Google+ July 2009 - Page 3 of 14 - Southern Weddings

Southern Weddings

Monthly Archives: July 2009

Just because we’ve officially welcomed in the warm (and often unbearably hot!) days of summer doesn’t mean a silky pashmina shawl from Nimli wouldn’t be the perfect accessory for those sometimes-cool summer nights.  Even here in sunny North Carolina, there are some evenings when I wish I could throw on one of Nimli’s fun, shimmery and, best of all, light-weight wraps.  And with fall just around the corner, I couldn’t think of a better way to outfit your bridesmaids or even to dress up even the most basic jeans-and-tee ensemble.

Win: Your choice of either 3 Azuri Cashmere Pashmina in silver Sparkle or 3 pale yellow silk chiffon wraps from Nimli.

To Enter: We know finding cute (and affordable) gifts for your bridesmaids isn’t easy and the SW girls want to know what YOU are planning to do to thank your closest friends for being part your big day!  (These Nimli pashmina shawls sure would make for an adorable favor, though, wouldn’t they?! )  Leave a comment on this post telling us about either the unique and thoughtful gifts you gave or are planning to give your lovely attendants and why you choose them.  The winning submission will be featured on next week’s blog post.

The contest will end at 12:00 noon on Tuesday, August 4.  We can’t wait to hear your amazing bridesmaid gift ideas!

Written with love by Southern Weddings
59 Comments
  1. avatar Starry-Eyed Barefoot Bride reply

    I made matching jewelry and "shoes" for all my girls to give them day of jewelry options. They liked the earrings and necklaces, but everyone went crazy for our matching "shoes"! Photo on my blog:http://barefootstargazer.blogspot.com/2009/04/weddingbee-photo-of-day.html

  2. avatar Shaina reply

    When I got engaged I was 20 years old, working 2 jobs to pay for college, rent and suddenly, my wedding! I knew I wanted to get my girls something a little different but, having just enough money to scrape by, I had to get creative. My day job was working in the Fragrance section of a high end department store. My bosses would set goals for us and would use bottles of perfume as incentive! I worked my tail off for certain brands so that I could earn a gift for each girl, knowing I would never be able to buy them something that nice! It worked out perfectly and I was able to earn all 5 bottles I needed, just in time. I love that it was a truly useful gift, and that I can still tell when they use it! :-)

  3. avatar notsojenny reply

    i’ve been done with my BM gifts for longer than anything else wedding related… i was most excited about the gift giving parts of wedding planning!i have 2 MOHs who will each receive a makeup bag with thei monogram on it. inside the bag will be a few little bath & beauty products from B&BW and Body Shop (each tailored to the lady’s taste). i’ve also had short sleeve hoodies made with each name and wedding date (ie. Mrs. Smith est. 01.02.07) on top of that they’ll be getting my favorite Hue foot care packs to make their feet comfortable and a dunkin donuts gift card (they’re northerners : ) i do not doubt that i will pick up a few more things to add between now and the wedding date!the 2 flowergirls are each getting a hoodie with their name on it (ie. Emmy) along with a chalkboard mug & picture frame where of course i’ll write each of them a note! then each of them will also have a charm bracelet with a few charms to start it, corresponding to each girl’s interest and of course one for being a flower girl : )oh, and the FG gifts will each be in a beach pail since we always go to the beach when they come to visit!

  4. avatar Daisy reply

    I love the art & tradition of brewing tea- something about stopping for a few minutes while the water boils & the tea steeps gives you a few quiet moments any time of day. As such, I’m putting together a "tea bag" for my bridesmaids. I’m filling each bag with a gorgeous hand-painted tea pot, a tin of my favorite (and bridal appropriate!) tea from Finland "Emperor’s Bride", a tea infuser, and a pot of delicious Savannah Bea Company honey- my wedding is in Savannah so it seemed appropriate. I also plan on writing each of my ‘maids a letter about how much their friendship has meant to me, our wonderful memories, and encouraging them to take a moment to appreciate good friends whenever they take a moment to brew a cup of their favorite! I plan on giving them their gift at a luncheon I’m throwing with my Mom…at where else, The Tea Room in Savannah?!

  5. avatar Courtney reply

    AHHH! I love this contest and have been wishing I could afford these for my girls. I had great large totes embroidered with their initials from ebay for like 5 bucks a piece, got beautiful $5 pearl earrings on etsy when a seller was having a "special", damask flip flops from the dollar store, I made them each a fascinator, and I will also throw in some travel size things like toothpaste, mints, hairspray, etc.. Our wedding is in December in the Pocono mountains so these pashminas would be a perfect addition to their gifts!

  6. avatar Amy M reply

    Love the yellow silk chiffon wraps! And the color even matches our whole yellow and gray shabby chic theme, how perfect. Staying in budget was really important to my FH and me, so I did a lot of digging on Etsy (ps if you ever need, well, anything, Etsy is the place for you!). I found these beautiful earrings, but they were a little out of our price range, so I contacted the seller with a custom request and she pulled through! She hand-made 5 pairs of gold hoop earrings with yellow citrine stones, a variation on the earrings that inspired me, to match the yellow eyelet Shoshanna dress I sent her a picture of that the girls will be wearing. They are a dream! I am so happy, and I hope the girls will be too!

  7. avatar Colby reply

    It is so funny that this post is about beautiful pashminas because that is exactly what I am planning as one of the gifts for my bridesmaids! My two best friends will be standing up with me as my fiance and I commit our lives to each other this winter. I am planning to have them each choose a dress that they love and find flattering in a shade of navy/majolica. I was going to give each of them a silvery gray pashmina to provide some continuity at the alter and to thank them for being a part of such an amazing day. I am also a crafter, and I plan to embroider their names and a design onto a quilted makeup bag filled with essentials for the big day. I am so excited for this day, and I’m thrilled that my two best friends will celebrate it with me.

  8. avatar cara reply

    For each of my bridesmaids, I made them earrings and gifted them with a matching necklace, plus I decided to make each of them a basket of items that I specially collected for her over the last few weeks before I got married. One of my bridesmaids got a variety of Burt’s Bees and other natural makeup, facial, and skin products; another received a book, foot spa products, and stationary; another received a basket of sports + toy goodies; and my sister (MOH!) received a basket filled with a little bit of everything above! I wanted to give something that let each girl know how much I appreciated her, and I thought these individualized gifts filled with things I know they’d love + use would be perfect :)!

  9. avatar May reply

    So far I’m looking for cute ruffled clutches on etsy. If that doesn’t work out, I’m leaning toward making some shoe bags with really great printed fabric (something different that will hopefully get repeated use when traveling!). Hopefully I can find some affordable shoes to go in those shoe bags!

  10. avatar Shannon reply

    I don’t have bridesmaid’s gifts yet. (Or a clue what I’ll get!) But when I asked my friends if they would serve as bridesmaids, I gave them each a copy of my favorite wedding DVDs. It was really fun picking out my favorite movies and then deciding which one matched each of my friends’ personalities.

  11. avatar Sara reply

    Spa day! But these would be an amazing addition :)

  12. avatar Silvia reply

    I haven’t bought BM gifts, but I’ve had them planned for a while. I’m going to give the girls a book (chosen individually), a mix CD, and a gift certificate (varies for each girl– e.g. my sister will get one for belly dancing classes, one of the girls will get one for a couple rock climbing classes, one of the other girls will get a whale watching excursion, and one of the girls will get wine tasting). I think that these will be great ways to give them all things that show them how much I appreciate what they’re doing for me.

  13. avatar the future mrs. smith reply

    there are several gifts i’ve giving my girls.1) i handpainted wine glasses and added their monograms in rhinestones for the bachelorette party. we’re going to a wine stomping at a vineyard, so i thought we needed to be themed!2) for the wedding, i’m doing several things.-gourmet popcorn balls w/ chocolate (we’re doing a popcorn bar at the wedding, so fitting again with the theme.)-breakfast at tiffany’s the movie (or book if they have the movie)… because our wedding color is tiffany blue.-handmade aprons made with fabric that fit their personal styles – all with their monogram embroidered.-flip flops to change into for the reception – i want them to have fun and be comfy to party!!!

  14. avatar NYCDawg reply

    I’m just now asking my bridesmaids (actually both are MOHs) to be in my wedding…I ordered them each a Stella & Dot charm with their first name’s initial on it. Then I tied it to a cute homemade tag that said ‘Will you be my bridesmaid?’. That’s the only gift I’ve decided on so far! However, 3 pashmina’s in silver would be quite the perfect addition :)

  15. avatar Rachel reply

    I really wanted to get my girls something lasting and personalized, so I ended up ordering them custom bags from Longchamp. I picked out their favorite colors and had them monogrammed too. I’m planning to stuff them with some goodies too! The pashminas would be perfect surprise for my girls in their bags!

  16. avatar Emily G reply

    All of my bridesmaids are my sisters, so I really want to do something special for them. I am creating a mini scrapbook/memory album for each one (there are 3 sisters total). It will feature pictures of us together growing up through the years… from baby pictures, to embarassing elementary/middle/high school pictures, to our current years. I have laughed and cried making these albums – I can’t wait for them to look through the scrapbooks!

  17. avatar Lillian reply

    Oh wow, these pashminas are just gorgeous! As for the BM gifts, I’m having a local artist in Nashville do canvas paintings of things that represent the Music City – a music note, a guitar, a pair of cowboy boots, etc. – for each of my six bridesmaids. I’m going to hand-write a quote on the back that I love – "Love is friendship set to music" – and give them at the Bridesmaids Brunch we’re having on the wedding day, at a restaurant downtown which overlooks the beautiful Nashville skyline!

  18. avatar Libbi reply

    For my bridesmaids I am having unique umbrellas that match their personalities monogrammed with their first name! It’s something that they can use for forever or even if (hopefully not) it rains the day of the wedding! I am going to get them cute baskets to put the umbrellas and some other goodies in to give to them at the Rehearsal Dinner! I love these umbrellas and I can’t wait to give them to them already!

  19. avatar Courtney reply

    I am a HUGE monogram fan which makes my bridesmaids laugh since they are not. They always say it is because I am from the south and they are all west coast girls. So, for my bridesmaids gifts I have been picking up little monogrammed items when I see them. I have wine stoppers, wine glasses, cocktail napkins, notepads, notecards, and necklaces all with their initials. I am also going to make little monogrammed cakes for them which I am bringing to the bridesmaid’s luncheon.

  20. avatar Stephanie Smith reply

    I’m getting my lovely ladies all a custom pair of gold, onyx and citrine earrings from MichelleVGems on Etsy – I absolutely love them. I’m also giving them each a custom embroidered medium Lands End tote with their monogram on the bag. Hopefully I’ll have some cash left over to put a few extra goodies in the bag, they definately deserve it! These scarves would be great for my maid of honor, and my future sister in laws!

  21. avatar Caroline B. reply

    I gave my maids shoes and jewelry for the wedding day in a monogrammed Land’s End Tote. But I think the most special thing is the handwritten cards I gave them on notecards I designed myself. They were heartfelt and let them know how loved and appreciated they are.

  22. avatar Courtney Brubaker reply

    I have some fashionistas as bridesmaids. They are all going wear thier own jewelry since they all have great fashion sense. I have decided to make gift bags full of some of their own favorite things. My MOH is a big fan of Woodwick candles, great stationary and massages. What is more perfect that tailoring the gifts to their own individual tastes? One thing that will be a constant in the gift bags will be slippers/flip flops so they can dance the night away with me and my new husband.

  23. avatar Julie reply

    Oh, I love the silver pashminas! My maids would love them, too. My colors are navy blue, pink, and silver, so they would match beautifully! I’m also giving the girls a monogrammed JCrew bag with fun welcome goodies and jewelry for the wedding. These would be so perfect to stick inside their welcome bags!

  24. avatar Shan reply

    My two bridesmaids have designed their own dresses in a lovely steel blue and my junior bridesmaid/flower girl will be wearing a matching sash. My gifts to the girls are beautiful necklaces made by my grandmother, each unique and based on their own style. What luck to see this post as I was thinking about ordering some lovely wraps to keep them warm in the cool evening air at our country wedding in August. Luckily, both pale yellow and silver fit in with our mainly yellow and blue colour scheme! I also think the wraps will tie together their look since they will each have different dresses, jewelry and shoes!

  25. avatar Erin reply

    I’m buying my bridesmaids their bridesmaids dresses (along with a few other small gifts). I’ve been in enough weddings to know the expense it takes to be a bridesmaid. So in true Southern tradition, I’m thanking my bridesmaids for being a part of our special day by buying their bridesmaids dresses.

  26. avatar kelsey reply

    My BMs are all so different, so i’ve decided to take that into consideration when buying their gifts. I really wanted to get each of them their own unique statement necklace (though some will need smaller ones than others because they aren’t as daring). So with their own necklace I will also get something individualized to each. One loves to cook, so an apron, another loves all things monogrammed, so I will get her a tote, one loves make up, so I’ll get her some eyelashes and a great lip gloss and the last one loves anything vintage, so I’ll head to etsy and see what I can find. I’m looking forward to it! Though I know they would all love a pashmina too!

  27. avatar Kelli reply

    my wedding is in winter and my girls are wearing short dresses so i really wanted to be able to give them something to keep them warm like a shaw or something while we are taking picturesi ordered them awesome earrings to go along with her dresses and shoes. my matron of honor, (my sister) has been wanting this tiffany’s necklace and bracelet, so i am going to surprise her and buy her that. she will be sooo excited.each one of my bridesmaids are different and are at different times in their lives so for one who just got married i am going to buy a wood sign with their last name and the established date. i am going to get them all mani and pedicures for the wedding. I will be buying my other girls little special gifts such a monogrammed coffee mugs, bags, etc. I really want it to be personalized so they love the gifts and its not just another gift they wont use.

  28. avatar Nicole A. reply

    My only sister will be my only attendant at the wedding. A year ago, I moved out of my parent’s house, and recently relocated to Milwaukee with my fiance, so we are now a good 7 hours away from our family. Before the wedding, as a treat to my sister, and a way to make up for missed bonding time, I’ll be taking her out for a spa day, for our nails, face and hair. I’m also getting her jewelry that she can wear for both the wedding day and afterwards. It’s so important to me to let her know that she’s still a big part of my life, even though I’m starting a family of my own.

  29. avatar Sarah reply

    I t wouldn’t be just one thing.The first thing would be a little trinket they could wear at the wedding and be able to wear it forever to remember that day by.Another thing would be little things that show her why me and her are so close and why i chose her as a BM, like a mini scrap book basically. And last but not least a spa certificate! every girl needs pampering!!

  30. avatar Alison reply

    The small size of the bridal party allow me to splurge on their presents to show how much I appreciate them. I will be purchasing silver anchor pendants – perfect b/c we are having a nautical themed wedding and they have ties to the Navy. The pashimas would be beautiful for cool nights on the water!

  31. avatar chandra reply

    All 3 of my bridesmaids are recently married, so I had tote bags monogrammed with their new initials, and inside are Kate Spade cosmetic bags with essentials (since they are coming from out of town) and custom made earrings from Erin Gallagher that they will wear in the wedding. But I would LOVE to give them a shawl in their bag in case the night gets chilly!

  32. avatar Emily reply

    I contacted the very talented Brooke Galardi of Beegee Bags at the website below. She recommneded a fabric that went perfectly with the bridesmaid dresses I had chosen! Brooke’s bags are super cute and very well made. She completed my custom order faster than I expected! I just received the bags and LOVE them. I hope my bridesmaids do as well!http://www.beegeebags.com/category.php?style=two&page=1

  33. avatar Kathryn reply

    I am getting my 7 bridesmaids custom-made clutches from Etsy. The designer is personalizing each satin clutch based on the girl’s personality and taste. They will all be navy (since that’s the color of their dresses) with different accent colors and embellishments (lime green stripes for my tomboy sister, fuschia pink flower for my fashionista best friend).I would love to have these silver pashminas to give my bridesmaids also! It would coordinate perfectly as they’re wearing silver shoes. And since our wedding is at the beach in October, these pashminas would keep them warm against the cool ocean breeze.

  34. avatar Nicole-Lynn reply

    I am planning to gift my girls earrings I found on Etsy, Monogrammed paper pads in their favorite colors, cosmetic bag with their initial on it, a little bridesmaid survival kit I plan to DIY, a candle in their favorite scent, small bottle of sunscreen, a cute tank I’ll make for each girl to wear, and some flip flops to wear and relax in for our seaside wedding, and throw it all in a cute monogrammed tote. These Pashmina shawls would be great to add in the tote as well!

  35. avatar Genna reply

    I believe I am going to give my bridesmaids a little "glamour kit"…complete with a monogrammed tote and "party weekend" essentials: a.k.a. foot petals so you don’t bruise up your dancing shoes, oil blotting paper for your face so you don’t out "shine" the bride (just kidding!) and perhaps a cute pocket mirror for quick touch ups in the bathroom…though the silver pashminas (perhaps with initialed tags with the wedding date for each of my wonderful ladies) would be PERFECT!

  36. avatar lisa reply

    i’m a DIY bride, through + through. which is a good thing, since our wedding budget is just under 4,000. for my honor corps (as i so lovingly call them… "matron of honor" just sounds wretched, to my way of thinking), i’ve been working on hand-sewn tote bags in various colors + fabrics to coordinate with the theme of our wedding, as well as the individual style of each of my amazing sister-friends. the bags will include homemade soaps, wrapped in vintage sheet music, bubble bath in recycled glass containers with hand-made labels, + a personalized blend of essential oil perfume (the bubble bath + hand soaps are scented to match the perfume blends i made for each of my ladies). i’ve made earrings in different styles for each of them, as well. i would love to be able to include a shawl for each of the ladies + the silver would truly compliment the palette of the wedding. the honor corps (male + female) will be wearing black, with accessories ranging from ivory to chocolate brown with splashes of antiqued gold + patina-ed silver.

  37. avatar Lindsay reply

    I’m planning on creating personalized gift bags for my bridesmaids. Inside I want to include some of my favorite things / past times selected specifically for the maid. For example, my favorite book is The Time Travelers Wife. I’m going to include a copy of that in all of my maids bags. I love cooking, so each maid will get a cookbook selected to fit their interests. I have one bridesmaid who loves grilling so I’ll get her a grilling cookbook. Another who is constantly picking at pieces of dark chocolate – a dessert cookbook is in order for her. My fiance and I are planning a wine / vineyard inspired wedding so each of my bridesmaids will recieve a bottle of our favorite pinot noir as well as our favorite chardonnay. Finally I want to gift my bridesmaid something to wear on the wedding day. One of these silky pashminas would be perfect!

  38. avatar V (*Vaneesha*) reply

    Oh my gosh, I am in *LOVE* wtih these gorgeous wraps!!! My fiance and I are to be married in Chapel Hill, North Carolina (At the Carolina Inn). I have been searching high and low for an affordable wrap, with great color options, excellent quality fabrics and I have found it at Nimli!!! These would be a perfect gift to my 7 bridesmaids! We are holding out ceremony in an outdoor tent in December! Yes…that’s right, December ;) It will surely be a bit cooler and my girls are wearing strapless cocktail length Jenny Yoo dresses (altho they are beautiful they are not warm enough!). These would be the perfect, classic touch to complete their outfit!!In addition to being a perfect touch to their briesmaid ensemble – these would also be fabulous to stuff in a basket at our ceremony as a special treat for our guests!! These are so incredibly versatile, whether it be over a a fun cocktail dress, as a scarf, wrapped over a tee and jeans, tied as an extra on a fun bag…I could go on and on gushing over the versatility of these wraps!!Please choose us – my girls will be THRILLED to have such gorgeous and versatile wraps for the wedding day (be chic and stay warm) as well as for every day use! I might incorporate a slew of colors for each girl to truly reflect their personalities!!!~Your bride to be,*V*

  39. avatar V (*Vaneesha*) reply

    Sorry I hit send a bit too fast ;)These would be added to their existing gifts – fun pair of hanky panky’s, custom wine glasses with their initials from etsy ;), customized earrings from k.amato in different styles for each girl with green gems and a small pocket sized photobook with pictures of us and a special note! ~V

  40. avatar Katie reply

    I had earrings and a necklace custom made for each of them off of Etsy. I gave them to them this past weekend at my shower/bachelorette party. At the rehearsal dinner, I plan to give them a makeup bag full of little travel sized things they might need but have forgotten, like makeup remover and a nail file, that can all go on an airplane since they’re flying 700 miles to be at the wedding.

  41. avatar Kari reply

    My reception is going to have a High Tea garden party theme and to play that up I’m going to treat my bridesmaids to a more intimate High Tea lunch of our own. Our hostess is an English lady who used to be on the stage and even performed with Nate King Cole once. We’ll dress up in costume jewelry, outrageous hats, and relax together a few days before the wedding!

  42. avatar Megan reply

    For months, I searched high and low for something that my bridesmaids could not only use again, but also something that would add and be a part of our ceremony…in a way, giving them something to take-away from our sacred vows, because they have added so much to our lives! We have decided to give our bridesmaid black, rossette clutch purses that they will carry with them, down the aisle (instead of the usual bouquet). One of my great-grandmother’s funky, antique pins will be attached to each clutch; something else that they can take-away that is also very meaningful to me! I feel so blessed to have these 11 amazing women standing by my side on such a special day, as my wedding! ;)

  43. avatar Tiffany Ciara reply

    I love these wraps! They would be perfect for my girls during my Blue Ridge Mountain October wedding! For my 8 bridesmaids I have decided to Monogram 8 Large Totes & 8 matching makeup bags… within the makeup bags there will be bridesmaid emergency essentials (matching nail polish, nail polish remover pads, nail file, Advil, Midol, tampon, stain remover stick, cosmetic mirror, mints, hand sanitizer, small sewing kit, bandaids, and neosporin)… In addition I am going to add flip flops to each of their bags, and a more personal gift for each of them (for one I’m going to buy her a beautiful copy of Pride and Prejudice her favorite book… another a monogrammed flask…etc)… having these wraps as an addition would be great! Especially because I will still have to purchase 5 more!

  44. avatar Meredith reply

    I have been stressing about what to get my bridesmaids! I paid for part of their dresses, and I am giving them handmade clutches from etsy and a picture frame. the pashminas are gorgeous and I would love to have them to add to their goodies!

  45. avatar Tina reply

    I’m looking forward to buying bridesmaids gifts the most! I intend to buy each person a unique and individual gift. For my sister, I want to find her Jade jewlery because she spent over a year in China and is head over heels with all things Chinese. For my younger sister, I want to get her cute red shoes for the wedding (which will be hard because of the large feet that run in my family), but she always wears the sam beat up pair of canvas sneakers, and she complains about never being able to find shoes. I want to find them for her. For my friend, I want to get her a cute clutch for the wedding day. I once talked her out of buying an expensive clutch because it was too much money. Later on, she decided she wanted it anyway, and went back to the store, but it was gone! I still feel bad about that, and I want to find her that clutch, or one just like it. For my male friend who will be joining the ladies on my side (since we’ve know each other since we were ten) I want to get him designer cologne. When I was in college, I spent a summer in Paris. I brought him back a bottle of Dior cologne which he only uses on special occasions. That bottle is almost gone, so I want to replace it for him.

  46. avatar Laura reply

    I’m getting married in October this year. It has been important for both my fiance and I that our wedding be a very personal experience not just for us, but for our close family and friends as well. My mother, sister and I own a small jewelry and art gallery in the Franklin Factory called Adornments where my sister, Alexis, and I make jewelry and much of the art and my mother weaves and specializes in handmade paper cards and invitations; she is actually making our wedding invitations with an original design and beautiful handmade papers! My brother will be performing the ceremony- so everyone is involved! I have three bridesmaids: my sister, who will be nine months pregnant by the time of the wedding, is my Matron of Honor; my fiance’s sister who has become a good friend to me in the last year will be a bridesmaid and my 16 year old cousin, who is largely responsible for my fiance and I meeting, rounds out a group of amazing women who are all very special to me. My mother and sister have been involved in pretty much every facet of the planning and my two bridesmaids have assisted with joy and grace whenever they have been able between work and school. I want my gifts to them to be truly magnificent- just as they are to me. I don’t have a lot of money; working as an artist for the last year and a half has taken it’s toll, but what I do have is a very useful skill: I make jewelry. My florist is using feathers in the bouquets, so I drew out a stylized feather, cut three out of sliver, hammered, filed, soldered on twisted wire and set gemstones (garnets to match their dresses) and polished them until they glowed. The result: each of my lovely attendants will have their very own silver necklace featuring the feather which has become the main design element of this wedding (it’s on the cake and the invitations too!), ensuring that it will always remind them of this amazing (hopefully!) event, but also, because it was handmade by me especially for them, I hope that it will remind them not only of the wedding, but of how much it has meant to me to know them and have them be a part of my life.

  47. avatar Shelley Greenberg reply

    OMG, I would LOVE to win these!! Love love love. I was actually thinking of buying them already for my bridemaids but the much smaller version because I can’t quite swing the bigger ones.What I’m planning for my bridesmaids is, I’ve already bought these really nice heavy canvas tote/messenger bags handmade off of Etsy. They are all in this nice charcoal gray color that is one of our wedding colors. I’m planning on stuffing them all with a "survival kit" for getting through the wedding day, with stuff like bottled water, their favorite snacks, magazines suited to each girl’s interest, toiletries, band aids, maybe some music, etc. I’d LOVE to be able to include these in the bags as well and if it’s chilly – it will be a nighttime Boston wedding in September after all – maybe they can even throw them on over their dresses!It’s so funny too because the silver sparkle AND the yellow silk chiffon both sort of fit into our general color scheme of gray, yellow and purple so I don’t know which one I would choose!!

  48. avatar Kitty reply

    I am doing the typical thing of jewelry and earrings (handmade by a local jewelry artist) that will compliment their dresses and was going to include lovely pashminas with their initials embroidered (by myself) in the corner. (Our wedding is autumn/vintage themed so elegance, embroiderery and lace are big visual aspects. A warm shawl is key as well!) In addition to the basic pretty things, I am making each bridesmaid a hanging bud vase from old, clear lightbulbs. They are beautiful when they hang in a sunny window! Each vase will have a little friendship quote painted along the edge "Friends are flowers in the garden of life." -Proverbs. Everything will be wrapped and presented in a canvas bag painted with autumn leaf/flower designs and the saying, "Dear Friend, You make my life beautiful! With love and gratitude, Kitty"

  49. avatar Audrey P reply

    I had four bridesmaids in our wedding and knew that I wanted to give them something that was unique to who they are and something that was not the typical bridesmaid gift. I gave each girl an overnight bag that they could use on the day of the wedding(now this is a typical gift I know), and then I gave each of them something personal. My sister was my MOH and loves all things beachy and loves dishes, so naturally I gave her a ceramic serving platter that had a seashell design on the edge. Another one of my bridesmaids is a painter, so I gave her a sweet painting of some birds from a local artist in town. My best friend loves Nativity scenes and wanted to start collecting different wise men sets, so I gave her a large set of hand painted wooden Wise Men that had the Christmas story carved in the front of each Wise Man. My childhood best friend is Jewish and I gave her a necklace with some beautiful stones from Israel. They all loved their gifts and commented on how cool it was that I gave them something that really reflected their different personalities. It meant a lot to me to have them in my wedding and I wanted to give them a gift to let them know how much I cherish each of them.

  50. avatar Jessie reply

    Our wonderfully wintery wedding is the day after Christmas! I am having my twin sister as the maid of honor & my other great friends (5) in the wedding party. I have already purchased these shawls in gold (our colors are burgundy& gold) and I love them. Fabulous ! With gold costume jewelry and flip flops, & your shawls (of course), I give these with love and special gratitute to my fabulous sister and friends. They are the bomb! Thank you for your generous offer.

  51. avatar Amber reply

    my wedding is still 400 some days away, so i haven’t gotten that far in my wedding planning. i want to get my bridesmaids something special, but our budget is very tight. so far, i bought them the same earrings i’m going to wear. they are dangly, pearl earrings from a wonderful seller on etsy.com. my wedding will be in the fall in the evening, so these wraps would be wonderful gifts for my girls in case it’s chilly :)

  52. avatar PDXBride reply

    I wanted to have gifts for my bridemaids that were pretty, could be used again, and that were sentimental. So, I bought them all similar, but not exactly the same, necklaces. The necklaces each include peals, which as a June baby is extremely important!! Then I also hand made/sewed clutches for each of the girls. Again each bag is a little different than all the others. The last thing I got them is a little mini Bridesmaid emergency kit for the day of the wedding! I am going to package all the gifts in a canvas bag with our neat olive branch symbol on them! I love their gifts and I can’t wait to hand them over. The only thing that could make my gift better is one of these pretty pashminas!!! Love Love Love them!

  53. avatar Kristin reply

    I’m just now thinking about what to get my bridesmaids, which include my sister, my best friend, my cousin, and my two younger half sisters. I’m planning on getting them tote bags with their monograms embroidered on it filled with flip flops (a necessary addition that can be used here in Texas year round!), cushy cozy bathrobes with their monograms embroidered on it to where while getting ready for the wedding, I’m making them jewelry to wear at the wedding with each being unique for each girl, and I’m getting them gift certificates for a mani/pedi. I would love to add the pashimas to the gift bags, I had thought of getting some to add to the bags, so winning them would be even better!!

  54. avatar Caroline reply

    Like a previous poster, I am planning on buying the bridesmaid gowns. I am also planning on paying for their hair/makeup/nails if they choose to have these things done. I was thinking of also getting them some sort of jewelry, but now I’m thinking that a beautiful pashima would work out well! Especially since my wedding is in April – it could still be a bit chilly.

  55. avatar Jamie Montgomery reply

    I have a deep love for Vera Bradley and since I fell in love with their unique patterns and prints I knew that when I got married that would be my bridesmaids’ gifts. I worked at my college’s on campus bookstore where we sold Vera. The week my now husband proposed I used my employee discount and purchased 8 totes in the Spring 2008 patterns (they are so bright and fun I love them). They were all very pleased at the bridesmaid luncheon when they received their gift! :-)

  56. avatar Rhona reply

    The gift that I want to give my bridesmaids is a trip on a hot air balloon at sunset. I want to enjoy wine (my fav) with them and just have a moment to ourselves to reflect on how much we are blessed. I could not make it without the women who have kept me standing, pushed me to be my best and are always ready to have fun!! I have not finalized my bridesmaids list, but I am trying to keep it down because I will not be able to afford this if I have too many. I love pashminas. They would add a wonderful touch to my girls for sure, especially the silver because my wedding colors will be silver, white, black and blush pink! What girl wouldn’t love to have a beautiful pashmina on a ride in the sky!

  57. avatar Katie reply

    I am one of three girls and have two girl first cousins. They are all four going to be my bridesmaids, and every year at Christmas my aunt buys us silly Santa hats or reindeer antlers to wear for our annual picture in front of the tree. These photos have been floating around the house for years and I plan to take all the pictures, scan them and put them in an album for each girl. I think it will be so much to see how we’ve grown and to laugh at how ridiculous we look. Plus my wedding is right after Christmas so it will fit the season.

  58. avatar Lauren reply

    So far I have gotten my bridesmaids red necklaces to wear on the big day, and I planned on getting them red pashminas to match! I’m also going to get them red flip flops to wear at the reception, and at their requests, flasks with a "treat" in it (they’re all family…can you tell?)!

  59. avatar Krista M. reply

    I have three bridesmaids, my sister and my two best girl friends from elementary school! I cannot imagine sharing my wedding day with anyone else, they have been my best friends for as long as I can remember! I am making all three of them scrapbooks from all of our adventures together, the final page will be left blank and be pictures from the wedding! We are also going to enjoy an afternoon at the spa, my treat, before the bachelorette party. I just *love* the Nimli Pashmina Shawls in sparkle and they would be a wonderful addition to the gifts I’ve already created (and match the dresses)!! I’ll make sure they wear them for the final scrapbook picture!!

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!

Reply to:
close

Hi y’all!  It’s been a long time since we gave you a sneak peek into life at SW.  I am so happy to introduce some new faces to you.  You may already know them from Twitter and Whitney has been around for a while now, but it’s time for some formal Southern introductions.  So, grab a tall glass of sweet tea and get to know us! Image above was from last Friday’s SW dining out with our men.  Yes, Whitney is the only single gal in the office…. and we are all pretty protective of her.  PS- If you are applying for the coveted spot as Whitney’s main man, you have three opinionated ladies to be screened by first! From left to right: Whitney, Katharine, me, and Emily at 411 on Franklin.  Image two: Katharine’s boyfriend Kyle (hello seersucker pants!! love him!!), Katharine, Emily’s boyfriend John, my Ari, Emily, me, and beautiful Whitney.  I feel so blessed to know these ladies and can’t wait for you to get to know them too.  Lots of changes coming on the blog and new features.  I think you’ll love them!  So, without further ado, the lovely ladies of Southern Weddings…

xo Lara

Jerry Maguire came on TV this weekend. It seems to be on HBO nearly every weekend, but this weekend I actually watched it. The now famous, iconic line that Renee Zellweger said to Tom Cruise is running on repeat in my head: “You had me at hello.”

The SW BlogSite had me at hello. I loved everything about it—the beautiful weddings, the fantastic contests, Wanwisa Wednesday—I mean, what isn’t there to love?

I’ve been working at Southern Weddings for about six months now and I’ve been loving every second of it. I have had the opportunity to peruse amazing products for my new weekly feature, Whit’s Picks. I also have gotten to know some extraordinary people in the wedding industry, including my fabulous co-workers Emily, Katharine, and Lara. Not to mention all of the advertisers on the SW Blog.

One small thing has been missing… I have never formally said “Hello” to all of the readers. So hello, I’m Whitney, your friendly go-to girl for all media/pr inquiries and advertising inquiries. I love to create personal relationships with readers, vendors, and advertisers alike. The more friends the better. So email me at whitney at iloveswmag dot com and say your hello. You can also Tweet at me! If you want more information about my likes, dislikes, or any other weird FAQ’s, please take a look here.

Southern Weddings had me at hello. I hope the BlogSite gives you the same feeling of hope and inspiration that it has given me.

xoxo

Whitney!

:: More about Whitney Davis ::

Hey y’all!  I may have been born and raised in Connecticut, but I’m thinking now that I live in Chapel Hill I’m entitled to throw a few Southern-isms into my blog posts, right?  Though I most definitely am and will always be a dyed-in-the-wool Yankee, I’ve developed a deep love affair with all things southern, and, of course, all things wedding.  Red velvet cake, for one.  Pecan pie, for another.

A little more about me, you say?  Well, my obsession with passion for weddings has been a long time coming: when I was in elementary school, long, long before the movie Wedding Crashers came out, my Mom and I used to sneak into the balcony at our church and watch ceremonies unfold.  Even with all the amazing details we feature on the blog, the ceremony is still my favorite part of the celebration.

More?  I’ve been an Irish step dancer for 12 years.  I love Indian food and Kraft macaroni and cheese.  I’m having a hard time adjusting to southern heat.  I love my family, my friends, and that handsome man to my right up above.  That’s John, my high school sweetheart (awww…).

And that’s about it!  I’m having a fabulous time settling in here at SW and can’t wait to bring you even more stunning weddings in the weeks and months to come.

Much love,

Emily

:: More about Emily Ayer ::

Alright, I’ll admit it: I’m (brand) new to the wedding world, but when my boyfriend of four years and I decided to move to North Carolina for him to begin a five-year MD/MBA program at Duke, I jumped at the chance to join the talented and truly extraordinary women of Southern Weddings Magazine!  I had admired Lara and her team throughout my senior year at Harvard and quickly found myself visiting her blog and following her work when I was supposed to be studying for exams and applying for jobs.  In the middle of my job search, it occurred to me that the magazine and blog site I had been treating as my guilty pleasure might actually be the perfect job for me!  Simply put: I am a Southerner, love weddings and, as a college English major, am happiest when writing.

Born in New Orleans, Louisiana and raised in Williamsburg, Virginia, I always have identified with the lifestyle, culture and attitude of the South.  It was my father, the quintessential Southern gentleman, who first introduced me to the wonders of seersucker, cowboy boots and Bowtie Fridays and who kept me coming home from snowy winters in the North.  Now, back in the South after a brief four-year stint in Cambridge, Massachusetts, I’ve returned to my roots and have even found my dream job as a writer for Southern Weddings Magazine to boot.

Three things you might enjoy learning now at our first meeting: I’m a daddy’s girl through and through, have a serious sugar addiction and am lucky enough to be dating the kind of man I was proud to bring home and introduce to my father.  (Fortunately, we were able to convince Kyle, a Cincinnati native and all-around good sport, that, in the South, seersucker and bowties reign supreme!)

I am beyond thrilled to be living in beautiful North Carolina and working with the talented women of Southern Weddings!  I look forward to many more wedding posts, blog updates and getting to know you over the coming year!

Love,

Katharine

:: More about Katharine Waterman ::

Written with love by Southern Weddings
3 Comments
  1. avatar Amber reply

    Congrats Emily! So excited for you!

  2. avatar Cassandra | Flaire Weddings and Events reply

    Hello Whitney, Emily and Katharine! So nice to "meet" you all! Looking forward to the great things that are sure to keep coming from Southern Weddings :)

  3. avatar Latrice Cushenberry reply

    Welcome Whitney, Emily and Katharine! Looking forward to connecting & learning more about you ladies!

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!

Reply to:
close

Happy Tuesday! How better to start the day than with a breathtaking wedding from Carrie PattersonFrom the delicate pink, cream and sage floral arrangements by Lily & Co. to the natural outdoor setting of the ceremony, Sarah + Jesse’s wedding was the perfect blend of Southern elegance and Wyoming wild.  (How amazing is the shot of the couple exchanging their vows at the foot of a snow-capped mountain?)  I’m equally as in love with the feminine and oh-so-romantic rose-strewn aisle as I am smitten with the pretty flower balls floating in a mountainside pool.  While Sarah + Jesse’s intimate outdoor ceremony was the epitome of Southern chic, their reception in a wood-and-stone lodge was warm, cozy and inviting while still preserving the simple sweetness of their Jackson Hole nuptials.  One thing I think we all can agree on is that only pictures can do that four-tier wedding cake from Monica at the Jackson Cake Company justice!

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story: We met while on vacation in Pensacola, Florida the summer after our freshman year of college.  My friends and I were at a restaurant/bar and started chatting with Jesse’s friends.  He was at another table when he saw me but then came straight over to talk to me. There was an instant connection: we had everything in common.  The rest, as they say, is history!

What was the design inspiration for your wedding? Southern traditional meets Wyoming.  I wanted everything in cream, sage, and blush. Lots of flowers and good fun! 

Tell us about finding your wedding dress: It was the second dress I tried on!  I kept looking at other dresses, though, but found myself comparing them to my dress.  It had that Wyoming feel to it and made me feel great!

Describe your wedding flowers: Roses, peonies, lilies of the valley and stephanotis.

Describe your wedding cake: We had a beautiful four-tier cake!  Every tier was a different flavor: German chocolate, red velvet, tres leches and chocolate with huckleberry filling.  Only the pictures can do it justice! 

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: This is a hard one.  I loved the handmade signs for the cocktails.  We had a calligrapher make little signs for the tray drinks and bar areas with the names of our two specialty drinks.  They were “Married-Ritas” and “Mint-to-Mojitos”.  I also loved that the sushi was wrapped in pink and green soy paper, our wedding colors.  I could go on and on!

Three adjectives that describe the day are: Detailed, beautiful and fun!

What advice would you give to someone planning their wedding? Enjoy it and try not to get stressed because it will be over before you know it!  I know it is easier said than done, but try to relax and have some fun.

What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? We are hoping to have children really soon and are looking forward to being a family

Congratulations, Sarah + Jesse!  We can’t wait to hear about your growing family!

Written with love by Southern Weddings
13 Comments
  1. avatar Amanda reply

    O My Gosh! I follow the blog all of the time checking out all kinds of fabulous wedding ideas and when I saw the mountain scene at the ceremony site I got shivery goosebumps all over. Like WOW. :-D

  2. avatar katharine @ southern weddings reply

    Thank you so much for being such a dedicated fan, Amanda! We always love hearing from our followers and are so pleased you liked today’s wedding as much as we did :)

  3. avatar Kristy R. reply

    Jackson Hole and the surrounding Teton range may just be one of the most enchanting areas on earth. To see the spectacular scenery combined with the couple’s wedding vows is just awe inspiring. Thanks for sharing!

  4. avatar MagnoliaRouge reply

    This is so gorgeous – and what a setting! Beautiful!

  5. avatar The Perfect Palette reply

    what a wedding.

  6. avatar Jenni reply

    I love the bridesmaid dresses! Where are they from??

  7. avatar Lyla reply

    Absolutely gorgeous! These two look like they really love each other so much. The photos are exceptional and looks like it had the perfect backdrop. What a great story, great design, and a toast to Southern style!

  8. avatar Susanna @ K.i.s.s reply

    Wow. What a beautiful location for an outdoor wedding! Those mountains are just gorgeous! Their theme colors are PERFECT for the location AND the rose petals on the aisle are the perfect final touch!!!

  9. avatar Karla reply

    The setting is so breath taking. What was the name of the venue and where can I find more informaton about it?

  10. avatar bride reply

    those are some beautiful pictures, especially the one with the mountains in the background of the asile

  11. avatar katharine @ southern weddings reply

    Hi Karla and Jenni!Wasn’t this an absolutely breathtaking wedding?! The couple were married at Amangani, a luxury hotel and resort in Jackson Hole Wyoming. You can visit the resort’s website at http://www.amanresorts.com/amangani/home.aspx.The bridesmaids wore Badley Mischka dresses from Patsy’s Bridal. To see the boutique’s lovely selection of bridesmaid gowns, please visit http://www.patsybridal.com.Happy Wednesday!

  12. avatar Jamie reply

    Amazing wedding! Does anyone know who the designer was for the bridal gown?

  13. avatar katharine @ southern weddings reply

    Hi Jamie! Sarah’s gown is from the Monique Lhuillier Platinum Collection and was purchased at Neiman Marcus. Hope this helps!

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!

Reply to:
close
Top