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Colorful Magnolia Plantation Wedding by Dana Cubbage

by Marissa in Real Southern Weddings on March 29, 2016

When you combine the word “magnolia” with “plantation” and then throw in an adorable couple, it’s a very safe bet that I’m going to swoon over the wedding! And while I’m not a betting woman, maybe I should be, because McKenna and Matt’s wedding at Magnolia Plantation is the sort of Southern wedding sweetness I can’t get enough of. It might be partially due to their colorful blooms from Branch Design Studio, but while those are stunning, I’m pretty sure it’s their contagious smiles and how smitten they are with each other. I adore how head over heels in love these two are–just look at McKenna’s post-ceremony smile! Pure bliss!

Big hugs to Dana Cubbage for sharing this delightful day!

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I found my beautiful wedding dress at J. Major’s Bridal boutique in Charlotte! I was with my mom and my sister, and it was my birthday weekend. I knew in my head what I wanted my dress to look like, but I tried on a few different styles as that was what I was told to do. When I explained what my vision was, CJ at J. Majors pulled the most perfect gown. It was the Dakota from Enzoani, and I LOVED it. I bought it on the spot…best birthday present ever!

Did you decide to do a first look? Why or why not? Yes, we did! Our photographer highly recommended it for the timeline to go as smoothly as possible and she was absolutely right! My sweet hubby was so nervous as I walked up to him and tapped his shoulder…he said his knees were shaking! We both had immediate happy tears when we saw one another and it was one of the best moments of the day!

We love Charleston! I am from New Orleans, and Charleston has the historic charm and architectural beauty that reminds me of home. We fell in love with the breathtaking views at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. We truly wanted our guests to have a full experience at our wedding and this was the perfect venue for us!

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Describe your wedding flowers. Perfect, stunning, classic, and elegant! I was absolutely obsessed. I even pressed all of the flowers from my bouquet so I wouldn’t have to throw them away! This was one of my splurges and I am so glad that I did….YAY for Branch Design Studios!

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How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. We both attended UNC-Asheville from 2006-2010. He played baseball and I played soccer in college, and the athletes tended to stick together! We became friends freshman year and two of my teammates (and later bridesmaids) and I were always hanging out with him and his group of friends. I always seemed to have a boyfriend, and Matt patiently waited until February of our senior year in college when I was finally single, to ask me to dinner for Valentine’s Day. We have been together for five years since then, and I am so lucky that I was able to call Matt my best friend for nine years, my boyfriend for five, my fiancé, and now my sweet hubby!
Tell us all about the proposal! We were spending New Year’s and celebrating a late Christmas in Miami with Matt’s family, as we usually do. Part of my Christmas present from Matt was a trip to Key West because I had never been there before, and he knew I would love it. We planned to go the morning of New Year’s Day. We got on the road early and had a three-and-a-half hour drive. During that drive, I recapped the conversation of the night before, which revolved around people getting engaged and married and so on and so forth. I said, “We just aren’t like everyone else I guess–we aren’t a traditional couple! We will just probably get married later in life.” He quickly changed the subject to our amazing dinner we had reservations for at Latitudes on Sunset Key (because the ring was in the back seat and he was starting to sweat!). We had the best seat in the house at Latitudes–a table about 20 yards from the water, overlooking the sunset and the beautiful sailboats passing by…pure bliss! Matt asked our waiter to take some pictures of us with the sunset.The waiter even told me to fix my hair because it was “sorta messed up” (he knew what was about to go down, thank God!). We took three pictures, and Matt asked him to take just one more. I turned to pose, and when I turned back around again, Matt was on one knee with the most beautiful ring I had ever seen in my life, saying “Will you marry me?” I was in absolute shock! Then the tears came. Finally, he got off his knee and said, “So, is that yes?” I said YES and he put that ring on my finger as the restaurant cheered us on.
When did y’all get married? February 27, 2016
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 100
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: I can’t pick, but I loved our oyster shell escort cards because my mother and I had painted them all!
Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! I borrowed my veil, which was made by my grandmother and worn by my mother and my sister–so special! I had my new monogram and wedding date sewed into my dress as a tag. I had it made with blue thread. All my jewelry was brand new, J. Crew perfection. For something old, I wore my favorite gold Target sandals–nothing special, but perfect for dancing!
If you are comfortable responding, what range did your wedding budget fall into? $25,000-$50,000
What’s next for you as a couple? What memories are you looking forward to making together? I just started a new job! We are just soaking up being married and loving every minute of it!

Written with love by Marissa

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Tips for Creating Your Wedding Registry with Target

by Emily in Expert Advice, Sponsor Love on February 8, 2016

The Southern Weddings ladies are quite giddy these days thinking of all of the belles who have gotten engaged over the last few weeks and months. It does seem like a lot of rings get presented in December, January, and February, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome the newly engaged gals to our gaggle! Aside from securing your Planner, one task you’ll likely turn your attention to early in the process is creating a wedding registry. We’ve teamed up with our friends at Target to share a few of our best tips as well as a fun, interactive quiz to help determine your registry style!

Take the quiz here and read on for our tips below!

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PREPARING TO REGISTER

Start the process early. There’s no need to rush out to the stores as soon as you have a ring on your finger, but we recommend starting at least one registry early in your engagement if there’s an engagement party in the works. Aside from engagement gifts, make sure your registry is open at least two months before your first bridal shower or six to nine months from your wedding date.

Decide where to register. For a well-rounded registry that caters to all of your guests, register at two to three shops. At least one shop should be a larger chain retailer with an online presence, such as Target. There’s no need to register at each store all at once, so start with your top pick and gradually add additional stores as time allows. Managing registries at more than three stories can quickly become overwhelming, so if you’re looking for maximum variety, choose a universal registry like Amazon.com or MyRegistry.com that will allow you to add items from any online retailer.

Consider your lifestyle. Prioritize the items that align with your values and the life you’d like to live (not necessarily the life you think others expect you to live!). If you and your groom plan to cook and entertain frequently, then by all means, consider adding a full 12 place settings of fine china and monogrammed silver. If you prefer traveling and spending time outdoors, register for a nice set of luggage and camping supplies. Target has an amazing selection of items for every type of couple!

Check store policies. When narrowing down store options, return policies can make or break your decision. Returning a few gifts is inevitable, so make sure the store has a return or exchange policy that’s agreeable to you. You may also want to check if the store offers a completion program, allowing you to purchase any leftover items at a discount. We know of many couples who opt to register for larger items, like a bed frame or sofa, not because they expect to be gifted them, but simply so they can take advantage of a completion discount post-wedding.

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Here’s a peek at our quiz! Take it here.

MAKING SELECTIONS

Shop together. Create your registry as a couple. The gifts are for both of you, so it’s important that you’re both happy with the selections. Make a date of it, and enjoy shopping around and dreaming of your newlywed life together! Warning: this step sometimes sounds more fun than it actually is. If control of the scan gun turns into a tug of war over the aesthetic of your future home, take a break and return another day. And may we recommend starting with our Newlywed Style quiz? It will help you hone in on the items that are most important to you both!

Add a variety of items. Be sure to include items that accommodate a range of budgets. As long as you include several affordable gifts, don’t shy away from picking more expensive items, too: your college friends may choose to go in together to purchase a pricier gift, and what is expensive for one person may be considered quite affordable for another. A good rule of thumb is that many couples will be looking for something in the $50-100 range.

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KEEPING IN TOUCH

Communicate with your guests. Heaven forbid you include your registry information on your wedding invitation, but you’ll still need to pass along the word. Linking to shops on your wedding website is acceptable, as is word of mouth (be sure your parents and bridal party are up to date on your registry details, as they’re the folks most likely to be queried!).

Follow up. Registries are not a one-and-done thing, so don’t abandon yours after your initial trip! As guests begin to purchase gifts, check in every few weeks to make sure there are still a variety of items and price points from which to choose.

SAYING THANK YOU

Write every note. Yep, it’s true — thank you notes should always be handwritten; no emails allowed! The art of the handwritten note is alive and well, especially in the gracious South, so while it may seem tedious, your guests will expect and appreciate your heartfelt gesture of gratitude.

Be timely. Thank you notes should be sent promptly — within two weeks of the date that the gift is received for those that arrive before the wedding. If the gift is given at your celebration, send a note within one month of your wedding date. We recommend writing a few notes every day, if you can, so that the task doesn’t become too much of a burden.

Get everyone involved. While notes for bridal shower gifts should always be written by the bride, there’s no rule that says you have to write every thank you note for the wedding gifts. After all, they were given to both of you, and you’ll both enjoy them! Split the writing duties — if you choose to write to each other’s families, it can be a great way to introduce yourself!

Ready to get inspired? Take our Newlywed Style quiz here! Already ready to register? You can begin setting up your Target Wedding Registry right here!

This post is brought to you by Target–thanks for your support of the brands that make Southern Weddings possible!

Written with love by Emily

Defining Your Registry Style with Target – and a Quiz!

by Emily in Expert Advice, Sponsor Love on December 7, 2015

As much as we adore our editorials, some of our very favorite features in the magazine are not photo-based at all — they’re full of words! Good, helpful words that deliver the nuts-and-bolts advice every engaged gal needs. Those of you who have a copy of Southern Weddings V8 hopefully enjoyed this issue’s pieces on Southern traditions, preparing for marriage, making an engagement checklist, planning your wedding morning, and planning for beautiful wedding photos, among other topics. But my favorite? That had to be our tips for creating a wedding registry — and the delightful quiz that went along with it!

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We didn’t want anyone to miss out, so we’ve teamed up with our friends at Target to deliver an online version. If you’re stuck on what to register for (or just want a fun distraction!), this 10-question quiz will help you define your newlywed style and identify the items that might be most important to y’all for the life you want to live, together. We hope it’s helpful as you prepare to head to the stores!

Take the Newylwed Registry Style Quiz here!

This post is brought to you by Target–thanks for your support of the brands that make Southern Weddings possible!

Written with love by Emily