Google+ Southern Bride of the Month :: Katie - Southern Weddings

Southern Weddings

Happy March! I’m so very excited to introduce you to our first Southern Bride of the Month, Katie, and her handsome fiance, Nathan! Make sure and read down to the end, where Katie asks for your advice!

Hi! What’s your name?
Katie

What’s your fiancé’s name?
Nathan

Are either of you on Twitter, or do you have a blog?
Yep! I have a blog that I keep promising myself I will update more frequently, but life always gets so busy! I don’t necessary write in order, just what I’m thinking or feeling at the time. Here it is.

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story.
We almost didn’t meet at all, actually! We both attended the same college, Elon University in North Carolina (not too far down the road from the SW office!). My sophomore year, however, I was thinking about transferring, and he had only recently transferred to Elon from UNCC. We were both convinced by different people to attend a recruitment night for the campus business fraternity. Throughout the meeting I kept thinking, “Wow, that guy is cute!” and “Dang it! I wish I had worn a cuter outfit!” Turns out I wasn’t the only one noticing people that night!

Now tell us alllll about the proposal.
Our proposal story is simple and sweet. A walk in downtown Charleston with friends turned into one friend “forgetting” his wallet and taking the other friend with him to retrieve it — all in a secret mission to give us some time alone. We were at Waterfront Park, and I remember wondering why Nate was so fidgety! We sat down on a bench overlooking the water, and the air was that thick mix of the savory smells from King Street restaurants, the scent of the blooming jasmine, and the salty brine of the water. If you’ve been to Charleston, you know that smell well!

Is it terrible that I don’t remember what he said to me when he proposed? Oops! He did get down on one knee, though, and said he couldn’t imagine his life without me in it. A group of tourists walking by erupted in cheers when I nodded yes. Good thing I said yes, right?! Ha!

When’s the big day?
May 1, 2011. We’re getting so close!

Where might you two be tying the knot?
A gorgeous historic home in downtown Charleston.

Were you totally that girl who planned her wedding from age 5, or not so much?
You know? It’s funny, because I have always loved everything wedding — I’ve been collecting magazines for years now. I loved pouring over the pages of beautiful brides, and noticing how different all the weddings were, yet until I met Nate, I didn’t really have any concrete ideas of what I wanted. I guess when you meet the right guy, it just sort of falls into place!

Who or what has been most inspiring in the wedding planning process?
I have gathered inspiration from so many places for this wedding — so many, I’ve lost track of what ideas I’ve gotten where! The inspiration sites, the wedding blogger sites, and treasure hunting in antique shops have all yielded great finds. More than anything, though, Nate has been my biggest inspiration. He is my sounding board for ideas, and pulls me back in when I get too far up in the planning clouds. I always keep in the back of my mind, “Will Nate like this? Does this reflect who we are?” It makes decision making SO much easier!

Who or what has been most helpful in the wedding planning process?
Definitely a who for this one! I absolutely could not have made it this far without our planner, Sara. She is beyond amazing, and more importantly, has become a great friend with a killer fashion sense!

Has your vision for your wedding changed or evolved over the course of your engagement? If so, how?
Has it ever! We don’t have the same colors, venue, or even the same city that we started out with! It wasn’t until we found our current venue that things really started taking shape. The house was built in the 1800’s — large white columns, wide porches, a beautiful curving staircase, and the coolest wrought iron gate leading to the backyard. When I saw it, I thought, “It’s like my grown-up secret garden!” And a little bit of “Where’s Mr. Darcy?” With that, the wedding really began to unfold.

Above: Katie’s inspiration board!

Which part of your wedding are you most invested in?
Southern gals love good food, so having the stick-to-your-ribs, clean-your-plate kind of food was a big priority. BBQ pork? Mac and cheese? Vidalia onion coleslaw? Yes, please!!! Oh, and the pie bar, man oh man, I absolutely cannot WAIT for the pie bar.

Besides the food, I’d have to say the ceremony. It is, after all, the reason for the day. We aren’t reciting our own vows (I figured I would leave that to the expert, our reverend!) but I’ll cry anyways, I just know I will. And wouldn’t you know that I am one of those unlucky people with the ugly cry face?!

Have you picked your dress yet? How’d that go? What will you be wearing on the big day?
Still can’t believe it to this day, but I found my dress on the first day of looking! I’ll have to bribe Nate not to go look this up, but it’s the Lauren dress by Modern Trousseau. All lace with a sweetheart neckline and godets at the bottom; it flares when I twirl! (Hence there will be much twirling at the wedding.) Funny side story with the dress: When I first heard its retail price at my local boutique, I knew that it was absolutely out of my price range. Thinking my chances small, I emailed someone directly at the showroom in Connecticut and told them my sad, sad, sad (did I mention sad?) story. To my astonishment, the director called me, and before I knew it, he had sold me the dress AT COST, and even let me pay it off over several months. The point is, don’t be afraid to ask — you never know when a serendipitous event is headed your way! OK, I guess there are two points, because the folks with Modern Trousseau are an amazing bunch! Thanks, y’all!

Who is your favorite vendor you’ve booked so far?
Our photographers! I seriously heart Joey and Jessica. They are such a fun couple to be working with, and Joey is responsible for me finding the best shrimp and grits I have ever had, so he earns extra brownie points. I love that they shoot on film; the resulting photos are stunning! We were so excited for them when they made the cover of SW, and it reaffirmed that we had made a great choice.

Do you have a favorite Etsy store you’d love to tell us about?
I have a major crush on our cake topper, so I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Krista over at BentBranch. The pair of felted lovebirds she sent us get a huge “awwww” from me every time I look at them! She went back and forth with me for days until I was completely happy with the chosen fabrics. Thanks, Krista!

Oh, and if you would like to channel your inner Elizabeth Bennett, head on over to Brookish for all things Mr. Darcy. I bought a dishtowel which will be making an appearance at the wedding! Too cute.

What has been the best part of wedding planning? The worst part?
Let’s rip the Band-Aid off, shall we? The worst part has definitively been struggling with the budget. Finding that balance between wants and “nope, not happening” is so, so hard! No way around it. As my mother has always reminded me, I have “champagne tastes on a beer budget.”

The best part has been the outpouring of kind words and support from friends and family, from people wanting to know how they can help, to people just wanting to say how excited they are for us! I’ve been soaking it up as much as I can. I really have enjoyed planning this wedding so, so much!

What has been the biggest challenge so far in wedding planning?
I can’t be the only one in this boat, but sometimes I just get tired of our wedding! Of course I am beyond excited about it, but when you’re looking at the same stuff day in and day out, sometimes you just need a break. There have been several times over the last eight months that I have had to close the computer, step away from the glue gun, and just spend some time with my sweetie. Those breaks always get me excited again and ready to resume the planning.

What are you most looking forward to on your wedding day?
The moment after we say I do and have rushed back up the aisle. I want a moment for just the two of us, to bask in the awesomeness of being married.

Any advice you’d like to pass along to fellow brides?
I am such a control freak, I admit it. But heed my advice: learn to let the little things go. This wedding has given me a much needed lesson in sifting out the important, “focus all my energies on this” items from the “if it’s not perfect, no one will care” items. I sent my invites off yesterday, and when I got to the post office, they were out of the love stamps I had been envisioning for months. My response, after a deep breath in and out? “OK, king and queen stamps it is!” See? I am getting so much better!

Now it’s your turn to ask for advice – is there anything you’d like to poll the SW readers on?
Two things, actually! Where should we go on our belated honeymoon? We are thinking somewhere in Europe! Also, already-married ladies, any advice for calming the nerves on our wedding day? I tend to react to big events like this with a gurgling stomach and major anxiety. I could use some tips!

Thank you so much for playing along, Katie! 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!

The Southern Bride of the Month header was designed by our intern Sierra, with illustration by Curious & Company! A big thanks to Lauren of I Love You Much, who took Katie + Nate’s engagement photos and sent them our way!

emily Written with love by Emily
22 Comments
  1. avatar madelynne reply

    My fiancé and I studied abroad in Rome, Italy while in school and it was the most beautiful and romantic place. So much to do and see, but there are so many special places to find quiet as well. Overlooking the city on the rooftop at night is one of my fondest memories of Rome.

  2. avatar Amy P. reply

    Hi Katie! This is Amy, Julie’s sister and fellow Elon alum :) Much to my surprise I went on SW today and saw your beautiful face. A big congrats to you! Your wedding sounds like the most perfect Southern affair. I would have to recommend Venice or south of France for your honeymoon. Both spots are breathtaking! And maybe a glass of bubbly to calm those nerves ;) Lots of luck with the rest of your planning! xoxo

  3. avatar Emily reply

    Hi Katie! I’ve never been to Europe, but I’ve always wanted to tour the Greek Isles. That would be my pick!

  4. avatar Robyn Pigott reply

    I loved this post! The bride seems so sweet and fun to work with. The inspiration board looks great!

    I’m always pulling for European honeymoons. What a great alternative to the typical Bahamas honeymoon!

    I actually gathered a large list of advice from other brides – I’ll have to post it now! – and I’ve always heard to make sure and EAT on the day of the wedding. They said the big day fills up so fast with plans that they often forget to eat something. They suggested light meals as to not fill your stomach too much.

    It sounds like the bride will enjoy her day without stressing out too much. Congratulations!

  5. avatar Lisa reply

    Adorable couple and adorable pictures! :) Congrats, Katie!!
    I’ve been lucky to have done lots of travelling in Europe…here are some of my favorite spots I’ve been that you might like to consider!
    Fun, romantic cities: Paris, Prague, Venice (Venice is the only place on this list I haven’t been to, but of course, it’s supposed to be one of the most romantic cities in Europe!)
    Beautiful beaches/scenery: Santorini (Greece), Cinque Terre (Italy), Provence (France)
    Amazing historic cities: London, Rome, Vienna
    If you have any questions or would like recommendations about any of these places, please don’t hesitate to ask! You can find my contact info on my blog :)
    Congratulations again!
    Lisa

  6. avatar joey + jessica reply

    Congrats Katie and Nathan, We’re so excited about your wedding in May!!

  7. avatar Leika @ The Modest Bride reply

    Congrats, Katie and Nathan!! It sounds like your wedding is going to be lovely and fun!! I’ve lived in Europe, and definitely second Lisa’s recommendations for the historic cities (London, Rome, Vienna). Vienna is my personal favorite! There’s just something special about walking amidst so much history when you’re embarking on your own journey as a married couple!

    As for calm on the wedding day, I definitely recommend doing a “first look.” I was SO nervous until I saw my husband, and then all the nerves just evaporated!! Plus, seeing him for the first time on our wedding day was so special, and I’m glad we got to enjoy that without a whole crowd of people staring at us. We actually got to have a quick lunch together after our pictures (evening wedding), and it was so much fun. I spent the afternoon having a blast with my husband and our wedding party, rather than stressing! Most of all, just soak it up and enjoy!! It flies by quickly, but if you just take in and enjoy the moments while they’re happening, you really will remember it. Have fun!!

  8. avatar Kelly reply

    Love this new feature!!! So cute! Katie– I love your wedding colors and those engagement pics! I’ve heard of several of my friends going to the Dominican Republic for their honeymoon and loving it. Worth looking into at least! And as for calming down, you should get a massage the day before the wedding, breathe all day and soak it all in, and have fun!!!

  9. avatar Paloma reply

    Congratulations on being the first ever Southern Bride of the month, Katie! I loved reading your interview, especially your advice on staying grounded in wedding decisions.

    I spent a semester abroad in the south of Spain and if you and Nate are connossieurs of wine, delicious food, and especially cheese, I can’t imagine a more romantic honeymoon than a culinary tour through Andalucia!

  10. avatar Carolina reply

    What a sweet story!

  11. avatar Andrea reply

    Congrats Katie!! Beautiful post and of course I couldn’t help but notice that we attended the same University – GO ELON! – Even more funny was that I noticed in your “inspiration” board you chose the photo of me holding my bouquet from our wedding that was featured on the SW site months ago!!!

    Have a beautiful wedding — it goes way too quickly!

    • avatar Katie the Bride to Be reply

      Andrea: I remember seeing your Elon flags in the cupcakes and thinking it was so cute!! You had a beautiful wedding btw!

      Thanks everyone for the well wishes and the honeymoon suggestions. Ya’ll have given us some great ideas!

  12. avatar Abby reply

    So happy for you! This site is amazing, and I love the features and pictures. You’ll be a beautiful bride. :)

  13. avatar Kristin Nicole reply

    Love the new column and as a married lady my advice for you Katie is to surround yourself with the people you love on your wedding day, trust that your planner has things under control and remember the reason for the day, it will help you have a stress free day!

  14. avatar Ali @ His Birdie’s Nest reply

    Wow, those engagement photos are amazing!! I Love You Much did a fantastic job!

  15. avatar Jeanete reply

    I can totally relate to her, she sounds a lot like me :) King and Queen stamps for me, too. Great new feature and much happiness and blessings to Katie and Nathan.

  16. avatar Katharine reply

    Welcome, Katie! We’re so happy to have you as our first Southern Bride of the Month. Your wedding is going to be stunning! xo, Katharine

  17. avatar jacin {lovely little details} reply

    love the post!

  18. avatar FARout reply

    Love the feature story! Love the photography! Southern Weddings magazine rocks!

  19. avatar Andrea reply

    Congrats! I loved reading your post and find myself in a lot of your answers. Although I am not married yet (May 28, 2011 on St. Simons Island, GA) I have some advice for day-of anxiety. This is my favorite tip to pass on to brides. When you or any of your wedding party get nervous, have them belt out a song. What is the perfect song, you ask? Why, “Going to the Chapel”, of course. Often when we get anxious (even about good things), our body goes into survival mode and we breathe very shallowly. Singing “Going to the Chapel” requires a lot of breathing and most folks know the words to the chorus…And it sounds amazing A cappella. The last wedding I was in, every few minutes or so leading up to the big walk down the aisle, a bridesmaids would start singing it and the others would join in. It worked like a charm and create a very sweet memory. Best Wishes:)

  20. avatar Charleston Garden Wedding by Veil and Bow, Part I « Southern Weddings Magazine reply

    […] bride was our very first Southern Bride of the Month! We loved hearing about Katie + Nathan’s plans for the big day and now we get to see it! I […]

  21. avatar Charleston Garden Wedding by Veil and Bow, Part II « Southern Weddings Magazine reply

    […] and the backyard reception gave them the perfect space to do so. When we talked to Katie as our Southern Bride of the Month, she said she was invested in having good food. The couple delivered! Guests chowed down on good […]

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