Have you taken our 2012 survey yet? Thanks, y’all!

Y’all didn’t I say this wedding was amazing? Bright graphic details ruled the night at Katie + Max’s reception and most of them were handmade by the couple! Even their corn hole boards were designed by K + M and then painted by Emily Brown Lacroix at Merriment Events. Standing out from the crowd of plain white cakes is the couple’s three-tiered sweet concoction based on Damien Hirst’s “Albumin, Human, Glycated.” Art-inspired desserts? They’re now a favorite in my book. Biggest hugs to Jodi Miller Photography for sharing this fun day with us!

P.S. Love the details of this wedding? Be sure to check out Courtney’s recent post on Revel a Shopping Guide based on Katie + Max’s style!

Good morning friends! Have any of you watched the TV show, Hart of Dixie? I just caught an episode last night and fell in love with the melodic accents. Plus, I love Rachel Bilson she’s so fab.

For those of you out there who aren’t morning people, this wedding will do the trick. It’s like a happy jolt of wedding coffee! We could not stop talking about Katie + Max’s wedding when it landed in our inbox and appeared on our computer screens during last year’s Real Wedding call for V4. The bright colors and huge amounts of handmade details (and this time I mean details no corner of this wedding was ignored!) were the sweetest bits of eye candy. Katie + John are both artists working in the film industry and brought an energetic burst of life to the events. I don’t know where to begin with these images from Jodi Miller Photography, so I’ll let you soak in the joy at your own pace.

The Southern Weddings team is looking for a Corporate Advertising Account Manager. If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, we’d love to have you apply! All of the details are posted right here, but hurry, because we’re only accepting applications until March 1!

Click here to see the complete job description!

Image by Steve Steinhardt via Southern Weddings

Have you taken our 2012 survey yet? Thanks, y’all!

Quick update: There’s a bulletin board above my desk now!! Okay, back to regularly scheduled awesome wedding time. Darcy + John’s Florida nuptials were, like most of the wedding we fall for, full of family-crafted details. In fact, Darcy said that old family photos uncovered during their engagement provided the inspiration for many of the personal touches included in the wedding. I am in awe of the couple’s gorgeous vine and baby’s breath-covered chuppah it was built by both D + J’s fathers using wood from Darcy’s family backyard! And y’all know good and well that I can’t let those sweet hankies and monogrammed ties pass without comment! Who else is pinning those today? I’ll leave you to take in these gorgeous photos from Divine Light Photography, but not without mentioning that Darcy + John’s shiny green getaway car is rad. Plus, how perfect for Fat Tuesday!

We don’t often see day-after shoots, so we love getting a glimpse into the first days of Darcy + John’s married life with help from Divine Light Photography. Isn’t it just lovely? I can’t help but fall for that last shot. I can just image the couple lounging in their wedding finery and reliving all those blissful moments from the day before.

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. (From the groom) In September 2008, on one lovely fall weekend in New York City, a little reunion was planned for our group of friends who had all become close while attending college at Florida State. This was the first meeting between us, and it was quite bizarre to our group of mutual friends that we had never met one another in all our years at FSU. I decided to go for it and introduced myself to Darcy, only to find the night was ending soon and I’d have to wait until the next day at the FSU alumni bar to have another chance to get to know her. As we all watched and cheered on our Seminoles the next day, the group saw an instant and steady connection between me and Darcy. I returned to Dallas where I had just moved two months prior to start a new job. It was only about a week later that I found myself buying a flight back to New York to visit Darcy for an extended “first date weekend”. After many long months of back and forth and meeting in distant places from Santa Monica to Calgary, I decided to leave Texas behind and was headed for the big city. The rest, as they say, is history!
Describe the proposal. It was a regular Friday night the week before Christmas in New York City. John asked me to meet him in front of the Plaza Hotel an hour or so before the dinner reservations. Once we met at said fountain, he asked me what I wanted to do to “kill some time” until the 11pm seating at the restaurant. We headed to see the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center and it was there that he proposed and I happily accepted! He had in his possession a family heirloom – the engagement ring that belonged to my late grandmother, Helen. He secretly collected the ring from my father in anticipation of popping the question. All seemed quite spontaneous; he got me good!
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Personal, comfortable, and charming.
In what month did you get married? December
How many guests attended your wedding? 160 guests
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? We wanted to spread around the Southern hospitality we loved about our childhoods. That meant lining the ceremony aisle with grandma’s mason jars filled of baby’s breath; a dinner station devoted to fried pickles, corn pudding, and BBQ sliders; and a scotch n’ bourbon specialty bar built of family antiques. Then, there was the collection of “Della’s Doilies.” John’s late grandmother, Della, was a meticulous crafter of the most beautiful crochets one has ever seen. When I saw them, I knew it was perfect for our table décor, and was the way we’d pay tribute to John’s “GranDella.”
Tell us about finding your wedding dress: The weekend of our engagement party in Ft. Worth, the guys of the two families played golf and ate BBQ, while the ladies went dress shopping. I did some solo snooping in the salon and saw a dress I wanted to see off the hanger. Lo and behold, she was the one. Romona Keveza is known to create elegant, romantic, and glamorous dresses; I found one that had an old-timey Hollywood feel but was also modern and edgy at the same time. It was different than any dress I had seen before, which made it the right gown for me.
Describe your wedding flowers: I carried my favorites, white peonies. For the bridesmaids, we did fun, wild, red anemones. We kept it feminine for the mothers with a simple hand-tied bunch of baby’s breath all wrapped in white lace. My bouquet of peonies was the perfect place to tie a locket that belonged to my mother that I have held onto since she passed away. Inside the locket were two school portraits she’d cut out of me and my brother. It was really special to know she was right there with us. We hung a garland of baby’s breath around the frame of the chuppah and on the tables at the reception were bold bunches of all red gerberas with black centers, either tucked inside a birdcage or low arrangements placed on the tree stumps, which John’s uncle cut down for us on his Mississippi farm. Placed around each center arrangement were a trio of milk glass vases, each containing a single wild flower bunch – baby’s breath, Queen Anne’s lace, and hypericum berry.
Describe your wedding cake or dessert: Red velvet! Some tiers were yellow and chocolate marble. The s’mores bar was a big hit over at the wood-burning fire pit. Lastly, a cool Florida night makes for a great time to enjoy a Serendipity frozen hot chocolate.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Making sure we had a great time planning the event, but not getting overwhelmed with the process. It’s a great time in your life and is like no other in time you’ll spend together, so make sure you take a step back and realize what a special day it’s going to be for you and your soon-to-be spouse.
What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? Our band! Tom Sartori was a band we both enjoyed in college in Tallahassee at Bullwinkle’s Saloon. He doesn’t “do weddings” but we wrote to him with our special request and he delivered an exceptional show. We can’t thank him enough for making it a party we truly will always remember.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? John loves to play his guitar. He got up on stage to thank our friends and family for attending. Then, Tom handed him a guitar, and John soon started strumming John Mayer’s “Daughters.” This was the father-daughter dance. It was a really touching and sweet moment; I was just trying to take it all in and was feeling more blessed than ever.
Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? One of my favorite moments in the ceremony was when my dad handed me over to John, and said, “She’s all yours.” We all chuckled.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? We love to travel and plan to expand on our list of places we’ve been together and the places we will live. The world is ours for the taking. Up next: we’re planning our extended honeymoon to somewhere exotic and relaxing.

Photographer: Divine Light Wedding Photography // Videographer: Bill Wagy Productions // Florist: Bee Ridge Florist // Wedding Cake Baker: Matt and Dom’s // Caterer: Fete Catering // Rentals: US Tent Rental // Linens: Tan linen toppers made by groom’s mother. // Paper Products: Askew Design // Bride’s Dress: Romona Keveza // Bride’s Hair Accessories/Veil: Veil from Etsy // Bride’s Shoes: flats by Christian Louboutin, heels by Badgley Mischka // Bridesmaids’ Dresses: TART Infinity Dress

If you’re loving this wedding, check these out:
Our Green Wedding Details Pinterest board
Our Southern Ceremonies Pinterest board

Llamas! Seed talks! Truffle dogs! Yahoo!

Next was the formal invite, lovely in yellow.

Next guests were invited to the rehearsal dinner. Love the vintage floral patterns here!

To find their way around the Farm, guests were treated to a map hand-drawn by Mr. Boddington.

Finally, each guest received a lovely menu when sitting down to their meal, previewing the goodies to come. Yum!

For a few more details, head over to Mr. Boddington’s blog!

We were extra excited when Moya Minns of MM Ink and Gia Graham of Betsywhite Stationery told us about their new collaboration that they themselves deemed a “paper love fest.”

Now, when you order from Betsywhite, you’re also offered an exclusive calligraphy discount on envelope addressing and place cards a paper love fest, indeed! You can choose from select MM Ink calligraphy styles when you place your order, making the entire process streamlined and lovely. What bride doesn’t want that?

To celebrate all of this paper goodness, we Southern belles are giving one lucky reader a set of custom calligraphy thank you cards and gift tags!

To Enter: Head to the Betsywhite site and tell us what your favorite wedding invitation or what your favorite calligraphy style is! For another entry, tweet at us and say “I just entered the @MoyaMinns + @_Betsywhite giveaway on @iloveswmag!” Then come back here and leave a SEPARATE comment telling us you did so.

Win: A set of custom calligraphy thank you cards and gift tags from Betsywhite + MM Ink.

Photo by Amy Arrington via Southern Weddings with overlay by SW

Yes, we are always, always trying to make the Southern Weddings blog and Southern Weddings magazine and, well, the Southern Weddings experience better and better, and because of that, we’d love to hear your thoughts on what you’re loving and how we could improve. Our 2012 survey should only take you about five minutes to complete, and we would be ever so grateful if you’d take the time to do so! Brides, vendors, friends, family members, wedding lovers we’d love to hear from all of you!

Click here to take the survey!

Thank you SO much in advance!

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

Tasty Kitchen

Eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day (or shortly after midnight on New Year’s Eve) is thought to bring prosperity and good luck to those who partake. The practice of eating black-eyed peas for luck is generally believed to date back to the Civil War. Today, the tradition of eating black-eyed peas for the New Year has evolved into a number of variations, including serving them with greens (for good luck with money) or with cornbread (no word on what that’s supposed to do for you).

For the best chance of luck every day in the year ahead, one must eat at least 365 black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day. That’s a lot of peas! Some Southerners add a shiny penny or dime to the pot just before serving, and the person whose bowl contains the coin receives the best luck for the New Year. Reminds me of my husbands crazy meemaw, who used to put a horseshoe in the dog’s water for extra iron!

We love that some Southern brides have chosen to incorporate black-eyed peas into their wedding days, whether using them as a mason jar or vase filler, or tossing them for good luck instead of confetti or petals!

Credits from top to bottom and left to right: Melissa Schollaert via this awesome V4 wedding, next two images Millie Holloman via SMP, Morgan Trinker, and Studio 56 Photography

Does your family have any crazy New Year’s traditions? How many of y’all eat black-eyed peas and/or collard greens at the New Year? Will you or have you incorporated black-eyed peas into your wedding decor?

Hungry for more? Dig into our other Southern Delicacies:
Grits
King Cake
Benne Wafers

The first SW yard sale last year was a blast for us and for our readers and we couldn’t wait to put together another one! We can’t guarantee our goods come with stories quite as epic as the one above, but they are beautiful and need a home in someone’s future wedding!

This time, we want to get y’all even more involved. Of course, you’re invited to shop among our wares. But if you’re an event planner or even a former bride who wants to sell some gently used wedding items, too, we want you to participate in the yard sale with us! Shoot me an email to let me know that you’re interested and tell me what you want to sell.

Who else is more excited than a hen on a hot griddle?
P.S. I reckon the SW ladies will be donning their green best. We encourage you to do the same!

We couldn’t help but throw in a fun giveaway for the Swoon Event! We love how this Southern bridal event is a wedding market AND a party. If you’re in the Dallas-Ft.Worth area, be sure to enter to win two tickets here!

Two weeks ago, Emily spoke at Branches & Light, a photography workshop for ladies organized by Nancy Ray and Caroline Joy. The images produced by the workshop shoot were perfect for Valentine’s Day and we had to share!

Do you believe in Valentine’s Day? Our hilarious and wise guest columnist, Katie from Marriage Confessions, tells us all about what love can do in a marriage. (But unfortunately, no, it does not pay the power bill.)

Marissa and her hubs celebrated their three-year wedding anniversary in December and took a trip to the Florida Keys to celebrate. Marissa proved that the Ocean Key Resort & Spa was a wonderful addition to the Honey List! Their warm and welcoming employees and casually luxurious atmosphere make for the perfect combination.

While we’re in the process of rounding up our favorite Southern Weddings images and decorating our office walls, we thought we’d share a bit about what makes these images so special and why we swoon every time we see them. It’s film, y’all. (Plus the amazing work of Richard Photo Lab!)

Emily’s wedding planning is really underway! Many of the logistics have been decided, so of course she had to move into hair and makeup updates! She’s still torn between options, but with the gorgeous inspiration she wrangled up, can she really go wrong?

Oh, y’all. I always love Marissa’s Southern Delicacy series because those treats always look delicious! This week, we’re all about King Cake and Mardi Gras.

What does one wear to a black tie wedding? Y’all know we love formality, gorgeous dressed and dapper-dressed beaus as much as we love our cowboy boots in the South. Marissa walks us through the expectations and provides a few gorgeous options in her Southern Style column!

We’re thrilled to welcome February’s Southern Bride of the Month to the blog! Meaghan and Christopher are the perfect fit for the Mardi Gras month since they’re both in school in New Orleans. He won her heart with some Southern charm and now they’re planning a wedding full of NOLA’s best traditions.

We were happy to take a look back on Carolyn + Dustin’s wedding in the featured Real Wedding Gallery of the week! Their clean pink and orange details won us over.

We love love. Real Weddings from this week:

Valerie + Kevin’s wedding was a family effort that boasted gorgeous pink details and a huge group of friends! See it here.

Blair + Luke’s red wedding blew us out of the water how perfect for Valentine’s Day! The Southern soiree was complete with gorgeous calligraphy and a bright, bold tent. See it here.

Good news for the weekend!

Y’all know we love fun photo booths! A new iPad app called Wedding Booth makes it even easier to get on at your wedding by transforming your iPad into a fully customizable, inexpensive and fun DIY photo booth and guestbook for your wedding. Check out Wedding Booth’s website for more information!

MagnetStreet Weddings is celebrating Valentine’s Day! To give brides some sweet savings on wedding stationery, they’re offering a 21.4% discount to our friends! Head over to their site and use the promo code WEDLOVE214 before February 27.

Who wants to win $500 in wholesale wedding flowers?! Fifty Flowers is offering a giveaway to brides, planners, anyone! Each month, a new winner is selected. Head over to their Facebook page for more details!

Photographers, want to get published? Emily gave Shoot 2 Shoot a few trip and tricks, including what we love and what we look for in submissions. Check it out here!

Don’t forget to check out this week’s Facebook Top Ten. We’re all about peaches this week! Big thanks to Rachel Thurston for the photo of peach favors below.

Tell me what y’all are doing this weekend! I’m really looking forward to Sunday brunch with friends.

Monograms, madras, and Lilly, oh my!

The Paper Cottage is especially tickled pink to debut the wedding invitation line from SW favorite Lilly Pulitzer. Featuring classic Lilly colors, the stationery suites are fresh and elegant. This one’s our favorite:

We especially love that The Paper Cottage helps you carry the Lilly look throughout your entire celebration, offering goodies like Lilly cell phone covers, picture frames, and notepads. Very adorable, we think.

Ready to get your preppy, monogrammed fix? Head over to The Paper Cottage and use code LOVELILLY for 15% off your order at checkout!

Kimbrali Photography

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story.
Meaghan: We met in Rome 8 years ago.

Christopher: We actually met on the bus ride to the airport, but Meaghan doesn’t remember that.

Meaghan: Our school offered a trip to Italy and France for 8th and 9th graders that we both signed up for separately. I remember Chris making quite the effort to carry my Mom’s and my shopping bags around, loading our luggage onto the trains, and even protecting us during a confrontation with a homeless man on the metro!

Christopher: Little did Meaghan know, I thought she was beautiful and really started to like her.

Meaghan: However, it wasn’t until my sophomore year of high school that I really fell for him. We remember spending free periods together on the decks by the lockers, hanging out on the weekends in big groups, and going on double dates with my best friend and her beau. Eventually I worked up the courage to ask Christopher to the annual Sadie Hawkin’s Dance.

Christopher: After going to a local football game one night, I asked Meaghan to be my girlfriend when I dropped her off before her 10PM curfew.

Meaghan: We fell in love pretty fast and the next 7.5 years of our lives have been amazing! I taught him to play tennis…

Christopher: and now I can beat her!

Meaghan: …we both ended up at Tulane University on scholarships, we grew towards the Lord together, we went on vacations and mission trips, and we have made the best friends we could ever dream of having.

Kimbrali Photography

Now tell us alllll about the proposal.
Meaghan: On a beach trip with our friends after Mardi Gras last March, the two of us went on a night-time walk along the shore. Chris sneakily had our friends set up a blanket with a bottle of Veuve and champagne glasses a little ways down the beach. I remember thinking that the blanket had to be for another couple and wondering why we were walking towards it. When we got close to it, he got down on one knee and said the most beautiful words about our relationship, our future, and me. I was sobbing so hard that I don’t remember most of what he said, but I do remember him telling me I could adopt as many babies as I wanted, which is something very close to my heart!

Christopher: Actually I said “lots of babies”… not “as many as she wanted,” because then we might end up with 100 babies! Thankfully she said yes! I was only nervous because I hadn’t had a chance to shave off my Mardi Gras Mohawk!

Meaghan: We spent the next 30 minutes alone under the stars sipping champagne and talking about how far we’ve come and what the future holds. This was the calm before the storm.

Christopher: I planned the proposal this way, knowing that 14 of our best friends were back at the beach house.

Meaghan: All of our friends were gathered around a bonfire on the beach when we walked up and announced our engagement. It was pure chaos, tears, screams and joy until the wee hours of the morning.

The chapel where Meaghan and Christopher will be married!

When’s the big day?
June 2, 2012

Where might you two be tying the knot?
Lafayette, Louisiana

How did you pick your ceremony and reception venues? What do you love most about each space?
About a week after Christopher proposed, we called our school, the Episcopal School of Acadiana, to book the chapel. It is a beautiful space with big wooden beams, floor to ceiling windows, and exposed brick. Mossy oak trees, outdoor lockers, classrooms in barns, broken down school buses, and cane fields is where it all started, and we’ve always said we would go back there to get married!

After the wedding ceremony, the reception will immediately follow at the my childhood home! After over 50 birthday parties, dozens of family holiday dinners, 11 blow out Christmas parties, two graduation parties and endless nights in the pool, we thought we would add a wedding to the list of festivities we’ve hosted at the house!

Meaghan told us she loves gold shoes and coral flowers, so we picked this inspiration out just for her :) Photo by Lauren Kinsey, styling by Shelby Peaden, and florals by Myrtie Blue via Wedding Chicks

Were you totally that girl who planned her wedding from age 5, or not so much?
Christopher and I have been dating for 7.5 years, so I’ve been waiting/planning to marry this man for 1/3 of my life! However, I would say that my real obsession began in 2008 when I was a freshman in college. Big lecture classes really accelerated my devotion to wedding blogs! I can’t say that I keep up with 25 like Madelynne, but I stay super consistent with about a dozen beautiful blogs!

Who or what has been most inspiring in the wedding planning process?
God has felt so close to us during our engagement that we haven’t needed much besides him! Through the blessings of such amazing friends and family, receiving pre-marital counseling while we were missionaries in the Dominican Republic, and feeling like everything is secure and wonderful in our lives, we are so thankful for this God-given peace!

Meaghan is hoping for a moment like this at her wedding (photo by Brooke Courtney from this post)

Have you picked your dress yet? How’d that go? What will you be wearing on the big day?
Yes! I found my dress at Wedding Belles on Magazine Street with help from the most wonderful consultant, Katie. My mom and I made a few appointments all over the city on a beautiful Saturday in May. I had probably tried on a few dozen dresses that day, but when I slipped on this dress, it was just perfect! It is candlelight in color, an a-line silhouette, with a sweetheart neckline and beautiful lace sash! We all know it’s bad luck to share a picture of the dress before the big reveal, so I guess y’all will have to wait and see it in June!

Who is your favorite vendor you’ve booked so far?
Okay, so this is where it gets really Cajun! As I thought about our menu, I couldn’t imagine paying a caterer to make jambalaya when in reality, nobody can make it better than Christopher’s mom… and I would never dream of ordering somebody else’s crawfish etouffee when clearly, we all want Christopher’s grandmother’s secret recipe! Slowly, word got out, and the rest of his family wanted their infamous Cajun recipes to be a part of the limelight! So, our menu will be mostly family cooking! However, we knew we needed someone to manage the chaos and fill in the holes in our menu, and we are so thankful to have Joey’s Catering on board to really polish off the menu and take the stress out of it for us!

Delicious Southern food from Camille + Mark’s reception (photos by Gina Zeidler)

What is Southern about your wedding?
Born and raised in “Cajun-country” and spending the last four years of college in New Orleans… Louisiana pride is a huge part of my identity. By beau lives to duck hunt, cheer for the Tigers and the Saints, praise the Lord on Sundays, and make his mama proud. Nothing makes me happier than slaving all afternoon over a gumbo for my friends, spending the day on St. Charles at the parades, and coming home at the end of the night to my college house decorated with wreaths, sorority paddles, and the women I love. Our wedding will be a reflection of all of those things, plus the Cajun/New Orleans culture that raised us and brought us together. My 78 year old nanny who helped raised me is in the wedding party, our dance with Chris’ parents will be to Zydeco jams, there will be chandeliers in the oak trees of my backyard, and my dad will probably be walking around with a pitcher of his best batch of Old Fashioneds (a recipe given to him on his grandmother’s death bed). I’d like to think of our wedding as “classy-Cajun”… which to me, is the best kind of Southern elegance there is!

Meaghan’s been busy collecting family wedding photos to display at the reception, just like we did in V4! (Photo by Katie Stoops)
Do you have a favorite Etsy store you’d love to tell us about?
I am so proud of this one. After years of browsing blogs, I always knew that my bridesmaid’s dresses would be the hardest decision to make. I wanted my ladies to look beautiful and stay cool during my hot Louisiana summer wedding while still avoiding the “bridesmaid-y” look. After actual WEEKS of searching on Etsy, I found it. I came across Lana Stepul and this stunning linen backless dress with pockets and a bow. She found the most perfect coral-pink linen that will match my bouquet and look great on all 8 my ladies!

Inspiration for the gents’ attire by A Bryan Photo via Southern Weddings

If you had to pick three top priorities for your budget, what would they be and why? Are your fiancé’s priorities different?
Meaghan says guests (I want EVERYONE to be there!), music (I just want to dance all night!), and photography (I want classic pictures we will love forever!). Christopher says food (My mama spoiled me with the best Cajun cooking Louisiana has to offer!), friends (I don’t want to leave anyone out!), and honeymoon (after studying non-stop during my first year of dental school, I am ready for some time off with my boo!).

What are you most looking forward to on your wedding day?
Getting ready with my best friends, dancing with my daddy, and calling Christopher my husband for the first time!

Meaghan has gorgeous long, and she’s planning to wear it down and loosely curled! We love this inspiration from Abby Jiu (via SW) and Melissa Schollaert (via SW)

Any plans for a honeymoon? Where do you want to go and what will you do?
This was Christopher’s contribution to the wedding planning and I have to say, he did a pretty amazing job! We are flying to Barcelona, Spain the day after our wedding to go on a 12-day Mediterranean Cruise! We are stopping in Italy, Spain, Greece, Turkey and Malta!

Any advice you’d like to pass along to fellow brides?
Stick to your guns! We went into the planning process with a lot of ideas that were a far stretch and super unique to us as a couple. When we shared these ideas, a lot of vendors told us we were crazy. We kept going until we found people that shared our vision, loved our drama, and were excited to be working with us! We are so happy that we didn’t conform to the cookie cutter wedding and that Christopher and I are really making June 2nd a celebration of OUR love!

Meaghan wants the existing furniture and cozy lighting at her home to create ambiance, and we love this inspiration image! (Photo by Steve Steinhardt via Southern Weddings)

Now it’s your turn to ask for advice – is there anything you’d like to poll the SW readers on?
For those of you who have been in weddings or have any experience coordinating, how long does it take for everyone to get down the aisle? I have the most beautiful song picked out but it is only 2.5 minutes long. Do y’all think that Is that enough time for grandparents, parents, the bridal party, and myself to all get down the aisle?

Thank you so much for playing along, Meaghan! 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!

Shelby Peaden Events is a fabulous member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

Credits from left to right and top to bottom: First two images A Bryan Photo, Jen Huang via SMP, Christian Oth via Martha Stewart, Lisa Lefkowitz, Meg Smith, John Dolan via Martha Stewart, and Meg Smith

Like I said, I had an idea in mind of what I wanted to wear: a long ball gown (that’s right, I don’t do anything half way!). On my “scouting trip,” I tried on an amazing Adrianna Papell ball gown. (BDK said I looked like the villain at the engagement party in Bridesmaids in it – yes, please!!) Unfortunately, they didn’t have my size. Anywhere in America. Yes, a bit dramatic, but I needed this dress. Come on, you know that feeling! Long story not so short, it arrived at my house just yesterday (yes, the wedding is Saturday)! I’ll tweet pics for sure!

Anyways! Now that you know what a crazy person I can be, let’s talk about what YOU should wear if you get a black tie invitation in the mail. According to the fabulous Ms Emily Post, black tie calls for fellows in black tuxedos with formal (piqué or pleated front) white shirts, bow ties, and cummerbunds. We of course support this, since all Southern men should always wear bow ties! Gloves are not required, and in the summer white dinner jackets with black tuxedo paints are acceptable. Southern belles should don formal floor-length gowns, a very dressy cocktail dress, or your dressiest LBD. If you do choose to go the LBD route, be sure you fancy that sucker up with your best sparklers, and highest heels!

As y’all know, every dress code is open to interpretation, but let’s talk specifically about Southern black tie attire. Game day dresses are a huge decision in the South, so as you can imagine, black tie means dress up! When are you going to have the chance to zip up the ball gown, put on those ear baubles (thanks for the term, ABQ), and dance around with your honey? When it comes to black tie attire, I’m with Oscar Wilde – “you can never be overdressed.”

Want some shopping inspiration? Take a gander at our black tie-worthy Shopping Guide:

A. David Meister Sequin Tank Gown ($578), B. JS Boutique Pleated Gown ($219), C. Adrianna Pappel Rosette Ball Gown ($238), D. BCBG Maxazria Printed Metallic Evening Gown ($313), E. Monique Lhuillier Pleated Gown ($238), F. JS Boutique Sequin Trim Gown ($188), G. Decode Striped Evening Gown ($229), H. David Meister One-Shoulder Brooch Gown ($560), I. Betsey & Adam Jersey Gown ($180), J. Mignon One-Shoulder Gown ($415), K. Adrianna Pappel Tiered Gown ($199), L. Anna Elyse Convertible Dress ($220), M. Elisa J. One-Shoulder Cocktail Dress ($168), and N. Miss Sixty Pleated Gown ($148).

Which dress would you choose for a black tie event? Do you have a go-to black tie dress? Have you ever had the chance to attend a black tie wedding? Are you HAVING a black tie wedding? Let us know!

Have a question on what to wear to an event? Leave a comment below, and we’ll help ya out!

Mark Eric Photography

In the South, particularly Mobile, the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and Louisiana, the king cake is a Mardi Gras tradition. Normally served on Fat Tuesday (the day before Ash Wednesday), the king cake is a ring of twisted sweet bread topped with icing or sugar. Depending on how you feel about such things, they can look either festive or garish, because they’re usually colored purple, green, and gold with food coloring.

Placed underneath or inside of the cake is a small plastic baby, said to represent Baby Jesus. Tradition says that the person who gets the piece of cake with the baby receives good luck for the coming year, AND they’re responsible for buying the cake the following year. Who knows why my sister and I would argue so much over that tiny baby I guess just because the other one wanted it so much!

Image by Heather Kincaid, overlay by SW

Let’s get started! First, we’ll discuss my hair and makeup inspiration, and then I’ll introduce you to the lady who’s going to make the magic happen. We’ll save accessories for another day.

Right, so I was all set to come in here and tell you that I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to wear my hair up, down, or half up/half down. But then I looked at the inspiration images I’d been hoarding, and saw there was a clear pattern: they were almost all updos, as you’ll soon see. Here are a few favorites:

Credits from top: style by Naemmah Carre via Teen Vogue; unknown; hair by Hot Heads Salon and makeup by Bobbi Brown (photo by Tec Petaja via Weddingbee); photo by Jill Thomas via Style Me Pretty; photo by Tory Williams

Contrary to what these photos might be telling you, I will not be wearing a hair flower. I am, however, looking for a loose, modern updo with side-swept bangs and a bit of a Southern bump. I have fairly long hair that is naturally curly and pretty thick, so I think this is doable.

Though I think overall I prefer the look of an updo, and think it would look better with the neckline of my dress, I still haven’t completely given up on a half up/half down look. My two favorite inspiration images:

Credits: Kate Middleton photo by Getty Images via Glamour and Rachel McAdams photo courtesy of New Line Cinema

Yes, that would be Princess Kate and Rachel McAdams. I aim high. Though I love these two looks, I think I would get annoyed having my hair down all night while dancing. Thoughts, ladies who have gone with this look?

So that’s hair, and I think I have a fairly good handle on what I want. Makeup, though? That’s a whole other story. I don’t wear much makeup on a day to day basis, and it’s all pretty mysterious to me in general. (In fact, Marissa had to do my eye makeup for our last staff photoshoot!) Because I don’t wear much makeup normally, I don’t want to try anything too dramatic on our wedding day, because I still want to look like myself… but prettier :) In fact, that’s about the best direction I can give: pretty, please! Here’s what I mean:

Credits: Natalie Portman image by Tim Walker from Teen Vogue and image by Jamie Beck

I think I have similar coloring to Natalie Portman and Emma Watson, so I try to scope out what they’ve got going on. Do any of you do that? Who’s your celeb coloring twin?

Thankfully, I won’t be left to my own devices with this scanty inspiration. No, someone very talented is going to be on hand to get me prettified, and her name is Tia Reagan! Now before you all go thinking I’m crazy for flying a hair and makeup artist in from California for my big day, let me explain. Tia just so happens to be best buddies with our amazing photographer, Tanja Lippert, and the two work together all the time. Tia started out in the industry as a photographer, and she still second shoots on occasion with Tanja. When Tanja suggested Tia as the second shooter for our wedding, I jumped at the chance, knowing it meant she would be able to do our hair and makeup, as well! I’m so, SO happy it worked out like it did, and can’t WAIT to experience the dynamic duo that is T&T Dynamite! Here’s a little more of Tia’s work to give you a sense of her magical (yes, magical) abilities:

Clearly, Tia is a pro at exactly the kind of romantic, modern updo I’m looking for, not to mention soft, natural makeup. Yippee!! If anyone could set me at ease about my wedding day look, it’s her. All of these photos were shot by my girl Tanja, too. These two make beauty together!

What do you think, ladies? How are you planning to wear your hair and makeup on your wedding day? Comment and let me know!

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

Braedon Flynn as seen in V4

Of course, it goes without saying that we love both digital AND film photography. We feature both types in print and online and truly believe a great photograph is a great photograph, no matter the medium. We have both incredible film and incredible digital photographers in our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

A Bryan Photo as seen in V4

Still, why are we such fans of film? To tell you the truth, when I tell people that we shoot our editorials mostly on film, or that my wedding photographer shoots exclusively film, they think it’s the strangest thing! They can’t believe that in this day and age, people still go to the time and expense to shoot film instead of digital. But you know what? I think that’s exactly why film photography and Southern Weddings are such a good match. We appreciate and celebrate a lot of things that have been forgotten “in this day and age,” like graciousness, hospitality, romance, honoring your history, timeless and classic style, slowing down, and being kind to and appreciative of the community that surrounds you as you plan your wedding.

Katie Stoops as seen in V4

However, the most important reason that we use film to shoot our editorials is that to our mind, you simply can’t beat the soft, romantic look of the final images. In V4, every major editorial was shot on film, as were the covers of V1, V3, and V4! Seven of our V4 real weddings were also shot all on film or partially on film.

Jose Villa as seen in V4

That being said, we have to introduce you to Richard Photo Lab, the company who almost every film photographer trusts to develop their rolls. They’re the ones we use for Southern Weddings shoots, too, because since we’re not photographers ourselves, we’re inclined to trust the recommendation of the photographers we work with. And the recommendation, unanimously, is Richard Photo Lab.

Paper Antler as seen in V4

A small sampling of their stellar client list: Jose Villa, Lisa Lefkowitz, Jonathan Canlas, Tanja Lippert, Bryan Johnson, Yvette Roman, and Tec Petaja. Goodness gracious. We love Richard’s for some of the same reasons we love film and the South: they still take the time to do things the “old fashioned” way, like paying meticulous attention to every single frame, never applying “one size fits all” settings, and treating their clients as valuable instead of expendable. We think nothing sounds more Southern than that!

Veil and Bow as seen in V4

To close, we just wanted to send out a little public service announcement to every bride, no matter what sort of photographer you hired: get those photos off of your high-res disc and onto your walls! Gorgeous photos are meant to be lived with and appreciated every day, y’all! And when you do print those photos, make sure they’re the highest quality possible and printed on archival paper and all that goodness your wedding photos are destined to be heirlooms passed down to your grandchildren, so treat them right! Unsurprisingly, we’re big fans of Richard Photo Lab’s printing options.

While you go run and grab that disc, we’ll be taking our own advice and ordering up the top picks from our survey. We’ll be sure to share a photo of our wall when we’re done!

Need I go on? Yes, I must! Our room was amazing! Brightly-colored eclectic decor filled the wide open breezy room with the loveliest balcony with a view of the Gulf of Mexico. BDK was especially fond of the exposed beams on the super high ceilings.

The first night we were there, we decided to stay in and enjoy room service (one of my favorite hotel perks ever!). Mahi Mahi sandwich and sweet potato fries, yes please!! Everything tastes better when eaten in these lovely surroundings:

The next morning we decided to walk around Key West, and then head to the pool. Yes, this is really what their pool looks like!

With the central location of the resort, we were able to walk down to the Southernmost point, and see all the adorable little shops on Duval Street on the way there. We even spotted the Ernest Hemingway House!

Personal photo

We grabbed a bite to eat on our way back to the resort, then headed for the pool, only to realize that I had left my swim suit at home! Gah!

We were more than happy to skip some pool time, though, to have a treatment at the adorable Spa Terre! Again, we were greeted by the friendliest hostess and escorted back to a couple’s room. BDK thoroughly enjoyed his “sports massage,” while I chose something totally different, the Volcanic Earth Clay Ritual. It was so cool! They paint on clay that is used to detoxify your skin, and then after washing that off, the therapist does a traditional Balinese massage. I’m feeling more relaxed just writing about it!

After our treatments, we headed back to our room to get gussied up for dinner. We headed down to Hot Tin Roof where we were seated on the gorgeous balcony. Our waiter was the loveliest man, and the chef even sent out a few yummy samples for us to try before we made our selections. We chose a delicious meal for two with steak, prawn, and the most divine mac and cheese with crab meat. We topped off our meal with – of course – key lime pie! You know, when in Rome, y’all!

If you’re looking for a honeymoon destination with relaxation by day, and fun parties by night, the Florida Keys are the place! And Ocean Key Resort & Spa definitely tops my list of resorts in the Keys. Their warm and welcoming employees and casually luxurious atmosphere make for the perfect combination! Clearly, we were happy to be there:

Personal photo

To read a bit more about our experience, be sure to head over to their Honey List profile!

All photos are courtesy of Ocean Key Resort & Spa except where marked. A special thank you to the team at Ocean for being so welcoming and hosting BDK and me!

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

From all of us to you, enjoy some treats…

maybe squeeze some babies…

and give all the ones you love a hug and a kiss! In the meantime, enjoy this ridiculous video we put together for y’all!

Southern Weddings Magazine Valentine’s Day from lara casey on Vimeo.

See you tomorrow! xo Lara, Emily, Marissa, Whitney, Sierra, and Nicole

I know that Valentine’s Day gets a bad rap, as far as holidays go. I have friends who are violently against Cupid and his plethora of love arrows and conversation candy. “It’s a holiday invented by the card stores to make money!” they say. And I get that. But it’s a holiday that revolves around chocolate and jewelry. It just goes against my being to reject those kinds of themes. Diamonds and chocolates are the way to my heart. But diamonds hidden INSIDE chocolates are pretty much the way to my soul.

I’m shallow. I can’t help it.

As much as I love the candy, gifts, and general lovey-dovey-ness that comes with Valentine’s Day, I am actually a fan of the holiday for more than just those reasons. I think love gets a bad rap, especially in marriage these days, and so any holiday that stops and says, “Hey! Love is important, darn it!” is going to be fine by me.

I remember when Chris and I got married, we were told by so many people, “It takes more than love to make a marriage!” And, foolishly, we thought they were fools. We loved each other. We had each other. We could take on anything else. I’ve learned over the years that love don’t pay no power bill. And love don’t clean up no sick baby in the middle of the night. And love certainly don’t exempt a husband from a good butt whoopin’ when he forgets to call and say he’s going to be working late on your anniversary.

Turns out, there’s a lot of stuff that love won’t do in a marriage.

But there are a lot of things that love does do in a marriage. In my marriage, love is how we forgive. It’s the reason that this morning, after a blow up with my love muffin as I left for work, I couldn’t even get out of the neighborhood before I called him on my cell to tell him I was sorry. And love was the reason he said, “Me, too.”

In my marriage, love is how we learn patience. The first week that we brought our sweet, perfect son home from the hospital, we were giddy with excitement. But by 3:00am on the third day, I remember standing next to Chris at the crib, both of us just about in tears from exhaustion and frustration, and every fiber of my being wanted to turn and whack him in the knees with a hairbrush. HOW COULD HE HAVE JUST TURNED THE LIGHT ON IN THE HALLWAY?!?!? DIDN’T HE KNOW THAT WOULD WAKE THE BABY?!?!?! And yet, I let him live. Because when you love someone, you’re patient as they learn things. Like how to change diapers in the middle of the night without turning a light on.

In my marriage, love is how we make decisions. Love is that binding force that draws every decision we make back to our family. Should I take that job? Should we make that big move? Should I take a half day at work so that I can attend my two-year-old son’s Valentine’s Day party at his daycare? Love is at the center of all of those things. Because we love each other and we love the family that we have made together, everything else is done within the context of that love.

In my marriage, love is even how we fight. Isn’t that weird? It’s true, though. Love is what makes us so darn frustrated with each other sometimes. It would be so much easier to be married to Chris if I wasn’t in love with him. But that silly love thing means that I simply can’t live without him. And sometimes, that’s so inconvenient! I wish it didn’t make me mad when he worked late, or when we haven’t had a date night in a while, or when the weekend classes for my teaching certificate take up all my time. I wish we didn’t fight about those things, but we do. And when the dust settles, we find that at the very base of those little fights is the fact that we just love each other so much that we get irritated when other things get in the way.

No, love don’t pay no bills. And, yes, it takes more than love to make a marriage work. But at the root of everything that exists in a marriage, there is love. So, I celebrate Valentine’s Day. I buy the cards and eat the candy and make those slice-and-bake cookies with the little red hearts in the center. I’m a sucker for it all because I believe that there should be a day that makes us stop and say, “I love you.” Because as important as everything else is in marriage, love is how it all started and how we keep it going.

(A note to my husband: While love is important, so is that beautiful necklace I showed you last weekend at the jewelry store…)

Isn’t Katie awesome?! Check out her past columns for Southern Weddings:
Change is the Name of the (Newlywed) Game
My Wedding Registry Changed My Life
Working it Out With the In-Laws
Managing Your Money
Come on Baby, Light My Fire
On Moving

All photos by one of the most romantic photographers we know, Elizabeth Messina

P.S. Congratulations to Katie for being nominated for the 2012 Bloggies awards! This is a huge honor, so be sure to give her some love and vote for her here!

Aside from the fact that my roommate spent hours baking Valentine’s Day goodies last night, there are many things I love about this holiday. The love in the air, the cheery hearts and the lovely colors all make me happy and I’ll be the first to admit that I miss decorating those paper bags in grade school to collect Valentines.

Thankfully, this gorgeous red extravaganza blows all those missed princess and superhero Valentines out of the water. I’d take Blair + Luke’s calligraphy-adorned invitations and fluffy white blooms any day. (Fun Southern fact: the flower arrangements were all done by family and friends Blair had grown up with.) We’re so grateful that B’s dad insisted on installing the black and white checkerboard floor at the reception what a sight! I think you’ll agree with me when I say that with the addition of the bold flooring, the red-piped tent lining, coconut-covered cake and cheery confetti, this wedding is Valentine’s Day perfection.

A huge Valentine’s Day hug to Adam Barnes for sharing this beauty with us! And speaking of sharing, Blair and Luke’s wedding was just too good to keep to ourselves: go visit our friend Summer to see even more photos from this wedding!

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. During the summer of 2008, I was living in Virginia and Luke was in Manhattan. I planned a trip to New York for a weekend to see my best friend from home and my dear friends from college a real girl’s weekend that included a trip to the Hamptons. Saturday afternoon found us at Cyril’s and there I saw him – tall and handsome. Although we had gone to college an hour away from one another in Virginia, had both attended the Carolina Cup horse races for years in his South Carolina hometown, and had a zillion friends in common, it was not until then that we actually met one another. It was love at first sight.
Describe the proposal. Luke proposed on a Tuesday evening. Just us. It was the best surprise of my life and the reason that I now love Tuesdays the most. Later that evening, we met all of our friends at the Soho Grand Hotel to celebrate. They all knew and had been waiting for the announcement—it was such a dear surprise and one of the best memories.
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Joyous, happy and bright.
In what month did you get married? October
How many guests attended your wedding? 350
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: Seeing all of the people that mean the most to us in one spot.
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? “Southern” in my mind is synonymous with generosity and kindness. Having 350 of our closest friends and family come from all over the country to my parent’s home to support our marriage exemplifies this Southern characteristic. Also, as many Southerners know, as nice as the décor and food might be at a reception, all of the guests are just waiting for the band to start. Our very Southern, soulful, INCREDIBLE band, Mo’Sol from Atlanta did not disappoint and the dance floor was packed all night.
Tell us about finding your wedding dress: I found my dress at Saks Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. As a girl who essentially only wears dresses, I knew that I was going to be in seventh heaven. Saks made the experience so incredible – dress after dress came out, but when I tried on the Oscar de la Renta number that I ultimately wore, we all knew it was the one. It was lovely, feminine and perfect for the venue.
Describe your wedding flowers: I came home from the day-of brunch to find that all of the flowers had been placed while I was out. Seeing them for the first time from my childhood bedroom window was a moment I will never forget. The ceremony flowers were all white so as to enhance and not detract from the yard in which we were getting married. The flowers in the reception tent were large sculptural arrangements with shocking red, fuchsia and ballet pink blooms. Although the flowers would stop you in your tracks with their beauty, the most touching part to me was that they were arranged by people I had known my entire life – from my former Sunday School teacher to a bridesmaid’s mother.
Describe your wedding cake or dessert: Made by the man who has baked every birthday cake that I can ever remember receiving, our cake was a seven-foot masterpiece of alternating chocolate and almond cake with fresh raspberries. The entire confection was covered with shaved coconut and sat atop a table completely covered in lush pink flowers.
What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? Flooring for the tent. My sweet father made the call and decided that this must be done. When the temperature unexpectedly dropped 20 degrees and the rain started on Thursday and stopped on Saturday morning, we were all so happy to see that fabulous flooring.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Looking at Luke while we said our vows. The sun was shining through the russet and orange oak leaves and for those few moments, it was like everyone else disappeared and it was just us, making those promises to one another.
Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? We did have a first look and seeing Luke for the first time, just us, was perfect. I would recommend this to all brides walking down the aisle is so exciting and there are so many people, flowers, sights, and sounds that I imagine you might not get to focus on your fiancé at the end of the aisle, which is why you are there in the first place.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Your wedding day is not about the flowers, the cake, or the dress. It is about you as a couple coming together and declaring yourself as a new family amongst this community that you have been a part of your whole life. Your vows are promises that you will better one another and the lives of all around you who are there that day. Rarely do you have a chance to assume such an amazing and wonderful responsibility. Enjoy it, mean it and make it last. Also, wear comfortable shoes.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? We are enjoying our life here in Manhattan looking forward to years of love and happiness.

Photographer: Adam Barnes // Videographer: Meet + Cute Films // Planner: Easton Events // Venue: Private residence // Florist: Rod Meek // Wedding Cake or Dessert Baker: Magnolia Foods // Caterer: Avenue Foods // Rentals: Skyline // Linens: Festive Fare and La Tavola // Lighting: Skyline // Paper Products: Rock Paper Scissors // Calligraphy: Kendall Rose // Bride’s Dress: Oscar de la Renta // Bride’s Hair Accessories/Veil/Jewelry: Veil by Oscar de la Renta and jewelry by Kiss the Ring New York // Bride’s Shoes: Valentino // Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Ciarla // Furniture: Avista // Band: Mo’Sol // Chairs and stools: AFR // Vintage car: Albemarle Vintage

Love this wedding? We think you might like these, too:
Our Pink and Red Pinterest Boards
Stephanie + Erik’s heart-happy wedding here and here.
A red-all-over fashion and style round-up

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

Two weeks ago I had the pleasure of speaking at Branches & Light, a photography workshop for ladies organized by Nancy Ray and Caroline Joy. I very much enjoyed chatting with the attendees about getting published and what we look for in submissions at Southern Weddings. (Vendors, if you’re wondering, here are our submission guidelines!) One of the things I spoke about is how we very rarely feature “inspiration shoots” on the blog, because the submissions we receive just don’t match up with what y’all enjoy: gorgeous photography, approachable, doable styling and ideas, and fresh, meaningful Southern details. However, I’m so happy that Caroline and Nancy let me share the images they created from the workshop shoot here, because they do fit the above criteria and are perfect for Valentine’s Day, to boot!

First, I must introduce you to the adorable couple who posed for the day. Nope, they’re not professional models, but they couldn’t have been any cuter!

That gorgeous calligraphy heart was penned by Juliet Jones. We’re not the biggest fans of elaborate photo props at SW, but using sweet, simple ones like these can be a GREAT way to “warm up” and get comfortable in front of the camera!

Don’t you love how the table was nestled right under that big magnolia tree? The grounds of The Sutherland were so beautiful!

Erin McLean, the stylist of the day and the talent behind the tablescape, also dreamed up a darling dessert bar. We were so happy it featured an Ashley Cake!

Many thanks to Nancy and Caroline for having me, and for sending over these lovely images! Make sure to check out all of the talented vendors below. And ladies, if you’re interested in learning more about Branches & Light, click here!

Photographer: Caroline Joy and Nancy Ray // Designer and Stylist: Erin McLean with Erin McLean Events // Flowers: Tre Bella // Gown: Tre Bella // Cake: Ashley Cakes // Cake Stand: Sarah’s Stands // Hair and Makeup: Samantha Crowder // Jewelry: Emily Hansel Designs // Calligraphy: Juliet Jones // Venue: The Sutherland

Erin McLean Events is a fabulous member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

Valerie + Kevin’s wedding was chock full of handmade charm. Family and friends created all of the decor and centerpieces. The cake tablecloth and custom pillows were made by Valerie’s mom and the sand dollar favors were collected by the flower girls and ring bearer from a nearby beach! And see that driftwood cake stand? It’s actually a mirror that was made for the bride and groom as a wedding present and now hangs in their home. So sweet, right?

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. In April of 2009, we met through a mutual friend in Atlanta, where we were both living at the time.
Describe the proposal. On Sunday evening, November 28, while I was visiting Kevin and his family in Saint Simons Island and Sea Island in Georgia, we had plans to go to dinner at The Lodge with his brother and sister-in-law. On our way to dinner, Kevin turned to go to Sea Island and I quickly asked, “Where were we going?” Kevin said that since we hadn’t had a lot of alone time over the weekend or a chance to take our ritual walk on the beach in front of his mother’s home, he thought we’d go now before dinner and enjoy the sunset. I then realized he was playing our favorite tunes on the radio, he was wearing the tie I had given him on his birthday a few days before, and the fact that we never went for our ritual walk on the beach all dressed up! I did not want to get my hopes up in case this was not the moment, though. We parked the car and walked to the beach and within a few minutes of our walk, he kneeled on one knee and proposed. It was wonderful and a beautiful evening. We then called my family back in Louisiana with the exciting news and went to dinner where all of his family gathered to celebrate the special occasion with us.
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Fun, celebration and beautiful scenery.
In what month did you get married? June
How many guests attended your wedding? 140
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: the lights over the dance floor at the outdoor reception underneath the live oaks and Spanish moss
Describe your wedding flowers: Casablanca lilies, stargazing lilies, hydrangeas, roses, peonies and snapdragons where all used in arrangements. My bouquet contained Casablanca lilies, white hydrangeas and white roses. The overall color scheme was very natural with lots of white and pops of hot pink. We put the flowers in antique tin creamers purchased at Scott’s Antique Market in Atlanta, antique Mason jars from my mother’s collection and oversized silver mint julep cups. All the flowers were arranged by friends and family.
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? Our gift bags included local Georgia Peanuts and homemade oatmeal raisin cookies by my mom, mason jars served as glassware for cocktails, sweet tea and fresh squeezed pink lemonade. As per the wedding tradition, I wore a silver sixpence in my shoe for good luck. Our save the dates had a piece of loose burlap monogrammed with the date on it, which carried over to the wedding day where we used burlap in the boutonnieres and center pieces of the tables. A quilt made by my grandmother and great grandmother served as a table linen at the sign-in table and antique lace from my mom’s wedding gown was used to make the ring bearer pillow. Food was served on an antique wagon that was restored by the Kevin. Additionally, the entire wedding weekend took place at Southern locations. Thursday evening, we went on a shrimp boat cruise with family and out-of-town guests that arrived early. Friday evening, the rehearsal dinner was on the lawn of Kevin’s parent’s home on Sea Island and featured crawfish etouffee and jambalaya, native food from Louisiana where the my parents live, and local seafood from the coast of Georgia. The wedding reception site was on the same property, 10 acres covered in live oaks, Spanish moss, palmetto’s and Tabby Ruins.
What range did your wedding budget fall into? $50,000-$75,000
What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? Our photographer, Melissa Schollaert.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Arriving to the wedding reception site with my husband in an antique 1915 Model-T Ford that my uncle owned and was driving. Then, getting out of the car and walking to the dance floor with Kevin holding my hand the entire way. As we began our first dance, the sun was setting over the river and marsh. A little while later when the sun was almost completely set, the lead singer of the band called an impromptu toast and drew the guests’ attention to the sunset and said “this looks like something in a movie scene” The timing was impeccable and just as I had envisioned.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? Having a family, learning the ways of life in the low country and sharing that with friends, and traveling together.

Photography: Melissa Schollaert Photography // Ceremony Venue: Wesley United Methodist Church // Venue: Private River Property in St. Simons Island, Georgia // Dress: Melissa Sweet via Bleu Belle Bridal // Shoes: Badgley Mischka // Bridesmaids Dresses: J.Crew // Planner: Lindsay Pitt forTOAST of the COAST by Toast Events Atlanta // Catering: Sea Palms Resort // Stationery: Evince Design // Bride’s Engagement Ring: Harlin Diamonds // Groom’s Wedding Band: Claddagh Ring // Cake: Sea Palms Resort // Rentals: Beachview Tent Rentals // Band: Ocean Street // Transportation: Historic 1015 Model T Ford

Love this wedding? Well then we recommend:
This glam St. Simons Island wedding (in three parts – here, here, and here)
This chic beach wedding, also photographed by Melissa Schollaert (here + here)
This wedding, which also had a fabulous mix of bright bridesmaid dresses!

Melissa Schollaert Photography and Toast Events are fabulous members of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

Y’all know Southerners know how to throw a party. Now pair that hospitality and down home fun with the coolest wedding creatives in the Dallas-Ft.Worth, Texas area and what do you get? The Swoon Event! Y’all, even the name makes me happy!

Pull on your cowboy boots, because we’re giving away two pairs of tickets to a couple of lucky readers! If you’re searching for some wedding inspiration before your big day, the Swoon is here to help. Shopping, giveaways, food, DIY projects and great music will surround you as a group of wedding professionals help you find the perfect details. Don’t be afraid of overwhelming crowds or over-zealous vendors. Everyone’s here to help and they’ll do it with the best Southern charm! Show up with a friend and stroll through the options available. They’ll have you swooning with delight! (I’m so funny.)

Are you pumped? I wish I could go!

To Enter: Leave a comment here telling us what makes you swoon about weddings. For an extra entry, tweet “I just entered the @theswoonevent giveaway on @iloveswmag!” and then leave a SEPARATE comment here telling us you did so!

Win: Two people will win two tickets each (one for you + a friend) to the Swoon Event!

Says Annette, the designer: “The new Chaviano Couture collection for 2012 is titled ‘How Fair is Your Love.’ The inspiration came from all things feminine and romantic. Lace, tulle, chiffon, and organza bring an air of whimsy and romance, while details like pockets and separates add practicality and comfort.” Practical and beautiful sounds like a Southern lady to me!

Of course, we’re loving the soft images by Harwell Photography, as well.

We’re so happy to be debuting a small peek at Annette’s collection, but be sure to stop by her site tomorrow to check out the whole line! In the meantime, tell me: which one is your favorite?

The talented vendors:

Gowns and accessories: Chaviano Couture // Photography: Harwell Photography // Styling: Carlee Sizemore // Florals: Amy Osaba // Calligraphy: MM Ink // Hair: Shornell McNeal // Makeup: Mara Zal // Model: Alex Lahey

Harwell Photography and MM Ink are fabulous members of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

Natalie + Wade | A Watercolor Love Story According to God from Celia Hilton on Vimeo.

Click here to see the gorgeous fashion and ceremony and here to see the reception details. We also put together a Get the Look board for your planning pleasure!

P.S. Ready for some more clips? Here are a few past favorites:
A Southern winter wedding from Inkspot Crow
A glamorous Charleston wedding from Elysium Productions
A sweet South Florida shoot from Cabana Pictures