Southern Celebrations Magazine Volume 10 by Southern Celebrations

VOLUME 10

THE FINAL

Inspiration ISSUE

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Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

SouthernCelebrationsMag.com

Editor: Virginia Conaway Creative Director: Carissa Jacobs

Melissa Santos Contributing Writers: Kimberly Lehman

ÂŠ 2020 Southern Celebrations Magazine is a publication of Magnolia Blanc Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. ISSN# 2579-0196 Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Southern Celebrations Magazine is a registered trademark. Statements and opinions expressed by our contributors and advertisers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the owner. The publisher reserves the right to accept or reject any paid advertising.

Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

Contents

VOLUME TEN | the final inspiration issue Page 10 Does Pinterest Help or Hinder Your Wedding Planning Process?

Page 14

Styled Inspirations

Page 50

Page 58

Engagements

Real Weddings

On the Cover Credits {Featured on page 24}: Photography: Gracious Company | Florals & Design: Special Event Factory | Venue: Montaluce Winery | Rentals: Milieu Decor | Cake: Cake Envy SouthernCelebrationsMag.com

LETTER from the PUBLISHER Virginia Conaway Southern Celebrations will always hold a special place in my heart. Watching it grow over the years has been such a joy, almost like watching children blossom! It saddens me to say that Volume Ten is our last. I have enjoyed the friendships and collaborations made over the years. Thank you for all of your continued support. I have struggled with this decision, but I am confident that it is the right choice for my family and I, as Southern Celebrations Magazine has always been a small, family-oriented publication. I was genuinely worried that people would think that I failed; being a small business owner is tough, stressful, and there are SO many demands, especially being in the creative media field. There are SO many other creative small business owners that want the exposure that the print magazine and website offers (and for awhile, I wanted to give them all the exposure they deserved) but unfortunately, it comes at a price of sacrifice and time. I had to take a step back and look at the bigger picture, Southern Celebrations is offering a platform for Creatives to share their work to the world, but my passion of helping others has become a burden, that I am ultimately paying for.

Closing a chapter on something that I have worked hard to grow and that so many people across the South and the country have come to love has not been an easy decision, as I have truly loved spreading inspiration across the South and working alongside with so many talented vendors to help us create each magazine. I will be forever grateful for the amazing opportunities Southern Celebrations Magazine has opened throughout the years. I will always be grateful to the many contributors over the years. However, Southern Celebrations Magazine is not the end of my publishing journey, as Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always enjoyed creating and editing magazines! Saying goodbye to the wedding and event industry has allowed another door to open, Whiskey & Grits.

So what is Whiskey & Grits? A Southern lifestyle print magazine full of cobbler, whiskey, gardens, grits, lifestyles, and more of all things that we love in the South. Launches May 2020!

XOXO,

Virginia Conaway Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

SouthernCelebrationsMag.com

Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

SouthernCelebrationsMag.com

Does Pinterest Help or Hinder Your Wedding Planning Process? Written by: Kimberly Lehman—Owner of Love, Laughter & Elegance: Wedding & Event Planning

lanning a wedding is an exciting time in life! There are so many styles of weddings to choose from these days: traditional, bohemian, destination wedding, modern, rustic, and intimate elopements. Then you need to think about the smaller details, like theme, colors, table design, attire, flowers – the list goes on. Thankfully, there are many ways to narrow down and collect your ideas into a cohesive game plan.

Pinterest. Too many conflicting ideas can add unneeded extra stress, and that’s never a good thing. It is advisable to choose just a few ideas, perhaps one or two in each category such as wedding Pinterest can help save you money with cakes or bouquets, that best suit your DIY projects such as decorations and colors, theme, season and budget. Make paper goods. You can collect recipes for a note about why you like that particular tempting treats for your wedding shower photo. Then walk away from it for a or cocktail hour. You can connect while. Pinterest boards are meant to be a with wedding bloggers, and get advice and place of inspiration, not necessarily inspiration from previous brides, grooms replication, when it comes to event Pinterest is one of the largest interactive and bridesmaids. It will allow you to planning. Work with your future spouse, online formats that people use to plan collect images that can help to your wedding party, and vendors to create their weddings, and many other aspects of make your dream wedding a look that is uniquely yours. their lives. When one sees a photo of a a reality. You can also use group boards dress, or recipe, or bouquet that they like, on Pinterest while planning your wedding. Let’s also talk about budgeting for your they can “pin” the item to a virtual Sharing your boards with your family, wedding for a moment. There is the wedding party, and vendors will “Pinterest Wedding”, where all ideas are help to keep everyone in the possible and costs are not a concern. Then know about your plans, and there is the “Reality Check About the how you would like your Budget Wedding”, where every penny wedding to look overall. Or, if counts. I am not saying that both you want to keep everything a categories of weddings are not equally surprise until the last possible lovely and special. Neither type of moment, you can set your wedding are any less meaningful and boards to “secret” and no one sentimental to those planning the will be able to see wedding. But I don’t believe that a couple your ideas. should start their marriage by going into debt over the wedding, either. Plan your On the other side wedding for what you can comfortably of the coin, what afford. Pinterest is chock-full of tips that if you are not will assist you to construct a workable, “crafty”? Will liveable, budget for your wedding. trying to create all of those lovely Finally, don’t rely solely on Pinterest for DIY projects ideas while planning your wedding. Like really save you the relationship between you and your time and money? future spouse, a wedding is a complex Or what if you blend of many traditions and influences. have all of these Gather inspiration from several sources: great high-end magazines and websites for the latest looking ideas trends, photos of family members and pinned to your friends. Ask to see their wedding albums, board, and don’t they love to share their memories! Think have the realistic of your favorite places to visit, like bulletin budget to cover restaurants and museums, or places you board. the costs? have traveled to on vacation. Use all of More Sometimes it’s like your senses: touch, sight, taste, smell, and than 80 percent of its users are women, being a kid in a candy store. You can sound. Then infuse all of these ranging in ages from 25-35 years old. become easily overwhelmed with too inspirational sources into your wedding. Pinterest is a very effective tool for driving many choices, colors, and flavors of candy. The end result will be an amazing referral traffic to vendors in the wedding The same analogy can be applied to reflection of your love. industry. When you are “pinning”, it tells Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

vendors what ideas are trending, and then in turn, vendors can adjust their services and products that they offer to reflect the needs and desires of the consumer.

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Should You Have a First Look?

A Wedding Planner’s Perspective

Written By: Kimberly Lehman—Owner of Love, Laughter & Elegance: Wedding & Event Planning | Image By: ShelbyRae Photographs (Wedding featured on page 78)

hen planning a wedding, you will have many decisions to make. Every detail will need to be carefully, and thoughtfully scrutinized during the planning process, from the initial budget to the sparkler sendoff at the end of the wedding celebration. You will want your wedding to reflect you and your future spouse, the love you share, and the life you are building together.

You may wonder what you can do during this, one of many special moments of your wedding day. The answer, is, anything you like! If you and your future spouse are very traditional, you may not Over the many years that I have spent as a wedding planner, I wish to see each other have learned that no two couples or weddings are ever alike. before the ceremony, Everyone wants something different for their special day. For and that is perfectly example, one couple may want just a couple of hours of fine. There are other photography for their wedding, covering just the highlights of ways to create a special the day. Another couple may want a full photographic and moment. You could cinematic experience, including multiple photographers and blindfold your partner, videographers covering several events in the wedding weekend. and share a hug and I have learned that photography is one of the most important kiss, without spoiling elements of a wedding celebration. For long after the music has the anticipated moment faded, and the flowers have wilted, one thing will remain. Your of seeing you walk photos and video will be your permanent reminders of your down the aisle. You wedding day. Invest well in your memories. could also hold hands around a corner, or a door, and still be When you meet with your chosen photographer and connected. Many videographer, they should discuss their work process with you couples will do this, and and your partner. They should ask which portraits are important read cards or letters to both of you, such as photos with family, friends, your from each of their wedding party, and of course, with each other. They may ask if partners. Or perhaps the two of you would like to see each other for a few minutes the couple would like to before the ceremony takes place. This moment is often called a use the moment for a “first look”. A “first look” is simply an opportunity for the brief prayer and couple to see each other in their wedding attire for the first whispered words of time. This is where the photographer and videographer will love and work together to capture the smiles, tears, laughter and hugs encouragement to each that the couple will share in this moment. Some of my favorite other, before they join photos from my clients’ weddings have been taken during this together during the intimate portrait session. It can also help to calm any lingering ceremony. The nerves about walking down the aisle just a short time later. In photographer can still capture the many expressions of the fact, you will likely get most of your wedding photos of you and couple, and this will be a treasured photo later on. your future spouse out of the way by taking your portraits before the ceremony. That will leave you with more time to celebrate the day with loved ones.

Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

If you and your partner, and possibly your wedding party members, have a crazy sense of humor, perhaps you would like to have some fun with this moment. Practical jokes are not uncommon during a first look, and can release some tension, as well as provide some of the funniest highlights of the day. In recent years, there have been partners dressed up in inflatable costumes, such as the loveable T-Rex dinosaur. There have also been members of the family or wedding party, such as a groomsman dressed in a wedding gown and veil, that will surprise the unsuspecting bride or groom. It’s all in good fun, and meant to be lighthearted. A word of caution, though. Please be sure not to go so far with the joke, that it would cause

First looks are not just for you and your future spouse. They can also be for your parents, your wedding party, or even your children. Many times I will look through professional wedding photos, and see the misty-eyed portraits of mom and dad, as they view their son or daughter in their wedding attire, all grown up and moving on to the next stage of their lives. I love the excited (and sometimes envious) looks and squeals of joy of the bridesmaids as they see the bride for the first time in the gown and veil, with hair and makeup done to perfection. I cherish the looks of adoration and wonder from children, either in the wedding party or of the couple, as they see a fairy tale romance come to life. These moments make for some of the most heartwarming memories of a once -in-a-lifetime event.

Everyone will tell you that your wedding day will go by so fast. It’s absolutely true. Things may not go perfectly according to plan, and the schedule might be a little off in spots during the day. But at the end of the day, you are in love and married to your best friend. That’s what really matters. You will also have fabulous photos to look at, to remember the most special day of your lives.

physical harm to either one of the engaged couple, or damage to their attire, their accessories, or the venue. That would be unfortunate, and often, expensive. I have often suggested that a couple might schedule a “trash the dress” photo session after the nuptials, if they wish, to have photos taken in a more adventurous and creative way. SouthernCelebrationsMag.com

STYLED INSPIRATIONS

FOR THE MODERN COUPLE

Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve ever been to Natchez, Mississippi I highly recommend stopping in at Choctaw Hall Bed & Breakfast.

Choctaw Hall was built around 1836 and features a blend of Greek Revival to Federal styles. There are 4 floors and with the Bed and Breakfast's four bedrooms residing on the ground floor with separate entrances from the main top three floors of the home which are connected by an swirling oval staircase. Double porches with white columns bookend the front and back of house making every scene a picture perfect backdrop.

Their weddings tend to reflect the old southern way of living, with grace, dignity and charm with correct protocol. They can do all the planning, coordinating, and directing, OR you can bring your own planner.

Choctaw Hallâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rehearsal dinners, receptions, tours, luncheons, teas and special events are designed to impress with the opulence that is Choctaw Hall.

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Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

SouthernCelebrationsMag.com

Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

SouthernCelebrationsMag.com

Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

SouthernCelebrationsMag.com

Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

SouthernCelebrationsMag.com

STYLED INSPIRATIONS

{On the Cover}

very year we hosted a creative challenge that pushes Creatives across the nation. Last year, we hosted a one to challenge Creatives to produce a styled photo shoot using their choice of Pantone’s® 2018 Spring Colors; this time we narrowed the field to only being able to use Living Coral as their inspiration! We would like to thank everyone who participated in the 2019 Creative Challenge. We had over 35 submissions from Creatives all over the country and while we wish everyone could be a winner, there can only be one! It is with our pleasure that we announce this year's winning team:

the use of Living Coral in a tasteful manner



the color as an accent



not overwhelming in color



practicality when using the color (would someone actually use the color in this manner?)



overall aesthetics of the shoot

Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

SouthernCelebrationsMag.com

Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

SouthernCelebrationsMag.com

STYLED INSPIRATIONS

Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

SouthernCelebrationsMag.com

STYLED INSPIRATIONS

Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

What was your design inspiration?

scalloped lace layers. She definitely had 70s vibes going on, e had some gorgeous details, featur- and I love how the bride and ing a lush vibrant table scape, a fresh Bo- groom's overall look was just hemian ceremony backdrop, a 'hott' cou- effortlessly beautiful. We had the ple I must say -- and all with a colorful groom in casual beach attire with tribute to Mamma Mia! I'm a big fan of airy canvas pants -- perfect for a the movie, so I truly wanted to draw some warm wedding day. Lainey's inspiration from the little details in the bridal look was complete with film. We hoped to convey a romantic wed- shimmery feather shape earding day with touches of 70s, Boho flair. rings, and an elegant, fish tail Think of, 'a tiny sliver of Greece meeting braid -- adorned with flowers of the Carolinas' with modern Mamma Mia course! Megan Oliveri made her style. After months of planning this, it all over in an unrestrained, yet came together beautifully. classy look fit for a coastal wedding. We also had her in blue velvet, sling back pumps for an Our couple, David and Lainey are super extra 70s accessory. cute, laid back love birds, and we had a blast together. Our special day takes place in Charlotte, North Carolina at Long Cove We knew we wanted to go all in Resort -- a picturesque spot for any intiwith color for the florals. After mate waterside celebration. All evening, all, when I think of Mamma Mia, the couple got to overlook the glistening I think of sun, fun, and loads of Lake Wylie, and we ended the night with a color! Vintage Soul Floral Designs pink and orange sunset. The bride, Lainey, came to party with the color is wearing an original custom created, wheel, and we selected a fresh fitted gown by Meagan Kelly designs. My mix of dinner ware and sea glass from favorite parts about her dress were the Vintage Chic Rentals and Designs. Our graceful lace sleeves and the intricate, ground table is a merry-go-round wave of color where you'll find fruit, seashells, terra cotta accents, botanical dishes, the prettiest goblets and more. We wanted to pack in elements reminiscent of Greece and the sea, and I'd say we did just that. Not only was the table one of my favorite parts, but I adored the bride's bouquet. Instead of a flood of greenery, she carried a lavish bundle of the dreamiest pops of color to match the entire look of the day. Speaking of color, the couple toasted with glasses full of teal flavors of arctic blitz Gatorade -- hey you've got to stay hydrated on your big day right? They had an equally colorful cake splashed with shades of sea mist blues. I love how colors play together, and we had some mouth watering details to work with. Keeping

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in step with our theme, we featured an invitation suite from Pretty Words by Erin. This trendy water color creation was printed on vellum, and she paired the cutest hashtags from Mamma Mia within the lettering. I'm a sucker for fun details like this! Another special detail we featured was having the couple wed in a bit of Greek tradition. They were connected as one by wearing Stefana floral crowns, which is an ancient cultural practice joining them together as man and wife. To top it all off, the couple danced together at the shoreline and held each other in a charming teal boat as the sun set.

This styled shoot was beyond fun to say the least. We played songs from Mamma Mia and the 1970s, and we had an all around good time. There are some fabulous wedding pros in the Carolinas, and my amazing team of vendors was a dream to work with. I am so grateful we made Mamma Mia dreams come true this Summer. We truly brought the lyrics to life in one of Abba's 70s songs, "Tropical Loveland".

Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

SouthernCelebrationsMag.com

STYLED INSPIRATIONS

Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

SouthernCelebrationsMag.com

STYLED INSPIRATIONS

eadows at Mossy Creek is a new wedding venue in the North Georgia mountains that is absolutely breathtaking! It was recently constructed with the modern, stylish bride in mind, and every piece of the property reflects that. Victoria Miller with Luxe Atlanta Events dreamed up a wedding inspiration shoot for the sophisticated bride in mind to feature this new venue and it turned out beautifully!

Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

SouthernCelebrationsMag.com

Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

SouthernCelebrationsMag.com

STYLED INSPIRATIONS

Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

What was your design inspiration? To bring the desert to Oklahoma. I imagined the richly colorful, organic elements and wild texture to be in an environment where the southwestern, Santa Fe desert vibe would thrive. We wanted this to be completely nontraditional compared to what a typical Oklahoma Bride normally sees, to show our market what is possible and what can be reached with a little imagination.

Describe the elements of your tablescape.

What better way to sit and enjoy the evening with your friends than to be seated next to the coolest pink fireplace ever? To top it off, our guests were able to enjoy the freshness of something new to Oklahoma, Underwood Canned wine paired with beautiful amber goblets. Don’t forget about the cutest souvenir, a baby cactus pad with your handwritten name. To keep things natural and to replace your traditional charger, a clay pot saucer was incorporated and boy did that add a nice touch of warmth to the table. With a couple of potted cactus and a beautiful floral arrangement on top of the handcrafted, woven black macramé table runner, the table was so gracefully finished off with the delicate whitewashed bottle candle holders, copper silverware accents and pretty floral stems supported with cactus pads. A tablescape to remember.

Are there any DIY or handmade elements?

One of the most unique and handmade ways to incorporate name tags to our tablescape was to write the names on little cactus pads to add another organic touch to our design. Additionally, the calligrapher, Kiah Bailey, wrote some play on catch phrases to the clay pots on the lounge saying “I’ll never desert you” and “I prick you”.

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Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

We love cake, tell us about you choice.

Four cakes will always be better than one – but when you have a million ideas swirling throughout your mind, how can one possibly stick to just one cake? And that’s how the cake bar came to be. All different shapes, sizes and colors to embody just the eclectic vibe we were going for. Bringing in the natural Oklahoma, yet desert elements from various areas of Oklahoma, such as the lava rock, air plants, cactus pads and driftwood pieces allowed for a cohesive look to be in place while no cake was exactly alike. And to top it off these handcrafted and hand painted beauties were even more delicious than they looked.

Tell us about your fashion choices.

For the modern and bohemian bride, the lovely gown chosen from Chantilly Couture Bridal embodied our eclectic vibe with the slit down the dress, and the pattern on the perfectly formulated train. To top it off the crystal headpiece and earrings added a simple and romantic touch to our beautiful bride. We chose to throw on some booties to the bride mid-shoot to keep it casual, yet classy. The brown color worked with her dress and allowed another natural element into her attire. Our groom was dressed in a simple, light gray color that perfectly highlighted the bride’s dress and kept our organic color scheme into play.

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STYLED INSPIRATIONS

Creative Team: Event Stylist (Linens, Tableware, Coral Dress, Robe, Accessories, & Décor): Love, Laughter & Elegance: Wedding & Event Planning by Kimberly Lehman | Photographer: Shiny Penny Studios by Keli Schimelpfenig | Venue: The Cross Eyed Moose Event Center | Models: Sammy Kay Smith & Joe Morales | Video: Big Day Video | Makeup Artist: Aimee Alessi Artistry | Bridal Gown Salon: Consider the Dress | Florist: Pretty Petals Design | Cake Designer: Village Patisserie | Sweet Treats: Mad Celebrations Planning & PartyFunNalia | Stationery: Meekly Yours | Fire Opal Ring & Men’s Wedding Band: RAW by Olivia Mar | Ombre-dyed Veil: Over the Moon Bridal | Slippers & Necklace (Coral Dress): English Rose Vintage Oh | Table Runners: KLa Rentals | Stemless Glassware: L.A. Creations | Vintage Car: Shannon Baird & Aaron Flatinger

Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

SouthernCelebrationsMag.com

Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

SouthernCelebrationsMag.com

Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

SouthernCelebrationsMag.com

Engagement

with a Charleston Vibe Caitlin and Derek had a wonderful engagement party with their friends and family at her grandparents backyard - set under market lights with a low country boil by Old North State Catering and lots of homemade goodies, and styled by Amanda Blair Designs - they wanted to have a Charleston / low country vibe at their place in North Carolina. Bits of lavender decorated the tables and the bold blue and white tablecloths offset the colorful food quite well. Family and friends mingled through the night under an array of market lights that kept everything lit.

Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

SouthernCelebrationsMag.com

Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

SouthernCelebrationsMag.com

Engagement

Photographer: Meridith Lee Photography

Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

How did yâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;all meet? Emiley and I met in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I noticed her immediately when I walked in, and as I walked across the room to set my bag down, she looked up and said "hey, i like your shoes!". She was referring to my torn-up, raggedy, old, American flag Converses'. As I made eye contact with her, to thank her and introduce myself, I somehow to lost basic motor function and instead of sweeping her off her feet with a quick-witted line, I stared blankly in her eyes; mouth wide open. Once my brain jolted back to reality, I responded with a stuttered "Uh... I'm Jonathon.".

We love a good proposal story! Tell us about yours.

Our story is a little different from most. Early on we learned quickly that our idea of "perfect timing" and God's idea of "perfect timing" didn't always add up. At first, Emiley and I both viewed each other strictly platonic. We were both very cautious to not open up and allow any room for a serious relationship. However, as time passed, our individual baggage began to surface. We realized that we each had a past that could potentially disrupt our future. Mistakes were made and this idea of "no serious relationship" quickly dissipated. We both had to decide whether or not we viewed each other the way Christ does. Thankfully, we both know Jesus; so the answer was clear. It was on our second date that we made the decision to give one another a fighting chance. I proposed to her 10 months later on the top of Bearfence Mountain in the Shenandoah National Park. Our commitment, stubbornness, and the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ kept us together despite the fire we walked through in earlier stages of our relationship. Without Him instructing us on how to love and forgive, we would have never made it to the top of that mountain.

P.S. It was a morning sunrise hike... and we're looking forward to the many other mountaintops He has planned for us.

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Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the engagement without the ring?!

My engagement ring originally belonged to his Mother. It was kept in the family and was given to Jonathon for when he found "the girl". Jonathon had the stones replaced for diamonds and it took my breath away when I first saw it. The band is made of gold and there is a large center diamond in the middle and two slightly smaller diamonds on each of the sides. It is even more priceless to me knowing it was a special piece to his Mother.

Tell us about your engagement shoot outfits and accessories. Jonathon is wearing a black jacket and black slacks, a white dress shirt, and a black tie. I am wearing a soft pink formal gown with rose gold earrings, bracelet, and a silver diamond headband.

Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

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Photo Credits: Meredith Lee Photography | The Cotton Market | Fresh Cut Catering and Floral

Photographer: Meredith Lee Photography | For the rest of the credits, turn to page 82. Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

FROM ACROSS THE SOUTH

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REAL WEDDINGS

September 22, 2018 | Texas

Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

Tell us about your wedding vision. Derick wanted to have the wedding and reception both at his familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home in Tennessee. I wanted a romantic and classy feel for both events with lots of flowers with pastel colors. I honestly couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have dreamed of a better wedding, it was like a fairytale. What was the most important to the two of you while planning? The most important thing for us was the food. We had been to events and weddings where you leave starving, and we wanted to make sure that we had plenty of food and options available for everyone. What were your favorite parts of the day?

My favorite part of the day was marrying my best friend and being able to share it with my close family and friends. We had so many people from all over the world come and share this moment with us. Derick sayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s it was seeing me walk down the aisle and marrying his best friend. Tell us about your wedding flowers. We had flowers in every corner of the house and garden, cascading down the banister at the entry of the house and florals in the back garden consisting of several varieties of blush garden roses, white hydrangeas and phalaenopsis orchids.

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Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

SouthernCelebrationsMag.com

Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

SouthernCelebrationsMag.com

REAL WEDDINGS

October 6, 2018 | Arkansas

Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

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What is your favorite memory of your wedding day? Honestly, our reception was freakinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; awesome! There were so many things that went wrong earlier on during the day of the wedding and the ceremony, and so many tears were shed on my part, but ultimately the night ended on such a high note and all our guests had such a great time. As I reflect on our big day, my biggest takeaway from the wedding was how humbling of an experience it all was. We had so many family and friends who went out of their way to help us prepare for the wedding and who traveled from near and far to help celebrate us. We also had so many great vendors who worked so hard to help execute our vision as best as they could. It was amazing to see and have so many people we love and care about in one place who were so happy for us. And for that we are forever thankful.

Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

SouthernCelebrationsMag.com

REAL WEDDINGS

Tell us a little a bit about your wedding vision. We wanted a fun and romantic atmosphere, and what better way to acheive just that than a sunset, rooftop wedding?! Wedding vows at sundown, dancing under the stars, we couldn't imagine a better day! The most special part of our entire wedding was our venue. The River Terrace at Shaw Center for the Arts not only gave us beautiful views, a unique setting, and a great time, but it was located only a few levels above a very important part of Philip and I's history. I can't help but smile when I think about how lucky we were to have gotten to say our wedding vows only steps away from where we first met.

Given my Irish heritage and the fact that we married on St. Patrick's Day, we had an Irish blessing incorporated into our ceremony, and I made sure to have my something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue..and a six-pence in my left shoe.

Did you include any family heirlooms or special traditions? We also made sure to honor our grandparents that had passed before our wedding. Both my grandmothers still had my grandfathers' wedding rings. So, my mother helped me pin them in dress and close to my heart so that they could, in a way, be there with me as my dad walked me down the aisle. Philip's grandmother had passed only weeks before our wedding. As a very special gift given to us the night before our big day, Philip's parents had some of his grandmother's flowers made into a small token for Philip, which he carried in his pocket, and a wedding decade for me, which I carried in my bouquet of flowers.

Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

SouthernCelebrationsMag.com

REAL WEDDINGS

Tell us a little a bit about your wedding. I hadn't been planning or dreaming of my wedding my entire life, so I was a little behind. I actually asked Matt on about three separate occasions if we could simply go to the courthouse downtown to get married. I'm glad he told me no all three times, because we had a really wonderful wedding. Matt and I decided on a destination wedding since we aren't from the same home state, and we didn't want to choose between Pennsylvania and West Virginia and upset one side of the family. We wanted a smaller affair with our closest friends and family- we wanted no more than 150 to show up (the final count was around 138). We decided on the Omni through recommendation of a friend who got married with them a couple years ago, and frequently works with them, as she is a florist- she said they make the planning process so easy that I wouldn't be dealing with silly details like table sizes and place settings. We chose the Omni Hilton Head for the easy travel by car or airplane, as well as the laid back low country surroundings. I find that simplicity is the most beautiful- I didn't want to compete with the beauty of the landscape surrounding us. I gave my florist free reign over design with general instructions to go with a lot of greenery, white flowers, and subtle pops of blue and grey. I didn't want to overdo it with decor- we kept it to one centerpiece per table- I also like things clean and minimalistic. There's nothing worse than being at a table at a wedding and there are so many unnecessary chargers and decorations crowding the table that you can't move.

Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

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REAL WEDDINGS

Tell us a little a bit about your wedding vision. I knew I wanted it outdoors, purple and I was on the hunt for a pretty tree for the ceremony site. We went to maybe 5 venues before we Came across Heartland Meadows. There it was, the most beautiful Oak Tree I've ever seen. It was perfect and my husband agreed. They didn't have our ideal date available but I didn't care so I compromised for that tree, May 25th 2018 was it. Since we had dated so long I wanted the wedding to be a big celebration and I wanted the more the Not quite what my husband had in mind but he was pretty easy to change his mind. So 340 guest was what we ended up with! Heartland was so gracious to accommodate everybody and they said this was the biggest wedding they have had yet! Everything I had envisioned.

Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

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REAL WEDDINGS

October 7, 2018 | Alabama Photo Credits: Kristen Grubb Photography

What was the most important to the two of you while planning? This was a special moment because we were already married. We were married at the court house in Junction City, Kansas. At the time my future husband was in the military and didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have leave to come home to have a wedding back at home. So we were married in the court house and told each other we would have a vow renewal wedding later on when we could. When we thought we could do the vow renewal we wanted to have our celebration in Indiana where all of our family and friends were, but things got complicated. Since my husband was still in the military, there was potential for deployment so we had to postpone the ceremony. 4 years later we decided that for our 5 year 5 month anniversary to do a vow renewal. And that is exactly what we did. It was very special and a long time coming! This wedding was perfect!

What were your favorite parts of the day? When my parents did a first look and saw me all dressed up it was such a touching and amazing moment. Also when my husband saw me for the first time. He had not seen my dress yet. It was the first time he saw it. We kept it in my parents closet for 5 years! Their reactions were so touching and it was just total bliss. Another favorite moment was that my father was the one that performed the ceremony. That will always hold a place in my heart. After it was all said and done I asked what my husband thought about my dress and he said he had never seen anyone so beautiful and absolutely stunning in his entire life. Also never seen anyone more fit for a dress. It will always be replayed in his mind for the rest of his life.

Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

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REAL WEDDINGS

What was the most important to the two of you while planning? At the end of the day, we wanted to make sure that it was a celebration of love and one that everyone (including us!) had a really good time. We splurged on really good food, drinks and music, but saved on things like having a DJ over a band, using more greenery than floral stems and making or borrowing as much of the decor as I could. My planner was amazing and had a full stock of things like signs, votives, ribbons that she allowed me to borrow. I also bought my dress second hand from stillwhite.com instead of paying full price.

Tell us about your wedding vision. I knew I wanted our wedding to be fun and whimsical and one where everyone felt comfortable letting their hair down and having a really good time. As soon as I saw the grounds of the Hardeman-Sams house I knew we had to have our ceremony out in the gardens, and let the garden theme help drive a lot of the rest of the decor. We went really heavy on the greenery throughout and I made all of the centerpieces myself by painting pots and planting various herbs and flowers. Our house is decorated in shades of blues and greys so it seemed fitting to have those as our wedding colors. Our wedding bands are mixed metals (mine platinum and gold, Gabe's white gold, rose gold and yellow gold), so we wanted to accent the pots with metal votives in those various shades as well.

Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

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REAL WEDDINGS

What was the most important to the two of you while planning? Was there anything that you chose to splurge on or skip? The food was one area that was important to us. We wanted something that our guests would enjoy, and who doesn't love tacos! We chose Tacos 4 Life because they have delicious food and they support an organization that is close to my heart. For every meal bought at Tacos 4 Life a meal is donated to a child in need through an organization called Feed My Starving Children. The catering for our wedding was able to donate over 400 meals to children in need! With our short engagement we had to make quick decisions and not dwell on them, but from the beginning we knew our photographers would be Cindy and Emily Photography. We had won a prize from their Instagram before we were engaged and fell in love with their kind spirits and beautiful pictures. I love photos and it was important to me to have photographers we were comfortable around and who would help make our day something to cherish for years in the future.

Do you have any advice for couples planning their weddings now? My advice is to enjoy every second of planning the wedding and the season of engagement. Everyone will voice their opinions, but it's your day so make it perfect for you. Stay true to who you are and don't be afraid to go against what is "traditional" and make your day perfect to you. It's the one wedding you have and when you wake up the morning after you'll have a loving husband beside you and it won't matter what budget you had, if everything went according to schedule, or if your color scheme was "in style."

Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

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REAL WEDDINGS

Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

“…..the most important thing to us was the ceremony. We wanted that to be a time of honoring God and emphasizing the love that Ethan and I share for one another. That is why we chose to say our own vows and have our mentors speak at our wedding. “

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“Our wedding was everything I could’ve dreamed of and more! Having a wedding in Music City was so special! Aside from seeing my husband tear up as I walked down the aisle, my favorite moment was walking downtown after the ceremony to take some photographs on Broadway. All of the tourists cheered for us! They were genuinely happy for us and it made me smile!”

Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

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REAL WEDDINGS

What was the most important to the two of you while planning? Was there anything that you chose to splurge on or skip? One of the most important parts of the wedding for me was transforming the Casa Marina into more than just a hotel. Frankie from The Eventful Gals helped make all my dreams come true. It’s amazing to me the power florals can play in making a space so much more beautiful and lively. I wanted the food to be more than just “wedding food” so we skipped a videographer so we could use that money towards having the event be more of an great experience for guests.

Tell us about your wedding flowers. Chandler from Marble and Pine made everything so beautiful. She did greenery and candles at the venue entrance, greenery along the railing in the court yard and decorated the cross with a spray of florals. We incorporated tall and short center pieces in the dinning room.

We love cake! Tell us about your choices. We did a 3 tier wedding cake and grooms cake from Crème de la Cocoa. Chef Niles was amazing from the moment we met him for our cake tasting ensuring we got exactly the flavors we wanted. We did 3 different flavors in the wedding cake, strawberry shortcake, traditional wedding cake, and a lemon flavored layer. The Grooms cake incorporated Nicks love for the Florida Gators and was salted caramel crunch!

Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

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REAL WEDDINGS

What was the most important to the two of you while planning? Was there anything that you chose to splurge on or skip? The most important thing for us was to be able to share this day with all of those that we love and care about. We wanted our guests to have a great time and to be able to know that we threw a great party that everyone enjoyed! The most important things for us were food, entertainment, and photography. We did not really skip many details as there was thought put into every little detail to our day.

Do you have any advice for couples planning their weddings now? Use a wedding planner! Spend money for entertainment, food, wedding planner, and photography! These people will make sure your day goes as smooth as possible. They will make sure that your guests have a great time and capture the memories for you!

Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

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Tell us about your proposal! Our first date was at Downtown Grill and Brewery in Knoxville, TN. We sat at a table on the second floor and had a wonderful time. Since our first date, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been to Downtown Grill and Brewery only a handful of times. Peyton asked if I wanted to go to Downtown Grill the night he proposed. By happenstance, we were sat at the exact same table we had our first date. Peyton could hardly wait until after dinner, so he proposed after our appetizers arrived.

What were your favorite parts of the day? Our favorite parts of the day were the beautiful ceremony on the terrace at Holston Hills Countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Club that overlooked the golf course. The send off was also our favorite...Peyton is a huge racing fan and our guests had checkered flags and waved them as we exited the venue.

Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

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Tell us a little a bit about your wedding . Since I was young, I have always imagined a light, airy and classic outdoor wedding without all of the fuss. As my husband and I planned our wedding for May, we envisioned light pastels in a variety of pinks, oranges, blues and greens. Our dear friends own a plantation home and were so generous to offer that venue for our use. It fit our dream perfectly. It is an old historic, elegantly and ornately decorated home. We chose to incorporate orange gingham into the groomsmen's ties as my husband is a huge Clemson fan. We were looking for a Charleston style, vintage, backyard wedding where we could celebrate our marriage with our closest friends and family.

What was the most important to the two of you while planning? Was there anything that you chose to splurge on or skip? The most important item on our checklist was to, at the end of the day, be married and be able to celebrate our marriage in a beautiful ceremony with an intimate guest list. We chose to splurge on Marble Slab Creamery to cater the reception with an ice cream bar as that is a shared love of ours and some of our first date memories.

Do you have any advice for couples planning their weddings now? Let go and Let God. Try not to lose sight of the final outcome. Appreciate everyone who provides their guidance and insight, but do not forget to celebrate the marriage versus the wedding. Take in every factor around you and remember this special moment in your forever.

Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

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REAL WEDDINGS

What was the most important to the two of you while planning? Was there anything that you chose to splurge on or skip? We wanted a fun and welcoming wedding first of all. We wanted a time that involved lots of different activities instead of just dancing. We wanted our friends to bring their kids and for all ages to have a good time. Our other guiding factor was affordability. We wanted to have a good time without breaking out the big bucks on a single day. We wanted our friends to be able to afford to come, especially of the bridal party. We decided ultimately to splurge on the environment, as it matched our values so well, and skipped on expensive and impractical attire.

What were your favorite parts of the day? One memory was a game we hosted. Our friends Scott and Adrienne played the game at their wedding only a few months before and we decided we had to do it and they had to run it. They themselves had learned it from another friend so now it's become tradition. The game is a sort of scavenger hunt/ musical chairs combination. We chose the most competitive of our friends and family and had them retrieve items from the audience. The game eliminated one player at a time. It got very intense and had everyone laughing. The end got very competitive, so competitive we were worried about flaring tempers. But in the end everyone had a great time.

We also loved our first kiss. We had decided to wait until the wedding to have our first kiss. Other friends had similar stories and we have seen some funky ones. I (groom) had this in mind, so I gently placed my hands on her face and drew her close. It was magical. We also loved the atmosphere of the whole evening. It seemed like everyone was having a good time, in whatever part of the venue. Some people were making s'mores. Others were dancing. Parents and children together were having excellent times. Since then, we've had many people tell us how good a time they had. That means the world to us, as many people had to fly here. At the end, many weddings are just about the bride and groom. We are happy to have thrown a wedding where everyone felt loved and had a great time.

Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

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REAL WEDDINGS

Tell us about your wedding vision. When we started planning we knew that we wanted a venue that had a gorgeous outdoor ceremony space with an indoor reception space as well. Being in Virginia wine country, we looked at a dozen vineyards and farms and none of them had the wow factor I was looking for. When we came across Lydia Mountain, the views of the Blue Ridge Mountains gave us goosebumps and we were sold!

Seth and I are both old souls and appreciate classic, timeless, and natural things. We knew that we wanted an elegant and airy setting but laid back at the same time. The barn at Lydia Mountain had six doors that rolled up on the sides and one huge door on the front that opened up to the most beautiful view of the mountains. The inside was all beautiful wood with bistro lights strung across. It was perfect!

Sticking with the classic theme, we chose white table cloths and navy napkins. The service tables had navy table cloths. We had tons of lanterns with candles in them surrounded by lots of greenery and white flowers.

Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

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Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

SouthernCelebrationsMag.com

FOR ALLOWING SOUTHERN CELEBRATIONS MAGAZINE TO INSPIRE Yâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ALL OVER THE YEARS!

Photo by Amy Shamblen

Southern Celebrations Magazine | Volume Ten

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