Southern Weddings

Check out {Thanksgiving Photo Contest} {Post I} and {Post II}. We love out readers so much we just had to show off their camera skills. How fun are these!?

From Danielle: Someone caught me laughing SO hard!  I am thankful for my niece, Mariah. Her and I dancing at New Years together!

From Rachel: This picture was taken by a friend while my fiance, Jesse, was proposing. This was the end of a long scavenger hunt around Dallas where each of my close friends played a role. As you can see, I couldn’t contain my joy. Though I think our dog, Zhor, who was a part of the whole process, thought I was slightly crazy!  Erik (aka Poser) captured the moment perfectly when Jesse, my fiance, won me a giant carebear at the State Fair of Texas where we shot some of our engagement pictures. Ever since we started dating, Jesse and I would make a trip to the fair each year, where he is always determined to win me a gigantic prize (he has one specific game that he always plays!). This year, he won me my prize during our engagement session! At first I thought his winning me a prize thing was a little silly, but now I am totally into it and I love the way that it makes you feel like a teenager on your first date where the boy you are with is doing his best to impress you! I am thankful for the unconditional love and snuggles of our dogs.

From Nicki: One is for the having fun part… I wanted a photo of my fiance and myself when we were out one night but he tackled my neck and my friend caught it. I love it. The next two entries are for the Thanksgiving part… one is of some homemade cupcakes I made for my grandmother’s birthday… I’m thankful for sweets, who isn’t? And the next is of my pug, Mr. Chubbs – he’s one of the lights of my life!

From Mandy: This is a picture of my siblings and I at my little sister’s graduation. I remember this as such a proud day. I am very thankful for my family.

From Gracie: Pictures of me loving life! Things that I am thankful for: love, life, laughter, and my husband.

More on the way!

More from the amazing {Thanksgiving Photo Contest}. We are showcasing our readers pics and captions for what they are thankful for and what brings them happiness. Make sure to check out our first post {here}. Keep checking back every hour to see more and find out who our winners are!

From Sara: These are some of my favorite, happiest pictures! Hope they make you smile! I am thankful for MY SISTERS!

From Alexis: I went apple picking for the very first time in my life this past fall on a trip to visit my grandfather and aunt in Vermont (I live in NC). The best apples were at the top of the trees, and being the youngest by almost 40 years, I got to climb trees!!! I had so much fun, but my legs were so sore the next day, I could barely sit down…  I am so thankful for my wonderful fiancé (pictured here, exhausted after working to completely renovate my house, which will be our home) and my over-grown toy poodle, Winston, also exhausted after trying to keep up with us, who was a gift from my fiancé and his family when we graduated from Wake Forest University.

From Esti: I’m not really sure what’s going on here. My friend Ryan is in the foreground, while my fiance Andy is laughing in the background. Ryan HATES getting his picture taken… I think I might have been trying to get a sneaky picture!? Eh, the empty beer glass might explain it too! This pic STILL makes me giggle! Chris Undi (aka underwear!) and me goofing off!  We were goofing off at the previously mentioned Ryan’s wedding. My mother SWEARS it didn’t happen like this.. but the camera doesn’t lie!

From Maggie: You can’t see me in this photo, because I’m the one painting with light…making my friend look like a little devil. I am thankful for the seasons, and for cooler weather hikes.

From Kathryn: I’m thankful that not only did my dreams come true and I’ve met the man of my dreams, but that I get to marry into an awesome family and will have two of the sweetest nieces in the world.

From Breanna: This is a cell phone pic of my dog, Maggie. She is one of the things I am most thankful for. Isn’t she so cute?!

The SW team is so excited to announce the {Thanksgiving Photo Contest} winners and prize!  We asked readers for:

Photo Contest 1: Send us a pic of you having fun, happy, joyous, bubbling over with laughter… whatever floats your boat.

Photo Contest 2: In the spirit of Thanksgiving, send us a pic of what you are thankful for… could be anything… person, place, thing. Get creative.

We had so many fabulous entries that we decided we could never choose– so we chose random winners.  But, before we announce them, enjoy all the entries in the next 7 posts.

Here’s to giving THANKS!

From Kristen: Out of the almost 500 shots my wedding photographer took, this is my favorite. It’s right after we saw each other for the first time. My husband’s first words to me “Man, you’re hot.” I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face for the rest of the night.  I am so thankful that we brought this little stray kitten inside our home 4 months ago. She has enriched our lives in more ways than we can count.

From Jeana: This is a picture of what I’m thankful for. These are my girls Saisunni & Leila, without them I don’t know what I would do! I love them more than anything in this world! Here is a picture of me happy. It’s a picture of me and my co-worker at an Obama rally. As you can see I have no make-up left because I cried it all off! I was truly so happy to see him in person, he was just a couple of feet away from me.

From Katie B: The first picture is me and my mom…it was taken after my parents’ annual party when a handful of our closest friends had gathered around the piano to have an impromptu jazzy singalong. (A friend is an amateur pianist!) It was one of the most fun moments of my life, surrounded by everyone I love. The second picture was taken without my realization…I had just had the longest, most frustrating week, and I had just been reunited with my best girlfriends–we hadn’t seen each other in almost 2 years, and we were together for a bachelorette party. A great song came on and I decided to just dance my worries away, setting the tone for the rest of the fun weekend…hehe!  The first photo is of my grandfather, William Edward Brandon, being awarded a Bronze Star Medal. The Bronze Star is awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the Army of the United States after 6 December 1941, distinguishes himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service. It was his proudest moment in his 20+ year military career. I am thankful for the bravery and honor of the men and women serving our country.  The second photo was a “self portrait” on the way home from a winning Gator football game. The windows were down, the music was up, and my fiance and I were basking in the afterglow of a big Gator win! I am thankful for the love and support in my life, from my fiance, and all my friends and family.

From Rae: I am thankful for so many things. This photo shows something so amazingly small, yet so huge. This is my Avery as a 3-day old embryo. I am thankful that there are doctors that were able to help me have a baby when I couldn’t on my own.

From Laura: I’m thankful for the guy featured here. My husband Chris, circa maybe 1986?

Check back shortly for post number 2 of 7…