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Like Madelynne, Kelly is a super longtime Southern Weddings fan, which makes me even more excited to welcome her as June’s Southern Bride of the Month! I adore her pink and green wedding plans, budget-savvy tips, and infectious enthusiasm for all things wedding, and think y’all will, too. Take it away, Kelly!

Hi! What’s your name?
Kelly Lynne Stack

What’s your fiancé’s name?
Andrew Franklin Dellinger

Brett Price

Are either of you on Twitter, or do you have a blog?
I have a blog, Hello Seester! I also have a Twitter account.

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story.
A mutual friend introduced us to one another the day before classes started our freshman year of college at Belmont. We immediately hit it off, he asked me to go for a walk that evening (which resulted in me missing the first mandatory RA meeting on my dormitory floor!), and we’ve been college sweethearts ever since!

Now tell us alllll about the proposal.
A couple of years into dating, Drew and I decided we were in it for the long haul. From that point forward, he kept promising me, “We’ll get engaged the fall of 2011.” May rolled around and we went ring shopping for the first time. As soon as August 21st (our fourth dating anniversary) rolled around, I was waiting for it. I kept getting so discouraged every time I went out with Drew, because I expected it at every turn. By the time October was over, I was convinced it would never happen.

When he asked me to go on a dress-up date on a Thursday mid-November, I was suspicious, but cautious. Drew stopped by my office midday to get something out of my car, and I slyly had my coworker ask him if he was going to propose (little did I know, she was already in on the surprise!). After he left, I drilled her, and she told me he still hadn’t asked my father for permission. I was so upset! I totally believed her, so for the rest of the night I was completely off-guard. He made the sweetest video slideshow for me chronicling our entire dating relationship and showed it to me after I had gotten dressed up for our date (in the first dress I wore on a formal date with him freshman year). It wasn’t until the second-to-last slide, which read “Drew and Kelly went to their friends’ weddings and always dreamed of having their own…” when I finally started to realize what was happening. The last slide was his proposal. I caught him in my peripheral vision getting down on one knee and my mouth fell open. I was in shock for a good five minutes, and then I laughed, screamed, and sobbed with glee. Then he told me he’d videotaped the whole thing! We have an entire hidden-camera video of me waltzing in, bragging about my hairstyling abilities, and genuinely responding to his sweetness. I couldn’t have asked for a better proposal – especially since he got me SO good! You can check out our video here.

Brett Price

When’s the big day?
Saturday, July 21st, 2012

Where might you two be tying the knot?
A little barn in my hometown of Pleasant View, Tennessee, called The Livery Stables.

How did you pick your ceremony and reception venues? What do you love most about each space?
Guest retention and convenience were important to me, so we picked a place where we could do both the ceremony and reception (without losing people in-between). What really sold us was the “feel” of the venue, too; one of my most favorite Nashville locations is Belle Meade Plantation, and The Livery Stables reminded me of Belle Meade’s Carriage House with its barn doors, wooden pillars, and equestrian theme. It’s cozy, homey, and not in the slightest stuffy. The second Drew and I walked in over Thanksgiving weekend, we knew it was “the one.” Not to mention – it’s completely air-conditioned! No sweating at the wedding for this July bride!

The beautiful pink and green inspiration board that Kelly put together!

Were you totally that girl who planned her wedding from age 5, or not so much?
Oh, absolutely. One of the first questions I ask people I’m getting to know is “How do you envision your future wedding?” (or “What was your wedding like?” if they’re already married!). Needless to say, no one was surprised when I decided to go the wedding planner career path :) I’ve always considered what my colors will be, what silhouette I’ll wear, what details I’ll want to incorporate. I used to bookmark every wedding I liked in my “Favorites” folder, or link to them on my Facebook – you can only imagine how delightful it was to discover Pinterest last year!!!

Who or what has been most inspiring in the wedding planning process?
Pinterest has been the best way for me to organize my ideas, but wedding blogs and magazines (ESPECIALLY Southern Weddings) have been a wealth of inspiration throughout everything. It’s also been lovely working weddings, because you see so many fabulous concepts and how they play out in real life!

Kelly loves this raspberry limeade for a pink signature drink (photo by Karen Mordechai from Sunday Suppers)

Who or what has been most helpful in the wedding planning process?
My event designer (also affectionately known as my Wedding Fairy Godmother – every bride needs one!!!), Hillary Yeager, has been my saving grace since day one. (She even knew I was getting engaged before I did!) I’ve worked with her on multiple events and projects throughout my 2+ years at StudioWed and A Delightful Day. When we got engaged and were faced with a real-world budget (to reconcile with my fantasy-world wedding dreams), Hillary so graciously offered to let me work off my wedding flowers by helping her around her floral studio, Brocade Designs. Since then, her role has morphed into my paper goods designer, décor sourcer, sounding board, personal inspirer, and now even dessert bar-creator! She’s helped me with everything from picking out the perfect linens to booking a gourmet coffee caterer (after we made the last-minute decision to scrap a full meal in favor of a coffee-and-desserts reception!), researching scrumptious pie recipes, and designing the most stunningly gorgeous invitation suite I could dream of. Not to mention, I consider her a dear friend and adore her company!

Another gorgeous invitation suite Kelly loves, this one by Hardink Calligraphy

Has your vision for your wedding changed or evolved over the course of your engagement? If so, how?
Completely! As I mentioned before, I was one of those girls who had her ENTIRE wedding planned out before she even tried on an engagement ring. The issue with dreaming out every single detail (down to the pale yellow seersucker napkins) was that I was giving myself nowhere to be flexible. Turns out, our dream date (September 29th) conflicted with Drew starting a new job at a CPA firm in late August. Our dream venue was completely out-of-budget when we realized how much their in-house catering would cost (especially since catering was/is NOT a top priority). Even our colors (buttercream yellow and dark chocolate brown) would’ve been completely washed out in our neutral-toned wedding barn. I gave myself a little time to mourn my wedding dreams, but then gave myself liberty to create new ones (with my future husband’s input – so important!).

A new color scheme means beautiful pink blooms and fun gold stirrers! (Photo on left by Jessica Lorren via Style Me Pretty; photo on right by Beaux Arts Photographie via Santa Barbara Chic)

Which part of your wedding are you most invested in?
I think the one thing that has stayed consistently consistent throughout planning has been my value in the documentation of our day. I anguished over finding the perfect photographer (there are so many fantastic ones out there!) for WEEKS after we got engaged. One of the biggest blessings and curses of working in the wedding industry is your awareness of all the talented vendors out there. I definitely put the most pressure on myself to find the right photographer and videographer to perfectly depict our day. I’m huge on documenting moments in life – I was always the annoying preteen sporting my loud blue camcorder wherever I went, and my favorite college class was Creative Non-Fiction (in which we wrote our own memoirs). I want to be able to relive every moment from our wedding day and show it to our grandchildren. We are so thrilled to be working with Kristine Neeley Photography and McNeal Wedding Films – not only are they “friendors,” they’re immensely talented, and I know they’ll portray our day in a way that genuinely depicts Drew’s and my relationship and excitement at spending the rest of our life together!!

Monogrammed bouquet wraps that Kelly loves (photo by Kate Headley via Southern Weddings)

Have you picked your dress yet? How’d that go? What will you be wearing on the big day?
Choosing my wedding dress was the very first thing I did after getting engaged! I had PRAYED that Drew would propose in time for me to attend The Bride Room’s Third Annual Super Sale (a fantastic sample sale held once a year at the most lovely Nashville bridal boutique!). I knew it would likely be my only chance to get a designer dress. Fortunately, Drew popped the question 10 days before the sale. I had enough time to peruse their dresses on a normal day (per their suggestion), see what else was out there in other stores (nothing could compare!), and go to the sale! I was the first bride to find her dream dress that day – it was so meant to be!

Who is your favorite vendor you’ve booked so far?
Oh my goodness, I couldn’t pick a favorite! We have been so blessed to work exclusively with “friendors” (friend-vendors!) on our big day – how incredible is it to have a personal relationship with each and every person contributing to the most important party of your life! However, I will say I am perhaps the most excited about our wedding cake. I am a complete and utter cake snob, so I have meticulously tasted each and every slice of wedding cake I’ve come in contact with over the past few years. When it came to deciding who would make our wedding cake, there was literally NO QUESTION that Juanita Lane of Dulce Desserts would be our baker. Her cakes are made from the highest quality ingredients, gorgeously constructed, and her buttercream is TO. DIE. FOR. To give you a little taste of our wedding cake, here are the flavors (you’re going to die): chocolate chip cake with coffee buttercream, European butter cake with raspberry buttercream and lemon curd, and pistachio cake with pistachio buttercream and a thin layer of chocolate truffle ganache. TELL me you’re not drooling right this minute!!

Some of Kelly’s dessert inspiration! (Photo on left by Katie Lewis via Style Me Pretty, and photo on right from Martha Stewart Weddings

What do you love most about Southern weddings?
Drew and I are both born and raised in the South. I grew up watching Gone with the Wind and hand-churning peach ice cream on my grandparents’ back porch. Southern weddings aren’t a far cry from Southern living on a daily basis: it’s all about hospitality, family, tradition, and having a good time. It is our ultimate goal to throw the best party of our lives (thus far) as we celebrate joining our lives together permanently. We’ve invited family and friends from all walks of life, made it a point to pay homage to our upbringings and the generations that came before us in as many ways as we can, and we anticipate dancing ALL NIGHT LONG.

Tell us about the one that got away. Is there one dream thing or vendor you wish you could have fit into your budget?
The first time I went dress-shopping I fell madly in love with Monique Lhuillier’s pink “Candy” gown. While I did strongly consider eloping or having a very small brunch wedding to accommodate the dress (and eventually used it for inspiration when I changed my color scheme), I decided it wasn’t the wisest move for me to toss out everything JUST for the dress. I am one zillion percent happy with the wedding dress that ended up being “The One,” but if I could have fit it in the budget, I’d LOVE to wear Candy as a getaway gown!

The pink dress of Kelly’s dreams, and another dream-worthy bouquet (photo by Ryan Ray via Wedding Chicks!)

What do you wish you would have known at the beginning of your engagement?
That it would, indeed, be possible for us to have the wedding of our dreams without eloping or having to seriously compromise anything that was TRULY important to us. I was so stressed out the first month dealing with a budget, vendors with booked-up dates, and the uncertainty of it all — I should have known it would work out, all in God’s great timing! Oh, and one last thing – it’s totally NOT worth it to get your teeth professionally laser-whitened. Doing that has been the most physically painful experience of my entire life. Brides – take heed! If you’re going to go to the extremes for white teeth, do it EARLIER than the day (or week!) before the wedding! It would be awful to grimace in all those pretty photos!

What are you most looking forward to on your wedding day?
I am looking forward to SO many moments on our wedding day. I CANNOT wait to peek around the corner of the barn on my family’s property to do my First Look with Drew. I can’t wait to sob through my wedding vows (it’s inevitable). I can’t wait to see ALL our friends and family all united in one place, for one occasion — that’s once in a lifetime. I’m also pretty thrilled to be announced into our reception as Mrs. Andrew Dellinger!!!!

More lovely pink and green details that are inspiring Kelly (signature drink from A Cup of Mai!)

Any advice you’d like to pass along to fellow brides?
Prioritize, prioritize, prioritize! Don’t be afraid to adapt your priorities after you initially set them, but keep your eye on what’s actually important. You don’t have to follow the cookie-cutter mold for everything. It’s YOUR wedding. Make it your own!

Now it’s your turn to ask for advice – is there anything you’d like to poll the SW readers on?
How do you keep yourself present at every moment of the wedding day? I’ve gotten to this point between showers and bridal portraits and all of these exciting events that have been planned for months where everything feels surreal and flies by because I can’t believe it’s actually happening. I don’t want to miss a second of the wedding because I’m so busy thinking, “What is going ON?!” How do you shut your brain off and simply be the bride?!

Thank you so much for playing along, Kelly! For more from Miss Kelly, be sure to check out her astounding collection of 124 Pinterest boards right here! 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!

emily Written with love by Emily
12 Comments
  1. avatar Brittany W. reply

    Eeeeeeek! SO happy to see Kelly chosen as the Southern Bride of the Month! Kelly was my “wedding fairy godmother” back in April and helped to pull together all of the vendors we hired. She truly was one of the BEST investments we made for our wedding. The peace of mind she gave me as a bride was truly invaluable. We could not have done it without her!

    Kelly, my advice to you regarding being “present” on your day: PRAY about it. I know you are prone to worry about ALL of the little details (it’s really how you’re wired…a blessing as a planner but a curse if you’re the bride on her wedding day!). I prayed and prayed that God would give me a calm heart and the ability to step back and see the bigger picture of the day. I can honestly say that the only time I was anxious about ANYTHING was when my dad and I started our processional–and that’s only because I was terrified of tripping in those 4″ Badgley Mischkas! :)

    You have done the homework and, by the time July rolls around, all of your punch-lists and to-dos will be crossed off.
    Just remember that, at the end of the day, you WILL be Mrs. Andrew Dellinger and nothing else matters. I told myself repeatedly on my wedding day, “well, if it hasn’t been done already, it’s okay…I will still be Mrs. Douglas Werth today!” If you can keep that at the forefront of your mind, I think it will help keep it all in perspective.

    Oh, and also…take deep breaths. Snap mental pictures. Literally remind yourself mentally throughout the day, “this is a moment I want to remember forever!” You’ll be surprised at how much you will remember of the day! So excited for you and Drew…it will be a perfect day!

    • avatar Kelly reply

      Brittany W.: Ahhh, thank you for your sweet words!!!! I will definitely keep all of that in mind on our day!!!!!

  2. avatar My Love Wedding Ring reply

    What a lovely post, and what a beautiful eye, loving the pink! And Kelly sounds like she is so in love and is taking such care and attention in making sure the day is beautiful for everyone. I hope it is a fabulous day :)

  3. avatar Melissa Vause reply

    The proposal video brought me to tears!! So sweet, and so thoughtful of him :-) And her pinterest page is amazing! It’s HUGE!

    • avatar Kelly reply

      Melissa Vause: Awww! Thank you — he just went above and beyond my wildest dreams! He’s just perfect, haha. And THANKS!!!! Pinterest is totally my guilty pleasure — can’t get enough!!! :)

  4. avatar Portrait painting reply

    Kelly really deserves to be the bride of the month! These photos showed how it will be an exciting day for the bride and groom! They surely be sharing wonderful thoughts about their wedding! Congratulations Kelly and best wishes to you and to your groom!

  5. avatar Wedding Invitations reply

    Great post. Love all the inspiration photos. Here’s to a beautiful wedding :)

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  10. avatar Invitations Perth reply

    Blogs and video blogs played a huge part in my wedding planning. Brides-to-bes would get a lot of inspirations and tips from real brides online.

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Hi, friends! I am so happy to introduce our September Southern Bride of the Month, because she’s a regular around these parts! (In fact, her Ask the Experts question was featured here, and I know it’s helped many people since!) I hope you enjoy getting to know Lori and her fiance Sean even better — I know I did!

Hi! What’s your name?
Lori Caroline Moot (Soon to be Buck!)

What’s your fiancé’s name?
Christopher Sean Buck (He goes by Sean)

Are either of you on Twitter, or do you have a blog?
I do have a blog, which I started shortly before Sean and I were engaged. It has served as a great way to stay connected with far-away friends as well as share the adventures of wedding planning!

Photo by Summer Safrit of Real Promises Photography

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story.
Almost exactly two years ago, I was with one of my best friends and a couple other girls at a local outdoor concert. While we were awaiting the start of the main band, I noticed a group of guys standing nearby. One in particular, wearing jeans, boots, and a green button down shirt (which I learned later was termed a “fishing shirt”) caught my attention. I thought little of it, and returned my focus to our group of girls.

As the evening went on, my friend and I noticed the same group of guys making their way closer and closer to our group of girls. Before we knew it, they were standing beside us, striking up conversation. Sean (the one in the “fishing shirt”), immediately introduced himself, and we began talking. He was handsome, polite, and as Southern as they come! We talked on and off throughout the concert and discovered we had a lot in common. At the end of the night, he asked if he could call me, and I gave him my number, simply thinking it would be nice to get to know more people in Nashville.

Well, he called me the next week and invited me to attend a local charity event with him. I already had plans to go out of town and declined, thanking him for the invitation. The next week, he called and asked if he could take me to dinner. I cannot remember exactly why, but I again had to decline. I assured him I really would like to get together at some point, but was just busy with school and other commitments. Thankfully he was persistent, and asked a third time. We finally went on our first date almost three weeks after Sean asked originally. We continued to go on dates and knew pretty quickly we had something special. I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with my fishing shirt and boots-wearing boy!

Lori’s engagement ring! Photo by Summer Safrit

Now tell us alllll about the proposal.
It was perfect! Last year, near the beginning of October, Sean surprised me with a trip to Chicago for my birthday. Everyone (except me) was certain he was going to propose on the trip. We had been talking about marriage for several months, and had already looked at rings together. My only stipulation: I wanted to be surprised with the proposal. And I am impossible to surprise. Like sneak-peeks-at-my-Christmas-presents-at–the-age-of-26 hard to surprise. (True story. Sean, if you’re reading this, I advise you to never use gift bags to wrap for me again!) I always figure surprises out before they happen… or at least have a pretty good idea. Chicago, in my mind, was too obvious.

Fast-forward to a few weeks later (October 28, to be exact!) to a seemingly typical Thursday night. He asked me at the beginning of the week if I had plans on Thursday, and, if not, said he wanted to reserve the evening and cook dinner. I told him I had a few errands to run but would love to do dinner afterward. On Thursday, I called Sean as I finished up errands, and he said he was on his way home from the grocery store. As I knew he had tons of food in his refrigerator already, I was a little confused, and gave him a bit of a hard time about wasting perfectly good food (A little embarrassing to admit now, but hey, you asked to know alllll about it!). He told me to relax and not worry about it, and to hurry to his house. He also mentioned he needed to run to Green Hills to pick up something, but was very vague. Like I said, I always figure out surprises. My wheels started turning, and I immediately knew I had figured out “the surprise” for the evening: I had been talking about my favorite flavor of cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory since our trip to Chicago! I drove to Sean’s house in hopes I was correct… but I had NO idea a ring would be on my left hand a few hours later!

I finally arrived at Sean’s and headed inside. He had the table set with wine and a salad. At this point, I was still unsuspecting, as he often made dinner for me or had wine waiting when I came over. He instructed me (a little bossily!) to sit down and have a glass of wine while he finished dinner, but refused to tell me what he was cooking. We had salads, and as I was taking my last bite, he cleared my plate and immediately brought out dinner: shrimp and grits – one of my favorites! I began to eat and could not have been more than two bites in when he said, “Make sure to save room for dessert.” A few bites later he again mentioned dessert and saving room. I laughed, and questioned whether I was eating faster than normal. Again, no sooner than I put my fork down and mentioned I was finished, he whisked away my plate. I suggested we have a glass of wine and wait for dessert. He was very insistent we immediately move to dessert (at this point I was 99.99% sure my hunch was correct about the cheesecake). He sent me to the couch with a glass of wine, and after a minute or two, instructed me to close my eyes and not peek. When he gave me permission to open them, he was down on one knee with cheesecake… AND a gorgeous ring (which I actually didn’t see for about ten minutes because I was so excited and crying uncontrollably)! He asked me to share my life with him forever and to marry him. I said yes and we spent the next few minutes eating cheesecake together and calling family and friends to share the big news.

Tell us about the ring!
I have my grandmother’s original engagement ring, and often wear it on my right hand. It is such a special piece of jewelry to me, as she and my grandfather just celebrated their 63nd wedding anniversary. When Sean and I went to look at rings, I took hers with me as a guide for the shape I wanted. My ring will always make me think of her.

When’s the big day?
October 15, 2011… It’s almost here!

The Belle Meade Plantation (photo by Betsy Butler)

Where might you two be tying the knot?
Our ceremony and reception will both be held at Belle Meade Plantation in Nashville, Tennessee. We are getting married in the garden and celebrating afterward in the carriage house.

How did you pick your ceremony and reception venues? What do you love most about each space?
Belle Meade Plantation was actually the first placed we looked. Sean had attended several charity events and weddings there previously, and recommended I take a look. We really wanted to find a location at which we could hold both the ceremony and reception. It was love at first sight! It is the epitome of Southern, and everything we wanted in a venue.

Unfortunately, they were booked until the next November when I initially went to tour. Sean and I had agreed we really wanted a fall wedding, and neither of us were willing to wait another year. We continued looking, and found other places that worked. We were close to making a decision when I got a phone call — Belle Meade had a cancellation for October 15, 2011! Sean and I scrambled and signed the papers within days.

Mason jars with monogram flags photo by Patricia Lyons via Southern Weddings, burlap flower arrangements photo by Three Lights Photography via Elizabeth Anne Designs

Who or what has been most helpful in the wedding planning process?
My friends and family have been amazing! From my mom volunteering to make all of the ruffled burlap runners for the reception, my friends spending countless hours sprawled out all over the townhouse working on various projects, to my grandmother and great aunts making buckeyes (buckeyes in honor of the Bucks! My mom gets all the credit) for our guest gifts, to friends volunteering to help with set-up on the day of, I have been so overwhelmed by everyone’s willingness to step up and help. We are so blessed to be surrounded by a group of such amazing people.

Which part of your wedding are you most invested in?
Hmmm… The first thing that comes to mind is the details! I’ve worked hard (along with my awesome wedding planner, Liz of Chic Nashville Weddings — love her!!) on planning and creating and am really invested in all of the little things coming together. However, ultimately I just want the evening to be an enjoyable and memorable time with our family and friends! It’s easy to get caught up in the details; of course I want my tables to look just the way I’ve imagined and want the food to be delicious and all of our candles to stay lit (yep, something I have legitimately thought about). But really, it’s about celebrating our life together and spending time with those we love (and love us!).

Custom coke bottles photo by Jen Huang

Have you picked your dress yet? How’d that go? What will you be wearing on the big day?
Yes! And I cannot wait to wear it! It took a looong time for me to make a decision. I went back and forth between styles, and visited several boutiques several times. Finally, I went back one last time for a second (or third or fourth, really) look at a particular dress. I tried it on and loved the top, but the skirt was fuller than I desired. I tried on another that was similar with a less-full skirt. I casually commented that I would love to put the top of dress one with the bottom of dress two. The saleslady helping me stepped away for a couple of seconds, and came back quickly, informing me it was a possibility. I happened to have chosen two dresses by the same designer, and was able to pay a minimal fee for the pattern change. It’s simple, classic, and elegant. Everything I wanted!

What has been the best part of wedding planning? The worst part?
Best: Planning a day reflective of all things us! It’s been so much fun to pick out foods (a shrimp and grits bar in honor of our engagement), drinks (we’re serving each of our favorite cocktails at the reception), and entertainment (a fun-loving band and a cornhole set on the porch) that are meaningful to us.
Worst: All the decision making about the details… I am ready to be decision-free for at least a month! As in, don’t even ask me what I want on my hamburger… I’d rather take my chances with the toppings you choose!

Photos by Brion Hopkins at a Belle Meade wedding (see more from this wedding here!)

What has been the biggest challenge so far in wedding planning?
Soon after Sean and I sent out our save the dates, just two months away from our wedding date, we found out we would be paying for almost the entirety of the wedding. We knew from the beginning we would be paying for bits and pieces, and were completely willing to do so, but most of the cost was to be covered by others. Due to unfortunate and unforeseen circumstances, the news was broken to us that we were essentially on our own with the cost. Talk about a challenge! We had been very conscious of our budget from the start, but we were not fiscally prepared to pay for it in full. Of course, by this point we had already placed deposits on almost every vendor.

We discussed our options, and decided to proceed with our original plan. We reassessed our budget and cut back as much as we could, and are almost there! Though I would not wish this challenge upon anyone, it has been positive in many ways. Sean and I have had to have some pretty serious budget talks in the process, tears have been shed (me!), and frustration has been verbalized (both of us!), but we have grown and matured as a couple from the challenge.

What are you most looking forward to on your wedding day?
First, I cannot wait to see Sean. We are going to do a “first look” before our ceremony, and I can only imagine what it will feel like to walk down the aisle to meet him. I am looking forward to spending a few quiet moments together before what I can only imagine will be a wonderfully exciting but whirlwind of an evening! Secondly, I am looking forward to my mother helping me into my dress and being alongside me as I get ready. I would not be where I am today without her and am so blessed by our close relationship.

Any advice you’d like to pass along to fellow brides?
First of all, start all of your DIY projects EARLY! Those cute monogrammed flags you want to make for your straws? They will take more than an hour or two to create, print, cut, and attach. I speak from experience! Secondly, enjoy every single second of your engagement. There are times I have wished time away because I was so ready to be married. Three weeks out, I wish I could slow the clock, because I want to enjoy every bit of life as an engaged couple!

Now it’s your turn to ask for advice – is there anything you’d like to poll the SW readers on?
What is your best advice for the day of the wedding? Also, this is broad, but I’d love for you to share what you would do differently OR exactly the same!

Thank you so much for playing along, Lori! 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 Assistant Art Director Sierra, with illustration by Curious & Company!

emily Written with love by Emily
7 Comments
  1. avatar Joon reply

    I’m so lucky to know Lori in real life- she is the epitome of a Southern Belle so she deserves this more than anyone I know! Loved reading this! Everyone tells me to savor every moment the day of… that it goes by so fast. Take mental snapshots of every detail!!! SO EXCITED TO COME TO THE WEDDING!!!

  2. avatar Ashley, Indie Atlantic Films reply

    Belle Meade Plantation. AWESOME choice! Nashville is such an amazing city! Love your ring, too, by the way!

  3. avatar Emily @ Southern Weddings reply

    So happy to have you on here today, Lori! Love your navy Lilly dress, too! :)

  4. avatar Lisa reply

    If there’s anything better than a proposal, it’s gotta be a proposal with cheesecake! :) Loved reading your story, Lori, and can’t wait to see your wedding!!

  5. avatar Southern Weddings Weekly Round-Up | Gift Registry News reply

    […] Southern Bride of the Month, Lori told us all about her upcoming nuptials with her hubs-to-be, Sean. Her favorite part of wedding planning? Thinking of all the details that represent their relationship and personalities! […]

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Jennifer + Armand, photographed by Kristyn Hogan, brought a burst of color to Tennessee’s Country Music Hall of Fame with their Nashville nuptials, planned by Amber Housley of Sweet Life Designs. Rhonda Patton Designs coordinated the bold blooms for the celebration, and LulaKate supplied the coordinating periwinkle-blue sheaths for Jennifer’s bridesmaids. The bride kept the focus on her with a romantic drop-waist Priscilla of Boston gown and sparkly Louboutins that I just know y’all are going to gaga over!

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. (From the groom) We both went to Oakwood College and knew very little about each other. We never even came into contact with each other until Jennifer was studying for boards in California and I came out for a show. I wanted to meet up with some friends from college but only one friend was available and she ended up bringing Jennifer along. We went to a sushi restaurant that turned into a lounge after dinner. Jennifer and our mutual friend left me in another part of the restaurant and actually tried to “hook me up” with another young lady there! It was a fun night that went so well that we decided to keep in touch. A month later, I invited Jennifer to accompany me to a charity ball in NYC. It just so happened that my group was performing at the event. She accepted and we ended up having a blast!
Describe the proposal: (From the groom) In all my planning, I decided it would be great to get engaged where we had our first date, New York. I told Jennifer we wouldn’t be able to spend New Year’s Eve together because I had a show in San Francisco, but that I would fly to Nashville New Years day. (From the bride) I was supposed to pick Armand up at the airport on New Year’s Day, but at 5:30 in the morning, Armand began messaging me on my phone telling me to wake up and he was excited he was going to see me. While we were messaging back and forth my brother busted in my room and turns on all the lights and had a video camera! I was so angry! I messaged Armand and told him what was happening and then he asked “Will you marry me?” on blackberry messenger. I thought it was a joke so I told him to stop playing. Then he sent a picture of the ring and I freaked out. I got all dolled up and my brother drove me to the airport but when we got there he took me to the short-term parking and pulled out the video camera and said “Have a good trip!” He took me to the back of the truck and there was a bag packed and my boarding pass to go to NYC! I arrived in NYC and Armand’s friend Jonathan picked me up in a cab from the airport. He took me to the same hotel we stayed in a year earlier when we had our first date. When I got up to the room, the door was cracked. I walked in and there was a pathway of candles and rose pedals all leading to Armand on one knee with the ring. I don’t think he even got the question out, I just ran to him and hugged him and started crying.
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Fun, spiritual and magical.
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? We are both huge music fans (country music included) so we decided that the Country Music Hall of Fame was a perfect venue for the reception. We also thought it added a bit of southern flair and a taste of Nashville’s history having the reception there and pictures in the museum area. In our menu, we added cheese grits, per my request.

Written with love by Katharine
4 Comments
  1. avatar Kristyn Hogan reply

    Thank you so much for featuring this wedding. Jennifer & Armand are two of the most amazing people I’ve ever met and I always love remembering their gorgeous day!

  2. avatar Rachel – theWeddingVine reply

    I love all the vibrant colours, it brightens up the wedding and you can’t help but smile!

  3. avatar Tweets that mention Real Tennessee Wedding: Jennifer + Armand, Part I « Southern Weddings Magazine — Topsy.com reply

    […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by The Bride Room, Amber Housley and Marissa Kloess, Emily Ayer. Emily Ayer said: Brilliant color + sparkly shoes from @kristynhogan, @amberhousley, + @maplescakes! http://tinyurl.com/5wf582d + http://tinyurl.com/678xgkn […]

  4. avatar Delightful Day | A Country Music Hall of Fame, Nashville wedding: Jennifer + Armand married!! reply

    […] hurt that it was also featured on the Southern Weddings blog as well!! Enjoy the two parts of their Nashville wedding at Country Music Hall of Fame, part I and part II. Before seeing some amazing photos documenting the day by Kristyn Hogan, this beautiful […]

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