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Monthly Archives: October 2014

Hi friends! Can you believe that SWV7 is on her way to newsstands at this very moment!?! To pass the time, I thought I’d give you a little behind-the-scenes peek into my day.  Welcome to the Southern Weddings Blacksburg office – I’m so glad y’all are here!

All photos by the lovely Kristie Lea Photography!

It’s safe to say that my day looks quite a bit different from everyone else’s as I juggle and manage my day at SW with my day at my corporate marketing job, splitting and balancing my time between both. My typical day is never quite typical and always leaves me with a good story to tell KPW over supper!

7:31:  Working from home with a 13-step commute doesn’t stop me from putting on my pearls, a little mascara and occasionally swiping on some lipstick – to do my best, I have to feel my best.

7:32: I told you it’s a short commute! I start my day by turning on both (yes both, I have to keep my work brains separate) of my computers and loading my email and calendars. While everything is firing up, I take a look at my day and my leftover to-do’s, then make an action plan for how I am going to tackle my priority tasks.

9:00: After plowing through my morning email and quick to-do’s, I hop on a conference call and take on the morning’s corporate marketing action items.

9:31: My conference call ends, so I put on some tunes and knock out a few to-dos while eating my breakfast and singing along to the Wicked Soundtrack!

10:28: It’s time for the weekly Southern Weddings conference call. Technology is SUCH a blessing because with the quick click of a button, the rest of the SW ladies pop up on my computer screen. It feels like I am sitting in the office with them even though I am 208 miles away (and 863 miles away from MAK)!

10:53: The SW Team call is short today – we are busy bees preparing for the launch of V7, tackling final Making Things Happen prep, planning our SWV7 Launch Party and upcoming Southern Weddings Shop product launch. So, after a quick round of updates from everyone and getting a few questions answered, we’re all off to continue our days and tackle our action item lists!

10:56:  When the call wraps up, I run downstairs to refill my water cup and give myself a chance to stretch my legs (hint: another way I manage working from home by myself). When I sit back down, I dig into Blue Ribbon Vendor updates. Being able to love on our committed Southern Weddings vendor family is definitely a bright spot in my day.

12:37:  One of the joys of living in a small town is that most days, my darling husband comes home for lunch!  I welcome the chance to tear away from my work to run downstairs and grab a bite to eat with him.

1:02:  After a quick lunch of cauliflower soup and a salad with KPW, I head back upstairs to continue the afternoon. I have some corporate marketing work to finish before my end-of-business deadline.

2:33:  Back to my SW Inbox! I read and respond to a few exciting V7 Launch Party-related emails. Marissa and I exchange a few exclamation point filled (!!!!) notes about an adorable item for our swag bags, and I set up a telephone meeting tomorrow with the Umstead to finalize party details.

3:17:  Like Marissa, most of my day is spent on the business side of Southern Weddings. I take a few minutes to call a client to discuss their questions about the Blue Ribbon Vendor directory.  Getting a chance to speak about the Southern Weddings mission statement in addition to answering BRV-specific questions is always a great way to remind me why I do what I do

3:33: I try to answer a few more emails before switching gears. This time, I am checking with Emily on a few BRV profile edits and with Morgan on a V7 Promotion effort we are working on together.  I might not make it into the office as much as I’d like, but I sure love connecting with the SW gals each and every day!

4:00:  Time to hop back on a corporate conference call.

The Love Never Fails print is available in our Southern Weddings Shop. Gallery wall credit goes to KPW who put it up 2 hours before the photographer arrived!

4:37: I give Marissa a quick call to discuss an exciting sponsorship opportunity and brainstorm through a few fun marketing strategies I had been thinking about for 2015.  Calls with M are never short ;) – we wind up on a tangent dreaming about ways to grow and welcome new advertisers to our Southern Weddings family! As we wrap up, I beg for the chance to say hi to EKK, Marissa’s darling baby girl!

5:05: I jump back into my email for one last chance to make some decisions and clean out my inboxes before the end of the day.  I also use this time to straighten up my desk (which has slowly become a paper-covered mess) and jot down any priority to-dos for tomorrow.

5:37: Time to shut down my computer and throw on my workout clothes.  I tossed dinner in the crockpot during lunch (I love my crockpot – especially during the fall and winter) so I check on it as I head out the door to the gym.  It smells great, and I can’t wait to dig into the Santa Fe Chicken when I get home! I cook most nights of the week, so if y’all are ever in town, come on by for supper!

PS:  Catch up with the rest of the gals and get a glimpse at how they spend their days: Emily, Nicole, Lisa, Marissa and Morgan!

kristin Written with love by Kristin
8 Comments
  1. avatar Holly Cromer reply

    So cool! I had no idea Souther Weddings had a Blacksburg office :)

  2. avatar Sharon @ Red Poppy | Pink Peony reply

    Your offices all look so fabulous and it seems like you have such a great time!

  3. avatar Maureen R. Goldman (@SheisMoments) reply

    I love hearing about your day! Especially since you work from home and manage multiple job duties.

    I also work in marketing and it’s amazing how rewarding it is to be involved in the business of it all but then still get on a creative tangent with a colleague.

  4. avatar Kirsti reply

    Some of my favorite things to see are the “Day in the Life…” it makes me want to fulfill me dream of working for Southern Weddings one day!

  5. avatar Mary reply

    I love your calendar/planner with the horizontal multi-colored stripes! I’ve been seeing it on blogs a lot recently but can’t trace back to any posts that say where it’s from. Can you tell me where you found it?

    • avatar Kristin reply

      Mary!! Yes ma’am. My planner is from sweet Emily Ley – you can snag one a http://www.emilyley.com! The 2015 calendars are running out – so don’t delay!!

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There are very few more Southern meet-cute settings than an SEC football game, and even though it took a few months after the Arkansas vs. MSU matchup where Alison and Brian met for them to start dating, these Southern roots rang true as they planned their Mississippi wedding! The talented Lesley of Tulip Design Studio helped bring all of their romantic inspiration to life at Providence Hill Farm–an equestrian farm that reminded Alison of her childhood in the country. As you can probably imagine, we’re especially smitten with the monogrammed Oatmeal Lace wraps around each of the bouquets!

Thank you so much to Adam + Alli Photography for sharing this lovely day with us!

Our wedding flowers were so perfect! They were soft and romantic, and they had a garden feel to them. My florist used a color palette of ivory, white, various shades of soft pink, and gray. We had an abundance of beautiful peonies, garden roses, hydrangea, and dahlias. Each of the bridesmaid bouquets featured a custom monogram ribbon by Oatmeal Lace. The reception florals were arranged in beautiful stone and wood vessels that fit the feel of the wedding perfectly!

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. My mom, maid of honor, and I all started the journey to Low’s Bridal in Brinkley, Arkansas after work on a Friday and decided to cut the trip in half by stopping in Tunica, Mississippi. That Saturday morning, we woke up bright and early, only to realize that the light snow that was predicted had turned into inches of thick snow. What was suppose to be a short two-hour drive turned into hours on the road sitting in traffic, and we finally arrived at Low’s Bridal at 1 p.m. (our appointment had been at 10). Everyone was so nice, and told us to take our time browsing. Around 5:30, I was completely worn out and all but in tears as my decision came down to two polar opposite dresses: the exact dress that I knew from the beginning I had always wanted, or the ball gown I was wearing that every little girl dreams of getting married in. Finally, I just decided to go with the one I was wearing, and needless to say, I said yes to the wrong dress. Thankfully, the company it was ordered from had not started making the dress, and I was able to switch them. I was completely overjoyed and happy in that moment, and realized that was the feeling I should have felt when saying yes to the dress.

I’ve always known that if we wrote our own vows, there was no way I would be able to hold it together and say what I wanted to say, much less get anything out before breaking down. That was another decision I am thankful I made because I completely lost it, even just repeating after our officiant. I have two verses from our ceremony painted on a wood palette hanging above our bed: “What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate” (Mark 10:9) and “For where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God” (Ruth 1:16).

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? Beside the fact that it was held at a beautiful equestrian center in the heart of the South, our wedding designer included details such as monogrammed ribbons for all of the bouquets. Nothing says you’re in the South more than a custom monogram! Guests dined on classic Southern food like boiled shrimp, shrimp and grits, and fried chicken.

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: I loved the monogram ribbons flowing down from our bouquets, the pop of sequin linens and pillows throughout our reception area, and our fabulous program fans. We both loved the huge chalkboard that had detailed information on each side about Brian and I, which we stood in front of during our receiving line as a photo backdrop.

What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? We had to make the call two days before the wedding to implement our rain plan. We were all a little bummed about it, but it worked out in the end, and it was beautiful!

Don’t miss Alison + Brian’s film from BGP Wedding Films!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. We met the weekend of the Arkansas vs. Mississippi State football game on November 20, 2010 in Starkville. I was a sophomore at MSU, and Brian had just returned home from playing in the Arizona Fall League. Brian and his best friend drove to Starkville to spend the weekend and catch up. His friend visited my roommate, which is how Brian and I first met. For the next three months, we stayed in contact and saw one another any time we were free. Brian was so charming and such a gentleman, but a guy was the last thing I was looking for at the time, so to me, he was just a friend with an incredible personality. At the end of February, we said our goodbyes as he was leaving for another season of baseball with the Pittsburgh Pirates. It only took two weeks of him being gone before I realized he was truly everything I had ever looked for in a guy. On June 4, 2011, he officially became a part of my life forever.
Tell us all about the proposal! It was incredible! Brian had taken me out to dinner for a “work promotion.” After finishing our meal, we were walking to his truck when I realized a limo was waiting outside the restaurant for us. Brian said it was taking us to go look at Christmas lights, but we had to make a quick stop first so that Brian could help his brother with something at their CrossFit/baseball facility. Once we arrived, he told me to stay in the car. Literally right when he walked through the front door, a video on the limo’s TV screen started playing. Brian had made a slideshow video of pictures from all of his favorite memories of us together over the past few years with a caption on each slide that quickly brought me to tears. As soon as the video ended, the limo driver opened my door. All the lights were off inside the facility, and there were six beautiful Christmas trees, three on each side, filled with lights and a card on each tree. I read a sign with directions explaining to start on the right with the first tree and zigzag back and forth reading each card. Once I got to the end, the last card had an additional special message saying to turn the corner and to go find him. I turned the corner to find Brian standing in between two tables filled with candles. He gave a beautiful speech, and then said he had three questions to ask me. First, he asked if I would accept his rose (yes, he loves the Bachelor/Bachelorette). Second, he dropped down on one knee and asked me to marry him. After lots of hugs, kisses, and tears, he asked his third question, which was if I would dance with him. When the song was coming to an end, Brian whispered in my ear saying he had one last surprise for me. He turned me around, and there stood both of our families. Having our families there meant the world to me and that moment will forever hold a special place in my heart.
When did y’all get married? June 28, 2014
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 400+
What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? Hands down, Lesley Frascogna. She was our florist, our planner, and designer, but to me, she was so much more than that. I owe so much of our wedding day and every single day leading up to that to her. She truly turned my vision into a reality. Not a day went by when she wasn’t contacting me to help me stay on track with everything. Lesley was so much more to us than just a “vendor,” and I will forever be blessed and honored to have her a part of our wedding.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? We’re looking forward to expanding our cooking skills, experiencing football games (since we’re a family divided), making our own traditions, traveling, and of course, starting a family of our own one day!!

Photographer: Adam + Alli Photography / Videographer: Brock Gomez Productions / Planner and Florist: Lesley Frascogna / Venue: Providence Hill Farm / Cake Baker: The Cake Diva / Catering: Pretty Presentations Catering / Rentals: Mississippi Tent / Lighting: Davaine / Band: Al Paris & the Heartbreakers / Monogrammed Ribbon: Oatmeal Lace Design / Signage: Southern Sprout / Paper Products: Thimble Press / Bride’s Gown: “9104” by Allure Bridals / Hair Stylist: William Wallace Salon / Makeup Artist: Louis Peterman of William Wallace Salon / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: “2895” by The Dessy Group / Menswear: Tuxes Too / Linens: La Tavola

lisa Written with love by Lisa
5 Comments
  1. avatar Zyfaf reply

    Gorgeous blue colors, adorable farm animals, and a lovely couple = wedding bliss!

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Victoria and Daniel may have gotten engaged in Utah, and now live in Colorado, but when it came to choosing a place for their wedding, there was no place like home. Victoria grew up on a horse farm in Kentucky, and she and Daniel had run in the same circles (literally–they were on the same soccer team as kids!) since they were babies. They brought their families and friends together at the beautiful Goshen Crest Farm for a sweet celebration, complete with sentimental songs and details, Victoria’s dream Claire Pettibone gown, and even a surprise thunderstorm that led to some magical memories for the newlyweds.

Thank you so much to Whitney Neal for sharing this beautiful wedding with us!

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. I knew I wanted a Claire Pettibone wedding dress because I love her romantic, elegant, slightly bohemian style. I was lucky to attend her truck show in Denver at the Little White Dress Boutique. I had seen the Waverly dress online beforehand–it was the first dress I tried on and I knew it would be the one. The blue details, mix of texture, and fabric created a unique look that was a perfect fit for our big day.

Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? We did a first look and we believe it was the best decision for our wedding day. We wanted to have that special, quiet moment before the socialization and celebrations began. Our wedding ceremony started at 5:30 PM, leaving only a few hours for pictures, eating, toasts and dancing. Having the 30-45 minutes together before the ceremony to spend time with each other was the perfect way to connect and be present.

I walked down the aisle to “Such Great Heights” by Iron and Wine. The folk acoustic love song reminds us of our pure love that started when we were 16 years old.

What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? We were so happy with the location of our big day. Goshen Crest Farm allowed us to get ready, get married, and celebrate all in one location. The outdoor ceremony had a beautiful view of the Ohio River and the barn reception space was spacious and had wonderful lighting.

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: Our friend, Holly Graham, created our wedding invitation suite. It included a handmade map and agate watercolors, which went perfectly with the agate details on our wedding day.

The late-night summer thunderstorm was the most memorable moment of our wedding. The dance floor was in full swing and the thunder and lightening added a wonderful energy to our wedding reception. As the rain poured down, we ran out of the barn and into the rain. It was one of the most special moments we have ever had as a couple. We danced, laughed, and kissed in the rain.

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. Our parents have been friends since we were babies, and our sisters played on the same soccer team when we were young. We had been running circles around each other, but never officially met until our junior year in high school. A mutual friend came and picked us up and took us both to dinner. We instantly hit it off and have been best friends ever since. We were long distance in college while I was in San Francisco and Danny was in Ohio. A few years after college and 8 1/2 years into dating, we ended up in Utah, where Danny proposed.
Tell us all about the proposal! Danny took me on a three-day canoeing/camping trip down the Colorado River. It was January in Utah, so the river was empty and we felt like we had a corner of the world all to ourselves. On the second morning, I woke up to a card and a trail of rose petals leading up the side of a canyon and down to a small beach. The trail was lined with candles and I could hear Iron and Wine’s “Such Great Heights” playing in the distance. When I got to the beach, Daniel was in a suit and tie, and holding a ring.
When did y’all get married? July 26, 2014
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? Around 180
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? We are currently living in Colorado. I am about to graduate with my Masters in Urban and Regional Planning and Daniel is about to enter his first year of Physicians Assistant School. We are enjoying life as a married couple and are looking forward to more adventures with our new puppy, Gus.

Photographer: Whitney Neal / Planner: Lisa Cofer / Venue: Goshen Crest Farm / Florist: In Bloom Again / Cake Baker: Mert’s Cakes / Rentals: The Event Company / Band: The Rumors / Paper Products: Hollydoodle Studio / Bride’s Gown: Claire Pettibone / Bride’s Accessories: Little White Dress / Hair and Makeup: Z Salon and Spa / Bride’s Shoes: Stuart Weitzman and ASOS / Menswear: Jos. A. Bank

lisa Written with love by Lisa
3 Comments
  1. avatar Jordan Thompson reply

    Whitney!! These are awesome!! Beautiful job as always friend!!

  2. avatar Dana reply

    the cake is so unique! I love it!

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    […] and Jim paired romantic details with a casual barbecue atmosphere at their Virginia wedding. Victoria and Daniel returned to Victoria’s childhood farm for their wedding. Alison and Brian‘s sweet […]

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