Google+ February 2012 - Page 15 of 20 - Southern Weddings

Southern Weddings

Monthly Archives: February 2012

Reading how couples met is on the top of my list of favorite things about my job. Sometimes couple’s stories are hilarious, others are movie-like. For Natalie + Wade, it was meeting at the right time, at the right place. I love how this V4 couple chose to spend their wedding day on the beaches of Watercolor Inn and Resort, the same place they first met. The tree under which they stood to recite their vows was filled with hanging flowers and looks so dreamy. See that photo of Wade with his eyes closed during the ceremony? Bliss. Biggest thanks to Tec Petaja who captured that moment and shared this wedding with us.

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. Wade and I met on the beach in Watercolor, Florida at the perfect time and place. I had just graduated from Texas A&M and began to question if I would ever find “the one.” Ironically, Wade was simultaneously praying about his future wife. One week after arriving at Watercolor, unbeknownst to me, I’m hanging out on the beach next to my future husband. We believe our families’ chairs were placed next to each other on the beach, not by coincidence, but by God. My nana and mom instantly bonded with Wade’s mom and sister because of their sweet spirits and common interests. After talking with his family for an hour or so, I discovered he was single like me, and our families immediately started trying to play matchmaker. They were successful in setting up a family date before their vacation was over. After returning to Tennessee, Wade decided he would fly back down to Florida a week later to pursue this possibility with me. He invited me to Nashville two weeks later, and after regular trips between Texas and Tennessee, the rest is history.
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Breathtaking, romantic, unforgettable
How many guests attended your wedding? 210
Tell us about finding your wedding dress: I went to two different bridal shops in Houston to find the perfect wedding gown. I had looked through numerous wedding magazines, as every young bride does, and thought I would love a mermaid style Vera Wang gown. But after trying on a mermaid style Monique Lhuillier wedding gown, I fell completely in love with it and knew it would be perfect for the garden setting of my wedding. Once I made my decision, I never looked back!
Describe your bridesmaids’ dresses. How did you choose them? I did not want traditional bridesmaids’ dresses because they are not my style at all, so instead, I picked out various BCBG dresses that were muted tones for the girls to choose among.
Briefly describe your wedding flowers: My flowers were one of my favorite elements of the wedding. I wanted them to be muted neutrals with pops of peach and blush tones featuring hydrangeas, David Austen roses, succlents, lamb’s ear, craspedia, and seeded eucalyptus. I purchased a wedding bouquet token to attach to the bouquet that said “I love you to the moon and back” with the date of our wedding on the back.

Photographer: Tec Petaja // Videographer: Celia Hilton // Planner: Watercolor Inn and Resort // Ceremony Venue: Western Lake Park at Watercolor Inn and Resort // Reception Venue: The Boathouse at Watercolor Inn and Resort // Florist: Bella Flora // Wedding Cake Baker: Confections on the Coast // Caterer: Fish Out of Water // Bridesmaid Dresses: BCBG and J. Crew // Bride’s Dress: Monique Lhuiller // Hair Stylist: Katie Carter // Makeup Artist: Two Fishes Artistry // Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade // Bride’s Jewelry: Grandmother of the bride’s // Bride’s Veil or Hair Accessory: Toni Federici veil, BHLDN wreath // Groom’s Fashion: J. Crew // Groomsmen Fashion: J. Crew // Paper Goods: Save the dates by Posh Paperie, invitations by Rock Scissor Paper, programs and maps by Jennifer Lane // Rentals: Bella Flora // Linens: Bella Flora // Favors: Kraft and Jute // Lighting: Bella Flora

Love this wedding? Check out these past features:
Natalia + Levi’s plantation wedding here and here
Mix and match bridesmaid dresses (inspiration + shopping guide)

nicoleyang Written with love by Nicole
22 Comments
  1. avatar Madelynne Miller reply

    Gosh – just truly breathaking. Watercolor is beautiful on its own – one of my favorite places on the coast. The bridesmaid’s dresses and flowers? DIE. I love their story too – so sweet!

  2. avatar Erin McLean reply

    Oh my goodness, this is breathtaking!

  3. avatar Paula {JustABiteDesserts.com} reply

    Absolutely love all aspects of this wedding – the sweet story of how their family matchmade, the beautiful locale, flowers, dresses, shoes and of course, the stunning bride and groom. The only thing missing are the shots of the food, cake and desserts which I’m sure matched this well planned and detailed wedding!

    • avatar Emily reply

      Hi Paula! Make sure you check out the second post — there’s a gorgeous cake!

  4. avatar Tim Duncan reply

    That dress is gorgeous. She looks like a pretty pretty princess!

  5. avatar Prima Ballerina: Soft Pink & Gray Color Inspiration – The Bride's Guide : Martha Stewart Weddings reply

    […] Weddings; Photography, Jimmy Backius; headband, BHLDN; Photography by Jessica Janae; Flowers, Southern Weddings. Add Comment    Print This […]

  6. avatar Well Dressed | Bridesmaids Edition reply

    […] via Pinterest || Chic Dresses Lined in a Row via Style Me Pretty || Shades of Gray Bridesmaids via Southern Weddings Magazine || Colors of the Rainbow via Martha Stewart Weddings || Sequin Bridesmaids Image by Jarvie Digital […]

  7. avatar Jame reply

    What is the name of that dress? I know it’s by Monique Lhuillier, but what is it called? I have been looking for a dress like that forever and would love to try it on!!!

    • avatar Emily reply

      Hi Jame! I’m almost positive it’s “Devotion” by Monique!

  8. avatar Naomi reply

    Love this wedding!!!! Please help me find how/where those antiquey wooden French doors!

  9. avatar Článek 1 – You & Me Online wedding magazine reply

    […] {Otevřete} dveře a společně vkročte do společné etapy vašeho života. Tak tohle mně naprosto tento týden dostalo. Nic krásnějšího a originálnějšího jsem poslední dobou opravdu neviděla. {Tomuto} účesu ráda říkám “perfect bun”. Jako hrdá majitelka dlouhých vlasů je to pro mě nejrychlejší a nejelegantnější způsob, jak své vlasy na chvíli uklidit z očí. {Svatební} den by měl být tím nejšťastnějším, ale hlavně pohodovým pro vás oba. A tak byste si tento den měli i pamatovat vždy, když se podíváte na vaše svatební portréty. {Pohrajte} si s detaily své svatby. Třeba takové rodinné logo, nebo třeba erb je využitelnou součástí nejen na svatební kytici. Můžete připravit zajímavé vývazky, razítka i jmenovky. {Máte} rádi dorty se sezónním ovocem? I toto je způsob, jak propojit bílou svatební klasiku s vaším oblíbeným ovocem. {Čím}dál, tím víc propadám dokonale neupraveným kytičkám. Takovým, které byste řekli, že se nikdy k sobě hodit nemůžou. Čím bláznivější, tím kouzelnější. {Tyto} krásky si zasloužili čestné místo v dnešním snění. Vždyť co by to bylo za neděli bez dokonalého páru svatebních lodiček. […]

  10. avatar Amy reply

    I love her dress! Does anyone know what the name of the dress is?

  11. avatar Inspirations pour un mariage vintage en extérieur reply

    […] Source : http://iloveswmag.com […]

  12. avatar Behind the Design: Romantic Rose | Truly Engaging Wedding Blog reply

    […] |Bridesmaids | Earrings | Glassware | Shoes | […]

  13. avatar Movie Monday: Sweet Home Alabama | Cherryblossoms and Faeriewings reply

    […] photo source: Southern Weddings […]

  14. avatar Linda reply

    The details of this wedding are incredible. And the beautiful light and amazing skills of the photographer make for some beautiful wedding photos. My favourite part is those old wooden doors, which make the entrance to an outdoor church. Love it!

  15. avatar 2014 Spring Wedding Colors & Trends | TulleandChantilly.com reply

    […] photo credits: 1/2/3/4/5/6 […]

  16. avatar All that Glitters – My Hotel Wedding reply

    […] […]

  17. avatar Http://www.hypnotherapy-Barrow.com reply

    Hey would you mind letting me know which hosting company you’re utilizing?
    I’ve loaded your blog in 3 different browsers and I must say this blog loads a lot quicker then most.
    Can you suggest a good web hosting provider at a fair
    price? Cheers, I appreciate it!

  18. avatar www.thermalimagecamerarental.com reply

    Howdy! This blog post could not be written any better!

    Going through this post reminds me of my previous roommate!
    He continually kept talking about this. I am
    going to forward this article to him. Fairly certain he will have a very good read.
    Many thanks for sharing!

  19. avatar Popular Asics Gel-Noosa Tri 8 Womens Running Shoe Yellow Purple-White reply

    It’s the best time to make some plans for the future and it
    is time to be happy. I’ve read this put up and if I could
    I desire to suggest you few interesting issues or suggestions.
    Maybe you could write subsequent articles relating to this article.
    I desire to learn more things about it!

  20. avatar Bloggers say I do! | Pepi Nikolopoulou – Love4Weddings reply

    […] Photo via SOUTHERN WEDDINGS […]

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

Y’all know that we’re crazy for a celebration ’round these parts. (Marissa wasn’t lying about those exclamation marks in her emails to Emily!) Mardi Gras is no exception, and if you can imagine it, makes us even more giddy for weddings inspired by the event. That’s why this morning, Emily put together a softer twist on the traditional Mardi Gras colors with her inspiration board and Marissa gathered a ton of fun images to teach us about all the Mardi Gras traditions.

I’ve pulled together some of my favorite green, purple and gold finds to get those Mardi Gras wheels turning. Sparkly and sophisticated is the way to go for these Southern-inspired products. Just throw in a some masks and feathers and find a brass band to provide the tunes — you’ll be all set.

A. Put something sparkly to jingle-jangle on your arms! You know you’ll be waving your hands in celebration! I love this amethyst bracelet paired with some other gold bangles.

B. Who else loves this dress like I do? Flirty in gorgeous shade of purple — I think it’s lovely for your bridesmaids! Of course, I won’t blame you if you decide to rock it at the rehearsal dinner. We like this sparkly number, too.

C. So you want to don something a little more sophisticated than those shiny plastic beads? How about this stunner: the Trompe L’oeil necklace from J.Crew. J’adore!

D. There’s never been a better time to break out the feathered accessories than during Mardi Gras! I love this delicate hairpiece from Twigs and Honey.

E. This beauty’s definitely a splurge! But it’s glittering exterior and easy-to-hold size makes it a contender for our hearts. Bonus? It’s called the Bountiful Bliss clutch! Perfect for a wedding, no?

F. We know that with the abundance of King’s Cake and sweets at your celebration, there will be many opportunities to use these cute dessert flags.

G. Oh y’all. How sweet are these bow-adorned purple pumps? We think they’ll look smashing with a short getaway dress, too! We’re crazy for this option by Nina, too.

H. Confetti and sparkles looks just as good on china as it does when it falls from the sky. We like these from Kate Spade.

I. These purple, green and gold macarons will be a hit! French treat with some colorful charm can’t go wrong on your dessert bar. Pair them with King’s Cake for a true NOLA feast!

J. Turn a Southern favorite into a themed refreshment! This blackberry mint julep recipe has us licking our lips! Want another option? We love that this cocktail is named the French Quarter!

K. One of my favorite things to see in a wedding is a set of gold Chiavari chairs. We think it’s a great way to incorporate some of that gold into the scenery without overwhelming the eyes. You can rent them from companies like Classic Party Rentals.

L. Don’t forget the small details! A bright green cake server that’s not too delicate won’t just look festive on your cake table, it’ll bring back fun memories when you reuse it around the house.

M. With all the feasting that’s to be done, you’ll need to give guests a play-by-play. This swirling green menu from Minted will fit in splendidly!

What do you think of our picks? What items would you include in a Mardi Gras wedding?

nicoleyang Written with love by Nicole
2 Comments
  1. avatar Sierra reply

    I would love to add the gold sequin bolero from Emily’s post, and/or the gold clutch and the purple bow shoes to my LBD for the Mardi Gras themed event I’m going to this weekend.

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

My emails to Emily regarding this post could not have had more exclamation points or capital letters. If they did, it would appear I was screaming at her! (I’m so not apologizing either!) We’re all clearly very excited to be chatting about Mardi Gras traditions today, and happy to provide inspiration for a Mardi Gras wedding!

My Southern heart literally skipped a beat when we starting talking about Mardi Gras! (!!!) I’m not going to say that Mobile, Alabama does Mardi Gras better than NOLA (we do do football better though! ; ), because that would just be a plain lie. I am going to say that we do it some kind of awesome! I mean, when I was a little girl, I ROCKED multiple gigantic hair bows made by my mama that were that gorgeous combo of green, purple and gold! My favorite one involved ribbon with “throw me somethin’ mister!” printed on it. That’s right, that bow was bigger than my head!

One thing missing from Mobile’s Mardi Gras celebration would have to be the French Quarter. The French Quarter is the cultural hub for NOLA, and boasts streets and streets of these gorgeous wrought iron covered balconies.

Credit: Austin Gros via Green Wedding Shoes

Historically, Mardi Gras masks allowed people to mix without regard for race, gender, or economic status. Krewe members (those who put on the Mardi Gras parades) wore masks on the floats to hide their identities. These masks wore also originally worn on stage in theaters to convey exaggerated emotions (hence why some are slightly frightening!).

Credits: Masked couple photo by A Bryan Photo; colorful masks photo by Rachel Thurston; sparkly mask photo by Amelia Lyon via 100 Layer Cake;

Mardi Gras masks are traditionally purple, green and gold, and often are decorated with feathers, jewels and glitter. Even the colors have meaning: purple symbolizes justice, green, faith, and gold, power.

Credits: Feather shoes photo by Crystal George Studios via Rock n Roll Bride; purple mask and beads photos by Belathee Photography via Green Wedding Shoes

Tossing beads is a tradition born in the 1920s when the Rex Krewe parade threw inexpensive handmade glass necklaces to bystanders. Nowadays, krewe members seek out innovative trinkets to toss to the crowds, such as candy, frisbees, plastic cups, and even doubloons all marked with the specific parade’s name and logo. But believe me, nothing flies as far as some good ol’ Mardi Gras beads!

Credits: Mask and shoes photo by Crystal George Studios; black mask photo by Belathee; beads and cake photos by Crystal George Studios; mask menu photos by Colson Griffith via Brenda’s Wedding Blog

Now the fleur-de-lis doesn’t have much to do with Mardi Gras specifically, but how could be do a NOLA post without including the official symbol of the state of Louisiana? I love that following Hurricane Katrina, the fleur-de-lis has been widely used in New Orleans as a symbol of grassroots support for New Orleans’ recovery. Now that is what the South is about!

Credits: Docuvitae via Style Me Pretty and Austin Gros

Carriages (or buggies as we Southerners call them!) and rickshaws are great for transportation on those fabulous (and bumpy) cobblestone streets of the French Quarter! I’m kind of crushing hard on this buggy covered with feathers – so regal!

Credits: Mardi Gras pedicab photo by Kate Byars via Every Last Detail, traditional carriage photo by A Bryan Photo, and pedicab photo by Rachel Thurston

Y’all! I literally squealed out loud when we received these images of the second line! The “second line” is a tradition for brass band parades. It’s made up of those who follow the band just to enjoy the music, and traditionally twirl a parasol or handkerchief in the air. This “dance” is called “second lining.” How much fun does that sound?! The second line also has routes in jazz funerals, where the jazz band plays and parades to honor the life of the deceased, and friends and family follow the band dancing or walking to add to the spirit of the procession.

Credits: Dancing couple photo by Docuvitae via Style Me Pretty, couple with umbrellas by Rachel Thurston, couple with balloons by Austin Gros via Green Wedding Shoes, band and hanky waving photos by Docuvitae, umbrella and sign photos by A Bryan Photo

So y’all, who’s up for a road trip to NOLA? After this post, I am SO in!

Have you been to Mardi Gras? What’s your favorite Mardi Gras tradition?

marissa Written with love by Marissa
14 Comments
  1. avatar Latrice reply

    I totally could use some Mardi gras fun right night!

  2. avatar Sierra reply

    I’ve never been there before. I’m in!

  3. avatar Megan reply

    I went to New Orleans for the first time and my first NOLA wedding in March of 2010 and it was a BLAST! The second line was definitely my favorite part!

  4. avatar Tim Duncan reply

    LOVE LOVE LOVE the shoes and all the colors!!

  5. avatar Katie | Invitations by Ajalon reply

    absolutely LOVE all of these inspiring images! If anything, I cannot die without experiencing Mardi Gras and NOLA for real! And thank you for including our menus in the mix. :D We love SWmag!

  6. avatar Mardi Gras Wedding Theme – Scheme Events | Blog reply

    […] Bella by Sara }  { Southern Weddings | Blog […]

  7. avatar Southern Traditions: Mardi Gras – Southern Weddings Magazine reply

    […] to Fat Tuesday, y’all! Our longtime readers might remember me professing my unending love for all things Mardi Gras last year, but I’m so happy to be sharing the love with all of […]

  8. avatar Wedding Wednesday: Entertaining Your Guests with Music and Dancing – Winmock At Kinderton reply

    […] / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / […]

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