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As you may have heard, Southern Weddings turned NINE on Saturday! Birthdays are a big deal around the Southern Weddings office because they give us a chance to celebrate the history and legacy that has been created since that very first blog post went live all those years ago. As this is our last single-digit birthday, we thought we’d celebrate in high style. In addition to giving away an amazing birthday prize pack, releasing some fabulous new postcards and digital products, and sharing your very own SW birthday hat printables, we decided to have a friendly little office birthday cupcake decorating competition.

The rules were pretty simple: create the most “Southern Weddings” cupcake possible. Baking your own cupcake or buying an unfrosted cupcake from the grocery store (only the best Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade hack in history) were perfectly acceptable, but buying an already-decorated cupcake was deemed not in line with the spirit of SW and severely frowned upon.

Because this contest is intended to be anonymous, I will refrain from editorializing too much, but I can’t help but mention that some of us were not aware how serious others of us would get for this competition. A few gals clearly used the tips we picked up at our cupcake decorating class at our team retreat last May, and I was a little blown away by the use of props, fondant, and 3D decorations. I’m reminded again to never underestimate my talented and dedicated coworkers :)

We need your help to pick a winner! Channel your inner Food Network judge and comment below to let us know which entry takes the cake as most “Southern Weddings.” May the best cupcake win!

kristin Written with love by Kristin
11 Comments
  1. avatar Victoria Strader reply

    Eek! These are all so lovely… but #5 has to take the prize! It was also fun trying to guess who made each one!

  2. avatar Mallory Osteen reply

    I would eat any of them, but my favorite has to be #7 for the mountain of yummy icing and the cute topper!

  3. avatar Maura W reply

    Number 3! But they all look delicious!!

  4. avatar Silvana Chavez reply

    I think the first one!

  5. avatar Lindy reply

    So many great choices…. going back and forth between 5 and 7 but ultimately I can’t help but vote for #7….. that is distinctly SW!!!

  6. avatar Janna reply

    Love #5! It’s so cute!

  7. avatar Kristy reply

    #3 :)

  8. avatar Julia Harkins reply

    1) #5
    2) #2
    3)#1

  9. avatar Bri A reply

    Oh my, I love all of these! They’re all so artistic and creative! My favorite might have to be 3. I can’t get over the little dress and suit detailing!

  10. avatar Karen Julia reply

    These are so cute! No. 2 is the clear winner for me!

  11. avatar Joshua Wyborn reply

    Gorgeous images!

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Southern Weddings turned nine years old on Saturday! That’s an occasion worthy of celebrating, because we couldn’t be prouder of how far we’ve come since 2008, what we’re doing now, and who we’re doing it with – y’all!! It’s already been an exciting year for us, and with the tenth issue of our magazine debuting this fall, we’re confident there’s more excitement in store.

We’re all about stories here (we celebrate them every day through real weddings and our editorials!), so in honor of our birthday, we’d love to tell you a little more about ours!

Jake + Heather

In 2008, our founder’s husband was deployed to Iraq with the Navy. Lara was looking for something to distract her from worrying about Ari, so she bought a domain name, pulled together some friends for photo shoots, and mocked up a wedding magazine cover on her humble PC! She was working with some of the biggest names in the wedding planning world at the time, and her goal was to share the jaw-dropping things that were happening in California and New York with Southern gals. That’s how our first issue was born!

Over the next few years, many of our current team members came on board, and our heart began to shift. Instead of using our pages to tell Southerners about what was happening around the country, we became inspired by the sweet, evocative, soulful things that were happening in the South, and began to share those with the rest of the world – a world that seemed hungry for what we had to offer!

Our last big shift came around 2012, with our fifth anniversary issue. Beneath that pretty gold foil cover, we shared our renewed heart for celebrating and equipping strong, growing marriages, which coincided with Lara’s unfolding story of renewal in her own marriage (it’s a really good one, if you’d like to read it).

This year, we welcomed a new Editor-in-Chief and a simplified mission: in all that we do, whether you’re a single college gal, a dating twenty-something, newly engaged, or freshly married, we want to help you cultivate what matters, right where you are. At Southern Weddings, we’ll equip you with the practical and inspire you with the pretty so that you can create a meaningful wedding day that celebrates your story and serves as a beautiful touchstone to a life full of love.

We are more in love with our work than we were nine years ago, and so grateful to y’all for being a part of it. Thank you, friends, for cheering us on and spreading our mission alongside us. You truly are the best.

To say thank you, we’re hosting some fun birthday festivities this week! First, did you hear about our cupcake decorating contest? There’s still time to get in on the fun! And don’t forget to download and print your Southern Weddings birthday hat template if you need a little help getting into the spirit! We’re wearing ours in the office today.

Second, we’ve teamed up with our friends at Shop Sweet Lulu to offer a birthday prize pack to one lucky reader! Enter below to win a Joyful Wedding Planner, a Memories of Us journal, a box of Funfetti cake mix, a Liberty cupcake kit, pretty floral plates, birthday cake caramels, an assortment of balloons in SW-approved colors, gold glitter candles, custom felt confetti, darling favor bags, and the sweetest happy birthday garland. Whew!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Finally, as a thank you to ALL y’all, we’re offering free shipping on everything in the Southern Weddings Shop from today through April 10 with code HAPPYBIRTHDAY. Maybe it’s the perfect time to pick up a Joyful Wedding Planner, a gorgeous guest book, or a ceremonial marriage certificate? I don’t know about y’all, but I prefer free shipping codes to almost any other kind of discount, so enjoy! :)

There’s lots more fun to be had on Instagram this week, so come on over and join us there! And here’s to nine more happy years!!

P.S. I was looking back through (really!) old posts for a certain photo, and came across this from Lara, written in 2009. It still rings true today! “I think the magic of Southern Weddings is the community that has formed around it. It’s not about weddings, it’s about inspiring and connecting with each other. I am so humbled by the love and overjoyed to see how people are supporting each other… not just us.”

emily Written with love by Emily
95 Comments
  1. avatar Bri A reply

    Nine years?! Goodness! Happy birthday to SW and the whole team! Celebrate with a big glass of sweet tea.

    Thank you for everything all of y’all do for SW and CWM!

  2. avatar Laura reply

    “I Got You” by James Brown!

  3. avatar Savannah reply

    Love this magazine!! Provides a lot of interesting and helpful insight!

  4. avatar Monique reply

    What an amazing way to celebrate SW’s Birthday!! My sweet husband and I’s first dance as husband and wife was to “Only One” by Yellowcard.

  5. avatar Kate reply

    Happy birthday! My birthday is Friday! It would be so super sweet to win this giveaway!!

  6. avatar Kate reply

    Oh and our first dance song was “Angel” by Jack Johnson.

  7. avatar Katherine reply

    I’m getting married June 24th and our first dance is going to be Unforgettable by Nat King Cole :)

  8. avatar Emily reply

    Happy Birthday Southern Weddings!!! So grateful for your love of meaningful relationships and beautiful marriages. Here’s to many more birthdays! Cheers!

  9. avatar Abby Rae Cohen reply

    My blog post comment assignment to receive another entry in the giveaway was, “Tell us what your first dance song will be or was.” Seems like the heavens opened up and shined down upon me for this one, as I just so happen to have a running list in the notes section of my phone for possible weddings songs! Haha! My first dance song will either be Have I Told You Lately That I Love You by Rod Stewart (I have strong memories of my grandfather crying and dancing to this song at my cousins wedding when I was very little) or My Girl by The Temptations, because one day my boyfriend and I were driving and it came on and he said “I’m going to marry you and we will dance to this song,” SO how could that not make me just melt? So many good choices! Thanks for the giveaway opportunity, and here’s to nine more years. XOXO.

  10. avatar Emily reply

    For the Birthday Prize Pack, I’m still single so I don’t have a first dance song yet but I’ll be watching the comments for a good one ;-)

  11. avatar Kirsten Barber reply

    Happy Birthday to all the “Southern Weddings” ladies! I’ve so enjoyed reading the magazine over the years and seeing the joy and love shared on every page. Thank you for all the inspiration you’ve sent out over the years. Looking forward to this year’s issue.

  12. avatar Alison reply

    Then by Brad Paisley

  13. avatar Meredith Peterman reply

    Happy Birthday Southern Weddings!!!

  14. avatar Jillian Chamberlain reply

    Happy Birthday! My fiancé and I get married next June, so we don’t have a song picked outyet! However, we both turn 30 in two weeks! How fun, all of these milestones in this season!

  15. avatar Kelly reply

    Happy Birthday!

  16. avatar Jessica Green reply

    My fiancé’s and my first dance song will be From the Ground Up by Dan and Shay!

  17. avatar Robin reply

    Celebrate Good Times

  18. avatar Alejandra Castillo reply

    Our first dance was a very fun one. THIS GIRL by THE KUNGS! Seriously so much fun!!!

  19. avatar Abi Proctor reply

    co covered by John Mayer!

  20. avatar Alejandra reply

    Our first dance was THIS GIRL by THE KUNGS!!! It has the perfect melody to dance slowly and do quick fun spins, it was the best!!

  21. avatar Andrea F reply

    Our first dance song was “I Get to Love You” by Ruelle :)

  22. avatar Summer reply

    Happy birthday SW!

  23. avatar Mary Beth reply

    Our first dance song was Dead Sea by the Lumineers! Not only do we love the band, but during our marriage counseling our pastor said one of us would be the Dead Sea and one of us would be the babbling brook when it came to expressing feelings, and I turned to my then fiance and said “see – I told you that you were my dead sea.” It was meant to be!

  24. avatar Nicole W reply

    I just LOVE this site & all of the great content you share. As someone who previously worked in the world of blogging & content marketing with some of the biggest brands out there, I know you guys are one of a kind and are sharing something special.

  25. avatar Sydney reply

    Our first dance song will be How Sweet It Is by James Taylor!

    • avatar Anne Courtney reply

      Another James Taylor over here! We are doing Whenever I see your smiling face (:

  26. avatar Gladys reply

    “The Way You Look Tonight” :)

  27. avatar Sara reply

    Our first dance song was to Keith Urban’s “Making Memories of Us.”

  28. avatar Suzanna reply

    All of the Stars by Ed Sheeran

  29. avatar Janna reply

    Not engaged…yet… :) but Yours by Russell Dickerson is our song! :)

  30. avatar Megan reply

    Perfect – Ed Sheeran

  31. avatar Hope reply

    Happy happy birthday, Southern Weddings! Thank you for sharing your wonderful content with us for NINE YEARS! I’m so excited to see what is to come in the next wonderful years.

    Our first dance as a married couple was to “Drops of Jupiter,” by Train. “Drops of Jupiter” was the theme of our tenth grade homecoming dance – our first date! We came full circle at our wedding, but still had the same butterflies as when we danced to it as 15-year-olds. :)

  32. avatar Elisa Bricker reply

    Happy birthday! So happy to see all that you’ve done during that time!

  33. avatar Whitney Goetz reply

    Our first dance was to “Nothing Fancy” by Dave Barnes. Almost 5 years later, still adore that song. :)

  34. avatar Meredith reply

    “Perfect” by Ed Sheehan

  35. avatar Carly Griesel reply

    Our first dance song will be You’ll Always Be My Girl by Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors.

  36. avatar Macy reply

    Our first dance song will be “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Haley Reinhart

  37. avatar Karen reply

    My first song will be ” Give It All We Got Tonight” By George Strait!!

  38. avatar Laura reply

    Happy birthday, Southern Weddings!!

  39. avatar Laura reply

    Our first dance song was “Wagon Wheel” by Old Crow Medicine Show :)

  40. avatar kathryn j reply

    Our first dance song was John Legend’s “All of You”

  41. avatar Jenna Keene reply

    The song “I get to love you” by Ruelle is at the top of my list for my first dance song one day! (:

  42. avatar Randall Huwe reply

    Our first dance will be to Neville’s Waltz by Patrick Doyle! Now we just need to learn how to waltz before the big day…
    Love you blog!

  43. avatar marcie LENICK reply

    Gosh, it was 27 yrs ago and I don’t remember what it was called but think it was by Peabo Price (sp???) LOLOLOL

  44. avatar Krystal reply

    As a wedding planner, MTH alumni and lover of all things southern, I look forward to each issue of SW to inspire me even more. Happy Birthday!

  45. avatar Linda reply

    Amazed by Lonestar – that was a really long time ago – now time to pick my daughter’s first dance song :)

  46. avatar Courtney White reply

    Happy Birthday! Our first dance song was “Die A Happy Man” by Thomas Rhett!

  47. avatar Kate reply

    Yay Southern Weddings! Our first dance song was “You’re Beautiful” by Phil Wickham.

  48. avatar Madison reply

    Our first dance song will be Perfect Storm by Brad Paisley most likely. It’s still up for debate ;)

  49. avatar Shawn A. reply

    Still The One by Orleans

  50. avatar Brittney reply

    “Hey Ho” by the Lumineers

  51. avatar Kathleen reply

    Haven’t decided on a first dance song.

  52. avatar Sarah reply

    Happiest of Birthdays to you!! First dance song will be Moon River. Xox

  53. avatar Jackie reply

    Happy birthday! Definitely used that free shipping code to pick up a few missed magazine issues :D

  54. avatar Christie reply

    Lost In This Moment by Big & Rich <3

  55. avatar Shelby reply

    Happy birthday, SW!

    Our first dance song was “Forever Like That” by Ben Rector!

  56. avatar Mandy reply

    Our first dance song was “So Close” from the Disney movie Enchanted :)

  57. avatar Kallie reply

    Happy Birthday!! As for my song choice, I haven’t decided for sure, but I think “Call On Me” by Janis Joplin is a definite top contender!

  58. avatar Laura reply

    Happy birthday! I became a SW reader before my wedding 6(!) years ago and have loved seeing how it has grown and evolved since then! Our first dance was to Hold On by Michael Buble. Such a wonderful song and we loved that it isn’t used often- it’s just ours!

  59. avatar Sami K reply

    yay! Love this! My first dance song is Made for You :)

  60. avatar Alex reply

    Such a funnel giveaway! Congrats y’all! Absolutely love the happiness you share through these platforms! Xoxo

  61. avatar Jessica Holt reply

    Out of all the beautifully written songs in the world, the one that would most describe my future marriage is At Last by Etta James. I will be 25 this year and have yet to have a boyfriend. I am holding steadfast to meet the man of my dreams that meets every standard I have and beyond!

  62. avatar Courtney reply

    My first dance song choice is by Van Morrison- “Someone Like You”

  63. avatar Kayla reply

    Congrats on 9 years!!!

  64. avatar Michelle reply

    My wedding song was John Legend All of You.

  65. avatar Laura reply

    We never had a first dance, so no song here! :)

  66. avatar Elise reply

    My fiance and I haven’t yet decided… we are still six months out! We’re torn between a slower, traditional and popular song (we’ll hear it all the time!) or something unique and special just to us (more playful)… I’ll be scrolling through the comments for ideas! :)

  67. avatar Lynn Scott reply

    This is the cutest gift ever, Happy 9 Year Anniversary. Our first dance 23 years ago was “I Swear” by John Michael Montgomery??

  68. avatar Ashlie Muller reply

    Happy 9th Birthday, Southern Weddings!!

  69. avatar Megan reply

    Still very single but always had a soft spot for old Big Band favorites…Beyond the Sea, For Once in my Life…

  70. avatar Karen reply

    Not married yet, but we love the song Better Together by Jack Johnson, so it’d probably be that one!

  71. avatar Kristen reply

    Happy Birthday SW!!

  72. avatar Leigh Ann Miller reply

    I just got engaged yesterday! Our first dance will be ” close your eyes” by Michael Buble

  73. avatar Leigh Ann Miller reply

    Close your eyes by Michael Buble!!
    I just got engaged yesterday!

  74. avatar Morgan C reply

    We are going to dance to “and I love her” by the Beatles!

  75. avatar Carlee Campbell reply

    My Love :) so excited for our big day in 2 months!! Congrats to SW!

  76. avatar Sandra reply

    Wow, that sounds great. I’d love to win.

  77. avatar Emily reply

    Our first dance was “God Gave Me You” by Blake Shelton. Then we were able to meet him 6 months later!

  78. avatar Sarah Scott reply

    My first song would be At Last – Single Version. Etta James :)

  79. avatar Michele D. reply

    I honestly still don’t know what song to do. We still need to figure it out.

  80. avatar Julia harkins reply

    We didn’t have dancing at our wedding but we would have danced to at last-the Norah jones version!!

  81. avatar Mary Zelli reply

    We’re not having a band or dance so it can be whatever pops into our heads at the time…..

  82. avatar Shine Bridal reply

    Congratulations!

  83. avatar Anna Smith reply

    Not sure yet! Maybe “hey ho” by the lumineers cause that’s our song!

  84. avatar Lauren Powell reply

    Love this!!! Happy Birthday Southern Weddings!!!!

  85. avatar Kristen reply

    Happy birthday! Not sure on a first song yet but some ideas are Stand By Me, Kiss me by Ed Sheeran, and Die a Happy Man by Thomas Rhett :)

  86. avatar Sarah reply

    Love this! Happy birthday, SW!

    Andrew Peterson’s “Dancing in the Minefields” is my song, as is “One Safe Place”.

  87. avatar Rachel reply

    “Blank Space” cover by Ryan Adams. Not your traditional first dance song, but it’s one of the first songs we danced to (the Taylor Swift version).

  88. avatar Alexis reply

    Our first dance song was “I do cherish you” by mark wills! ❤

  89. avatar Caroline reply

    My first dance song will definitely be At Last by Etta James

  90. avatar Madeline reply

    “A Place Only You Can Go” by Needtobreathe or “Take the World by Johnny Swim

  91. avatar Emma reply

    Right now, I would like for my first dance song to be “How Would You Feel” by Ed Sheeran. I feel that by the time I get married, in more than 5 years, I think, it’ll be an older song from my generation, therefore worthy of being a wedding song.

  92. avatar Samantha reply

    Not engaged or married yet buuut my first dance song will be an Ed Sheeran song or something by Frank Sinatra!

  93. avatar Lorelai reply

    What an amazing success story y’all are!
    Our song is Fly Me to the Moon :)

  94. avatar Cassidy C reply

    Band of Horses – no one’s gonna love you

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Our friends from Steel Magnolias claim “the bigger the hair, the closer to God“. I’m not sure there’s a better way put this to the test than with our final 2016 holiday giveaway: six months of blow-outs! The team at The Drybar doesn’t mess around when it comes to TLC for your locks (I can personally vouch for their Southern Comfort style option – even Dolly would be impressed). The best part: with a little care, your blow-out can last for days, leaving you with piles of extra time to cross off a few more wedding planning to-dos, or scoot out on a date night with your favorite fella!

The entire office is disappointed we can’t enter this ultimate Drybar experience. If you feel the same way, and aren’t the lucky one who walks away with half a year of fabulous hair, might I recommend adding a gift card to your last minute Christmas wish-list? ;)

Win: Six months of Dry Bar blow-outs

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hurry! One winner will be drawn on December 19!

kristin Written with love by Kristin
47 Comments
  1. avatar Hope reply

    I have heard so many great things about Drybar and blow dry bars in general! The Cosmo would be perfect for upcoming wedding seasons!

  2. avatar Leah H. reply

    Southern Comfort for sure! I love big hair!

  3. avatar Kathleen reply

    I think I’d have to go for the Cosmo-Tai; fun and sophisticated! xo

  4. avatar Anna reply

    What a great give away! A good hairdryer is something every southern girl needs!

  5. avatar Jessica reply

    I have never been to the dry bar and I would love to go!

  6. avatar Daryl reply

    I loveeee the Drybar! Have an appointment for New Year’s Eve already! Such a fun place and such a fun giveaway!

  7. avatar Gentry reply

    I had my first drybar experience 2 months ago and go the Cosmo-Tini… my hair has never looked better! Crossing my fingers for this one! :)

  8. avatar Allison reply

    I love drybar!!

  9. avatar Meredith reply

    Have ALWAYS wanted to try a blow out :)

  10. avatar Stacey reply

    I would love to add a braid to the “Straight Up” style! :)

  11. avatar Elyse G. reply

    The dirty martini is my go to! *fingers crossed*

  12. avatar Taylor Rae reply

    Trying Drybar for the first time next week and think I’m going to go try the Cosmo-Tai!

  13. avatar BarbaraMae reply

    I’ve never had a blow out, but I’d love to try The Cosmo, maybe with a braid!

  14. avatar Sarah Milam reply

    What a wonderful giveaway, I would love to win!!

  15. avatar Ellen reply

    I love a good blow out!

  16. avatar Bayleigh Frerich reply

    Who doesn’t want Dolly inspired hair?! I’d love to try out Drybar!!

  17. avatar Anna reply

    Southern comfort!

  18. avatar Alexandra Patterson reply

    Southern comfort, definitely!

  19. avatar Casey reply

    The Mai Tai! :)

  20. avatar Lindy reply

    I like the Cosmo-tai with a side of two Shirley Temples for my mini-mes!!! (One who really is the spitting image of Shirley Temple!)

  21. avatar Emily reply

    Dry Bar is the best! I always feel so glamorous when they do my hair.

  22. avatar Nichole reply

    I like the Dirty Martini!

  23. avatar Kate R. reply

    I love the cosmo- so fun!

  24. avatar Julie reply

    The Mai Tai!

  25. avatar Dana reply

    Never been, but the SW girls always look soooo good afterwards, so whatever style they’re given y’all is my favorite :)

  26. avatar Angela McBride reply

    Never been but always wanted to go!

  27. avatar Christina reply

    I love a blend of Southern Comfort and Cosmo! Talk about amazing volume!

  28. avatar Christian Melvin reply

    I don’t see how you can go wrong with the Southern Comfort!

  29. avatar Chanel reply

    Omg – Southern Comfort set is the best!!!! ?

  30. avatar Morgan M reply

    My favorite Drybar style would also be Southern Comfort!

  31. avatar Val Bach reply

    I’ve never been to drybar, but I checked out their website and the southern comfort and cosmo-tai look perfect!

  32. avatar Jessica Bishop reply

    I’m obsessed with DryBar! I love the Mai Tai ;)

  33. avatar jenna reply

    I LOVE Drybar!! My favorite style is the cosmo-tai!

  34. avatar Diana reply

    I love DryBar great giveaway!

  35. avatar Katie reply

    Blow outs at day bar are so indulgent! I would love to win this one!

  36. avatar Kate reply

    I love the Cosmo!

  37. avatar Liz reply

    This would be a DREAM to win! I just got engaged three weeks ago to the love of my life and have plenty of wedding festivities coming up that this would be absolutely perfect for!

  38. avatar Hannah Anderson reply

    Entered the giveaway! Thanks so much :)

  39. avatar Hannah Anderson reply

    I love bitty toddy!

  40. avatar Hannah reply

    I would love to try several of their styles, but the Cosmo would be my first choice!

  41. avatar Kelsey reply

    Favorite style is definitely the Mai Tai!! Would LOVE to win this incredible giveaway!!

  42. avatar Melanie reply

    I like the Mai tai!

  43. avatar Jessica McElroy reply

    I love Dry Bar! I’m planning to take all my bridesmaids there in savannah to paper them before the rehearsal for our wedding!

  44. avatar nikki reply

    I love the triple sec spray! My go to!

  45. avatar Lorelai reply

    I’ve never given Drybar a visit–afraid I’d get addicted! I would love to try the Southern Comfort or Cosmo.

  46. avatar Mary reply

    This would be the ultimate gift for me :)

  47. avatar Ashley Moody reply

    What an amazing prize!! xoxo

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!

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