green household, and anything you will find at our wedding is either upcycled or recycled! Blue Planet Green Events has been a wealth of information, too!

How have you involved your “community” in the wedding planning process?
Our families and my bridesmaids have been so helpful the past ten months, especially my mom. You would think a year to plan a wedding would be enough time, but you’d be surprised how quickly it sneaks up on you! After I designed and printed the formal invites, my mom spent countless hours with me cutting, sticking, gluing, and addressing them all. She has also done a lot of the leg work running around collecting vintage items for the reception! My MOH has been extremely helpful, as well, collecting over 1,000 corks and over 50 wine bottles from local restaurants out of which Stephen and I will create our centerpieces.

On the left, Melissa’s inspiration for her bouquet (from Martha Stewart Weddings, photo by Simply Bloom). On the right, her inspiration for the gents’ boutonnieres – they’ll be made from fabric leftover after the bridesmaids’ dresses are hemmed!

What part of wedding planning, if any, has made you the most anxious?
Finding a baker! I’m not much of a cake person — years of eating Funfetti cake and canned icing are probably to blame :) I had originally planned to have an old friend make our cake because it was NOT a priority in our budget. However, I started feeling anxious about the hundreds of different flavors and fillings there are to choose from, so I attended a wedding expo with my MOH and ran across a very small, local bakery. With one bite, McKenzie’s Bake Shop changed my mind about cakes. Forever. She is as sweet as pie, and so great at what she does, that we now go to her for every event that needs dessert, as well as the occasional Monday that simply demands a cupcake.

What wedding-related decision have you been the most indecisive on?
Oddly enough, picking a wedding gown! Years of shamelessly browsing wedding dresses in college (before I even had a boyfriend!) was not enough to prepare this bride for actually choosing a gown of her own. I love lace, I love beading, I love fluff, I love asymmetry… I just. Love. Wedding dresses! And no, I don’t think I have ever missed an episode of Say Yes to the Dress!

Which part of your wedding have you been most intentional about planning?
A few years ago at the annual Flowertown Festival in Summerville, a catering company, Cricket & Kyle (family-owned and formerly run out of a church kitchen), had a booth of the most DELICIOUS crab cakes I’ve ever had in my life. Growing up on the beach, Stephen and I both have high expectations for our seafood. Based solely on their crab cakes, we promised the owner that, whenever we got married, we’d have him cater! I carried his business card in my purse for TWO YEARS, and he was one of the first vendors we booked once we got engaged. Lucky for us, we found out at our tasting that he can dish up more than just amazing crab cakes, and I must say he has a mouthwatering spin on shrimp ‘n grits!

from Bon Appetit

We’re also really excited about our photographers! When Stephen and I moved to a house in Columbia, we got to know a nice couple down the street from us, who just so happened to be the talented photography duo Landon and Jordan of Landon Jacob Productions! I have been a HUGE fan of their work ever since, and it’s been kind of an unspoken agreement that when we were ready for a wedding photographer, we’d have to look no further than outside our living room window. When we got engaged, I think Jordan was just as excited as I was!

Have you picked your dress yet? How’d that go? What will you be wearing on the big day?
Oh golly! I am example no. 1 of “the girl who bought two dresses.” Two weeks after getting engaged, I brought my mom, aunt, cousin, and MOH dress shopping with me on my birthday. We quickly breezed through the first two stores in Charleston before heading to NY Bride and Groom in Charlotte. I had one set style in mind, and didn’t really try on anything else. I ended up falling in love with a beautiful beaded fit and flare lace dress, and we bought it that day.

But I didn’t stop looking. Something was missing, so I continued to browse dresses in the hopes of either dismissing or validating my initial dress decision. Eight months later, I was STILL looking, and dragged one of my bridesmaids to go with me to try on yet another dress I’d spotted in a magazine. I ended up hating it on, and was this close to settling on my first dress. On the way out, however, my bridesmaid pulled a dress off the rack and begged me to try it on, simply because we both thought it would look ridiculous! It was a giant ball gown, champagne in color, and the exact opposite of anything I had ever tried on.

I put it on, and my heart stopped beating. I immediately started crying, and knew this was the dress I wanted
to walk down the aisle in. I love it so much and can’t wait to put it on again!

We love the choices of these two brides, just two of the many featured on our Southern Styles board! (Left by Phindy Studios, right by Belathee Photography)

Do you have a favorite online shop you’d love to tell us about?
I am in love with Jenna Lou Designs and I would be remiss not to mention her! She creates, among many other items, custom clutches. She designed the clutches for my bridesmaids and personalized them with a hand-stitched patch on the inside!

What has been the biggest challenge so far in wedding planning?
Sticking to a budget! As much as I would like to splurge on vendors, we have done as much as we possibly can ourselves. The stationery was a big one. It’s so easy to get caught up in spending a lot of money on save the dates, invitations, and calligraphers, but I am handy enough with graphic design and was able to design and print both our save the dates and the formal invitations myself. The bridesmaid flowers, groomsmen bouts, centerpieces, and wedding favors will all be DIY, as well. Luckily, we have completed nearly all of our planned projects, and we hired day-of-coordinators to pull it all together for us!

Another one of Melissa’s DIY projects – paper flowers made out of old maps to decorate their cake!

What are you most looking forward to on your wedding day?
Seeing Stephen for the first time as I walk down the aisle. I have loved him since the moment I laid eyes on him. The several seconds it will take to walk towards him will feel like an eternity; it’ll be hard not to start running! One of our readings sums up my emotions perfectly.

Any advice you’d like to pass along to fellow brides?
I have two major pieces of advice. 1) The wedding is not just about you and your fiancé, but your families as well. Appease and be flexible. 2) Try on more than one wedding dress style! Even if you think you have a clear idea of what you want, try everything else on anyway. This is the only time in your life you have to try on wedding dresses… don’t sell the experience short by limiting yourself to one style. Who knows, what looks ridiculous on the rack might turn out to be the dress of your dreams!

Now it’s your turn to ask for advice – is there anything you’d like to poll the SW readers on?
What is one thing you wish you’d done in planning for your wedding that you didn’t get around to?

Thank you so much for joining us today, Melissa! We’re excited to see how everything turns out in December! Readers, if you’d like to apply to be a Southern Bride of the Month, check out this post for all the details! If you’ve already emailed me, you’re still in the running for future months!

P.S. Check out all our past Southern Brides of the Month here!

Landon Jacob is a fabulous member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

Y’all, this month’s Southern Bride of the Month is getting married THIS WEEKEND!! Rachel graciously took time out of what I can only imagine was a busy week of wedding prep to answer a few questions for us. Please join me in making her feel welcome! (And be sure to leave some sugar at the end for her wedding weekend!)

Hi! What’s your name?
Rachel

What’s your fiancé’s name?
Joshua

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story.
We were at a mutual friend’s house for a birthday party. Josh was introduced to me, and when he walked away, I turned and said “dibs” to my friends! I was a smitten kitten, but too nervous to talk to him. A year later, he asked me out on a date and we have been inseparable since.

From their engagement session with Nathan Westerfield… see more here!

Now tell us alllll about the proposal.
Josh and I love to take weekend vacations, and travel together whenever possible. This particular weekend, we decided to visit Asheville to tour the Biltmore and visit a city we’d heard so many good things about. I had absolutely no idea what the weekend had in store, as we had never even mentioned the word “engagement,” even though we had been dating for almost two years!

After an amazing tour of the Biltmore, we went for a walk around the grounds and ended up at the top of a hill overlooking Bass Pond. We sat down for a few minutes, and while I enjoyed the view of the gorgeous fall trees, I eventually got bored and suggested we walk a little more. Josh patted the ground, and asked if I could just sit next to him a bit longer (he was sitting in grass while wearing khakis and a blazer — this should’ve been a dead giveaway that something was up!). We didn’t say much while sitting there, other than “I love you,” before he turned to me and said, “Well, will you marry me?” (I thought I was about to have a heart attack, y’all!)

I immediately began crying and laughing and said, “Are you serious?” and then “Yes!”, followed by him explaining that he had had the ring for an entire month and how he had talked to my family about proposing, which made me cry even more. We were able to sit there together, alone, for a little while longer, and those will forever be some of my favorite moments of my life.

When’s the big day?
September 1, 2012

Where might you two be tying the knot?
West End Church of Christ in Nashville

How did you pick your ceremony and reception venues? What do you love most about each space?
First, I wanted everything indoors. I wasn’t willing to gamble with Tennessee weather! We picked West End Church based on my love for a long center aisle. Also, the sanctuary is a gorgeous Tiffany blue color!
We chose the University Club because my parents’ reception was at there thirty years ago, and Chef Nick is a Southern food extraordinaire! We will have fried green tomatoes, chicken and biscuits, shrimp n’ grits, and all kind of good fixin’s at our reception!

Rachel loved this idea we shared for labeling food, and we love the sound of her Southern fixin’s! (Photos by Dave Lapham via Southern Weddings and Ingalls Photography)

Who or what has been most inspiring in the wedding planning process?
Most definitely Southern Weddings! I have folded pages, circled, highlighted — you name it — from every issue, and the blog is on my daily iPad reading list!

Who or what has been most helpful in the wedding planning process?
My mom. She deserves most of the credit!

Which part of your wedding are you most invested in?
We are big music lovers and go to the Bonnaroo music festival every year, so that was important to us. We meticulously chose our music and I can’t wait for our first dance together!

A sweet embroidered patch Rachel is thinking about adding to her gown (photo by Melissa Schollaert)

Have you picked your dress yet? How’d that go? What will you be wearing on the big day?
I had a really difficult time finding a dress. I knew exactly what I wanted, and I tried on just about every dress in Nashville, but I never had ‘a moment’ with a dress, like I had always dreamed of. My phrase throughout the process was “I didn’t settle on a man, and I refuse to settle on a dress!”

I had applied to be on Randy to the Rescue, and had been through about four interviews to be on the show when it happened… I was helping a friend of mine find her dress, and we went into Olia Zavozina’s shop. She and I both found dresses there that night! I called my mom, she picked up my grandmother, and I knew after their reactions I had found “The One”! I can’t give too much away yet, but it’s a custom-made strapless ball gown with a sweetheart neckline. It was an amazing experience, and well worth the wait!

Since we obviously can’t show you Rachel’s dress, here’s a peek at her color scheme! Love the fresh navy + green! (Photo by Ashley Hoskins via Style Me Pretty

Who is your favorite vendor you’ve booked so far?
Nathan Westerfield, our amazing photographer! We interviewed about ten others before deciding on him, and I know he will capture our wedding perfectly! He is one of the most talented wedding photographers I have met, but he is also down to earth and listens to my ideas, which is important to us!

What do you love most about Southern weddings?
The traditions, monograms, the pearls, seersucker, heritage, the flowers, bow ties, the food, the huge bridal parties, the use of lace, burlap, doilies, groom’s cakes… you name it, I love it, and I want it in our wedding!

Tell us about the one that got away. Is there one dream thing or vendor you wish you could have fit into your budget?
Sigh. Plum Pretty Sugar robes, but with eleven bridesmaids, it was way out of our budget to outfit everyone. I’d highly recommend them to any other bride with a smaller bridal party, though!

Wedding cake and groom “cake” inspiration! (Photos by The McCartneys via Style Me Pretty and via Tara Guerard Soiree)

What has been the best part of wedding planning?
Some of the best parts for me have been creating and crafting some of the personal details. I drew our wedding program by hand (complete with map!) and handmade our ring pillow, among many other things.

What has been the biggest challenge so far in wedding planning?
Our biggest challenge so far would have to be managing our large wedding party — 24 people in total! We are blessed to have so many friends and family, but coordinating them all has been a small challenge. Thank goodness for our wedding planner! Also, it was a challenge to find a good weekend that didn’t conflict with the SEC football schedule! (Go Vols!)

A perfect photo opp for state-proud couples like Rachel and Joshua! (Photo by Kristyn Hogan)

What are you most looking forward to on your wedding day?
Our first look. Just thinking about it makes me tear up and get chills! This is one tradition I don’t mind breaking, because I am so excited to have a moment together that’s just ours. Josh is looking forward to his “groom’s cake” pie bar. Also: me bawling my way down the aisle with my dad (it’s inevitable). Of course, we are both excited for the part where we say “I do”!

Any plans for a honeymoon? Where do you want to go and what will you do?
We’re headed to Saint Lucia, y’all! We are looking forward to a week of relaxation, with some exploring and snorkeling sprinkled in.

Any advice you’d like to pass along to fellow brides?
I have passed along the Little Borrowed Dress site to every bride I can! If you are like me and want to save your girls some money, check it out. For $75, they can rent a floor length dress in any color, which is what we are doing: the Hillary Jane dress in navy.

Thank you so much for joining us today, Rachel! Best wishes this weekend!! Readers, if you’d like to apply to be a Southern Bride of the Month, check out this post for all the details! If you’ve already emailed me, you’re still in the running for future months!

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

Molly Gee is not only a Southern Weddings fan, she’s a Southern Weddings vendor! It’s always fun to see how someone who works in weddings goes about planning her special day, so I hope you enjoy this month’s interview!

Hi! What’s your name?
Molly Gee

What’s your fiancé’s name?
Justin

A fun shot from Molly Gee and Justin’s engagement session by Beth Morgan!

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story.
We met a few times in and after college through mutual friends, but we didn’t really make the effort to get to know each other until the summer of 2010. Separately, we had set big plans for our lives outside of Mississippi, but in the end, the Lord led us back to our hometowns to follow a different path together.

What did you do on your first date together?
Both of us were on tight budgets, so when Justin said he wanted to take me out on a date but couldn’t afford an expensive dinner, I suggested milkshakes and popcorn with a rented movie. We watched Young Guns (not really sure how we came to that choice!?). A few weeks later, I asked him to be my date for filming a friend’s music video. We showed up to the shooting location (a cabin in Mississippi!) and had to dress in 1920’s fashion and pretend to play instruments.

Now tell us alllll about the proposal.
Justin and I first talked about marriage in the spring of 2011. We knew we loved each other very much, but also wanted to be sure we were established in our professions before making such a big decision. Looking back, I now know that Justin wanted his main surprise to be the timing of the proposal. So, when he said sometime in 2012, I believed him!

On December 23, 2011, my sister called to say she needed me to babysit my nieces while she finished last minute Christmas errands. She seemed flustered, but I figured it was just stress from a long ‘to do’ list. I called Justin to tell him my plans, and he mentioned taking me out to dinner that night, and we decided he would pick me up at my house once I was done sitting.

I take my dog, Fern, with me most places. So after babysitting, I parked in my garage, unloaded Fern and my other belongings, and headed inside. My first reaction? “Oh no! My Christmas tree lights exploded everywhere!” Fern tore through the foyer ahead of me, sliding on the dozens of candles that were set up and generally making a mess. I dropped my bags and just stared at Justin (who was on one knee) from across the room. He had to ask The Question from a distance, and finally said, “Can you please walk over here?” I, of course, said yes!

It’s fun to find out the little details afterward, isn’t it? Justin requested my sister’s help in getting me out of the house for two hours, but in the end, only needed about 30 minutes to get everything set up! (He watched Christmas Vacation on my TV while waiting with his car parked down the street!) My sister relaxed at my parents’ house while baking Christmas dishes… not running errands!

Molly Gee, Justin, and Miss Fern! (Photo by Beth Morgan)

When’s the big day?
Friday, October 12, 2012

Where might you two be tying the knot?
The ceremony and reception will be held at The South, a refurbished warehouse in Jackson, MS, owned by the talented Wendy Putt of Fresh Cut Catering and Floral. Justin and I love the space and its endless possibilities. It is definitely a blank canvas and we have access to so many great antique furniture pieces stored in the building.

Who or what has been most inspiring in the wedding planning process?
If Pinterest were a person, I would hug her! I have to admit, when I was first engaged, one of my first thoughts was, Yay! It’s now definitely acceptable to start pinning the heck out of wedding photos! Also, thank you, thank you to Southern Weddings for your ultimate wedding planning checklist in V4! I have notes and check marks covering the pages!

Has your vision for your wedding changed or evolved over the course of your engagement? If so, how?
Since I work in the wedding business, I have always tried to stay very neutral with my personal wedding preferences, although it’s hard not to have an idea of what you want and don’t want. I have stayed with a vision of mostly neutrals, complemented by small pops of color. I love both rustic and modern styles, so we have tried to find a happy medium throughout the planning process.

Molly Gee’s inspiration board!

We’re guessing you’re planning to make your own wedding accessories. True?
Of course! I plan to wear the Daisy (a tulle birdcage veil), the Delphinium (a braided rhinestone sash), and for the reception, possibly the Wisteria (a tulle flower hairpiece). The bridesmaids will wear a mix of hairpieces, necklaces, and sashes. Even Justin and his groomsmen will wear a mix of MollyGee designs bow ties and ties!

What are you most looking forward to on your wedding day?
I’m looking forward to marrying this wonderful man and celebrating with all of our family and friends! On my wedding day, I want to put all the headaches of planning aside and just enjoy! Justin is also VERY excited about his groom’s cake! He is Arsenal’s number one fan, and the cake will be in the shape of the team’s crest.

Two awesome groom cakes we’ve featured in the past: an alligator (photo by Stephen DeVries) and a ham (photo by Oh, Darling!)

Any advice you’d like to pass along to fellow brides?
We all want our day to be perfect and it’s understandable to focus on making that happen! Even through all of the planning and decisions, remember it is only one day of your life. If the wedding doesn’t flow exactly as you planned, you are still marrying the one person you care the most about!

Thank you so much for playing along, Molly Gee! Readers, if you’d like to apply to be a Southern Bride of the Month, check out this post for all the details! If you’ve already emailed me, you’re still in the running for future months!

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

Like Madelynne, Kelly is a super longtime Southern Weddings fan, which makes me even more excited to welcome her as June’s Southern Bride of the Month! I adore her pink and green wedding plans, budget-savvy tips, and infectious enthusiasm for all things wedding, and think y’all will, too. Take it away, Kelly!

Hi! What’s your name?
Kelly Lynne Stack

What’s your fiancé’s name?
Andrew Franklin Dellinger

Brett Price

Are either of you on Twitter, or do you have a blog?
I have a blog, Hello Seester! I also have a Twitter account.

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story.
A mutual friend introduced us to one another the day before classes started our freshman year of college at Belmont. We immediately hit it off, he asked me to go for a walk that evening (which resulted in me missing the first mandatory RA meeting on my dormitory floor!), and we’ve been college sweethearts ever since!

Now tell us alllll about the proposal.
A couple of years into dating, Drew and I decided we were in it for the long haul. From that point forward, he kept promising me, “We’ll get engaged the fall of 2011.” May rolled around and we went ring shopping for the first time. As soon as August 21st (our fourth dating anniversary) rolled around, I was waiting for it. I kept getting so discouraged every time I went out with Drew, because I expected it at every turn. By the time October was over, I was convinced it would never happen.

When he asked me to go on a dress-up date on a Thursday mid-November, I was suspicious, but cautious. Drew stopped by my office midday to get something out of my car, and I slyly had my coworker ask him if he was going to propose (little did I know, she was already in on the surprise!). After he left, I drilled her, and she told me he still hadn’t asked my father for permission. I was so upset! I totally believed her, so for the rest of the night I was completely off-guard. He made the sweetest video slideshow for me chronicling our entire dating relationship and showed it to me after I had gotten dressed up for our date (in the first dress I wore on a formal date with him freshman year). It wasn’t until the second-to-last slide, which read “Drew and Kelly went to their friends’ weddings and always dreamed of having their own…” when I finally started to realize what was happening. The last slide was his proposal. I caught him in my peripheral vision getting down on one knee and my mouth fell open. I was in shock for a good five minutes, and then I laughed, screamed, and sobbed with glee. Then he told me he’d videotaped the whole thing! We have an entire hidden-camera video of me waltzing in, bragging about my hairstyling abilities, and genuinely responding to his sweetness. I couldn’t have asked for a better proposal – especially since he got me SO good! You can check out our video here.

Brett Price

When’s the big day?
Saturday, July 21st, 2012

Where might you two be tying the knot?
A little barn in my hometown of Pleasant View, Tennessee, called The Livery Stables.

How did you pick your ceremony and reception venues? What do you love most about each space?
Guest retention and convenience were important to me, so we picked a place where we could do both the ceremony and reception (without losing people in-between). What really sold us was the “feel” of the venue, too; one of my most favorite Nashville locations is Belle Meade Plantation, and The Livery Stables reminded me of Belle Meade’s Carriage House with its barn doors, wooden pillars, and equestrian theme. It’s cozy, homey, and not in the slightest stuffy. The second Drew and I walked in over Thanksgiving weekend, we knew it was “the one.” Not to mention – it’s completely air-conditioned! No sweating at the wedding for this July bride!

The beautiful pink and green inspiration board that Kelly put together!

Were you totally that girl who planned her wedding from age 5, or not so much?
Oh, absolutely. One of the first questions I ask people I’m getting to know is “How do you envision your future wedding?” (or “What was your wedding like?” if they’re already married!). Needless to say, no one was surprised when I decided to go the wedding planner career path :) I’ve always considered what my colors will be, what silhouette I’ll wear, what details I’ll want to incorporate. I used to bookmark every wedding I liked in my “Favorites” folder, or link to them on my Facebook – you can only imagine how delightful it was to discover Pinterest last year!!!

Who or what has been most inspiring in the wedding planning process?
Pinterest has been the best way for me to organize my ideas, but wedding blogs and magazines (ESPECIALLY Southern Weddings) have been a wealth of inspiration throughout everything. It’s also been lovely working weddings, because you see so many fabulous concepts and how they play out in real life!

Kelly loves this raspberry limeade for a pink signature drink (photo by Karen Mordechai from Sunday Suppers)

Who or what has been most helpful in the wedding planning process?
My event designer (also affectionately known as my Wedding Fairy Godmother – every bride needs one!!!), Hillary Yeager, has been my saving grace since day one. (She even knew I was getting engaged before I did!) I’ve worked with her on multiple events and projects throughout my 2+ years at StudioWed and A Delightful Day. When we got engaged and were faced with a real-world budget (to reconcile with my fantasy-world wedding dreams), Hillary so graciously offered to let me work off my wedding flowers by helping her around her floral studio, Brocade Designs. Since then, her role has morphed into my paper goods designer, décor sourcer, sounding board, personal inspirer, and now even dessert bar-creator! She’s helped me with everything from picking out the perfect linens to booking a gourmet coffee caterer (after we made the last-minute decision to scrap a full meal in favor of a coffee-and-desserts reception!), researching scrumptious pie recipes, and designing the most stunningly gorgeous invitation suite I could dream of. Not to mention, I consider her a dear friend and adore her company!

Another gorgeous invitation suite Kelly loves, this one by Hardink Calligraphy

Has your vision for your wedding changed or evolved over the course of your engagement? If so, how?
Completely! As I mentioned before, I was one of those girls who had her ENTIRE wedding planned out before she even tried on an engagement ring. The issue with dreaming out every single detail (down to the pale yellow seersucker napkins) was that I was giving myself nowhere to be flexible. Turns out, our dream date (September 29th) conflicted with Drew starting a new job at a CPA firm in late August. Our dream venue was completely out-of-budget when we realized how much their in-house catering would cost (especially since catering was/is NOT a top priority). Even our colors (buttercream yellow and dark chocolate brown) would’ve been completely washed out in our neutral-toned wedding barn. I gave myself a little time to mourn my wedding dreams, but then gave myself liberty to create new ones (with my future husband’s input – so important!).

A new color scheme means beautiful pink blooms and fun gold stirrers! (Photo on left by Jessica Lorren via Style Me Pretty; photo on right by Beaux Arts Photographie via Santa Barbara Chic)

Which part of your wedding are you most invested in?
I think the one thing that has stayed consistently consistent throughout planning has been my value in the documentation of our day. I anguished over finding the perfect photographer (there are so many fantastic ones out there!) for WEEKS after we got engaged. One of the biggest blessings and curses of working in the wedding industry is your awareness of all the talented vendors out there. I definitely put the most pressure on myself to find the right photographer and videographer to perfectly depict our day. I’m huge on documenting moments in life – I was always the annoying preteen sporting my loud blue camcorder wherever I went, and my favorite college class was Creative Non-Fiction (in which we wrote our own memoirs). I want to be able to relive every moment from our wedding day and show it to our grandchildren. We are so thrilled to be working with Kristine Neeley Photography and McNeal Wedding Films – not only are they “friendors,” they’re immensely talented, and I know they’ll portray our day in a way that genuinely depicts Drew’s and my relationship and excitement at spending the rest of our life together!!

Monogrammed bouquet wraps that Kelly loves (photo by Kate Headley via Southern Weddings)

Have you picked your dress yet? How’d that go? What will you be wearing on the big day?
Choosing my wedding dress was the very first thing I did after getting engaged! I had PRAYED that Drew would propose in time for me to attend The Bride Room’s Third Annual Super Sale (a fantastic sample sale held once a year at the most lovely Nashville bridal boutique!). I knew it would likely be my only chance to get a designer dress. Fortunately, Drew popped the question 10 days before the sale. I had enough time to peruse their dresses on a normal day (per their suggestion), see what else was out there in other stores (nothing could compare!), and go to the sale! I was the first bride to find her dream dress that day – it was so meant to be!

Who is your favorite vendor you’ve booked so far?
Oh my goodness, I couldn’t pick a favorite! We have been so blessed to work exclusively with “friendors” (friend-vendors!) on our big day – how incredible is it to have a personal relationship with each and every person contributing to the most important party of your life! However, I will say I am perhaps the most excited about our wedding cake. I am a complete and utter cake snob, so I have meticulously tasted each and every slice of wedding cake I’ve come in contact with over the past few years. When it came to deciding who would make our wedding cake, there was literally NO QUESTION that Juanita Lane of Dulce Desserts would be our baker. Her cakes are made from the highest quality ingredients, gorgeously constructed, and her buttercream is TO. DIE. FOR. To give you a little taste of our wedding cake, here are the flavors (you’re going to die): chocolate chip cake with coffee buttercream, European butter cake with raspberry buttercream and lemon curd, and pistachio cake with pistachio buttercream and a thin layer of chocolate truffle ganache. TELL me you’re not drooling right this minute!!

Some of Kelly’s dessert inspiration! (Photo on left by Katie Lewis via Style Me Pretty, and photo on right from Martha Stewart Weddings

What do you love most about Southern weddings?
Drew and I are both born and raised in the South. I grew up watching Gone with the Wind and hand-churning peach ice cream on my grandparents’ back porch. Southern weddings aren’t a far cry from Southern living on a daily basis: it’s all about hospitality, family, tradition, and having a good time. It is our ultimate goal to throw the best party of our lives (thus far) as we celebrate joining our lives together permanently. We’ve invited family and friends from all walks of life, made it a point to pay homage to our upbringings and the generations that came before us in as many ways as we can, and we anticipate dancing ALL NIGHT LONG.

Tell us about the one that got away. Is there one dream thing or vendor you wish you could have fit into your budget?
The first time I went dress-shopping I fell madly in love with Monique Lhuillier’s pink “Candy” gown. While I did strongly consider eloping or having a very small brunch wedding to accommodate the dress (and eventually used it for inspiration when I changed my color scheme), I decided it wasn’t the wisest move for me to toss out everything JUST for the dress. I am one zillion percent happy with the wedding dress that ended up being “The One,” but if I could have fit it in the budget, I’d LOVE to wear Candy as a getaway gown!

The pink dress of Kelly’s dreams, and another dream-worthy bouquet (photo by Ryan Ray via Wedding Chicks!)

What do you wish you would have known at the beginning of your engagement?
That it would, indeed, be possible for us to have the wedding of our dreams without eloping or having to seriously compromise anything that was TRULY important to us. I was so stressed out the first month dealing with a budget, vendors with booked-up dates, and the uncertainty of it all — I should have known it would work out, all in God’s great timing! Oh, and one last thing – it’s totally NOT worth it to get your teeth professionally laser-whitened. Doing that has been the most physically painful experience of my entire life. Brides – take heed! If you’re going to go to the extremes for white teeth, do it EARLIER than the day (or week!) before the wedding! It would be awful to grimace in all those pretty photos!

What are you most looking forward to on your wedding day?
I am looking forward to SO many moments on our wedding day. I CANNOT wait to peek around the corner of the barn on my family’s property to do my First Look with Drew. I can’t wait to sob through my wedding vows (it’s inevitable). I can’t wait to see ALL our friends and family all united in one place, for one occasion — that’s once in a lifetime. I’m also pretty thrilled to be announced into our reception as Mrs. Andrew Dellinger!!!!

More lovely pink and green details that are inspiring Kelly (signature drink from A Cup of Mai!)

Any advice you’d like to pass along to fellow brides?
Prioritize, prioritize, prioritize! Don’t be afraid to adapt your priorities after you initially set them, but keep your eye on what’s actually important. You don’t have to follow the cookie-cutter mold for everything. It’s YOUR wedding. Make it your own!

Now it’s your turn to ask for advice – is there anything you’d like to poll the SW readers on?
How do you keep yourself present at every moment of the wedding day? I’ve gotten to this point between showers and bridal portraits and all of these exciting events that have been planned for months where everything feels surreal and flies by because I can’t believe it’s actually happening. I don’t want to miss a second of the wedding because I’m so busy thinking, “What is going ON?!” How do you shut your brain off and simply be the bride?!

Thank you so much for playing along, Kelly! For more from Miss Kelly, be sure to check out her astounding collection of 124 Pinterest boards right here! Readers, if you’d like to apply to be a Southern Bride of the Month, check out this post for all the details! If you’ve already emailed me, you’re still in the running for future months!

Hi, y’all! Squeaking in right at the end of the month is May’s Southern Bride of the Month, Mignon! She is getting married to her love, Thomas, in Alabama this August. I can’t wait for you to learn more about her and the wedding she’s planning through her interview and photos!

Hi! What’s your name?
Mignon Arrington

What’s your fiancé’s name?
Thomas Lunsford

Graham Terhune

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story.
Thomas and I both went to college at UNC, and while we had a lot of mutual friends and lived in the same apartment complex, our paths never crossed until the spring of our junior year. I was out with some friends one night and got separated from the group. Luckily, I ran into another friend (now bridesmaid!) who was headed over to a party at Thomas’s apartment and offered to walk me home since we were headed in the same direction. Instead of going home, though, I went to Thomas’s party, where we met for the first time. A few nights later, Thomas very chivalrously saved me from the advances of some less than desirable gentlemen, and won my heart in the process. We’ve been inseparable ever since!

Now tell us alllll about the proposal.
We got engaged on June 19, 2011. I had moved home for the summer for work and went back up to Chapel Hill for our friends’ wedding (the bride was the same friend who had introduced Thomas and me 4 years earlier!). That Saturday morning, while I was getting ready for the wedding, Thomas snuck back to his house in Durham where he decorated his entire place in orange flowers – my favorite color! The morning after the wedding, we stopped by his house before he took me to the airport. When I opened the door, I saw all the beautiful flowers, but I still wasn’t sure what was going on. He had made a trail of love notes and rose petals leading from the living room to the bedroom, with the final note lying on the bed in the middle of a heart made out of roses. I read each note along the trail—tearing up more with each one and beginning to understand what was about to happen! When I turned around after reading the last note, Thomas was down on one knee! It was beautiful – I’m actually not sure I ever said yes because I was crying so hard!

Graham Terhune

When’s the big day?
August 4, 2012

Where might you two be tying the knot?
We are getting married in Birmingham at my childhood church, the Cathedral Church of the Advent, and having the reception at the Birmingham Museum of Art.

How did you pick your ceremony and reception venues? What do you love most about each space?
There was never a doubt in my mind that I wanted to have the ceremony at The Advent. I have been going there since I was born and think is it such a stunning and majestic church. It has the most beautiful stained glass windows and a nice, long aisle so I can fully take in the excitement of the ceremony as I walk to meet Thomas at the altar! The museum was an easy choice too – I love how open and clean the space is. There is a beautiful staircase that descends in front of a large, floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the museum garden where Thomas and I will make our grand entrance into the reception as husband and wife – I think I am most excited about that tableau! It is also just across the street from The Advent, separated only by a park. I love the idea of our guests not having to travel much to get to the reception – no time for the celebration or excitement to dwindle!

The Birmingham Museum of Art, where Mignon and Thomas’s reception will be!

Who or what has been most inspiring in the wedding planning process?
Thomas has been my biggest source of inspiration. He has been so unbelievably patient and understanding throughout the entire planning process and really helps me remember what our wedding is all about – getting to spend the rest our lives together! Getting to talk to him and discuss our relationship and future together helps remind me of what we as a couple are truly about, and it is that expression of love and individualism that I really want our wedding to convey. He keeps me grounded and excited which is the best inspiration a girl could ask for!

Who or what has been most helpful in the wedding planning process?
My mother has been amazing throughout the entire wedding planning process! I honestly don’t think I could have done any of the planning or coordinating without her! Because I was in school in North Carolina while trying to plan a wedding in Alabama, she had to take on a lot of the responsibility of contacting and meeting with vendors. She has done an incredible job and has been completely gracious every step of the way – we have somewhat different tastes and ideas about how things should look, and she has always deferred to my choices in making decisions to ensure the wedding is everything I envision. She’s been incredible!

Pretty hairstyles that are inspiring Mignon! The photo on the left is by Ai-ling Chang via Whimsical Wonderland Weddings (updo by Tiffony Simpson of Ony Salon) and the one on the right is by Christina Watkins.

Which part of your wedding are you most invested in?
The pictures. I want to make sure that I remember every last detail of the day, and I think pictures are the best way to do that. I also think that pictures allow a couple to convey the wedding’s uniqueness and personality that they’ve worked so hard to create. I have spent countless hours thinking about the timeline of when various pictures need to be taken, where certain shots should be, and who needs to be included in each photo. It’s exhausting, but I want to make sure that each moment is captured! Of course, having an amazing photographer definitely helps, and I have complete faith that our photographer will get plenty of priceless shots that will make it all worth it!

Have you picked your dress yet? How’d that go? What will you be wearing on the big day?
My dress was one of the first decisions I made! My mother and I found it last summer, maybe just two weeks after I got engaged. It was one of the first dresses I tried on and even though I tried on a lot of other dresses, I kept going back to that one. When I tried it on, Mama and I both got teary eyed – it’s just perfect! It’s from the Grace Kelly collection and is everything I wanted in a dress – elegant, (hopefully) timeless, and not overly flashy. I don’t want to reveal too much, because I want it to be a complete surprise to the groom.

Floral inspiration that’s inspiring Mignon! The photo on the left is by Jennifer Lindberg (bouquet by Stems Custom Floral) and the photo on the left is by Aaron Delesie (arrangement by Flower Wild).

Who is your favorite vendor you’ve booked so far?
My photographer, Graham Terhune. Graham is a close friend of ours, and I am so excited for him to capture our wedding day. He is great behind the camera, but more than that, he is one of the kindest and most down-to-earth people I know, which makes everyone he shoots comfortable and at ease in front of the camera.

What do you love most about Southern weddings?
The tradition. I love that there are certain elements of the big day that Southern brides have been doing for centuries! For my wedding, I am wearing my grandmother’s garter that all the other women in my family have worn – it’s tradition!

Do you have a favorite Etsy store you’d love to tell us about?
I love LovliDay Wedding Designs and Family Trees. Jessica Steury, the shop owner, was so easy to work with and made an amazing vintage movie-style poster for us to use at the entrances to the reception. It is the perfect touch to tie together the Old Hollywood feel of the reception that we are going for!

Another pretty bouquet favorite of Mignon’s, this photo by Bonnie Berry via Elizabeth Anne Designs

What has been the biggest challenge so far in wedding planning?
Managing the stress! You don’t realize until you are planning your own wedding just how many things there are to coordinate and consider. It is definitely overwhelming at times and managing that stress has been a huge challenge for me – especially since it came during my last year of law school!

What do you wish you would have known at the beginning of your engagement?
The longer the engagement, the more time you have to change your mind and obsess over things. A short engagement not only means that you get to be married sooner (!) but also that you have less time to stress and fret over the details.

What are you most looking forward to on your wedding day?
There are two moments in particular that I can’t wait for: (1) Our first look when I get to see Thomas for the first time in our wedding attire and (2) Our first dance – sharing that moment as husband and wife with all our friends and family looking on – I get butterflies in my stomach just thinking about it

Beautiful first dance captured by Jonathan Canlas via Southern Weddings

Any plans for a honeymoon? Where do you want to go and what will you do?
We are going to Northern California for our honeymoon – neither of us has ever been to that part of the country before. We are spending three nights in Sonoma, then driving down the coast to Monterrey for a few nights and then finishing up the trip in San Francisco. Thomas and I love nature and food, so hopefully the trip will be filled with both of those things!

Question for y’all: What would you like to see us ask our Southern Brides of the Month? Is there a particular question we’re not asking that you’d find interesting or helpful? Please comment and let us know!!

Thank you so much for playing along, Mignon! Readers, if you’d like to apply to be a Southern Bride of the Month, check out this post for all the details! If you’ve already emailed me, you’re still in the running for future months!

P.S. Ready for more? Check out these posts:
Another Birmingham Southern Bride of the Month
Another Birmingham wedding in an art gallery
Graham Terhune’s wedding!

Graham Terhune is a fabulous member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!