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Southern Weddings

Author: Marissa

Unfortunately, it’s inevitable that not everything is going to be perfect at your wedding–however, there are moments that absolutely will be! For Audrey, that moment came as she was walking down the aisle with her father by her side, surrounded by their friends and family. Though the Marlsgate Planation and beautiful weather certainly helped, the best part was the realization that she was about to marry her best friend, Kasper. With sweet Southern details woven throughout their wedding day, Audrey and Kasper celebrated their marriage with a seated dinner that would make any Southern grandmother proud–it included fried chicken, collard greens, and cheese grits, just to name a few!

Gracious, I’m sure glad Amanda Watson shared this lovely day with us!

P.S. Can we please take a moment to talk about Audrey’s amazing Southern bump and custom Lea-Ann Belter gown? I positive this look just shot to the top of my list of classic Southern style favorites!

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. My mother and sister met me in Dallas and we made a weekend of it! After a long, super exhausting (but fun!) day on Saturday, we narrowed it down to one dress at each boutique, but I still didn’t feel like any of them was “the one.” Our last appointment was at the Bridal Boutique in Lewisville, Texas, which I chose because they are the only boutique in DFW that carries Berta. The dress I had in mind was lace with long sleeves. After trying several of this style on, the store was closing and I still didn’t feel like I had found the right dress. Our stylist said “Hang on a minute, I have something in the back that you might like.” She brought out a fitted, dupioni silk dress with a trumpet skirt and a dramatic train. When I put it on, we all knew that it was the dress that I would walk down the aisle in. It was a one-of-a-kind design that they were sending back to the designer. Our stylist called Lea-Ann Belter in Toronto, and she agreed to design a custom dress just for me! It fit like a glove and was absolutely perfect!

We decided to do a first look in the English gardens beside the plantation house. We really wanted to have that moment together in private to see each other and soak in what the day was all about before the craziness began. Also, it made taking pictures so much easier, as we got all the group pictures over with before the ceremony and were able to go straight to the reception without holding up the dinner.

My most memorable moment was when my dad walked me down the aisle and I saw Kasper standing on the porch. The whole view of the plantation was perfect, the weather was perfect, the string quartet on the balcony was perfect, the wedding party looked amazing, and all of our friends and family were there. I couldn’t believe that it had all come together so perfectly and I was actually getting married to my very best friend. It was surreal and I will remember that forever.

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: Our favorite detail of the wedding was the event branding by my sister, Jessie Russell. Jessie is an art director with a Master’s degree in Communication Design from the Pratt Institute in NYC. She pulled the whole wedding together, from the invitations, to the programs, to the menus, and even the wax seal design that we used on the envelopes and the rice bags. We were truly blessed to have Jessie to make every detail cohesive.

Charlie Roberts designed the perfect cake for our big day. It was a classic and elegant, five-tiered cake with alternating flavors of strawberry and vanilla. It had white buttercream icing with a layered rake design. The base of each tier had a string of white edible pearls. It was topped off with beautiful flowers and the base was decorated with eucalyptus garland.

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? The Southern thread was woven all throughout our wedding. For starters, the venue was an old, Southern plantation that has been around since 1885. The reception was a seated dinner that comprised of a lovely watermelon/pecan spinach salad with pepper jelly vinaigrette dressing, bone-in fried chicken (the ultimate Southern dish), sautéed collard greens served in a mini mason jar, cheese grits, cornbread muffins, and sweet potato biscuits, with sweet tea to wash it all down! All of the guests were given mini bags of rice that were thrown during our send-off. My husband, Kasper, comes from a family of rice farmers, so the traditional rice had to be used.

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. We met in the fall of 2012 when we were introduced by our mutual friends. We went to dinner in Little Rock, Arkansas and ended up talking until the restaurant closed. The chemistry was undeniable and it was apparent to both of us that this was the beginning of something special.
Tell us all about the proposal! One Saturday morning in May 2015, Kasper took me to the farmers market in Fayetteville, Arkansas to walk around and listen to the music. We got coffee and then walked by these beautiful flowers in the middle of the town square. Kasper got down on one knee, and I was in such shock that all I remember is saying “YES!!!” and then turning around to see my brother, sister, cousins, Kasper’s sister, and several friends cheering and taking pictures. We all went to lunch together and celebrated for the rest of the day. It was the best day of my life, until the wedding, of course.
When did y’all get married? May 21, 2016
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 200
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? We had our wedding officiant read from 1 Corinthians 13:4-13, as well as Ephesians 5:22-33. He also read the seven things we love most about each other (our planner, Catherine Tapp, had us send them to her without us knowing what she was going to do with them). It was a fun surprise and the guests loved hearing them and seeing our reactions.
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. We wanted the ceremony to be very traditional. The John Jarboe String quartet sat on the balcony of the plantation and played Canon in D for the bridesmaids processional, the Bridal Chorus when I walked out, and the Wedding March for the exit. One special song that played was “Sunrise, Sunset” from the musical “Fiddler on the Roof.” That is one of my mother’s favorite musicals, so they played that for the seating of the parents. Of course, my mom cried the whole way down the aisle!
How did you plan for your marriage while planning your wedding? Kasper and I went to premarital counseling with his hometown preacher from the Jonesboro Church of Christ, Chris Harrell. We also did a couples devotional and listened to the wise advice that our parents shared with us.
What’s next for you as a couple? What memories are you looking forward to making together? We are making our home in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Kasper is an attorney and I am a physician recruiter. We are looking forward to summer fun at the lake, relaxing evenings at home, cheering on the Razorbacks this fall, and holidays with friends and family.

Photographer: Amanda Watson | Videographer: Jessie Swaffar | Planner: Catherine Tapp | Venue: Marlsgate Plantation | Florist: Carly Jones | Cake Baker: Charlie Roberts | Caterer: Simply the Best Catering | DJ: Ryan Thetford | Special Details and Photo Stylist: Lindsey Zamora | Paper Products: Jessie Russell | Bride’s Gown: Lea-Ann Belter | Bride’s Jewelry: Sissy’s Log Cabin | Hair Stylist: Sara Beth Leader | Makeup Artist: Bobbi Brown Cosmetics | Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Alfred Angelo | Groom’s Attire: Walker Brothers | Groomsmen Attire: Generation Tux | String Quartet: The Jarboe String Quartet | Audio Visual and Ceiling Draping: Central Arkansas Entertainment | After-Party Venue: Little Rock Marriott Hotel

marissa Written with love by Marissa
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On any given day in the Southern Weddings office, you’re likely to find at least one of us wearing a chambray shirt. Easy, versatile, and stylish–it has been rumored that the chambray shirt is the unofficial uniform of the Southern Weddings gal. While I can neither confirm nor deny said rumor, it’s definitely become a staple in all of our personal wardrobes.

From fedoras to pearls, we all like to put our own individual spins on this classic piece, so for today’s Southern Style post, I asked my fellow SW gals to share their favorite ways to style their chambray shirts!

Since I’m melting here in sunny Florida, I love to style mine with bright, fun shorts and the absolute necessities for Southern summers: anti-humidity spray and a sassy water bottle!

Anti-humidity spray | Water bottle | Lilly Pulitzer shorts | Monogrammed Jack Rogers | Nail polish in ‘Maddison’ | Pearl earrings

Emily wanted to recreate one of her favorite looks from a speaking engagement. I love how polished, yet fun, her style is!

Statement necklace | Pearl earrings | White skirt | Leopard print flats | Bangle

Nicole can clearly pull off “cool girl chic.” Her relaxed shorts and fedora combo is ready for the last summer getaway!

Fedora | Blush | Shorts | Sandals | Clutch

Classic and perfectly polished, Kristin’s styling can go from casual Friday to date night with one swipe of pink lipstick.

Pearl earrings | Lipstick | White jeans | Jack Rogers | Watch

Amber is rarely caught without an adorable dress on, so it’s no surprise that she’d pair chambray with this adorable skirt and feminine accessories.

Necklace | Lipstick | Skirt | Perfume | Phone case

Taking the twist a bit further, Jess would even tie up her top (like this) over a striped dress for a more relaxed look. And, that bag is the perfect size for her laptop!

Watch | Sandals | Striped dress | Tote

The always-stylish Lisa, combines her chambray with chic black leggings and bright pink accessories for the perfect summer-to-fall transitional look.

Bracelet | Earrings | Ballet flats | Leggings | Tote | Lipstick

What’s your favorite way to wear this closet staple?

marissa Written with love by Marissa
4 Comments
  1. avatar Kelly reply

    So cute! Love this post!

  2. avatar Ashlynne reply

    Great job ladies! <3 Such a fun post! All of the outfits are perfectly on point ;)

  3. avatar Christina @ Christina Leigh Events reply

    I love this post! I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Jess, but I love how each option is each of you girls to a T! SO fun and chambray is definitely a staple of the south!
    XO Christina

  4. avatar Cassi reply

    This post is so fun! Please make this a series!

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When Nicole and Tyler struggled to find a venue that felt just right for them, their planner, Rachel Youd, suggested celebrating their ceremony in Nicole’s parents’ backyard. With the help of some thoughtful planning to make it work, Nicole’s father was able to see his daughter come down the very same stairs she’d walked down in the years past for her dances and proms. Creating a moment so meaningful might not always be the easiest option, but I imagine that out of all the memories on those stairs, this day probably tops the list! After saying their vows under the oak trees, Nicole and Tyler celebrated with their guests just a few miles away at Panama Country Club with a reception that looks equally as fun as it was stylish!

Thanks for sharing, Jennifer Blair!

Describe your wedding flowers. Our flowers were soft and delicate. We had mainly white flowers with splashes of blush and green. We had peonies, garden roses, hydrangeas, seeded eucalyptus, freesia, and anemones to add a graphic punch.

Did you decide to do a first look? Why or why not? Yes! Seeing each other for the first time was such a surreal experience, and I’m glad that we had a chance to take in the moment. We loved getting to spend the whole day together and share some quality time on our wedding day. I can’t imagine not being able to burst into conversation upon seeing my groom for the first time! It was so wonderful to snap a few family photos after the ceremony and then be able to run off to the party! Doing a first look also allowed us the time to have a private dinner. We were able to talk about the ceremony and actually eat, and I had the chance to touch up and bustle my dress in peace!

We looked at several wedding venues and nothing felt quite right. I remember early in the planning process, my dad had mentioned he wanted me to get ready at the house so he could see me coming down the stairs, like he had done for all my dances and proms when I was younger. Our wedding coordinator suggested the backyard, which we hadn’t even considered as a prospect. After walking through the yard and envisioning the ceremony, we couldn’t think of a better place to have our ceremony than under the oaks on the bay in a place we have so many memories. It was so special to be able to walk down the stairs of my house that day! The reception was at a country club about five minutes away. The club has beautiful bay views and tied in to the waterside feel we had at the ceremony.

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: Our favorite detail was the aisle. My parents’ yard didn’t really allow for a traditional aisle, so we decided that the dock would be the aisle! I arrived to our ceremony via boat, which added a fun Floridian touch to our ceremony.

My something blue was also my old and new. Tyler had given me a beautiful pair of sapphire and diamond earring when I graduated from Auburn University. I was on my Master’s Practicum in London while I was in grad school at Florida State, and lost an earring while sightseeing. I remember calling Tyler that day, so sad, and I exclaimed “That was going to be my something blue!” under my breath. He heard and I was quickly embarrassed. He took the remaining earring and had it made into a simple and dainty necklace that he gave me for Christmas, just a few months before the wedding. Our something borrowed was the venue!


Our cake was so good that as we were about to make our grand exit, we stopped to asked the caterer for a to-go box to stick a big slice in! The cake was the most important thing to Tyler, so we were set on finding a baker who could make a beautiful cake with buttercream, as neither of us like fondant. We chose a classic white almond cake with buttercream icing. We are both eagerly looking to our first anniversary for another slice!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. Tyler and I met at a fundraising gala when I was home from college for Thanksgiving break. Neither of us was really supposed to go that night, but my parents had an extra ticket. I tried to stay home with the dog, but was (thankfully) unsuccessful. Tyler’s mom was sick, so Tyler went in her place. Our fathers know each other, so they ended up chatting at the event, and I talked to Tyler’s dad a bit. Soon after, Tyler came over to say hi to my mom and dad (who he had met before). He introduced himself to me when I was mid-bite of red velvet cake. Unbeknownst to me, we had gone to the same high school and were both on the golf teams at the same time, but we had never met! We ended up chatting, and later on that night, he asked me to dance. He asked me to play golf that week, and we’ve been hanging out ever since!
Tell us all about the proposal! Tyler conspired with my two best friends to surprise me! My two best friends were teaching at the time, and I was about to enter my last semester of graduate school, so we decided to plan an elaborate girls night out at Rosemary Beach to celebrate the end of school! When we arrived, it started to sprinkle, but they were insistent on walking across the street to get a quick picture before dinner. We spotted a man with an umbrella in the exact spot we wanted to take the picture, so I was hesitant, until I realized the man under the umbrella was Tyler! He said a lot of sweet things I don’t remember due to my state of shock. He had our parents waiting at a Mexican restaurant nearby so we could celebrate in the best way…with margaritas!
When did y’all get married? April 9, 2016
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 180
Tell us about finding your wedding dress. I bought my wedding dress the first time I went to try on dresses. I went in with one idea and left with a completely different thing! I tried on about 20 dresses, and when I put on mine, I remember feeling so comfortable. Seeing yourself in a wedding dress is a strange experience, and despite all the dresses being gorgeous, most made me feel like I was in a bride costume. I felt like myself in my dress, but it still had that something that made me feel special! It also didn’t hurt that my mom, mother-in-law, and maids of honor immediately said “That’s the one!” without hesitation!
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? We were all nervous about the Florida weather cooperating with our outdoor ceremony, so we relied on the tradition of burying the bourbon. Tyler and his dad are avid bourbon collectors, and him and his father are also Kentucky Colonels. The bottle selected to be buried was an Elijah Craig that was aged 23 years, to reflect my age when we got married!
How did you plan for your marriage while planning your wedding? Tyler and I took a premarital counseling course through our church. Additionally, we were putting together our first home together while we were engaged. Design decisions and DIY home upkeep, while still living in two separate places, will teach you teamwork and compromise quickly!
What’s next for you as a couple? What memories are you looking forward to making together? We are working on our first home in Tallahassee, Florida, where we plan to stay for a few years as we build our careers. We just added to our family with Walter, our three-month West Highland Terrier puppy! We are enjoying settling into living together and celebrating our other friends who are tying the knot!

Photographer: Jennifer Blair | Videographer: Jason Tuno | Planner, Florist, and Paper Products: Rachelle Youd | Ceremony Venue: Private residence | Reception Venue: Panama Country Club | Wedding Cake: Sweet for Sirten | Caterer: Chef Paul Stellato | Rentals: H&M Tent | Band: Creativity | Bride’s Gown: Maggie Sottero | Bride’s Hair Accessories and Jewelry: BHLDN | Hair Stylist: Bunny Franklin | Makeup Artist: Rebecca Griffith | Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Alfred Sung | Groom’s Bow Tie: Brackish | Menswear: Men’s Wearhouse

marissa Written with love by Marissa
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