Google+ March 2017 - Page 12 of 13 - Southern Weddings

Southern Weddings

Monthly Archives: March 2017

Whether you grew up around horses or are simply a bride looking to bring some classic, tailored style to your celebration, an equestrian-style wedding is a natural fit in the South. (And a favorite at Southern Weddings – see here, here, here, and here, for starters!) With the help of our friends at Keeneland, one of the South’s most famous racetracks, today we’re sharing ten ways to incorporate equestrian style in your wedding.

Rebecca Shehorn Photography

1. Choose an equestrian setting. One of the easiest ways to tie in an equestrian theme is to host your wedding at an equestrian facility! A beautiful backdrop like Keeneland can include a racetrack, the starting gate, barns, and rows of pretty fencing as far as the eye can see.

2. Set the tone. Clue your guests into your celebration’s style right from the start by adding an equestrian flair to your invitations. A whimsical watercolor crest incorporating a horseshoe or a pen and ink sketch of your venue are two options we love.

Chris Cornwell Photography

3. Add some witty wording. In addition to graphic details, the verbiage you choose for everything from your invitation to your signage, escort cards, and cake flavors can point to your setting and theme. Try plays on betting (“we’re betting on a good time,” “the odds are favorable”) and race terminology (“and we’re off!” for the welcome dinner, “a photo finish” for the Sunday brunch).

4. Choose a fitting gift for the wedding morning. Many couples choose to exchange gifts on the morning of the wedding. Horseshoe cuff links or a horsehead tie bar will always remind your groom of your big day in an understated way!

Chris Cornwell Photography

5. Invite guests to get in on the action. Whether you’re marrying on Derby weekend or not, inviting your lady guests to don their best oversize hats is a fun way to invite them to be a part of the theme. In our experience, guests are usually eager to get on board as long as they have time to prepare, so be sure to note your suggestion on your wedding website and/or invitation!

6. Make an entrance. If you’re an equestrian yourself and/or want to involve your beloved horse in your celebration, consider an entrance or exit on horseback. A simpler but no less magical option is a classic white horse and carriage, like Lauren and Luke chose.

Chris Cornwell Photography

7. Involve the kids. Are you the lucky aunt and uncle to tons of nieces and nephews? Consider offering pony rides during cocktail hour – it will be a guaranteed hit not only with the littlest ones, but as a spectator sport for the rest of your guests! Horse-themed coloring books, crayons, and small horse figurines can extend the fun to the kids’ table once dinner is underway.

8. Kick back and relax. If you have the space, setting up two stakes for horse shoes is another great way to keep guests entertained during cocktail hour.

Chris Cornwell Photography

9. Decorate with equestrian motifs. From horseshoes to prize ribbons, there are several iconic symbols that offer endless opportunities to riff on equestrian style. Try them mixed into your centerpieces, at the escort card display, made into food signage, or as guest favors!

10. Toast the newlyweds. With a mint julep, of course – the unofficial drink of the Kentucky Derby, and the most appropriate choice for an equestrian-style wedding!

Rebecca Shehorn Photography

Looking for the perfect location for your equestrian wedding? Consider Keeneland, an iconic race track and event venue in Lexington, Kentucky that offers a timeless, unique setting perfect for your biggest day. With rolling hills of Bluegrass, panoramic views of the racetrack, and the historic charm of the grounds, Keeneland weddings are unlike any other.

This post is brought to you by Keeneland. Thank you for your support of the brands who make Southern Weddings possible!

emily Written with love by Emily
2 Comments

Southern Weddings reserves the right to delete comments which contain profanity or personal attacks or seek to promote a business unrelated to the post.  And remember: a good attitude is like kudzu – it spreads.  We love hearing your kind thoughts!

Reply to:
close

We have a treat for you today, belles! Though we pride ourselves on featuring some of the prettiest weddings in the South, we of course can’t feature ALL of them – and that’s where our blogging friends come in! The gals from Style Me Pretty are here today sharing ten of their all-time favorite Southern weddings, just for y’all. Enjoy! – Emily

Hello, Southern Weddings brides-to-be! I’m Stephanie of Style Me Pretty here to share a dose of inspiration from our pretty pages to yours. At SMP, real weddings are what we truly love, and we couldn’t be more excited to share a handful of our very favorites. A mix of traditional, modern, rustic and whimsical, each one of these celebrations embodies the South in a unique way, designed top to bottom with meaningful details – the heart and soul of every Southern wedding.

Charleston Planation Wedding | I’ve never met a wedding monogram I didn’t love, but this couple took theirs to the next level. A custom designed monogram and crest were carried throughout the entire design, keeping family tradition at the forefront of this Boone Plantation wedding. Photos by Simply Sarah Photography and planning by A Charleston Bride.

Raleigh Parking Garage Wedding | Believe me when I say, you’ve never seen a parking garage wedding quite like this one. With design in the hands of Easton Events, it’s Southern elegance at it’s finest with no detail left untouched. Photos by Corbin Gurkin.

Key West, Florida Wedding | Tropical, nautical, with just a touch of preppy, this oceanside wedding is what happens with you take Southern charm to Key West, Florida. Dressed up in a color palette of muted pastels, you’ll instantly see why we can’t get enough. Photos by Jessica Lorren.

Seaside Chapel Wedding | Be prepared to meet the most charming little white chapel in this Seaside, Florida affair. Gussied up with all white blooms and the softest shades of mint blue, there’s such beauty in its timeless simplicity. Photos by Lauren Kinsey.

Chapel Hill Wedding | Oh, how we love a Southern bride who’s not afraid to make a fashion statement. With a Carolina Herrea gown for her classic black tie wedding day, this bride stole the show in a major way. Photos by Graham Terhune.

Modern Downtown Atlanta Wedding | Southern weddings are all about tradition, but that doesn’t mean they can’t take on a modern flair. This downtown Atlanta wedding pairs sleek and chic style with a cool urban setting and we adore the result. Photos by Sawyer Baird.

Fort Worth, Texas Wedding | This Texas barn wedding first graced our pages back in 2012 and it’s been an editor favorite ever since. Of course, the styling and florals are a rustic bride’s dream, but it’s the couple’s joy-filled love that jumped off the page in every last image. Photos by Ryan Ray and planning by Stefanie Miles.

South Carolina Wedding | If we had to pick one single wedding that embodies everything we love about the South, it would be this one. The white chapel ceremony, the gorgeous oak trees, the bourbon crafted cocktails, and of course, the impeccable styling are just a few of the reasons it stole our hearts. Photos by KT Merry.

Pink Duke Gardens Wedding | As an ode to the bride’s Kentucky upbringing, you’ll find no shortage of Southern-inspired details throughout this Duke Gardens wedding day. Guests sipped Mint Julep cocktails while the couple toasted to their years of love ahead. Photos by Callie Davis of Nancy Ray Photography and planning by Erin McLean Events.

Classic Charleston Wedding | Charleston is home to so many of our favorite Southern weddings, and it’s easy to see why. With history and charm tucked around every corner, it makes the perfect backdrop for a classic celebration just like this one. Photos by Ryan Ray and planning by A Charleston Bride.

Thanks for taking a peek inside our favorite Southern celebrations. For more daily inspiration, follow us on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook as we share the prettiest real weddings and the love stories behind them!

xoxo, Style Me Pretty

A Charleston Bride, Graham Terhune, and Nancy Ray are delightful members of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

Written with love by Southern Weddings
3 Comments
  1. avatar Kirsti Cook reply

    Goodness Gracious! Talk about a perfect post to inspire a southern gal planning her wedding!

  2. avatar Navy blue and gold wedding colors you'll fall in love reply

    […] Candles : Michael Radford | Wedding Menu : carriekingphotographer | Bride and groom : mireiacordomi bride’s dress : bebascloset  | Monogram : Southern weddings […]

  3. avatar Casual Bridesmaid Dresses Whimsical outdoor wedding: southernweddings……. | Dresses Shopping reply

    […] Whimsical outdoor wedding: southernweddings…. […]

Southern Weddings reserves the right to delete comments which contain profanity or personal attacks or seek to promote a business unrelated to the post.  And remember: a good attitude is like kudzu – it spreads.  We love hearing your kind thoughts!

Reply to:
close

Each spring the whole Southern Weddings team gathers together in Chapel Hill for our annual retreat. We make plans for the year, sprinkling in some fun team building and spend an awful lot of time talking about each one of you. We talk about what you like and don’t like, how we can best serve you, and how we can get the best information in your hands.

We consider y’all friends and getting your personal and real-time feedback through our annual reader survey helps us make sure we’re on the right track and spending our days creating content that will best help you with wedding and marriage planning (something we take very seriously around here).

As a thank you for your time, we’re offering a shop discount code to everyone who completes it, plus if you leave your email you’ll be entered to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card or a shop-a-pooloza prize pack (one of EVERY SINGLE item currently in the Southern Weddings Shop!!) The choice is yours!

The survey should take less than 5 minutes to complete, and we have two versions:

CLICK HERE to take the survey if you are a bride or groom currently planning a wedding.
CLICK HERE to take the survey if you are a wedding professional, a family member or friend, a married lady, or just someone who loves weddings!

To be entered to win our giveaway, complete the survey by March 15, 2017.

Thank y’all SO much in advance!! We are grateful for you and want to do everything we can to make Southern Weddings even better!

kristin Written with love by Kristin
2 Comments
  1. avatar Bri A reply

    I love it when brands reach out for opinions. Y’all are doing a great job and I can’t wait to see where SW goes next!

  2. avatar Emma Hayden reply

    I love southern weddings for so many reasons. I am doing a mostly DIY wedding and it helps to be able to find inspirations, vendors, and venues all in one place.

Southern Weddings reserves the right to delete comments which contain profanity or personal attacks or seek to promote a business unrelated to the post.  And remember: a good attitude is like kudzu – it spreads.  We love hearing your kind thoughts!

Reply to:
close
Top