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

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

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

Love that red lipstick!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Adorable!!

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

Michelle March

The roots of Coca Cola run deep in the South, as the prototype for the Coca Cola recipe was originated in a drugstore in Columbus, Georgia. But it might appear that the drink’s roots trace all the way to Europe. In 1886, the prohibition legislation was passed in Georgia, so John Pemberton, Coke’s inventor responded by creating a non-alcoholic version of French Wine Coca.

On April 23, 1985, Coca-Cola, amid much publicity, attempted to change the formula of the drink with “New Coke.” Follow-up taste tests revealed that most consumers preferred the taste of New Coke to both Coke and Pepsi, but Coca-Cola management was unprepared for the public’s nostalgia for the old drink, leading to a backlash. The company gave in to protests and returned to a variation of the old formula, under the name Coca-Cola Classic on July 10, 1985. As for the that famous Coca-Cola logo, it was created by John Pemberton’s bookkeeper, Frank Mason Robinson, in 1885. Robinson came up with the name and chose the logo’s distinctive cursive script.

Top to bottom: 13:13 Photography via Southern Weddings, Melissa Schollaert via Southern Weddings, and Adam Barnes via Southern Weddings

A few fun facts about our beloved Coke:

- Due to the belief that carbonated water was good for the health, “Coke” was initially sold as a patent medicine for five cents.
- The company did not incorporate into the Coca Cola Company until 1888.
- Coca Cola was sold in those fabulous classic glass bottles for the first time on March 12, 1894.
- Coca Cola’s first outdoor wall advertisement was painted in 1894 in Cartersville, Georgia.

Erich McVey via Style Me Pretty and Sarah Ashley Peters Photography

As a former Diet Coke addict, I love seeing Coke at weddings! Whether it’s the classic Coke in a bottle or Coke floats, the nostalgia is still completely there. Not too mention it’s quite the refreshing treat!

We took an office poll to see which would win, Coke or Pepsi. Apparently we’re a mixed bag! Lara prefers her Smartwater, Emily is all over Coke Zero, Nicole is a Classic Coke gal (unless it’s up against Orange Soda duh!), and I must admit I cannot resist a good ol’ ice cold Coke in a bottle!

Which do you prefer? Are you a Classic Coke gal or is Pepsi more your style?

Michelle March, Melissa Schollaert, and Adam Barnes are fabulous members of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

Credits:

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

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

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

Monday rolled around and we decided it was a good time to take the V5 train down to Florida! In the Boca Raton area? We think you should join us for a photo shoot.

Y’all, we’ve seen many memorable ends to weddings. Just check out our V4 editorial dedicated to it! One thing we haven’t seen, though, is a tractor getaway.

Springtime means bridal shower season! When the bridesmaids of one of our Southern Bride Bloggers threw her a monogrammed bridal shower, we knew we had to share it with you. Who doesn’t love a good monogram?

Emily broke out her etiquette genius to walk us through another dilemma: The Church Bridal Shower. Read up on it here, we’d love to hear if you’ve had a similar experience!

We love having our friend Katie from Marriage Confessions on the blog. This week, she reminds us to separate our practical needs from our relationship needs, especially in gift-giving.

Sierra took us through Savannah with this week’s Southern Hospitality Tote. (Paula Deen lives there, y’all!)

It’s been a season of change in the Southern Weddings office. Last week, four of us graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (GO HEELS!), which means lots of celebrating, but also a few goodbyes. We’ll miss Sierra, who’s heading off to take over Nashville!

We love pretty details. We know you do, too. But after years of posting on the Southern Weddings blog, we hope you see that we believe marriage is always more important than the wedding. We created The Sweet Tea Society to help remind us. Read our manifesto here.

This week’s featured Real Wedding Gallery is Jamie + Dan. Their outdoor wedding looked like the epitome of summer ease and relaxation.

Real Weddings make our hearts sing!

Annie + Jimmy’s V4 wedding was one that we keep finding new details in. Their wedding was a testament to their “deep Southern roots.” See it here and here.

Before you go, can we swoon over this engagement photo of Maria + Spencer together? Kate Benson took such adorable photos of them. See more on her blog here.

Have a splendid weekend, friends!

Eric Barry

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

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

Lisa Rigby

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

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

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

Won’t you join us?

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

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

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

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

From our Paper, Cotton, and Flour photo shoot

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

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

Sierra,

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

xoxo, Nic

Dear sweet Sierra,

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

So much love,
Marissa

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

Dear Sierra,

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

Much love,
Emily

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

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!

For Annie, her best advice to brides is to “make it yours.” I can’t tell you how special it was to have meaning in absolutely everything.

We used all types of flowers for the wedding. I wanted it to look like we had gone out and picked our favorite flowers. We used tons of wildflowers as well as peonies, hydrangeas and sunflowers. We used all different types of containers for the flowers – from mason jars to vintage Cracker Jack tins.

The wedding cake was made to look like a quilt. It was square with three tiers. Each square was made to look like it was quilted and had various quilt square patterns going around it. The cake topper was composed of two handmade fabric birds made to look like us. The groom had Jimmy’s exact plaid pocket square, tie and linen suit (in miniature, of course!), and the bride was made using the actual lace from my wedding dress. It was a strawberry cake with buttercream icing, and it was delicious! I didn’t want a traditional cake with fondant icing. Jimmy’s groom’s cake was a surprise. It was made to look like a stack of his favorite books: “All the Pretty Horses” by Cormac McCarthy, “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain, and “All the King’s Men” by Robert Penn Warren.

We left the ceremony in Jimmy’s green ‘52 Ford pickup truck, affectionately known as “Earl.” It was an engagement gift from my dad to Jimmy, and they plan to restore it over the next few years together. Before the wedding, they managed to cut and build mahogany rails for the bed. My mom stitched the phrase “Just Hitched” onto a burlap banner attached to the tailgate, which was also lined with ribbon streamers strung with yarn pompons. Our guests tossed—or in some cases, hurled—birdseed that was tied up in squares of old floral flour sacks and kitchen twine. My aunt is making us a Double Wedding Ring quilt as our wedding gift using the flour sack fabric from the birdseed toss—something we will cherish forever.

What was the funniest moment? What was the scariest? The cake cutting was one of the funniest moments, I think. I had already warned Jimmy that I was going to smash the cake in his face, but I wasn’t expecting him to strike first! He served the slice delicately toward my mouth, then smeared it straight up my face. While I stood there in shock, he drew war paint on my cheeks with the icing, and grinned wickedly. I was breathing strawberries and butter cream the rest of the night! But I got him back with a great forehand to his face. We kissed and made up, coated in icing. The scariest moment for me was being in front of everyone at the ceremony. I am very shy! It was likewise for Jimmy, but mainly because he felt a little overheated in his suit and had to stand at the altar during the full processional of bridesmaids, flower girls, and ring bearer before my entrance. He was very excited to grasp my hand and stand beside me!
Were there any family traditions you included in the reception? I used pictures of my grandmother and my mom on their wedding days, as well as lots of family antiques and quilted elements – which are part of my family heritage. My family owns a Krystal franchise. It’s a Southern-specific burger chain that has been a big part of the South since 1932. As a surprise, we served Krystals as the late night snack in custom made Krystal boxes Jimmy and I had designed months earlier.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? I’m looking forward to being home as a married couple and using the different objects from the wedding to make a home for us. I am very excited to start our life together here in Chattanooga! We hope to learn something new about each other every day, and we are certain that whatever the future holds, we can enjoy its blessings and endure its hardships as long as we stand by each other.
Best advice or most memorable comment someone made to you during the wedding celebration. One of Jimmy’s fraternity brothers shared some advice that he was told at his own wedding, and Jimmy found it really moving: “Marriage isn’t about keeping score, because you already owe the other person everything.”

I found my wedding dress at a little boutique in Nashville called B. Hughes Bridal. I was set on having a Vera Wang dress, and B. Hughes had the best selection. They were also incredibly nice and made the whole experience so much fun! My best friend and mom went with me to help – along with my dog for some of my fittings! My dress looks like a mixture of vintage lace and couture fashion. Fashion is my other weakness – so it fit the bill perfectly! I knew it was my dress, because it was the one that best made me feel like a bride. Surprisingly, the style was opposite of what I always thought I would have, but I absolutely love it! I felt so beautiful in it.

For the groom, the vintage handkerchiefs in the wedding program held extra importance. In just the seven months prior to our wedding, I’d lost the two most influential men in my life. Without Annie sticking by me, I would have fallen beyond salvation. Our wedding was thus shadowed by, and saturated with, their presence. We acknowledged their loss in our programs: I wrote a brief message thanking our guests for supporting us through the loss of my best friend in the fall, and then my dad in the winter. I quoted my father’s speaking points for his engagement toast—one he was unable to deliver, and in our program message, I wrote: “We cherish his words, and have smiled through our tears at the legacy of love left to us. Along with our gratitude, please accept these handkerchiefs: though they may aptly wipe away tears of sorrow, we pray they may only catch tears of joy today.”

We had a spring wedding on May 28. The ceremony was at 5:30pm on Signal Mountain, TN. Signal Mountain is where Jimmy grew up, and the church is where I have wanted to get married for years. It’s affectionately referred to as The Little Brown Church by locals, and for obvious reason. It’s a quaint old church surrounded by pine trees that was built in 1908. Our reception was at Lindsay Street Hall in downtown Chattanooga. It used to be an old church built in the early 1900s that has been restored into a beautiful event hall. Both of these venues seemed like the perfect spots for our vintage wedding! Our rehearsal dinner was at the River Inn, also known as The Old Catfish House, situated on the Tennessee River with a sunset view of the River Gorge. We thought it had a perfect laid back Southern atmosphere with a view to match!

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. We met through close mutual friends. Jimmy is an old friend of my best friend’s husband. She and her husband schemed to get us together, thinking we would be perfect for each other. Once we were acquainted, a friendship slowly grew into a relationship that neither of us expected. We seemed so different, but had all the important common interests (faith, family, hair metal and country music, and plaid). In the end, our friends really knew what was best for us!
Describe the proposal: We had planned to go for a short vacation to my family’s beach condo in Clearwater, Florida. I have been going there since birth; it feels like a second home to me. Jimmy had schemed to propose while on this getaway. He hid the ring in his carry-on bag and sweated his way through security. Unfortunately, we arrived to a heavy rainstorm, so we decided to nap after unpacking. Later, after showering for dinner, Jimmy saw the skies beginning to lighten and suggested we take a walk on the beach before eating. He sent up a little prayer for the rain to stop, and the Big Man upstairs was listening! The rain cleared just in time for a beautiful sunset. There was hardly anyone on the beach due to the weather, which was perfect! We walked down the beach a little ways until Jimmy was too nervous to wait any longer and got down on one knee. Of course, I said, “Yes!” We then went to eat dinner at a beachside restaurant that used to be the hotel where my family stayed for years. Jimmy had a table waiting with champagne, and we called our family and friends to share the good news!
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Vintage, warm, loving
How many guests attended your wedding? I think we had just over 200 guests attending.
Bride’s favorite detail of the wedding: There were too many details I loved to choose just one. I loved that we had bluegrass music rather than standard classical music, and each song in our processional was meaningful. We didn’t chose standard wedding songs. My favorites were the Tennessee Waltz for the groomsmen processional and the song for the mothers’ processional. I chose the song “May The Lord” which is to the tune of Edelweiss. It was the lullaby my mother used to rock me to sleep to every night when I was little.
What was your favorite design detail: The programs were one of my favorite aspects of the ceremony. We used handmade and craft paper for the various paper announcements, so we carried the theme over with the programs. I wanted to use an old wax seal on all of our various invites, so we had a seal made that looked like the drawing of the pine tree from the hymnal of The Little Brown Church. The lady who made all of our paper goods also added our initials at the base of the pine tree to personalize it. We used a similar pine tree for the front of the program. Jimmy loves literature, so I wanted the programs to look like a book for him. We made a thick cover out of craft paper backed in an old floral print we used throughout the paper goods. The pages were made from handmade paper we used for our various invitations, and we bound the book with boucle linen thread. We tucked a vintage hanky that my mom and I had collected in each program and tied it with an aged-looking silk ribbon. They were so special and beautiful. My family and friends helped me assemble them all a few days before the wedding.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hello, Emily,

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

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

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

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

Thanks in advance for your thoughts on this matter!

Mother-of-the-Bride

A perfectly Southern table setting, courtesy of Katie Rivers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

From Meredith:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Image credit: Corbin Gurkin. See more of this shoot here!

We’re looking for a few bridesmaids to grace the pages of Southern Weddings V5. If you’re free on June 5 and 6 and near the Boca Raton/West Palm Beach/Palm Beach area, email us at howdy@iloveswmag.com!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Emily March

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

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

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

Emily’s getting pumped for her trip to the National Stationery Show in just a few weeks. As a paper prelude, we featured four Southern spring invitation suites from Kristy at Momental Designs.

April shower bring May flowers, you say? We thought it was the perfect time to show off the beautiful bouquets that graced the pages of V4.

One look at Emily’s visit to the Inn at Palmetto Bluff might make you a little green with envy. Charming cottages, wonderful food and 20,000 acres of natural beauty make it an ideal honeymoon getaway.

We were all ears when Emily told us about what accessories she’ll be donning at her wedding in September. Lovely shoes, simple jewelry and a gorgeous veil? We’re big fans. Bonus points to Em for taking the “borrowed” in “something old, new, borrowed and blue” to the next level!

We’re bringing our model call back down below the Mason-Dixon! We know we’ve got some gorgeous readers, so if you’re free on June 20 and near Richmond, Virginia, join us for a V5 photo shoot!

Southern Stems never fail to make us fall in love with them. This week, Texas’ state flower, the bluebonnet stole our hearts with their vivid color.

Real Weddings are the bees knees!

Gabrielle + Paul attributed the warm Southern atmosphere of their wedding to their gorgeous venue. We think the addition of pink peonies and luxe linens are the cherry on top! See it here.

Good news for the weekend!

Sperry Tents have arrived in Charleston! You might be familiar with these pretty sailcloth tents (Emily’s using them for her own wedding!), and we’re thrilled that they’ve expanded their original Charlottesville, Virginia office to Charleston. The new office will also offer lighting, flooring, furniture by request, and other rental accessories! See their site for more details.

Before y’all leave, we had to share these adorable engagement photos of Sherry and her beau. How sweet is it that she included a copy of V4 in her session? Thanks Sherry and Epic Photography!

Finally, happy wedding weekend to one of our Southern Bride Bloggers, Tina!! We’re sending lots of love your way!

Have an amazing weekend, lovelies!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bluebonnet image by Athena Pelton, overlay by SW

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Amanda Marie Portraits

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

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

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

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

If you’re ready to be a part of Southern Weddings and available on June 20 for a fun photo shoot in Richmond, Virginia, then send a recent headshot (it’s okay if it’s not professional, we just want to see your pretty face!), a few candids and your height to us at howdy@iloveswmag.com.

Yahoo! We can’t wait to hear from you!

Both by Jose Villa

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

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

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

Mi Amore Foto

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Christian Oth and Jillian Mitchell via 100 Layer Cake

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

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

Photo by Bryan Johnson from Katharine’s wedding

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

Up next: I’ll share our engagement photos!

In case you missed a post…
The main characters
Where we’re getting married
I go dress shopping
We choose a photographer
I ponder bridesmaid style
Mini food!
The music
We’re renting a tent!
We discuss bouquets + boutonnieres
We send out our save the dates
I gather hair and makeup inspiration
We talk cake and sweets
I introduce you to our videographer
We create a registry
We buy a tuxedo
We style a reception

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Top photo by Meredith, bottom photo by me

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

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

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

Photo by Meredith Perdue

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

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

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

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

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

This gorgeous magnolia shot by Jose Villa was so loved that we couldn’t resist putting the full image on our back cover.

Image credits (clockwise from top left): Poppy and jasmine vine bouquet by Flower Wild photographed by Jose Villa, rose and peony bouquet by Roselady Designs photographed by Magnolia Pair, white anemone, tulip, billy ball and ranunculus bouquet by Birch Blooms photographed by Melissa Schollaert, delphinium, muscari and fever bouquet by Myrtie Blue photographed by Lauren Kinsey.

Spectacular, am I right? You know we had to fill up more than just two pages with these pretties.

Image credits (clockwise from top left): garden rose, ranunculus, peony, mock orange, fever few and ladies mantel bouquet by La Fleuriste photographed by Lori Paladino, hot pink garden rose, yellow acacia blue thistle, coral anthirium and ranunculus bouquet by JL Designs photographed by Gabriel Ryan Photographers, ranunculus, azalea, and hellebcre bouquet by Flowerwild photographed by Jose Villa, ranunculus, succulent and hypericum berry bouquet by David Rohr Studio photographed by Dave Richards.

Succulents in a bouquet genius!

Image credits (clockwise from top left): tree peony, white sweet pea and yellow ranunuclus bouquet by Charleston Stems photographed by Corbin Gurkin, succulent, rose, billy ball and ranunculus bouquet by Uptown Flowers photographed by Elissa R Photography, peony and raw cotton bouquet by Fertile Crescent Gardens photographed by Laura Leslie, peony, scabiosa bloom, white poppy, dusty miller and blooming jasmine vine bouquet by Pollen Floral Art photographed by Jesse Ryan.

Jose Villa, Melissa Schollaert, Myrtie Blue, and Laura Leslie are members of the Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

Tell us, ladies, what kind of flowers will you be using and which of these is your favorite?

Want more flowery goodness? How about our Southern Blooms feature? It’s another V4 beauty!

When I went wedding dress shopping, I started at The Collection in Winter Park; they have the most beautiful gowns. I tried on several designers, but I was in love with White by Vera. I felt it was the best fit for my personality and taste. I wanted it to be an intimate experience, so only my mother and my sister went with me to search for the perfect dress. I accessorized with a White by Vera jeweled belt for the ceremony and decided to do something fun for our extravaganza, changing to a big black bow. It was so much fun being able to change my look for the reception.

I decided not to do a “first look” and I’m so glad I didn’t! I wanted Paul to see me for the first time coming down the aisle.

What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? The date was challenging since the wedding was on a Friday and we had family and friends traveling from out of town. But, we loved the idea of a Friday the Thirteenth Wedding!
What range did your wedding budget fall into? $25,000-$50,000.
What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? Photography! I chose the best, and we are so happy we did!

Our cake was not only beautiful, but very romantic, and delicious. I wanted it to match my gown, so I requested that it look like a layer of tulle over the cake, accented with peonies made of sugar. Everyone thought they were real. It was a vanilla cake with strawberry filling and Bavarian cream. Fondant of course.

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. Classic love story! We met at a costume party and became friends. We started to see each other on a regular basis and then we really became best friends, fell in love as friends do and, after many years, Paul proposed!
Describe the proposal. I had anticipated a proposal for months, but as time went by, I stopped thinking about it. One day, after a long day at work, I met Paul for a quick dinner and he then insisted we go to the beach for a walk. It was moonlit and pleasant outside very romantic! Paul let out a sigh and said, “Wow, I’m feeling like I missed an opportunity here.” I then said, “Oh I bet you are wishing you had a ring right now!” I turned away and glanced at the ocean, and as I was turning back, Paul knelt down on one knee. The whole time, I’m thinking, “He is really playing this out!” I was sure he did not have a ring. Well, suddenly he opened a ring box and the most brilliant, gorgeous ring shone. It took my breath away! I don’t remember if I screamed, but I did cry. I think we both had tears of love and excitement. Paul had not planned it this way, but when he received the ring he had been waiting for, spontaneity kicked in. He did not want to wait, and I was very happy he did not.
In what month did you get married? April
How many guests attended your wedding? 105
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? We didn’t have a formal one, but my fabulous big sister and maid of honor Danielle, who I love so much, came to me while I was getting ready and completely surprised me by re-enacting Jennifer Lopez’s speech from the movie “The Wedding Planner.” It was priceless and I’m so glad our videographer was able to capture it. It was meant to be funny but we both ended up in tears.
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding. I really loved the ceremony music. We chose to have a trio of flute, cello and harp. I walked down the aisle to Canon in D, and walked back up with the wedding party to “Kissing in Rain” from the Great Expectations soundtrack. It was so romantic and climactic! For our first dance, Paul and I chose “I found a reason” by Cat Power. My father and I danced to “Landslide” by Stevie Nicks and it was definitely one of my favorite moments of the night. Paul and his mom chose “I will” by the Beatles.
Describe your wedding flowers: PEONIES, hundreds and hundreds of beautiful pink peonies. I loved my flowers!! They were displayed in fabulous Mercury glass vases.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? The whole event! It really was the wedding of my dreams, but I loved the surprise Rolls Royce exit car! I was so involved in all the details, but I had no clue my mom had planned that. We loved cruising around Winter Park after the wedding, it was so much fun. It kept our party going! We were not leaving for our Honeymoon until Sunday, so we had a family and friend brunch on Saturday. It was wonderful to see everyone and delicious too.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Take your time in making choices, and try to outline important details. As the day is drawing near, have a deadline where you draw a line and if it has not been done, let it go. Try to rest and enjoy family as much as possible, it will add to the relaxed feel at your wedding. Most importantly, be present in the moment, as it happens very quickly.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? Furnishing our first home together!! We moved in the day we arrived home from our Hawaiian honeymoon. We’re looking forward to traveling!

Love this wedding? Maybe you’ll love these, too:
Caitlin + Charlie’s classic peony wedding here and here.
Cee Cee + Chad’s pink and gray Florida wedding here.
Whitney + Jeff’s modern and romantic wedding here and here.