Southern Weddings

“Promise me you’ll never forget me, because if I thought you would I’d never leave.” –Winne the Pooh

Two years ago, I thought writing my first post on the Southern Weddings blog was a difficult (and downright daunting!) task. Lucky for me, you were the most gracious and patient of readers, and helped ease me into my first job out of college. (Thank you!) Writing this post, on my last official day in the SW office, though, is another beast, entirely. While I’m excited for the changes (and significant student debt) law school promises, I can’t help but be sad to think my time in this very special office is coming to an end. Since my husband assures me laughter is the best remedy, join me on a trip down memory lane as I relieve some of my favorite – and happiest – times at Southern Weddings. As Emily so eloquently says, it’s been real, y’all!

Anyone remember this gem? If you’ve been following us from the beginning, you likely remember Emily’s and my “Southern Introduction” on the SW blog. Emily and I both started work at SW Mag, barely a month out of college, back in July 2009. After only a week in the office, Lara treated the SW newbies and our handsome beaus to a welcome dinner in Chapel Hill. With literally hundreds of snapshots, photo shoots and iPhone pics now under our belt, I believe this was the first time Em and I were ever photographed together. Aww!

It wasn’t too long after that Emily and I got to work on what would be our first issue of Southern Weddings. After months of hard work, long hours and frequent infusions of sugar for this candy lover, V2 hit the stands. I can’t remember being so proud of a finished product. It seems y’all loved it just as much!

We oversaw countless shoots for V2, and met some incredible vendors in the process, but it was this portrait session of the two of us that topped my list. The SW office (not so jokingly) refers to these pictures as our engagement shoot. Emily is such a diva! (Wait ’til you see the wedding pics.)

Hard work is nice and all, but it was the post-V2 celebrations I loved the most. If you know our office even a little bit, you know we are serious about our Smilebooth sessions. This candid from our Launch Party at Bridal Bar Atlanta sums it (and us) up quite nicely.

In between photo shoots and Smilebooth vogueing, I did manage to squeeze in a bit of work.

A very little bit of work. (Just don’t tell my boss, okay?)

I thought the transition from college student to working girl was big, but the winter and spring following the publication of V2 brought some momentous changes of their own. I accepted a proposal from my college sweetheart, (reluctantly) started planning a wedding and dove headfirst into what would be the biggest and best issue in Southern Weddings history.

Of course, it wasn’t all work and no fun. Kyle, my now-husband our resident social butterfly, sure enjoyed himself at all of our office outings.

Though it’s common knowledge around the SW office that I hate (loathe, despise, break out in hives at the mere thought of) having my picture taken, I spent a happy day in front of Millie Holloman’s lens. We love her!

This series, also by Millie Holloman, doubles as Emily’s + my “wedding photos.” Don’t judge us.

And then there was that time I got married. As much as I dreaded the planning process and prided myself on being an atypical bride, I have to admit my wedding day was, in fact, the best day of my life. See our official posts on the wedding here, here and here.

While I definitely feel like I hit the relationship jackpot in marrying Kyle, I also was lucky to have a troupe of my nearest and dearest friends serve as bridesmaids at my wedding. Emily, a lovely bridesmaid herself, actually was the inspiration for the stunning black dresses the girls wore!

The day after my wedding, Lara presented me with an advance copy of SW V3. Best wedding present ever? I think yes! (I sure do like that big screen T.V. from Kyle’s parents, though…)

There are a whole lot more memories (and pictures!) from my two years at Southern Weddings, but when you get right down to it, what I’ll miss most, of course, are my co-workers and the times we’ve shared. (Cue the Vitamin-C “Graduation Song,” circa 2000.) I love this shot of us from Christmas 2010! There couldn’t be a better foursome to help pick up where I’ve left off.

And then there’s Lara and Emily, without whom I would not have landed my first job (thank you, L!) and this blog would not exist (you’re the best, E!). Lara, I’ll miss your charisma, energy and and indomitable go-get-’em attitude. (I’ll also miss the endless supply of candy you funneled my way. Think we can work out some kind of mail order candy system?) I feel lucky to have had had the opportunity to learn from you and to challenge myself to become a better individual and businesswoman. Watching you continue to transform your life and your business from afar will be my pleasure! And Emily, I’m willing to bet not every girl is lucky enough to have a co-worker become a true friend. We’ve often joked that I’m the yin to your yang, and after thinking about well and seamlessly we’ve worked together these past two years, I now appreciate how accurate that description really is. You are graceful and poised, genuine and talented – and I can only hope some of your lovely qualities have rubbed off on me. Spending time with you has made me better, and knowing you is a privilege!

Last, but oh-so certainly not least, thank you! For welcoming me to the blog and this fabulous office two years ago, for waiting patiently while Lara showed me the ropes, for taking part in my wedding planning process last year and for loving Southern Weddings just as much as we do – thank you! I feel honored that so many of you have shared your own wedding plans and questions with me and that I had the privielge to take part in one of the happiest times of your lives. You can bet I’ll be following along from the law school library, with SW bookmarked as my go-to guilty pleasure during study breaks – and hopefully sending a few updates of my own along the way. (They do have study breaks in law school, right?)

xo,
Katharine